Nursing student weight

rubato, ASN, RN · Aug 13, 2012

Your health definitely needs to be a priority. We are going into the health care profession. We need to start by taking care of ourselves. If you can, bring lunch. If not, try to make a wise choice. Our school has a salad bar and Subway. Everyone seems to choose unhealthy instead, but not because it's easier. It's just as easy to eat healthy here. I start next week, but in my 4 semesters of prereqs, I've tried to make as many healthy choices as possible. I am trying to get my dinner planning organized this week, so my family doesn't suffer because of my school.

yadi87 · Aug 13, 2012

all you have to do is watch your caloric intake and make sure to get some sort of cardio or resitance training in minimum 3x a week even if its a half hour in the morning and a half hour at night..something is better than nothing, i mainted my weight in my undergrad years at FIU because that campus was huge and i walked everywhere and took stairs instead of elevator. Also watch portion sizes, you may be eating healthy but too much of a good thing can be bad too.

Tinkx RN · Aug 13, 2012

Thank you all for your responses...I will take everyones advice into consideration. Personally when I'm under stress, I don't eat, which is a bad habit. If and when I do eat I'm going to make healthier choices and also exercise, just healthier choices all around. I'm already a little overweight but I do have a membership to a gym so I'm going to make a schedule of when I'm going to go to tthe gym and plan some weekly healthy meals.Thanks again for the advice and good luck to us all :-) Keep the advice, opinions and personal experiences coming...

eleectrosaurus · Aug 13, 2012

+30lbs over 2 years. I wasn't stress-eating as much as eating to keep my energy up from lack of sleep. Time issues as well, pulling all nighters studying and preping for clinicals: some nasty burrito, pocket thing to the microwave to my pie-hole, then back to the books.

If i could do it again i'd ask a loved one, bff, parent, granny whoever to cook/freeze some "normal" food for when I was pushing time limits.

cienurse · Aug 13, 2012

I went back to school in my 30's, when my kids were small. I weighed 115 lbs starting out and I worked full time and went to school full time. Eighteen months later at graduation, I weighed a whopping 96 lbs! I was literally going 7 days a week, with no break, and I lived on ice coffee, cigarettes, and fast food in the car! Today, almost 19 years (and 30+ pounds later!) I don't smoke and I rarely drink coffee. I try to eat the right things and work out to reduce stress instead of eating. I guess it all depends on one's metabolism and how we deal with stress that dictates whether we gain or lose. But best of luck in nursing school-it's been a great career for me!

Stephalump · Aug 13, 2012

When I'm in school, I lose weight. Eating ends up low on my priority list, and when I do eat, I'm too busy to care what it is, so it's usually very bland and healthy lol. When I'm a stay at home mom I spend way too much time planning yummy meals

I just need to make sure I stay away from sugary coffee drinks and candy. I don't really ever eat candy but that summer I found myself craving some out of the vending machines when I was falling asleep in class.

abiklags · Aug 13, 2012

I lost 20 lb's in the 3 months preceding school (south beach) then weaned myself off because it was really hard to maintain with the hours and commute. I have kept it off for the entire 2 years! my weight varies w/in 3 lb's depending on the time of month but thats normal. my figure though has gotten smaller even if I didnt lose any more weight so my uni which started BIG ended up HUGE.

I basically just ate whole wheat instead of white wheat, splenda in my coffee, less snacking, walking to the train (10 mins), walking to clinicals (1 mile in 17 mins) speed walking during clinicals, etc.

NS is stressful but I learned to turn to other places to destress that cost less in the long run. now I play hans zimmer soundtracks to unwind. hey it works for me. and its WAY better than candy imho :)

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2012

I did a great job prior to nursing school but gained 20 pounds last year due to school and stress and work and everything else. I'm working really hard on getting that off now and will definitely focus on not gaining it again this year!

DizzyLizzyNurse · Aug 13, 2012

I gained about 20 lbs. I ate crunchy chips to help me stay awake during lecture. Should have crunched on celery and carrots instead lol.

However I know a girl who got diagnosed with type 2 dm and lost 100 lbs during school, no gaining weight in NOT inevitable. It's tough though, with the stress and crazy hours and lack of sleep.

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Aug 13, 2012

Back in the stoneage when I went to nursing school, I lost weight. My school uniform was a size 18 and 1/2 when I started school......when I graduated my uniform was a size 11-12. I lost 60 pounds.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 13, 2012

I maintained my weight. I tried to exercise any way I could while in the hospital: take the stairs, do laps in the halls, offer to do compressions, etc. I am and always have been a grazer so i was always able to snack on something. Just make sure the something is good to eat.

1244 rock · Aug 13, 2012

I started nursing school last fall and I can say before nursing school I used to eat somewhat healthy. Now I eat anything. I would have to say I gained about 10 pounds last year since I started.