School is making me fat!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2007

Cutting back may not work in your case. Your body needs food for the work outs! If you don't give your body food, then your metabolism will slow even more, retain as many calories as it can from the little food you eat, and use bone and lean tissue (including hair) to feed itself for your workouts.

If you are of a healthy weight, the weight gain may not be of much concern. A few pounds on the scale may not be fat. Maybe you are retaining more water???

Eating right and getting at least 30 minutes a day of exercise sounds like you are doing the right things to me. However, if you are really worried, then please see a physician regarding your condition. It is better then going on a crash diet, where the weight loss is only temporary and the diet itself may be unhealthy.

scrmblr · Mar 3, 2007

is your 30minutes all cardio? If so, I would try to squeeze in maybe 10minutes of some kind of resistance or weight training. I know it is easier said then done, but adding weight workouts seems to help me with the weight I seem to so easily put on...Also, could it be water weight? I am like a giant waterballoon sometimes and cutting back on sodium really helps. My doc also rx a very low dose of hctz. (I only use 1/2 25mg tab for 2days of the month) This seems to help.

When I was in school I bought a set of 10pd dumbells. I would eek out about 10 minutes at night (in front of the tv) to do some curls and pushups and situps. Real quick, real easy.

((()))

krenee · Mar 3, 2007

Thanks! No my workouts aren't all cardio, actually it's more weights. I'm doing 3 days of weights, two days of cardio and one day of yoga per week. And one rest day per week, sometimes two when I'm really slammed.

I don't think it's water, for one thing it's been hanging around too long! Also I just had my period last week so I kind of expected my weight to go DOWN this week.

No, I won't starve myself, really, I like to eat. Maybe I'll give it another week of what I'm doing - it's just my usual "cut back" way of eating - no sweets, nothing fried, not too many snacks - but I don't want to "diet" and weigh and measure - I have done but don't want to now. Anyway, I guess that'll be my last resort, go back to logging my food to see if there are calories in there somewhere that I'm not realizing - I know that happens.

Thanks ladies :) .

Kelly

Soup Turtle · Mar 3, 2007

Everyone I know gained about 20 pounds in nursing school. I don't know everyone, though.

justme1972 · Mar 3, 2007

Me too, I started dieting again yesterday. I did it once before and ate all day long and at first, lost almost a pound every two days. I still have every high metabolism, my diet is just horrible coupled with zero exercise...it may not be that effective for everyone.

There isn't a "diet" to it...I created my own, based on what foods I loved and I just found out a way to make each one about 350 calories a meal, with healthy snacks in between. I keep a few Lean Cuisines on hand for emergencies, but I don't live on them, b/c the sodium is extremely high.

If anyone is interested just PM me.

love2barn · Mar 4, 2007

A few things I have done since I have started back to school: Wake up at 4:15 a.m. to workout and pack healthy lunches and snacks everyday. I also bought a recumbent bike and treadmill so I can get some additional exercise while I listen to lectures or study notes at home. I am not used to sitting around all day in classes, so when I am not in school I like to move as much as possible. It has help because my weight has not changed.

Good luck!

RN2B-09 · Mar 4, 2007

I gained 10 lbs since I started my pre-req classes last year. I definately think studying attributes to this. I work full time (sitting at a desk all day), then go to school 3 nights a week (more sitting) and then study for several hours a week (sitting again). I do have 3 children so I do get some physical activity in but definately feel that being so emotionally exhausted along with lack of sleep makes you feel physically drained which makes you not want to exercise at all.

This is a vicious cycle that I hope to break by 2009 when I graduate. :nurse:

jessica<3RN · Mar 4, 2007

The older you get, the more exercise you will need to make up for the metabolic decrease. The fact that we spend most of our days sitting on our bottoms definitely contributes to unhealthy weight gain.

nessa1980 · Mar 4, 2007

Hi Kluellen!

I totally feel your pain!!!! I used to work out every single day at the gym and also run about 25-30 miles per week for the past 4 years. I was in the shape of my life. I actually LOVE to work out. I love feeling fit and full of energy. Anyway, the last 2 semesters in school have consumed all my time, and since I really take school seriously, I want to devote ALL my spare time to study. Its tough though, cos I feel like working out is kind of an anti-depressant for me, its my sanity, and I have barely been able to work out at all recently. I didnt even get to do anything this week at all. And there has been alot of weeks like that recently!

It sucks cos i feel outa shape, dont have as much energy, & generally just dont feel like my former self. I too have only gained around 5/6 lbs but the thing is when you're not working out, you tend to just feel totally outa shape. Even if you were the same weight if you were workin out i guarantee that you would still feel awesome.

Anyway, I guess sometimes we have to prioritize certain things and make sacrifices.

My advice: Try and find some time to even do something. Anything! I really need to practice what i preach! lol! Remember though - It'll all be worth it someday! :wink2:

trainer2070 · Mar 4, 2007

Kcal expenditure during exercise all depends on what your doing and how you do it. If your'e doing regular cardio, switch it up and do HIIT or 1/4 mile work. If youve never done HIIT or 1/4 mile work youll notice a big difference. And not to stereotype you but if your weights consist of lots of machine work or a low % of your 1rm and several reps, thats another problem as well.

stpauligirl · Mar 4, 2007

I'm sooooo frustrated! (And by the way, FAT is an exaggeration) I'm actually at a healthy weight BUT I'm up about 5 lbs from where I like to be and the worst part is all my pants are uncomfortable . So I'm at the stage where it's lose a few or buy new pants, and I refuse to buy new pants!
I've always had to watch what I eat, I'm not naturally thin . . . but normally once I set my mind to it I can lose. As a matter of fact, I usually can watch what I eat and lose pretty quickly, like a couple of pounds the first week . . . not this time! It's been two weeks and I'm stuck . . . or the scale is. So I'm wondering what's different, and it's either the fact that my lifestyle is so sedentary (studying up to five hours a day!) or the fact that I'm just getting older (almost 38).
I am normally a workout freak but this semester is tough and I had to cut back to 30 minutes a day, can't increase it because I just don't have the time. So all I can think of it . . . eat less. I'm eating my normal "lose weight" foods and since it isn't working I have to cut back some more, I guess.
So depressed! Any advice? Sympathy?
Kelly

STick to your weight routine of 3X a week and increase your cardio, cancel your yoga for now and do cardio instead on that day until you reach your weight goal. I strongly suggest for you to do some sort of cardio every day, 20 minutes at a minimum. I have a stationary bike at home which helps get cardio in if the wheather is bad or if I can't make it to the gym, I ride it while I read. I can tolerate this for about 30 minutes and I won't have waisted time. I am sooooooooo with you, it's hard to maintain weight especially during the winter time and I am also up a few pounds from my perfect "bathing suit" weight. Stress causes us to release hormones that make us "fat". Hang in there, I bet if you increase your cardio you will see the scale budge soon. Good luck!