weight gain in home health

Published

Hi, I was just wondering if any of you hh nurses have had any problems with weight gain since youve been doing your jobs. When I first got hired in 10 yrs ago,my then supervisor said ''you'll gain about 40 lbs or more doing this job and boy was she right! I seem to eat alot of junk food out on the road, too tired by the time I get home to cook or clean. I'm having alot of tension headaches too. I am wondering if this is a sign I should get out and find something different elsewhere. I love the flexibility, patient care, and getting to work from home which I seem to do alot of everyday at home, more than I care to do. It would be nice to come home from a job without having to drag out papers/laptop . I am having mixed emotions about it. Seems like all I do is sit on my --- from being in my car all day , then at home, sitting on the computer charting for hours. Does anyone else get exhausted over all this?If you did change,what area would you choose?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health.

I have gained weight since i started HH a year ago. I thought I was the only one. My solution....let the house work go (young, single with no kids), go to the gym directly after work (that's if you're a 8-5 gal) this way it's done...health saved and my butt's shrinking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

have to stop the fast food! i finally made a decision to pack my lunch and a few snacks, besides saving money it has to be helping the weight,,,they even make a cooler (small one) that you can plug into the cigarette lighter in the car,no ice needed! seems everytime you go into the office there is some kind of goodie there! but as we all know we love to stay out of the office

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Same thing happened to me when I worked in long term care. Night shift. Now that I'm in home health, it doesn't matter if it is night or not. It's the snacking. And those fast food joints are too convenient and soda is not a food group although by me you would think that it is. You just have to make up your mind to control your food intake and go to the gym regularly or just walk around your own neighborhood every day. The weight will come off, if you make the commitment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, HomeCare, a little med/surg.

I gained about 10 lbs the first year I was in HomeCare but I got back to walking and eating better and it came off. I have since stopped walking very much but I still try to eat right (most of the time). I really want to start walking again because I know it would make me feel better but I am too tired. Just try keeping fruit or nuts to snack on instead of all the "good" snacks that we all love so much. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis, Home Care, Hospice.

I actually lost 25 pounds the first year......gained 10 back....boo, hiss.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I don't eat at ALL until I get home.. and that includes no breakfast before I leave in the am.

With IBS, I take no chances............. :uhoh21:

So no.. haven't had any weight gains.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jnette

Don't know how you can get through a workday without any calories in you. When I don't eat at all, my head starts getting fuzzy and I start the hypoglycemic stuff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Breakfast is a must---even if granola type bar pulling out of driveway.

In my area, only fast food places safe for pit stop....when it got to the point I was planning my route to hit every Checkers hamburger stand one week, knew it was time to carry water bottle and 100% fruit box along with dried fruit and get wrap sandwich as less carbs.

Since in the office these days, doing much better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
jnette

Don't know how you can get through a workday without any calories in you. When I don't eat at all, my head starts getting fuzzy and I start the hypoglycemic stuff.

I get that way sometimes if I get home later in the day. But usually I'm home between one and two pm. Get up at 0500 or so..at the office at 0700, at 1st patient by 0800.

I'm used to no b'fast.. never have been able to eat b'fast before 10 am. I just sip on my cold coffee 'til I get home. :rotfl:

Then I eat/snack/nibble non-stop. :rolleyes:

In my area, only fast food places safe for pit stop....

LOL... I have plenty of trees and bushes and to jump behind in these here "hollers", and have done so more than once! Scare off the deer and the bear.

But that's the morning coffee going right through me. :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jnette

Be careful with those deer and bears. We don't want you to become a patient!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
jnette

Be careful with those deer and bears. We don't want you to become a patient!

Right now the wildlife critters are the least of my concerns... yesterday I nearly killed myself in a pt's HOME.

He has his entire house (interior) made entirely of glass and mirrors !!! The whole place is optical illusion, I have NEVER seen anything like it. Blinking lights and strobe disco ceiling ball things.. you name it... everywhere. Every wall, ceiling, hallways.. even the light switches are made of mirror, glass, or stainless steel.

It is soooooooooooooo freaky in there. When I went to change his dressing, he asked that I step aside so he could lead me into the other room.

I did.. and my foot stepped right into an empty void. It was the opening into the basement stairwell. :eek:

14 stairs down.. into a black hole and concrete slab floor. Straight down. With all the mirrors and glass, reflections and optical illusions, I had NO idea this "doorway" was even there.. you could NOT see it.

Had I fallen, I'd have fx'd every bone in my body.. perhaps my skull.:o

He grabbed my arm in the nick of time..hard enough to bruise my arm.

But if he hadn't.. I'd have been a goner. I was already being pulled down by gravity when he grabbed me.

So there's worse things than critters out there!!! :rotfl:

Some homes are more dangerous than the great outdoors! :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion