Weight Gain in Nursing school?!!!

britthohenbrink · May 13, 2013

Generally people either lose or gain weight while in NS.... as far as healthy eating for school I suggest "clean foods" such as fruits, veggies, nuts, baked chicken, and be sure to drink your water.

klkoniec · May 13, 2013

Generally people either lose or gain weight while in NS.... as far as healthy eating for school I suggest "clean foods" such as fruits, veggies, nuts, baked chicken, and be sure to drink your water.

I second that! Drinking enough water is so important and will more likely lead to weight loss or maintenance.

Hard boiled eggs are a great source of nutrition or even egg whites. Low sodium nuts and dried fruit, high fiber cereal, fruits, greek yogurt, veggies (like cucumber and carrot sticks). I recently purchased "Ball" brand plastic canning freezer jars (16oz) and these are awesome, safe, BPA free, etc. and what I do is make protein shakes or smoothies for the week and then stick them in the freezer to grab and take with me. They're perfect because it thaws nicely within a few hours (especially during summer!).

If you're craving a little chocolate, No Pudge fudge brownies are awesome and 0 fat! So easy to make too! You can usually find it at a Whole Foods or Sprouts or Fresh and Easy store. My fiance loves these! I usually pour the batter into muffin tins and so they come out like mini muffins, easy to pop out of the tray and put into a container. They make a great snack when you're craving a guilt free treat.

hunnybunches · May 13, 2013

I second that! Drinking enough water is so important and will more likely lead to weight loss or maintenance.
Hard boiled eggs are a great source of nutrition or even egg whites. Low sodium nuts and dried fruit, high fiber cereal, fruits, greek yogurt, veggies (like cucumber and carrot sticks). I recently purchased "Ball" brand plastic canning freezer jars (16oz) and these are awesome, safe, BPA free, etc. and what I do is make protein shakes or smoothies for the week and then stick them in the freezer to grab and take with me. They're perfect because it thaws nicely within a few hours (especially during summer!).
If you're craving a little chocolate, No Pudge fudge brownies are awesome and 0 fat! So easy to make too! You can usually find it at a Whole Foods or Sprouts or Fresh and Easy store. My fiance loves these! I usually pour the batter into muffin tins and so they come out like mini muffins, easy to pop out of the tray and put into a container. They make a great snack when you're craving a guilt free treat.

Wow! I'm really going to try some of these yummy sounding ideas! Thanks klkoniec!

hunnybunches · May 13, 2013

Generally people either lose or gain weight while in NS.... as far as healthy eating for school I suggest "clean foods" such as fruits veggies, nuts, baked chicken, and be sure to drink your water.[/quote']
Alrighty! I definitely will! If you have any recipes or snack ideas please send them my way!

rubato, ASN, RN · May 13, 2013

I didn't lose or gain. I'm a personal trainer and eat a paleo style diet (no grains, dairy, sugars or anything artificial). I was worried about not having enough time to eat and losing my muscle mass, but things are going very well. I do tend to spend one weekend day cooking tons of food that I can then divide into single servings. I have a large lunchbox that goes with me on lecture and clinical days.

BrooklynRN11201 · May 13, 2013

NO, everyone does not gain weight. In fact I've lost 5 pounds...I make it a point to exercise at least 4 times a week. I've been doing this for almost 2 months and I've noticed a big difference in my stress level.
I pack nuts, fruit, protein bars and protein shakes for school. I also make PB and Jelly sandwich or turkey on rye.

same here - well, I haven't lost or gained any weight, but I workout 4-6x a week and it really helps me manage stress as well.

I do triathlons, and people are always asking me "how do you work full time, go to school part time and train so much for races?!" It's the training that helps me manage all the other stuff!!

I will say, however, I eat like crap around exams. I just stuff whatever is quick and easy in my mouth - even if it's a bag of chips.

klkoniec · May 13, 2013

Alrighty! I definitely will! If you have any recipes or snack ideas please send them my way!

Paleo diet, that's interesting...I'm vegetarian (have been since I was a kid) and that at times can be challenging double checking ingredient lists, etc., but with a paleo diet can you drink coffee or have juice? You mentioned no sugars, so just curious if that includes fruits?

I'm a health and fitness nut myself and my usual daily diet is pretty similar to a raw food diet (although I admit I do give in to some processed nutrition/sports bars like Luna bars and Odwalla).

SilverOwl · May 13, 2013

Is it true?! Does the average student really gain weight in nursing school?! Does it matter if its LVN, RN, CC, 4 year or for profit?? OMG! Yes! I. CAN. NOT. WAIT!! I have been trying desperately to gain weight for years and nothing has worked! Just 15lbs and I will be satisfied! It doesn't matter where the weight goes, I will crunch it, squat it, jog it into the right places! Oh yea, and I'm looking forward to learning and being a nurse and all of that. Haha. ^_^

hunnybunches, I too plan to put on 'weight' but it is purely coincidental that it overlaps with nursing school! I am 5'1" and 110# and just recently set a goal to trade 10 lb fat for 15 lb muscle... I eat Paleo and do CrossFit, so the fat loss part is easy, I'm looking to CrossFit and lots of heavy Squats to put on the muscle and to get myself ready for all the running around/patient lifting/etc. we will have to do starting in the fall!! Ps if you want to put on GOOD weight, look into some heavy lifting... Squats, Cleans, Snatches, etc. - you will NOT bulk up, but you will be fit and strong and functional and will look great!! I suspect most of the weight gain that people experience while in school is due to a 'perfect storm' combination of stress/time restriction = poor eating habits and stress hormones and less time devoted to exercise = fat gain/muscle loss... I do NOT want that to happen, I am so much happier when my body feels great and WORKS well!!

SilverOwl · May 14, 2013

I didn't lose or gain. I'm a personal trainer and eat a paleo style diet (no grains, dairy, sugars or anything artificial). I was worried about not having enough time to eat and losing my muscle mass, but things are going very well. I do tend to spend one weekend day cooking tons of food that I can then divide into single servings. I have a large lunchbox that goes with me on lecture and clinical days.

YAY Paleo!! I didn't see this in your post when I added my blurb... I do the Sunday Cook-Up too which seems to work. Do you have any snack-bar recipes etc that are invaluable to you?

SilverOwl · May 14, 2013

Paleo diet, that's interesting...I'm vegetarian (have been since I was a kid) and that at times can be challenging double checking ingredient lists, etc., but with a paleo diet can you drink coffee or have juice? You mentioned no sugars, so just curious if that includes fruits?
I'm a health and fitness nut myself and my usual daily diet is pretty similar to a raw food diet (although I admit I do give in to some processed nutrition/sports bars like Luna bars and Odwalla).

No juice, Coffee is Ok if your Adrenals can handle it, but no added junk (sugar/creamer/etc)

rubato, ASN, RN · May 14, 2013

Yeah, I gave up all juice, sugars of all kinds, anything artificial, so black coffee it is. It took me 3 weeks to get used to it, but now I like it. I have no valuable "bar" recipes to offer because I don't eat things like that. I stick to meats, veggies, fruits and some nuts (no legumes allowed).

It would be impossible to be a vegetarian and be healthy going paleo. Truly, what could you eat? Soy is a big no no, and dairy is highly discouraged. That leaves you nothing but fruits, veggies and healthy nuts. I used to be a vegetarian and, since I seem to be addicted to carbs and dairy, gained weight. Apparently, I do better this way.

SilverOwl · May 14, 2013

Yeah, I gave up all juice, sugars of all kinds, anything artificial, so black coffee it is. It took me 3 weeks to get used to it, but now I like it. I have no valuable "bar" recipes to offer because I don't eat things like that. I stick to meats, veggies, fruits and some nuts (no legumes allowed).
It would be impossible to be a vegetarian and be healthy going paleo. Truly, what could you eat? Soy is a big no no, and dairy is highly discouraged. That leaves you nothing but fruits, veggies and healthy nuts. I used to be a vegetarian and, since I seem to be addicted to carbs and dairy, gained weight. Apparently, I do better this way.

Wow you used to be veggie? What a change! Good for you! I've never gone that way but Lierre Kieth's "Vegetarian Myth" gave me some interesting insight into that lifestyle. We (hubby and I) are pretty "purist" with our Paleo as well, though we can both tolerate some grass-fed dairy so we do incorporate some gf cheese and gf butter into our diet. I don't do much Paleo baking etc either but I'm always open to ideas, especially as I try to think of ways to keep healthy foods at hand while in school and taking classes all day. I'm going to be relying heavily on veggies and nuts for snacks!

For peeps who are wondering what-the-crap we're talking about, the Paleo diet consists of Veggies (LOTS!!!), Meat, Nuts, and Some Fruit. :) Nom!!