I will be a newly graduated nurse come May and am probably 100 lbs overweight. I was hoping to be working out and eating healthier and have lost some weight by the time I start my career but nursing school has proven to be a horrible time to try and focus on healthy eating and cardio...go figure.
Does anyone have any special tips for trying to lose weight and focus on one's own health while helping others heal? Here's to hoping a physically demanding profession will help my endeavors!
Additionally, for others overweight, do you notice patients question your education or work ethic and if so how do you overcome that?
Like many I've been overweight for most of my adult life. I have lost over 80 lbs in past few years and most recently 54 of those pounds in the past 10 months. I've decided it is time that I take control of my weight for myself first and then hopefully be a good role model for my staff and students (I'm a School Nurse). How have I been able to do this? I joined Weight Watchers 10 months ago and it has been a life changer. I truly believe in the program and all the support it offers. As most people I have been on many different diets including WW. This time it just seemed to click. Not that it is always easy but if you are ready to invest in yourself to improve yourself...it will work.
Weight Watchers really strive to remind you that once you join its a "lifestyle" and not a "diet". In whatever way you choose to lose weight (and there are many good programs out there), it is important to remember you need to do this for YOURSELF first!
Good Luck with how ever you choose to be "more healthy".
You have no idea, NONE, what is going on with my body and what my 30+ year eating disorder has done to it and to my metabolism. You have no idea what kind of medical testing and procedures I have undergone, what kind of medical conditions I have, what kind of disease processes I have going on inside my body, what kind of psychological damage I have suffered at the hands of loved ones. All of that.....ALL OF THAT....contributes to weight gain, and the problems I have had with losing it. Part of it is mental, part of it is physical, NONE of it is "simple." None of it "only" requires discipline. But hey, fat people are fair game to be judged, and harshly. That much I know is true in our society.
I sometimes feel that the over weight are the only group it is still politically correct to judge.
I also had weight loss surgery - Lap Band back in 2010 and have lost a total of 95 pounds and have kept it off, I too have no regrets about this decision. Like one of the posters above I do what I am supposed to do as far as eating goes and have not had any trouble. I do have to say the mental part of overeating, eating with stress etc never goes away - that is probably the hardest issue I cope with - heck that is what made me fat in the first place, but I refuse to go back.
Regarding stress and the cortisol connection, other than meditation, mindfulmess, etc., are there any practical ways to reduce that cortisol production?
Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.
After trying every diet out there and always being active, I got up to over 300lbs. I was so frustrated because I'm very good at following diets without cheating. After a ton a research, I started the ketogenic diet and I've lost 80 lbs so far in 9 months and gained tons of energy. I know longer have hypothyroidism and borderline diabetes. The other nurses on my team have followed my lead with some teaching and are all doing well also. Do some research, as it's not a diet for the faint of heart but it works and now it's a way of life for me. I wish I would have known about it earlier.
I mean no malice or disrespect but for those that believe addiction is a disease ( I do not and have been accused) addiction is addiction. Regardless of the substance. The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume, if there were a magic pill or formula it would have been disclosed long ago. My family is vegetarian with a strong focus on proteins. My baby at 14 jumps rope for a collective at least 3 hours a day. She is definitely into fitness and nutrition. You have to cut out animal fats, artificial foods ie. hydrogenated oil and faux sweeteners. We use honey and Agave Nectar for sweeteneers, very liyttle white sugar and read and know labels.Commercial burgers are filled with celluloes, saw dust which cause severe constipation and the beginning of most health issues.I adore veggie burgers, the black bean has Cumin which taste like Taco meay. Full of protein! Don't think "diet" think of delicious real foods for life, that keeps everything you have running right.Hipocrates, the Father of Medicine taught this "Macrobiotic Foods" in 532 BC but sadly, no one does it until they get a terminal diagnosis. I wish you the best :)
Thank you all so very much for the tips and advice! I have cut back my portions and am already down 5 pounds, and it's given me more drive to take more steps. I've considered doing a diet plan, like the Whole30, but am questioning if I am ready for the discipline of the diet. I'll continue to cut back portions and am planning to start an exercise regime as soon as my night rotation is complete. It's nice to have hope again and definitely feel like I'm not alone!
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
Check out online, Dr Mercola.con. Click on "beginners guide" link----- example my office Mgr. lost nearly 60#s over five months following fis suggestions........it appears to be healthy eating for all physiological status
best wishes......
there re are diet clinics that give Rx, and "diet injections", they work, but I do not advise until after you have a new job, and pass UDS, As diet pills may show up as metabolites of amphedimines.......even tho you have active script, you want no clouds of suspicion......
eating heathy at hy as guide I proposed above, is most healthy, cultural change, and can be lifelong, healthy changes...
I am 80lbs overweight. I take multiple antidepressants. I want to lose weight and be more comfortable in clothes, but I also really enjoy the foods that I'm not supposed to.
I had bariatric surgery almost six years ago and lost 162 pounds, this might be an option for you if you are interested as you have a significant amount of weight to lose just as I did. I finally decided I had to do something when I was coming home from work every morning with ankle edema as well as high blood pressure and an elevated A1C. It really hit me when I was working in cardiac telemetry and had patients that were my age (26 at the time) who were there because they were morbidly obese and it was putting their body under too much stress. I'm very happy I chose to have the surgery as a tool to help me lose weight and be more comfortable at work and I would make the same decision tomorrow to have the surgery.
As far as patients not taking you seriously, I only ever had issues with psych, combative, or 'confused' patients who would say horrible things to me, it was hurtful, but I pushed on with the thought that they were not in their right mind during those moments.
mandm97, RN
41 Posts
Like many I've been overweight for most of my adult life. I have lost over 80 lbs in past few years and most recently 54 of those pounds in the past 10 months. I've decided it is time that I take control of my weight for myself first and then hopefully be a good role model for my staff and students (I'm a School Nurse). How have I been able to do this? I joined Weight Watchers 10 months ago and it has been a life changer. I truly believe in the program and all the support it offers. As most people I have been on many different diets including WW. This time it just seemed to click. Not that it is always easy but if you are ready to invest in yourself to improve yourself...it will work.
Weight Watchers really strive to remind you that once you join its a "lifestyle" and not a "diet". In whatever way you choose to lose weight (and there are many good programs out there), it is important to remember you need to do this for YOURSELF first!
Good Luck with how ever you choose to be "more healthy".