Teachers who gained weight due to teaching!!

7elizamae

kooshky wrote: »

I have one more year before becoming a teacher. Maybe some of you can give me advice?

Don't go in the staff room. If you are teaching in a building full of women, there will likely be 'treats' in there more often than not.

I really am too busy to spend time putzing around the staff room eating donuts.

7elizamae

I'm an elementary teacher and fitbit wearer. I usually get between 5,000 and 7,000 steps per day. It's much harder to do that during the summer. Also, if you pack healthy snacks and stay away from the endless parade of treats and birthday cakes, weight management can be easier during the school year.

lilligraz22

hi, I am a teacher and director of a language school in Italy. I wish I could say it was only my job that made me gain weight. I am usually at school for an average of 12 hours a day. The thing is, if I had prepared meals ahead of time, woken up earlier to work out, skipped the glasses of wine cause I thought I deserved them for having to put up with the stress, I wouldn't have gained 20 lbs in the last three years. Time to focus on ourselves,guys because nobody else is going to do it for us.

kellyotero3591

Second grade teacher....I'd love to lose a size before going back late august. Back on here for accountability

wildfire1204

I'm a HS social worker. At the time that I joined MFP in January, I had the same issue--my eating patterns were terrible due to my unpredictable days/stress. After I got into a routine though, I dropped 35 lbs by May. I became too confident a bit too fast, stopped logging, and really slipped back into old habits this summer. I've gained back 9 lbs since May, so i'll def. say that i've learned the summers are a bit more challenging to manage. It's all good though--I'm still down 26 lbs, i've learned from this "break", and thats what matters. Feel free to add me if you're looking for supports on here.

diwijo13

hollyegan98 wrote: »

My problem is during the school year it was easy to eat away the stresses of teaching! I didn't do so bad during school hours! The problem was going out to eat and binge eating when I got home!

It's the opposite for me. I actually do much better during the school year. I ate at the same time everyday-breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert. Now I find myself snacking throughout the day and I'm eating out more. I'm not doing bad, it's just not as easy as it was during the school year. However, my exercise has improved-I can go to the gym in the morning when it's less crowded.
#iteach6thgrade

ithacabelle

I am struggling to change my eating/exercise patterns for the summer. Between February and June, I lost 37 pounds. One of my best moves during the school year was to drink a greek yogurt smoothie as soon as the students got on the bus to get over that afternoon slump and make it to work out after school before dinner. Now that it is summer, I am either out of town or struggling to make a routine. An extended family vacation was a trial (although I did not gain weight!), and the water zumba and aerobics classes I was doing are at an awkward time now that it is summer. Today was my first day at home in the summer, and I ended up sleeping in. I need the motivation to get up and at 'em. Perhaps you all can help!

hollyegan98

Cold turkey on sodas!!! Wow that is awesome! I have only had two mini cokes since starting and two coke zeros! I have found that added a line or lemon in my water seems to help! How often do you all weigh yourself? I do every three days so tomorrow is my third day! I hope to see a little bit difference! Fit Bit challenge app seems interesting might need to look into that! Today was a good run day...finally ran 20 minutes at 4.0 mph on the tredmill! My inner self keep reminding myself of my ultimate goal!

zbernie

@itoottheflute Have you tried stevia? Doesn't react the same way as other awe trees and comes in tons of flavors

hollyegan98

I haven't but my new favorite low calorie drinks are called Steaz and Honest Tea!

itootdaflute1

I will sometimes add true lime to a jug of water that i drink from during the day at school. I haven't tried stevia out of fear i might have the same reaction as sugar substitutes. I like the snapple sorta sweet tea (honest, that's the name). I have tried agave and like it but that stuff is expensive! My twin sister has tried many times in the last few months to quit drinking sodas in support of me...with no success. Sometimes I REALLY need a soda (stress) but I stick to my guns and distract myself with other things that need attention.

heidimathteacher

My biggest challenge during the school year is being disciplined to prepare meals on the week-end for the coming week. I'm trying to learn to make nutritious and easy meals during the summer that will help me next year!

tmbg1

I'm working on honest logging this summer... That and exercise every day... So far I have lost a pound.. Wish I could speed it up! I really need to drop as much as possible before school starts!

befit68

4-8 Band director here... I was beginning to think we teachers only have 6-8 weeks a year to get our "stuff" together. Last year I gained back 16 lbs "working" through lunches sitting at my computer... I've been logging on everyday busting my hump to get it in check! I've even made excuses to get moving several times a day. Thanks for starting this thread! You should make it a Group. We all need a little help come Conference time. In my case Concert time...

olasalo

Another university lecturer here, I put on 25 kilos (about 55 pounds) during the last year and a half of my PhD studies and I continue to comfort eat whenever I am nervous, which is often. I have very little motivation but because I am quite competitive I thought having a weight loss buddy trying to lose weight at the same time might be a good idea. Any thoughts/ideas/candidates?

RosemaryBronte

hollyegan98 wrote: »

I thought we could share websites and maybe use this forum as a tool for professional development!! Have any of you fellow teachers used flocabulary? It is probably one of my favorite teaching tools! Anyone else have any favorite websites to share? Oh and I am down 2.8 pounds since starting last Wednesday! I am trying to weigh in on every third day! 22.2 more to go for the lose 25 lbs before open house!

Flocabulary sounds interesting. Have you tried Kahoot? It's exciting and the students love it.

hollyegan98

A couple of my other fourth grade teachers used it and loved it!

tmbg1

Kahoot is great!

tmbg1

How are my fellow teachers doing this summer? I'm trying to lose as much as possible before school starts!! Hoping not to gain it back!

arditarose

Why do some of you think you gained weight "due to teaching"?

I'm asking because I'm starting my elementary school teaching position, this Friday actually (teacher training). I know my schedule is going to be way more hectic and life will be more stressful, but I assume since I understand CICO I should be fine as long as I prep my meals.

joolie1234

kristineceleste76 wrote: »

I've taught middle school for nine years. It is actually easier for me to maintain on MFP when I am at work. I have healthy snacks and bring my lunch to school (I have a microwave and fridge to help me). Because I stay so busy, I don't have time to think about food or munching. [...] Exercise helps me with that but I admit I am usually pretty tired at the end of the day so I don't get my exercise in as much as I would like to.

I struggle more during the summer. I am home all day with the snacks and chips that my boys eat. I also tend to socialize with friends a lot more during the summer, and that is a big downfall for me.

Me too, you took the words right out of my mouth! Its like we are twins

kaaty21190

Add me! New middle school teacher with same issue!

Jaymefirst

I love the idea of having other teachers for support! I teach 5th grade and find eating isn't my problem (stay away from the staff room) it's getting in my workouts. By the time I get home I'm exhausted! I do so much better during the summer. I have 35 days until back to reality! I would love to drop another 10#. Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like support! I'm also a Fitbit junkie if you want more Fitbit friends.

arditarose

I'm really nervous about my gym time when I start this job. I love power lifting and my training is pretty intense, especially since I'm training to compete. Hopefully I already have the habit formed and I'll be able to keep it up.

vespiquenn

arditarose wrote: »

I'm really nervous about my gym time when I start this job. I love power lifting and my training is pretty intense, especially since I'm training to compete. Hopefully I already have the habit formed and I'll be able to keep it up.

Just continue to keep gym time like any other scheduled event that you can't miss. I always went after school, because I have about an hour commute and do not do mornings. But try to fit it in when you can then try keeping it on a schedule. I'm assuming by training, you mean student teaching. I'm not going to lie, that was the easiest part for me because there's a lot a student teacher isn't responsible for yet. So keeping a schedule might be a tad easier during the training phase.

I personally gained weight my first year of teaching, but I had a lot of stress factors being in Wisconsin and Scott Walker essentially trying to make my position obsolete (art). So I gained 20lbs. Lost it all that summer and maintained this past school year while lifting weights. So everyone can do it. Just takes a bit of scheduling and motivation.

tmbg1

It's not the teaching that makes me gain weight. It is the stress and the lack of workout time... That causes me to fall back into bad habits... Not this year, though! I am ready to stay the course this year.

kad254

I'm in the same boat and am worried about starting up this new school year! Feel free to add me for support

Sabine_Stroehm

Former K-12 teacher and current university professor. I've always thought we had an advantage there: we're on our feet a lot, and have a relatively reasonable schedule.

When I was a younger teacher I ate way too much fast food. These days I pack my lunch and snacks most days, and find a hearty salad on the days I don't pack my own lunch/snacks.

I run before work, and do yoga/Pilates during the noon hour.

I bike/walk to work and back. I hear a fitbit. If I walk to work it's nearly 5k steps each way. If I ride, it's down hill on the way to work, and up hill on the way home (which is good, sweat wise lol).

When I run, I get about 9k steps during a run.

All in all, I feel pretty fortunate. It helps that I no longer like sweets, I'll admit. THAT makes life easier!

Lynzdee18

For me it was the stress and little sleep. I had a family, taught a subject that had sky high piles of marking and we owned a business with crazy hours that we lived in!

It. Gets. Better. Do one day at a time.....

velostervixen

Hi! HS chemistry teacher. I tend to gain in the summer because we are on the go so much we eat out a lot.