Too stressed out and backsliding

CathyS205
CathyS205 Posts: 20 Member
in Motivation and Support
I had lost about 30 lbs. almost a year ago, but then I came back to school and gained all of it back. Right now I am taking a summer anatomy and physiology class that is incredibly difficult. It is interesting, but I am super stressed out with the amount of info we need to remember (we are covering 30 weeks of material in 10), so my eating/sleeping/exercising habits have been pretty crappy. I have added on at least 15 more pounds from my previous highest weight and I feel miserable. I am trying to get back into the routine of healthy eating/exercising, but with my final and lab practical next week I don't really have time. I did get a workout in today after class, but tomorrow I will need to dedicate most of the day to studying in the lab. I keep telling myself that there is only 1 more week of this class and that I will get back to it as soon as it's over, but then I have a week off before starting Nursing school....I am praying that I will be able to have time to workout once nursing classes start, but I am feeling discouraged at the moment.

Replies

  • weightedfootsteps
    weightedfootsteps Posts: 4,349 Member
    Girl you know you can do it. You already proved you can! I loved the anatomy and physiology classes when I was in college. Just really interesting to learn the terms that apply to different parts of the body...its hard I know that...I made flash cards at one point...and I will tell you this...making the flashcards helped me more than actually using them...LOL.

    You got this girl! Just stick to your work and eat healthy...small exercises when you need a break help a lot! Good luck on your exams!!! :)
  • mahanaibu
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    Remind yourself that a food surplus does not really give you energy. It drags you down and plays havoc with your blood sugar. Repeat as needed. (with me that would be about every 5 seconds)

    Drink some hot tea. The sipping, the warmth, are soothing and give your hands something to do.

    You're halfway there--you're realizing it's the stress. Are there any other steps you could take to alleviate the stress? A 10-minute hot bath? A few minutes of deep breathing? A friend to rub your shoulders and back for a few minutes? A couple of minutes running in place?
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Just try.
    Once the days of exams and school are over, there are still going to be stressful events. Just try. Start with small things and keep going from there.
  • emmajo99
    emmajo99 Posts: 6 Member
    I am in the same boat as you! I am also taking an intensive Anatomy and Physiology course (2 quarters worth of material in 9 weeks) this summer! I've only just decided to change my lifestyle a month ago and boy is it hard to do when you are so stressed with school. I only have one week left as well, but I am feeling the burn-out both in my diet and my coursework. I know I gained a couple pounds over the past week because I just did not have the energy to pay attention to calories. I just hope I have enough energy to ace the last practical!

    Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this crazy whirlwind of A&P AND weight-loss! Good luck with your last practical and final, and in nursing school! Congrats!
  • CathyS205
    CathyS205 Posts: 20 Member
    Thank you all. I know there will always be stressors, whether it be school or work or relationships. I know the world isn't perfect and it never will be. I guess I just needed to vent, but I am grateful for the comments and advice. You're all wonderful!
  • kelseyhere
    kelseyhere Posts: 1,123 Member
    You just need to get back in the habit and make exercising a part of your routine. Try committing to at least 10 minutes of exercise, if you feel good after 10 minutes, keep going until you hit 30 or 40 minutes. Sometimes it's hard to convince ourselves we have an hour, but once you get started you remember the endorphin high and don't want to stop.

    Also don't forget working out is just about THE best natural stress reliever around. No pill, snack, etc. is going to give you the same stress relief a good weight lifting session, kick boxing class or run will. Working out after studying has been proven helpful in brain function. When you workout after studying your brain keeps processing the information, helping to cement it in place. PLus don't forget about SLEEP - so important to perform well on exams and also to retain info. after studying. But good sleep doesn't come without you guessed it, working out!!

    School and exercise go hand in hand. Work bits into your day. Maybe take a break in the lab every hour and do 25 squats, 25 push-ups, 25 jumping jacks and a 5 minute walk. Short little bursts throughout the day will keep your energy up and help you focus.

    Your class will be over soon but stress is part of life, use exercise as your way of com combating the stress.
  • KiwiJewels
    KiwiJewels Posts: 36 Member
    Even if you can't find the time to exercise, if you try and watch what you eat that will definitely help!

    You can also try and get peripheral exercise - i.e. take the stairs wherever you can, pace up and down when you're talking on the phone, stuff like that. Every little bit counts - I read an article that increased the food of a group of people, and the ones that DIDN'T put on weight (even though they weren't allowed to do formal exercise) were the stairs takers and fidgeters :-)

    Sometimes, even though we don't feel like we have the time, if we just take a quick break and go outside for a 10 minute walk, or whatever, it ups our productivity anyway so we're more efficient when we come back and that break time hasn't impacted at all.

    With your food, try and put aside a little time to be pre-organised so that when you are in a hurry and just have to "grab and go", you have healthy choices available, not just quick and easy junk food (I just can't have that stuff in the house or I'll just eat it!). Pre-package portion sizes so you don't overeat, maybe make double of things and freeze a portion for the days when you just don't have the time, have pre-packaged meals that are still healthy, fruit and veges on hand, whatever is going to work for you...

    And don't beat yourself up about it too much - that just adds more stress - you'll get there, you might just have to take baby steps for a while :-) And make sure whatever workouts you are trying to fit in are things that you actually enjoy, you're not just forcing yourself to go because you feel you should. You can always add walking a dog and dancing and zumba and water aerobics and whatever else your little mind can dream up to keep it real and interesting and fun.

    Hang in there, you can do it!!!
  • suppakana
    suppakana Posts: 307 Member
    Want my advice?

    Stop trying to work out.

    You say you're already incredibly stressed... Trying to fit one more thing into your schedule's not going to help that at all.

    If you can, take five minutes to yourself a day and just meditate - it sounds dumb, but try to forget everything that's stressing you, and then systematically work on it.

    Right now? Fitness can wait; you have school. As far as food goes, just try to stick with healthier options (for instance. HAVE to go fast food? Get the grilled chicken, not the hamburger.).... Every little bit helps.

    Sounds like you're doing pretty well in your classes, even if they're stressing the **** out of you. Focus on that. Rather than saying "I'm bad at this, that, the other thing, and this thing :(" say "I've got ALLLL this going on!... And I'm still getting [insert grade here] in this class. I'm awesome."

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