Nursing student venting
crystalroselynn
Posts: 117 Member
So I'm currently at a weight of 310 and I'm in nursing school. Well Ive been doing some research and hospitals want their nurses to be around a 35 bmi and I am far from that. I feel like I don't have time to work out because of school.
Anyways I'm just extremely stressed out because not only am I in nursing school, but I have to lose at least 100 lbs to even be considered.
Positive note is that I do have 1-2 years to do so.
Anyways I'm just extremely stressed out because not only am I in nursing school, but I have to lose at least 100 lbs to even be considered.
Positive note is that I do have 1-2 years to do so.
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Replies
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Every job wants thinner people. It's the sad nature of humanity. There are studies after studies after studies showing even the thin/pretty kids in middle school get more attention from teachers as well as fewer negative consequences for bad behavior. The numbers get even worse if you're an overweight minority.
Don't let it get you down. You're on the right track, you have a plan, you're implementing it. All you have to do is stick with your plan. There is ALWAYS time to work out. You don't have to set aside two hours to do yoga and weight lifting every day, you're not trying to be an Olympian, you just need some extra calorie burn. Walk somewhere you would normally drive/bus/train. Watch TV while walking in place or stepping up and down on a stool like one of those goofy 80's work out videos. Read your course material while putzing along on a treadmill. It doesn't have to be huge. Baby steps.
My sister is a nursing student too, got her Associates/CNA already and is back in school for the Bachelors/RN. She's losing steadily by just making these small steps a part of her day. Granted, she does set aside an hour a day to do yoga, but she's a stress case, so it's not calorie burning hardcore yoga, it's for the chill.14 -
I'm an ER nurse, 3 kids. Youngest is 5 months old. Working full time and finishing my bachelors RN online with a clinical portion. I find time and schedule my workouts. I'm 75lbs down and I started losing weight two months before I started nursing school.13
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Losing weight is NOT about working out. It's about taking in fewer calories than you burn. You have plenty of time to eat less. You will run out of time for excuses though and yes, the American Public will hold you accountable for your health choices.
More importantly, YOU will suffer. Nursing is a physically demanding profession for the typical hospital/clinic nurse. Long, irregular hours on your feet moving, pushing, pulling overweight, obese and morbidly obese people that can't or won't help you. Feet, backs and shoulders (oh, my) can only take the stress for so long. Obesity will shorten your career (if it gets started at all) and being in chronic pain is no way to live life.
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It doesn't take any extra time to eat less. In face, it will save you time. All you need is a caloric deficit which can be created through diet, exercise or both.12
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I'm an ICU RN. I work 2 jobs ( one is prn). Not sure where you live but I've never been turned down for a job because of my weight. Nursing is VERY hard on the body. I wear a Fitbit and I clock 6k steps on a slow night. I've already had a back injury in my 11 years of nursing. I've lost 30lbs since May 18th mainly by watching my intake. If you want it, you'll find a way to make it happen. I was my smallest in nursing school because I exercised to deal with my stress. Good luck OP.8
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OP, the great news is that you have 1-2 years to lose 100 pounds. You will lose a lot at first, and then the loss will slow down. Keep plugging in your new stats to find your current TDEE as it will take less daily calories in as you get smaller. The final 20 pounds you might want to consider weighing the food to get more precise intake if you stall. The most important aspect after you get to goal is learning what your maintenance calories are and adjusting your intake. You can do this and will be an inspiration to the patients because you will be a success story!6
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crystalroselynn wrote: »So I'm currently at a weight of 310 and I'm in nursing school. Well Ive been doing some research and hospitals want their nurses to be around a 35 bmi and I am far from that. I feel like I don't have time to work out because of school.
Anyways I'm just extremely stressed out because not only am I in nursing school, but I have to lose at least 100 lbs to even be considered.
Positive note is that I do have 1-2 years to do so.
a BMI of 35 is still classed as very overweight... do you mean a BMI under 35?
aside from this though, are you saying you're happy and healthy at 310lbs and only want to lose weight because of the requirement for your job?5 -
I am a retired nurse, spent most of my career as an executive in the for-profit health care sector. Being overweight kept me from being promoted in three positions, and cost me my job in the best-paying role of my career. It was obvious to me that this was happening - yet I was "too busy" to take care of myself. If you remain overweight you will have three opportunities for loss and pain: 1) You will have a hard time getting a job. Overweight and doing patient care, you are a work-related injury, i.e., high risk for worker's compensation costs to your potential employers. This risk is a huge consideration in whether or not you will be hired. 2) Even if you are hired, it may not be for the position(s) you want. In today's market, nurses are supposed to be healthy role models, and an obese nurse doesn't fit the model. You may find that you are only offered 11-7 positions, and only positions in long-term care, areas where you will not be as "visible" or expected to be a role model of healthy health habits.
3) Doing patient care while obese takes a terrible toll on one's bones, especially the back and the feet. After you do the hard work to get through school, you may not last long in your career of choice. Back injuries are often career-ending. Three times during my career I lost enough weight to meet everyone's expectations, especially my own, but each time I gave up on exercising (walking) and regained the weight because I put a higher priority on work than on taking care of myself (which was valued more by my employers than the extra hours I put it). It seems like this is where you are finding yourself - too busy with nursing school to be a healthy nurse! I've had 2 foot surgeries, lower back surgery, and neck surgery. So I am 71, and am at a high weight, a point I have been at twice before. It is a point my body likes to be and I have no problem staying at this point - 203lbs. A healthy weight for my height and build is 145 lb. I have health issues that will not be resolved until I drop a lot of weight, so I am starting again, and I WILL find time to exercise, to WALK. Please do the same - walking just 30 minutes a day, even in 10 minute segments between your classes will get you going. Please read and follow the advice of DebSozo above. I will watch out for you in the postings, wishing you every success and happiness in your weight loss, nursing school, and career. God bless you for your commitment to being a nurse! Match that with your commitment to being a healthy, happy one!26 -
Great news for you.... 100 lbs divided by 2 years is .95 lb per week... eat 3500 calories less per week and you will be golden17
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OP, the great news is that you have 1-2 years to lose 100 pounds. You will lose a lot at first, and then the loss will slow down. Keep plugging in your new stats to find your current TDEE as it will take less daily calories in as you get smaller. The final 20 pounds you might want to consider weighing the food to get more precise intake if you stall. The most important aspect after you get to goal is learning what your maintenance calories are and adjusting your intake. You can do this and will be an inspiration to the patients because you will be a success story!
Great response.2 -
CoffeeNCardio wrote: »Every job wants thinner people. It's the sad nature of humanity. There are studies after studies after studies showing even the thin/pretty kids in middle school get more attention from teachers as well as fewer negative consequences for bad behavior. The numbers get even worse if you're an overweight minority. l.
As others have said I would think the weight guidelines are more for the protection of the nurse and the employer. Nursing can be hard physical labor, not good for someone significantly in the obese range
For the OP as othera have ssid, your have a long time, a pound a week is very doable. Check out how much time outside of school and work you spend on a screen and reevaluate whether or not you have time to exercise. Your calorie intake will be the big thing with weight loss but exrevise will help and it will get you stronger for your career
Best of luck
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OP, you can do it. People figure out how to fit in exercise and weight loss with even crazier schedules then yours. Right now, it's only an excuse that will keep you from even starting. I originally lost 50+ lbs while in graduate school, working, and then taking care of my mother when she was diagnosed with cancer. If I can lose weight and exercise doing that, then you can do it while in nursing school.
Heck, I have recently lost 24lbs without any exercise while working three jobs!
See, it can be done. You just have to want to do it.1 -
Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.6 -
crystalroselynn wrote: »So I'm currently at a weight of 310 and I'm in nursing school. Well Ive been doing some research and hospitals want their nurses to be around a 35 bmi and I am far from that. I feel like I don't have time to work out because of school.
Anyways I'm just extremely stressed out because not only am I in nursing school, but I have to lose at least 100 lbs to even be considered.
Positive note is that I do have 1-2 years to do so.
I used to be an emotional eater but now I manage stress with exercise.
Do you have an activity tracker like a fitbit? I find mine very motivating and helpful to gradually increase walking. It's easy to fit in extra steps here and there, and they add up. My fitbit gave me 300 calories for Sunday when I was just doing normal things like errands (which did involve a lot of walking, but my point is I was able to fit this in without effort.)
I worked to find breakfasts and lunches that fill me up for a moderate amount of calories and find it less stressful to mostly eat the same thing for these meals every day. I express my food creativity with dinner a few nights per week, and have leftovers the other day. With planning, I have little urge to reach for high calorie hyper-palatable foods.3 -
trigden1991 wrote: »It doesn't take any extra time to eat less. In face, it will save you time. All you need is a caloric deficit which can be created through diet, exercise or both.
Well, doing the planning and developing new habits does take more time initially. But once that's done, then yes.1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »trigden1991 wrote: »It doesn't take any extra time to eat less. In face, it will save you time. All you need is a caloric deficit which can be created through diet, exercise or both.
Well, doing the planning and developing new habits does take more time initially. But once that's done, then yes.
Fully agree! The initial period is time consuming but once good habits are formed it is time saving (in my experience anyway).0 -
Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
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crystalroselynn wrote: »Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
My tip - you don't really need to worry about exercise at this point at all. Ideally? Sure. But weight is lost primarily in the kitchen. Set up MFP to lose 1-1.5 lbs per week, log your food, stick to your calorie goal, and viola! You will lose weight. That's all there is to it. As you get closer to where you need to be, you may find you feel more energetic and you may find ways to work in more activity. But right now the main focus should be on your diet anyway. So take care of that and don't worry about finding time for workouts. Just my $0.02. The good news is you recognized the issue with plenty of time to do someone about it!
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crystalroselynn wrote: »Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
Do you work in addition to school, care for children or other family members, etc? Typically a full load at college is considered 18 hours and assumed 2 hours of study per hour in class so that gets you to 52 hours, round up to 60, you have 108 hours left in a week.
Not trying to be mean or judgemental, just suggesting that you take an honest look at how you are spending your time. If you are rrally spending all your time with school and can't find time for anything else you may want to get some help with study skills
As has been mentioned, your diet will be the biggest factor in wright loss, but movement will help with calories burned and general health.
Best of luck.2 -
Eat for weight loss and walk for mental health, especially if you are stressed. Just wake up 30 min eairlier and go for a 15/20 min walk. You will thank yourself later. I3
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crystalroselynn wrote: »Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
It's a shame @crystalroselynn that of all the posts, you focused on this one.11 -
crystalroselynn wrote: »So I'm currently at a weight of 310 and I'm in nursing school. Well Ive been doing some research and hospitals want their nurses to be around a 35 bmi and I am far from that. I feel like I don't have time to work out because of school.
Anyways I'm just extremely stressed out because not only am I in nursing school, but I have to lose at least 100 lbs to even be considered.
Positive note is that I do have 1-2 years to do so.
Exercise, while healthy for you, is not necessary for weight loss. All that is necessary is a calorie deficit. Set up your profile here, eat the calorie goal it gives you measuring carefully, and you will lose weight.5 -
crystalroselynn wrote: »Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
I don't have spare time where I just sit and watch tv, either. But I make time for it and if this is important to you then you will, too. That being said, working out is not necessary to lose lbs but it is necessary for fitness. Maybe start out slow by moving a bit more throughout the day. Walk everywhere if you can. Heck, walk in place while you are reading something. Every little bit helps.2 -
Take a break from your studies and go for a short walk every night, earn those extra steps and link it to your MFP diary. Get a cheap fitbit or similar device and see how much steps you can fit in a day. You can add people on here or do little competitions with your friends. Park further away and walk rather than trying to find the closest spot. You don't have to go to the gym!
Going for a walk is not a waste of time either - it's an investment in yourself. There's only so much time you can spend staring at books. Put on a health, nutrition or diet related podcast if you want to continue to learn as you walk. Or, go with your nursing friends at school for a walk at lunch and talk about what you learned in school. You can get audio books in Amazon to listen to that may be related to nursing or just use this time as a mental detox, relax and listen to music.
How's your regular diet, do you find yourself hungry a lot? Are you looking for food advice or just how to fit in a little exercise?3 -
You are receiving tips and support! People are telling you that you can do it, its possible, and giving advice on finding places to get some movement/exercise in.
I'm a single dad of 2 who works full time. I work out on my lunch. I would love to have that time to myself, but I know that exercise is more important, mostly so I can keep up with my kids! Haha. If you want it bad enough, you will make it work. And don't underestimate the power of positive thinking
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I'm a grad student, working on my PhD in Chemistry. During the semester, I don't really "have time" to exercise, so I get up earlier in the morning to walk for two miles on the days I don't have 8am classes. I have an hour commute each way, take graduate classes, and teach 250 university students. You have to make time, I know from experience. I'm currently down 70lbs of the 200lbs I need to lose.
And, if it comes down to it, exercise isn't necessary for weight loss. It's amazing, and I find it helps me, and it's a great stress reliever during long study sessions when I want to munch on chips while redrawing chemical structures for the millionth time. But you don't have to exercise to lose weight, you just have to eat less.12 -
Wanted to add something, and op please take this in the spirit it is intended, I'm not judging- you are a female who is over 300lbs. Unless you are exceptionally tall, that means you are carrying around a good 150 extra lbs. Just your normal day to day activities are already hard on your joints and circulatory system (you're a nursing student, you should know this). Talk to your doctor, of course, but I'd think you are better off losing at least some of the weight before even considering upping your activity level. Your heart and your knees will thank you. Focus on the food. Once you've lost 50-60 lbs and checked with your doctor, then you can contemplate fitting in workouts. Just my layperson's opinion.13
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Hi OP, I am also a nurse and know what you mean about finding it difficult to fit in exercise around working and training, it's amazing how draining studying is too! There's also the extra challenge of eating on a student budget. Definitely agree with what others have said - you CAN do this! Plan ahead with your meals so you don't end up eating junk when you're busy or tired...and say no to all the treats that always manage to find their way to the staff rooms... maybe treat the weight loss as just another part of your nursing journey. You got this 0
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crystalroselynn wrote: »Not sure how you expect to be a nurse (on your feet all day, turning and moving people, doing a very active job) if you don't consider any exercise.....Size (and the health issues that go with it) aside, how do you expect to have the stamina and fitness level a job like that requires?
You CAN fit in 20 minutes a day, and you can walk to and from classes - wont take that long....And as others said, eating less won't take that much time......It sounds like you are looking for excuses.
Ok so first off that came off kind of rude. I know what the job entails. I was just trying to say that school is very stressful and I try to dedicate every minute I have to it. I don't have any spare time where I just sit and watch tv. Yes I can walk class to class but I can't walk from my house to class... That's a very far distance. I know about the eating part. I'm looking for tips and support. Not criticism. Thanks
I'm sorry if you interpret my post as rude - it was meant to be honest, not rude. Maybe you should try being honest with yourself too? The fact is - I know many students with full case loads, part time jobs, (sometimes more than one job), social lives and good marks, and they still manage to find time to pack a lunch at home, get some sort of exercise and eat healthy.
Even if you do not want to face it, you are preparing for a physical, stressful job that will require you to be healthy and fit - which you probably are not at this stage. Whining about hospitals not wanting to hire morbidly obese nurses, borders on blaming others, and using your studies as an excuse to not have time for exercise, is just that - an excuse.
Do what others suggest, concentrate on eating less and try to get a few walks a day in, you will be surprised how easy it is....
Good luck...17 -
My most successful time losing weight I was working a 50 hour a week job and going to school full time. Still found time to workout 4 times a week because I made me a priority. My whole life was making my life better and I was happy doing it. I actually backslid once I reached my goals because I didn't plan for success, but you can lose weight while going to school.
I may have looked silly, but I didn't care. I carried around a gallon jug of water at work. I kept easy snacks in my fridge and car. (Almonds, string cheese, protein bars, and I actually ate a lot of microwave meals like a lean cuisine or equivalent on sale).
As far as studying, I was a HUGE fan of flash cards. I must have made thousands of them. I took them on walks with me and studied them. My exercise doubled as studying. I even did it at the gym on the machines. (Again, I didn't care what others thought of what I looked like, this was all about me)11
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