Hi everyone!

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heathercb04

heathercb04

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Hello to all of you, my name is Heather. I'm 24 years old, and work as an ICU nurse (just transferred to the ICU last night! super excited). I've been kinda halfheartedly searching around the web for some kind of weight loss forum that was supportive and helpful in reaching a goal, and i think I've found it! I'm currently 5'6 and 188 lbs. This isn't the heaviest I have ever been, since i have lost 15 lbs in the past two months. I quit smoking in August, and found that the rumors were true - you definitely gain weight after quitting. I just needed that feeling of satiety and the whole 'oral fixation' thing after I quit, so I didn't pay attention to what I ate. Definitely paid for it for the next three months. So I then decided to approach weight loss the way I approached quitting smoking. I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted for a whole month, and not go to the gym. After that, I made myself a meal plan and an exercise schedule that I'm proud to say I have really stuck with. But now that I'm nearly 2 months into my little program, I find that I'm starting to run out of my energetic steam. I need some more motivation and support! When quitting smoking, I joined a website called quitnet and it REALLY helped me to stick towards my goal. So I'm thinking that I can do a similar thing with weight loss!!

I'd really like to get back to the 135 I was in high school. . . . . .but it kinda makes me nervous to think about losing that much weight and how hard it will be. So I definitely need some support!!!

Sorry, this is really long, but I'm excited about joining. :) So. . . .*waves* hello everyone!
 
Hi Heather

I think it sounds like you've got a good thing going, you're making progress, keep it up!
What kind of meal plan & exercize are you doing?
I just joined here today too.
Your job sounds exciting, have you ever worked NICU? I have too much (16 weeks worth) experience there (as a parent!).
Keep up the good work!!
Jen
 
Hi hun! Glad you found us!

My sis in law is a nurse and I was an aid for 5 yrs, its hard work, my hats off to ya!

Don't worry about the whole picture when it comes to your weight, just take it in 5 or 10 pd goals. That will make it alot easier!

You might want to start a diary here, it helps you to keep track of your caloires/excersize and helps us keep track of ya :)

Good luck, let me know if i can help you at all!
 
Hi Jen!

The meal plan I'm doing is mostly just taking out the fat content that was in my diet and adding a lot of whole grain, fruits and vegetables and lean meat. Lots of fruits as snack food, chicken breast, and green leafy veggies. The exercise plan includes various cardiovascular activities at my local gym including treadmill, stairmaster, elliptical, bike and crosstrainer. Then I do weight training for legs, back and arms, and abdominal work.

I worked with a personal trainer last year which helped me a lot to create my own plan (in a LOT less money!!!).

And i love my job so far, even though it's only the first day. I love nursing in general, it's a fantastic field to be in. I'm sorry to hear that you have had to be near a NICU as a parent for so long!!!! :( Is that the neonatal ICU or the neurological? Either way, I hope that your child has nothing but the best nurses taking care of him/her.
 
Heather, do you have a journal here yet? I think your plan sounds great, and I'd love to get a few ideas.
I have had 4 kids in the NICU (neonatal ICU). One for 10 days, one for 7.5 weeks, another 3 weeks, and another one 7.5 weeks. And none are currently there, this was a few years ago. I feel like I could work there too now! Just kidding, I have no real medical training.
How was your first ICU day? What department did you work in before this?
Jen
 
Welcome!

ICU Nurse, good for you, what a rewarding profession.

Just hang here and you'll be off and running in no time!! Lots of support!

cheers
michelle
 
welcome heather glad you found us! We are like a big family and we will help all we can I know! Congrads on your success so far!
 
Hey Jen!

I'm so sorry to hear about your extensive time spent in the NICU! I've only done rotations there as a student, but i remember the anguish that parents go through when their children are hospitalized. My first nights in the ICU have been nothing short of more than I anticipated. I love it there. it's so interesting all of the time, and there is so much to learn! Love it. I got really sick of the stupidity that came with med/surg floors. . . . . .the stuff that goes along with those kinds of floors can be sooooo frustrating.

I did start a journal! I'm actually on here right now to update said journal. So feel free to browse my amazing. . . two entries. I'm going to try reeeally really hard to update on a daily basis, even if it's just for a one or two line update.

Feel free to PM me whenever you want, or comment away on my journal! this website is so much fun, I'm really enjoying myself here!
 
thank you so much to everyone for your welcoming! i'm excited with everything i see here, and i like how wonderful and supportive everyone is!
 
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