Students under stress?

Hi everyone,

I'm a medical student just coming up to final exams. These exams are hugely weighted (if you fail, you have to repeat the entire year with the class below you) and the work load has been really heavy this semester.

I have started dedicating all of my time to study, because it is really the only way that I ever achieve anything - becoming obsessed with it. I would much rather be a balanced person but it seems that I find that more challenging than being extreme, unfortunately.

Anyway, because I have been spending every waking moment studying or doing assignments, I have stopped exercising (initially this went from 5x a week down to 2x...but now it has kind of fizzled out completely) and have been eating more. I am already starting to feel a bit more pudgy (its only been 2 weeks so there hasn't been any huge damage) and I am really freaked out by the prospect of gaining. The stress of exams has been really bothering me - I've had problems with insomnia, anxiety...blah blah...and on top of it, there's this feeling that I'm gaining weight and theres nothing I can do about it. Traditionally I gain weight during exams, and I guess in my mind it's inevitable.

I know this is NOT logical and it ultimately is under my control, but when I am under stress logic just seems to fade away. I don't really know what I'm asking by posting this, because the answers to prevent weight gain are obvious.

I guess what I'm looking for is confidence. This semester has been a real bash to my ego, my whole life revolves around study and although it is only temporary, it really depresses me. I am trying to work on being more positive but sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in all the work they've been piling on...I start feeling sorry for myself, and like I need a slap in the face. Anyway, I have 6 weeks left of intense stress and I cannot afford to gain another pound.

I thought about trying to eat maintainance but this never works for me. Like I said, I'm all or nothing. I have to either be dieting, or eating poorly. I know this is a problem in itself but its not going to be an issue I can tackle until exams are over, so I will just have to work with it for now. I thought about doing more exercise, because I do love it, but I find it hard to find time. I am at university from 9am to 9pm every day, and will be for the next 6 weeks. This includes weekends. I figure I could at best do 2 hours a week...but like I said, I find this hard because I feel like it's not enough, and I'd almost rather do none. Ridiculous I know.

If I was to have a 500 calorie deficit every day for the next 6 weeks, I would supposedly lose 6 pounds. I know it might sound silly to be focusing on weight loss when I am supposed to be totally focused on study, but it really is the only alternative to gaining weight. And it will help me to eat properly during exams - something I struggle with particularly towards the end when stress starts soaring and I literally couldn't give a crap about my weight (until the next day of course). Eating heaps of sugar doesn't do wonders for my concentration either.

So...this entire thing has been a bit of a stream of consciousness, and it really could have just been a diary entry. I guess I just want someone to tell me that I can do it, that they've had similar problems and come out on top. I need some confidence :S

I don't even know where to start.  I've never been to medical school... but I did do four years of engineering school... so I can at least empathize with large amount of pressure and homework and tests and whatnot.

However, I will say this... find time to talk to someone about it.  This mentality of "I can only diet or eat poorly" is a dangerous road to walk on... and the long term effects of gaining and losing the weight again isn't worth it. 

2 hours a week of what? Exercise?  That's 30 minutes of exercising 4 days a week.  That's enough.  Why isn't it?  You need to examine WHY you think it's one way or the other and tackle that.

Regardless of your choices, I wish you the best of luck on exams and hang in there.  The 6 weeks will go by faster than you think it will.

So....being a med student... you obviously understand the importance of eating nutritious balanced foods and reducing the amount of stress to enable your brain to function at its peak levels for studying, right? Why not focus less on calories and losing weight and just take the next 6 weeks and eat HEALTHY, nutritous, balanced foods. veggies, fruits, grains, lean proteins, dairy.. its not brain surgery...only keep on hand nutritous foods...bring carrots, celery, apples, nuts to snack on at school, avoid the cafeteria or food court...you have to get rid of that ALL or NOTHING "I can only be eating poorly or dieting" attitude. its not going to get you far...especially once you get out of med school...

I'm currently seperated from my wife, awaiting divorce papers, filing bankrupcty, and losing my house.  Stress? yeh I have plenty.  I still exercise four to five times a week.  Make the time.  I think at this point, it's better for my mind than my body. 

Just doing it is better than worrying about it.  Or if you want to just worry about it, know it's only a short perioid in your life, and you will find a regular schedule once you complete your school.  I have a feeling though that your profession will require long hours from here on out, so I'd suggest starting a routine now that allows you to get some form of exercise time in each day.

I know exactly what you are going through.  I am a nursing student in my last year (yeah!!!!) and I am in the same boat as you, if I fail a semester I am put with the class behind me (I started in Winter and their is no incoming Spring class so that puts me almost 8 months behind in graduating, it has already happened to 6 out of our original 30).  My first year that I actually got into the program after my prereqs, I gained (as well as a lot of my class) almost 25 pounds and felt awful. I am now beginning to lose it (18 pounds down!) and I am now just starting back in the program again for fall to finish it up.  I think that it was the total stress in my life overall that contributed to my weight gain, not just school.  So, over the summer I did some personal "housecleaning"- I got out of an unhealthy relationship (and we were living together, moved out) and I really started to begin to get a better conscious relationship with my higher power, I gave up drinking entirely and mended relationships that needed mending and gave up ones that were only adding unneeded/wanted stress in my life.  Now, I don't have as many things to stress about and many of the stresses of school have melted aways and it just seems to be more of a joy than anything else because I really love and am passionate about being a nurse and caring for people.  Know that you are going to function better and live more happily if you are grateful for your body and feed it in a healthy way.  Make your goal to be healthy and eat to live your life instead of living your life to think about eating (don't know if that make sense) and you will probably lose weight anyway if you are overweight.  I just read your post and really felt where you were coming from, so I hope you do well this year and know that what you are doing right now as far as medical school is temporary and so much more important than stressing about losing some lbs, you are educating yourself to help people for the rest of your life so ease up on yourself a bit!

To quote from Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde:

Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.

College is tough and it takes a lot out of you.  The exercise will HELP you survive exams, and help you think clearly, not just help you lose weight.

Think of it this way.  You aren't just feeding and exercising your body, it affects your brain as well.  If you can't focus on loosing weight right now, then focus on what will help you learn.  Junk food is not going to help you think.  It will give you a carb rush, then your blood sugar will drop and you will be tired and unable to think.  Healthy meals that include protein and fiber are going to give you a steady burn that will keep your energy level stable and let you focus on your studies.  Likewise, a bit of exercise, even if its only 15 minutes of bopping around with your favorite music video, is going to wake you up and keep your brain working.

One last thought - my daughter is currently studying Chemical Engineering.  Some excellent advice she said she got from an upper-classman is to have one day a week where you don't study, and to find a creative outlet.  (How about dance?)   You NEED a break.  You NEED to take time to relax and not think about school.  Your brian NEEDS time to assimilate all that information you are stuffing into it without you constantly stuffing in more.

Well, I'm not in med school, but I am in high school which is stressful in a variety of ways. Which boy will ask you out, which college will accept you, how you'll do on the SATs, loads of AP homework, frustration with parents, etc. I get pretty stressed out a lot of times.

I do take a gym class during the day, which really helps me feel much better, moving and working my muscles. Maybe try going to the gym or for a jog between classes? Also, just taking 10 minutes a night to lay down on my bed (not under the covers), lights off, soothing music coming through my headphones and just BREATHE. Focus on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. I've found that that helps me a lot in different situations.

Dude, you are WAY too stressed out about this test! If you have 6 weeks left, there is NO reason why you need to spend 12 hours at school 7 days/week.

You need to take a step back and realize that your mental health is more important than this test, or medical school. If you really are stressed out to the point that you have described, then you need to take some time out for yourself. Most medical schools have good mental health programs. Go get hooked up with a good counselor or therapist. At this point, I really think that would help you more than any amount of studying/dieting will.