[Anonymous]

Seriously, how do people do this? I’m really lucky in that my manager is okay with me carving out a couple of hours in the workday to study a little but summer is normally the busiest time for me at work (Internal Audit) so I’ve got a lot going on there. I’m scheduled to sit for BEC on July 3rd but a work trip to Italy in mid-July may just be done remotely now so I can potentially move it back a week. Anyways, regardless, I have to study really intensely the next few weeks. When I get really busy, I tend to put off exercising and eat crappy food, but I can’t do that without feeling terrible. As I get into my mid to late twenties, I’m realizing that I can’t eat fast food frequently and NOT feel like crap 🙂

How do you balance working out with everything else going on in life, plus manage to work out, eat right, AND get enough sleep? Does anyone find that going to the gym at lunch works better?

[mla1169]

Walk listening to audio or if you're able to read on the treadmill do that. I can't grasp the concept of “not having time” to eat healthy. Takes longer to order at a drive through than it does to throw together a salad and throw some chicken or shrimp on a foreman grill which can also be done while listening to audio.

FAR- 77
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[Anonymous]

I recommend buying a supplement. I use muscle pharm iron cuts, thermogenic to boosts metabolism which makes you burn off more calories in a normal day, gives you good energy and focus while also curbing your appetite to make you eat less. I mean i workout everyday but other then that i'm sitting in a chair for the most part so it helps.

[Anonymous]

When I work out, I like to really work out. An hour of spin plus 30 minutes of weights- I have to sweat in order to destress 🙂 Sometimes a walk with my dog will help but I just feel so much better after a hard workout. It's just that I start feeling guilty about taking that much time off from studying. I think the hardest part about eating healthy is planning what you're going to make and going to the store. I don't do frozen meals which are obviously the easiest. You're right- it's easy and fast to get stuff together for a salad.

[jopa16]

I haven't hit the gym since I started studying. Not enough time. I just eat healthy. If you do it well enough you can do that alone and make it work.

REG 2/26/14 - 90
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AUD 7/09/14 -

[Anonymous]

@Jopa — Completely agree and has been what I've adopted since dealing with these exams. I don't have time to workout like I used to so to compensate I just eat extremely healthy. Between work and studying, I spend so much time sedentary that there's no way I wouldn't turn into jabba the hut without a solid diet.

[Anonymous]

I definitely have to work out while studying- it helps to clear my brain and decompress from work/studying. Even if it's just 20 minutes of HIIT, I have to do something active at least 5X per week. It's tough to fit in but necessary for my own sanity.

[Anonymous]

With time being a precious commodity, I try to run a couple of times a week. That's all I can squeeze in. Once I'm done with these exams, I'm renewing my gym membership.

[Skynet]

Hook up to an IV drip bag filled with 5 hour energy.

AUD - 90
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World Domination Plan

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Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
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World Domination Plan

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Phase V : TBA

[Anonymous]

I find an hour workout sandwiched between two 90 minute study sessions to be a lot better than a three (or four) hour study session. I retain more. I don't get mindnumb.

Let's be honest. After about hour two, studying is generally a fruitless endeavor for most people. For me, continuing on would simply be an exercise in self-punishment. Well-intentioned but needless martyrdom.

[Kimboroni]

It is really hard to work out and eat well while studying, but it's worth it since it makes your brain more effective, and hopefully that decreases the number of months overall that you have to do it for.

I work from 8a to 5p weekdays, then most weekday evenings I work out at least 1½ hours somewhere in the 5:30p to 9p range, depending on what I have planned (Zumba, martial arts, various strength training classes). Then I study for 1-2 hours and watch a little TV, then go to bed. Saturday mornings I work out for 2 hours, study much of the day, and then often go out salsa dancing Saturday night. Sundays I sleep in then study a lot more.

I am nuts. I have a schedule each month that shows what workouts I'm doing and when. But it keeps me on track, like a contract with myself that that's what I'm going to do.

As far as nutrition, there are almost as many pre-prepared healthy options now as there are unhealthy ones. Here are several ideas to try:

cherry tomatoes

sugar snap peas

pre-cut apple slices (Costco sells a nice size container for not too much money)

steam in bag veggies

baby carrots

Foster Farms grilled chicken strips (either fresh or frozen)

Amy's pizza snacks

bagged lettuce mixes

A lot of things can be quickly microwaved now. And there are snack foods that you can grab and much on, like the baby carrots.

It is really hard– it takes a lot of planning. But you can do it.

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Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[nicole2035]

i learned to be REALISTIC, so i've began doing cardio for 15-20 mins in the morning for when i work @ least 3 times a week. it's hard to cut yourself off at 15 but i do it, then go stretch (pls get a foam roller, they are AMAZING for back and neck tension).Then during weekends when i have more time i do weight training for 45-1 hr.

I will also begin taking a 15 min break at work to walk and clear my head

[skyraptor]

When I first started studying, balancing all three was tough. I used to workout after I got home from work, but found that by the time I finish my workout, eat & cook dinner, it would almost be time to sleep. I started studying in January and then stopped going to gym because I found myself sleeping really late. And then I'd have work the next day, and would be so tired during the day.

So I just recently rebooted my gym workout again, and am switching things up. I now wake up super early at around 5:30am, workout for about an hour, eat breakfast, then get into work at 8:30am. I'm in private industry for a couple of more months, so I'm limited to 8 hr days and will leave work by 5:30pm. I'll grab dinner, then study for a bit, then go to sleep. If I get in bed between 11pm-12am, I'm good for the day.

I found that working out is an absolutely must. My waist size already increased by 3 sizes since studying in January and I already put on about 15 lbs. The worst part is that I'm not even in public accounting yet until August.

It's hard, but find a schedule that works, and you'll enjoy it! It's a crazy schedule, but I love it. Since I started working out again, my mind is more focused, I feel more engaged, and definitely not as stressed out studying for these exams.

[Author]

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