I was getting requests for a thread like this - so here it is!
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Jeff - another71.com
onlineadminPosted 9 months ago # -
kperrucci
offlineMemberI've discovered a great way to avoid my obsessive study snacking. Study at a library that does not allow any food or drink in the building. They don't even allow water! Ok, so maybe I'm a little dehydrated, but at least I'm not sitting here eating chips and chocolate all day long. haha. The CPA exam is not good for my health
FAR 4/9/2011: 88 (Becker)
AUD 5/16/2011: 88 (Becker)
REG 7/1/2011: 82 (Becker)
BEC 8/3/2011: 91 (Becker and Ninja)Posted 9 months ago # -
yankeeaccountant
offlineMemberFor me, I make it a point to continue exercising. So, in that spirit, I go to spin class with my Becker notecards. I know this sounds crazy, but I figure if I can get a few things out of it, then it is time well spent...and multitasking at its finest! I also read through my notes and/or Becker notecards on the elliptical. These are about the only exercises I can do while studying--for me, anything else, and I would probably fall on my face.
Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberExercising went out the door for this testing window and the 8 lbs I've gained proves it. I've tried to study and workout but it doesn't work for me. So I said to myself I'll get back into working out when September comes along.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
valueofnothing
offlineMemberi dont know how anyone could study all day and not break it up with something like exercising. maybe working full time with evening studying means there isn't time to get to a gym... but even when i was studying 6-8hrs/day before my last exam, the gym is the one primary other activity i'd have.
REG - 81
BEC - 88
AUD - 85
FAR - 81Posted 9 months ago # -
ROACH
offlineMemberI hit the gym monday, thrusday, saturday.
here's a quick tip: fish oil... buy in bulk. costco.
keeps your joints, heart, and mind in good shape. i have bad knees, shoulders, elbows etc.. it keeps my joints for inflaming
i take 8 tabs a day... gonna up it to 10-12.
fish is brain food so I take fish oil and caffeine before I study and I eat fish and chicken all day.
BEC - 66 (2/29/12) Retake on 5/1/12
AUD - (5/31/12)
FAR -
REG -Posted 9 months ago # -
nolifecpa
offlineMemberi run 3 miles around the neighborhood every morning at 6am and try to hit the weights on the weekends. exercise takes away some of the stress of studying.
for me, if i get fat and look like crap, i feel like crap, which adds on to the crappy feeling i already have from studying
REG-65,71,74,73,70,74,79
BEC-60's,60's,69,71,76
FAR-67 (TBD)
AUD-54,60's,65,83Posted 9 months ago # -
mla1169
offlineMemberRoach can I ask a personal and gross question? I have tried MANY times to take fish oil, but the burping just really kills it every time. I've heard there are caps that do not have that effect but haven't found them and have been too lazy to order them. Do you have a trick?
FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75
If I can do this, YOU can do this! Hang in there :)Posted 9 months ago # -
kb24
offlineModerator@ROACH
I'm the queen of knee pain having had 6 surgeries on my knees (3 on each) with the most recent being last fall to remove torn cartilage. As a result of all the surgery I have quite a bit of stiffness and pain. Two things I've found that help are supplements to reduce inflammation levels that I order online. One is a combination of alpha lipoic acid & acetyl l-carnitine HCl (vitacost) and the other is zyflamed (Amazon). While I still have some pain, it's much better than before.@mla1169
I've seen burpless fish oil at Target. I've never tried it because I don't have the problem so I don't know how effective it is.FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85Posted 9 months ago # -
ROACH
offlineMembermla, I haven't really notice the burping tbh. i sometimes can taste the fish oil in my mouth hours after but that doesn't really bug me. the benefits do overweight the burpings. try amazzon and read the labels for non-burps.
BEC - 66 (2/29/12) Retake on 5/1/12
AUD - (5/31/12)
FAR -
REG -Posted 9 months ago # -
Allyson
offlineModeratorROACH, That is a lot of fish oil. I take about 1200mg a day. I tried more but the huge horse pill made me gag.
I also take ginkgo biloba for memory. I really think it helps.
I try to excercise regularly but lately it's been 2 or 3 times a week. It gives me energy and I require less caffeine.
Have you heard of the "Secretrary Spread"? That's getting a big ass from sitting down at a desk all day. I'm getting "Studying Spread".
FAR - 69, 64, 67, 80
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72, 78
REG - 75 (lost credit, retake 89)Posted 9 months ago # -
Thefacta
offlineMemberI truly believed exercise played a huge role in my passing tests. I would studying much of the day then make sure I worked out or played basketball for at least an hour of each day during the week. This normally occurred during the evenings after I was already brain dead and needed an energy boost.
During the weekend, I would study and allow myself to enjoy a movie or go drinking once.
@ Allyson - NO, please no secretary spread!!! Hahaha, funniest thing I've heard in awhile...
REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberAllyson -
I'm getting the "studying spread" for sure!!
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
WhyEvenTry
offlineMemberLMAO, that is a fish-oil free one at that.
Take what works for you, even if it may be a placebo affect. My Powerbalance bracelet & 5-hour energy drinking helped me pass. Yeah right, more like the powerbalance placebo and 5-hour caffeine rush.
I passed my exams, and made sure to keep my exercise as part of the process. No one studies 24 hours a day, so let's be honest, there is time for exercise. Sure....this may mean that you need to stop watching TV, or surfing the internet, or posting to another71.com (sorry Jeff). An hour of exercise a day, with Sunday's off, will lead to you be more energetic and have a sharper mind. I remained active in playing sports and exercise while studying. It was a stress releiver for me for sure. After my game or workout, then it was back to studying. But for that hour or so workout, my mind was clear and free from all distractions. My DVR did fill up, as I cut TV out. There were many days where I watched 0 mins of TV. I would rather study, workout, or hang with the Wifey.
BEC - 71, 74, 77 (Feb - 2011)
FAR - 73, 78 (Feb - 2011)
REG - 83 (Nov 2010)
AUD - 71, 84 (May 2011) - Done!! CPA licensed in TX (July 2011)Posted 9 months ago # -
IwannaBaCPA
offlineMemberOMG! I just died when I read your post mla1169!! Bahahahahahaha!!
I already had some weight I needed to get rid of before I began studying and had heard of people gaining 20-30 pounds during this whole process, so I certainly wanted to avoid that! I actually joined a local TOPS group and go to meetings once a week. I have lost every single week except 1 (a fluke!) and I am so glad I did this because I know I would have put on weight once I began studying.
Also, to keep more active, the hubby and I go Geocaching! I am not sure if any of you have ever done it, but it can be so much fun and can really get you outside exploring in places you would have never discovered...I take a break from the books once every few weeks to Geocache for an afternoon...so relaxing and nice to spend a few moments with the hubby :)
Posted 9 months ago # -
Allyson
offlineModerator@IwannaBaCPA, I've done some Geocaching before with my son. He was scared of snakes the whole time. I had to do most of it.
@WhyEvenTry, I'd rather watch TV than study any day. I can't wait to veg in front of the Food Network for at least an entire hour without the dark cloud of the exam over my head.
FAR - 69, 64, 67, 80
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72, 78
REG - 75 (lost credit, retake 89)Posted 9 months ago # -
mla1169
offlineMemberAnother Weight Watchers person here. I posted in the 1,000,000 man thread-I had lost 110 lbs on WW from 2006-2009 and was hired by WW as a receptionist part time. Started gaining when I bought my house, and continued gaining when I started this CPA thingy. Now I'm up 40 from my lowest weight (which was according to my doctor too low). Anyway, I do not want to be part of the statistic that most people who lose a significant amount of weight gain it ALL back. I have got to start exercising, walking is my exercise of choice and my dogs like me better when they get out of the yard.
FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75
If I can do this, YOU can do this! Hang in there :)Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberPeanut -
I've been on weightwatchers since Jan 2009. In 2009, I lost almost 25 lbs, then found out I was pregnant. Since I had my daughter I've been rollercoasting or do the wave (as I call it). Right now I go to the meetings to make sure I don't gain to much weight back. My goal is by September to stay close to the same weight as I was in the beginning of this testing window. Then I'm going to kick some more weight off of me!! I'm just trying to keep my motivation towards the CPA rather than weightwatchers.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberWTG mla1169!! On your weight loss.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
kandisjoy
offlineMemberI joined a roller derby team while I was waiting for my scores last window. It's made it a little more difficult to study, but I've decided not to give it up because being physically active is important to me and I LOVE DERBY. :) 4x per week, 2 hours each day.
Also I have a weekly date on Saturdays to go mountain biking with my fiance.
I've gained a lot of weight since I started studying for this exam. I'm really looking forward to losing it. After I'm done with my final section, I am going to start weight training on the 2 days of the week that I'm not doing derby or mountain biking. Also would like to start skating at the park on Sundays.
I did p90x for a while about a year ago and lost tons of inches and weight... but it was so miserable to do! Not fun at all. I've vowed to do things that I enjoy for exercise, or else I'll never keep it up. I'm extremely active... I think my main problem forgetting to bring a lunch and then going out to eat. Which also takes away from study time since I usually study on lunch breaks.
FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85
CA Licensed 11/2011Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberI go to the meetings every Saturday morning. I'm still down 10 pounds from my starting weight. If I didn't go to the meetings I would have gained all that back plus some.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
IwannaBaCPA
offlineMemberI go to the TOPS meetings, but follow the WW plan. It is only $7 a month and they have all sorts of great incentives for losing weight each week...I find it to be far more motivating than WW. I love the WW points plan though and I actually just ordered books for the new PointsPlus plan! Any of you guys use the new plan yet?
Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberI've been following the new plan but I don't think I get it yet. Maybe that's why I've been rollercoasting. Right now I'm on top of the hill hopefully going down.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberI was thinking of picking up running after these exams.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
IwannaBaCPA
offlineMemberRunning does not sound fun...too hard on the knees. I do wish I had more time to take my dogs for walks...they just love being outside and now all they do is sleep next time me all day!
Posted 9 months ago # -
killaking
offlineMemberI keep the work out routine onlift wed fri and saturday so I can study more during the week, Im in the singles thread so I gotta stay looking good EYEERR
FAR: 7/17/10 missed exam FML reschedule 8/29/10-77 EPIC!
REG: 5/31/11-73 SMH, 8/31/11-85
BEC: 4/15/10-72 : retake 10/3/10-80
AUD: 11/28/10-74, 02/27/11-71 FML, 8/1/11-80
Ethics 10/22/22-80, retake 11/28/11 - 88Posted 9 months ago # -
T-rex
offlineMemberI'm not a smoker, but I was a raging caffeine addict (coffee). I was up to over 8 cups per day studying for this exam. I gave up coffee several months back, and all other caffeine one month ago. To tell you the truth, I miss the caffeine immensely.
AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CAPosted 9 months ago # -
Peanut
offlineMemberI've never been a caffeine type of person. I don't drink coffee, soda, or energy drinks. I'm kind of a health nut. Plus I don't need the extra energy, I have the worst ADD and wake up cracked out anyway! lol Does the caffeine focus you or just give you the zing of energy?
AUD 59, 72 :( 72 AGAIN :( :(
REG 59, 60, 80
FAR 67, 75
BEC 58, 79Posted 9 months ago # -
T-rex
offlineMember@peanut,
Good for you, peanut! I wish I had your energy!
I suffer from severe chronic insomnia, so caffeine helped me to not feel quite as tired during the day. It also helped me to focus. Once in awhile it would leave me feeling anxious though, and I doubt that the quantity I was drinking was good for me. I'm a health nut too, so the excessive coffee consumption didn't seem to mesh with the rest of my lifestyle.
Also, I recently got my personal training certification, so I feel like I need to set a good example for future clients. Lord knows I'm not in good shape after studying for this exam, but I'll kick it into high gear come 8/30.
AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CAPosted 9 months ago # -
IwannaBaCPA
offlineMemberI have 2 cups of coffee a day, sometimes 3...I get the worst headaches without it and just can't push myself to get over the headache hump of giving it up...
Posted 9 months ago # -
T-rex
offlineMemberThose withdrawal headaches are rough. I usually go cold turkey when I quit, but that causes me to have the headache from hell for 2 days. It's so bad that I can't do anything but lie down. An easier way is to reduce your coffee consumption over a couple of weeks, then switch to black tea, then green tea, then white tea. Quitting white tea isn't so bad.
I think I'm done with caffeine permanently other than the little bit of chocolate I eat each day.
AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CAPosted 9 months ago # -
IwannaBaCPA
offlineMemberI hate tea! I'd rather have the headache than drink that gross stuff! LOL!
I love chocolate though...
Posted 9 months ago # -
T-rex
offlineMemberAnyone else experiencing a sore back as a result of sitting for so long in front of the computer? Mine's killing me. It's super tight. Maybe old age is the cause.
AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CAPosted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberMy upper back has been killing me. I'm glad I went for my walk today. To bad it started raining or I would have walked longer. I used to walk 5 km per day, I miss that.
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
jomarie
offlineMemberI'll try to send some rain towards you!! LOL
Since 2008....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!)
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011)
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73 - Rematch scheduled on May 29, 2012
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70 (Are you kidding me?????) - July 17th, 2012 -> Rematch!!
I WILL BECOME A CPA IN 2012!!!Posted 9 months ago # -
ineedadrink
offlineMemberExercising - even if just walking - is so important physically and mentally. I think everyone has to clear their mind and step away from the books every so often, for sanity's sake. But I'm definitely one of those who in the final couple weeks before the test would be like, 'I don't have time to brush my teeth! I don't have time to shower!'
So I got a $3 microphone on amazon, spent a day reading my notes out loud into my computer, and transferred them to my ipod. Not a rocket-science solution, but it made me feel a lot better when I was walking into work, running, at the grocery store, etc.
REG: 76 (would have lost credit 5/31)
AUD: 71, 78
BEC: 74, 81
FAR: 74, 61, 66, 69, 75 DONEPosted 9 months ago # -
mla1169
offlineMemberT Rex, my back has been a mess. Lucky for me, my husband came into a very little bit of money a few months ago and surprised me with a hot tub. Let me say, it should be REQUIRED that all CPA candidates have one. A godsend really.
FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75
If I can do this, YOU can do this! Hang in there :)Posted 9 months ago #
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