[Anonymous]

I’ve ventured into the Health issues section, but this particular thread is supposed to help AVOID said issues.

Let’s share what we are doing to try and maintain our health while studying. What are you guys doing for workouts? Workout DVDs? Buying home equipment? Gym lifting? Cardio only? Any particular workout programs you are using or are you freestyling it? What time of day do you workout?

Are you guys trying to keep your eating habits under control? What are some good healthy study snacks you like?

While it may be difficult for these exams to not affect your health at all, it is important to minimize negative affects. Let’s support each other and share our tips/techniques!

[SeattleAccountant]

HI Ya all!

Today is exactly one month since taking and subsequently passing last section and i want to report & encourage others as well as to seek some input in regards to weight issues often associated with this exam.

I've ranted a few times about piling up pounds during exam prep. Well, today i want to report good news: lost 8 lbs very easily by not munching in the evenings! Yahooo!!!

Would love to hear from others that experienced similar issues and start loosing or lost all of the “CPA baby” once exam was over. Tell how fast and how you did it. I've got more pounds to lose and interested in various methods that others find helpful 😉

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[UCMCPA]

Seattle, what's your diet look like? What are you eating and when? I'm more concerned with this whole “not munching in the evenings” line than anything.as it's a complete and utter bullshit myth to not eat after xx time. However, I'm hoping by “munching” you mean you put down the chips or something.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Iron_Victory]

@UCMCPA Can you give me some feedback on my meal/nutrition structure?

This is my typical training day. off days I try to stick to a similar structure but it isn't as time rigid.

5:45 AM – Whey protein shake about 30 min before I leave for the gym (a bout 30-45 min after waking up)

8:00- 8:15am – Usually eat 1 serving of Gummy Bears to restore glycogen levels, peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread

11:00am – 2 hard boiled eggs

1:00pm – 1 serving baby carrots, 1 medium apple, lean turkey sandwich on whole wheat with mustard and low fat cheese, 6oz chobani plain with a spoon full of peanut butter and a maybe a dime size dab of organic honey added, dried apricots, granola bard

4:00 pm – protein bar

7:00 pm – 6-8oz lean mean either chicken or lean beef, broccoli or mixed veggies, brown rice or mashed potatoes(no butter or sour cream)

9:00 pm – Casein protein shake

I'm also only drinking water about 1 – 1.5 gallons per day

I'm usually asleep by 10pm

Thanks

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[SeattleAccountant]

@UCMCPA

I dunno, but it works for me somewhat.

Basically stopped eating after 8pm.

Before the exam, I had similar routine and did not eat at all past 7-8pm but once started to review, that rule went out the door and found myself munching on throughout most evenings on variety of foods including chips, jerky, pretzels, and so on in order to stay awake and sane. Now, I eat these sometimes during the day but not in the eve.

Needless to say that during 8 months of review (Jan-Aug) my weight moderately but steadily kept climbing up to the point that i freaked out at the prospect of spending $$ for new business wardrobe and made decision to do away with the cpa weight asap. So far it is working but i still have 12-15 lbs extra. Perhaps, it is still too much or unhealthy “chow” is the culprit, see rather detailed list below 😉

Diet for past month: no bread or anything wheat except some lightly breaded items like shrimps, apples, oranges, egg + veggie omelets, lots of unsalted seeds & nuts, no milk, occasionally coconut milk drink, tea, coffee, cabbage + meat, rarely potatoes, fancy salads (like chicken or shrimp salads at restaurants), grilled chicken, brown rice, buckwheat kasha, no cereal, bananas, papayas, watermelon, smocked salmon + cukes, tomatoes, non-sulfured dried fruit, beef jerky, rarely chips, persimmons.

Tell me what ya think about it.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[UCMCPA]

@Seattle, as long as you're not starving yourself, that's fine. I usually have two meals after 8 pm, one being around 9 and the other when I wake up in the middle of the night.

@Iron.. I'd add some healthy fats to the shake before training. When you train the body needs the energy, it's going to burn the protein as energy FAST. The fats can help slow that down because after you run out of energy from calories, it's going to eat the muscle before the fat. When you wake up you're in a fasted state. Ideally I'd have some carbs as well in that meal. Maybe throw in some fruit, 1/4 cup oats, 1 tbsp pb. When you look at a carb vs protein, the carb itself is more efficient at preserving the protein… if that makes sense. I always train with lots of carbs in me. And when I'm dieting I start out with eating around 450 a day.

Your meals later in the day are fine, I just feel you would benefit more from more calories around training. The gummy bears are fine, but I'd add more to the hard boiled egg meal if I can. This is what works for me, you MAY be different. Also, how much do you weigh? height?

In case anyone asks, my meals go like this..

1- either 5 whole eggs + 1/2 cup oats or 1 carton egg whites + 1/2 cup oats (+ 1 tbsp honey)

2- 8 oz turkey

3 – 40g isolate w/ 1 whole avocado + 1 tbsp pb

4 – 8 oz steak or beef

5 – 8 oz meat + 1.5 cups rice -75 mins before training

30 mins prior to lifting – 1/4 cup gaterade mix- usually 30g carbs

6- 30-60 mins after training – 1 whole banana, 1 carton egg whites, 1/2 cup oats

7 – 5 whole eggs w/ 1/4 cup oats

8 – middle of the night I will have 40g isolate w/ avocado or 1 tbsp pb

That's all when I'm trying to lose weight… The meat portions move up 2 ounces a meal and I add in 4 cups of rice when trying to gain.

Yiippieiee..

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[TinyBear]

Love this thread! I also think it's great that we all need to keep the weight down because the idea of having to renew the ol' business wardrobe is just too much for our wallets.

My favorite study snack is walnuts and chocolate chips.

Also, breakfast is very important. I LOVE scrambled eggs with some avocado. I also like oatmeal.. with the walnuts and chocolate chips 😉

FAR - 79
AUD - 73, 85
REG - 88
BEC - 80

Becker Self Study, Becker Flashcards, and Some Wiley TB
TX Candidate

[neika822]

I tend to fluctuate in my weight (more my pant size). Last October I dropped some weight when I wasn't trying. I feel like I'm gaining it back now. Not sure what controls this. I generally can eat what I want for the most part. This was back when I wasn't exercising, either. I know it'll catch up with me one day though!

Maybe someday, after the exam, I'll be able to figure out what goes on with my weight.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Iron_Victory]

@UCMCPA Right now I'm 6'2″ 254 lbs. I'm trying to shed some weight cause I wasn't feeling so great at 275.

Right now I'm doing a cross fit type circuit 6 days a week (Sun – Fri) I think you are right some fats/carbs in the morning would also be good. I'm working in some Creatine and BCAA's also they seem to help keep my energy levels up through the workout.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[UCMCPA]

@Iron, I'm 6 inches shorter than you and have been as big as 247 lol. I'd add in the calories where suggested and see if that doesn't help you out a bit with energy.

@tinybear. Tell me about it, I've gained 20 lbs a year for the last 3 years, and every year I need new items. I'm at the point where everything has to be tailored, even the shirts.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[nbad311]

Bump!!!

How's everyone doing in the fitness department? Trying to keep the workouts in your schedule to help zap some stress, or have they fallen by the wayside? My workouts REALLY diminished during my last push of FAR studying. Maybe 1 day a week. Not only was I not working out, but I was getting snacks at Starbucks while studying and of course sitting on my butt an extra 20+ hours a week! (and stress eating) In January of this year, I decided to get toned up for my May wedding. I reached my goal weight the week of the wedding by dropping about 15 pounds in those 4+ months. Since then, its been studying overload and I gained back those 16lbs …and 4 extra….. um it wasn't cool to realize I gained 20 pounds! Homie don't play that. Luckily I have been much more active since taking that test and gotten back down about 2 lbs. I am even running a [slow] Turkey Trot 5k on Saturday!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[neika822]

I was SO into fitness in the summer…

Then it started to get dark in the morning. So then I didn't want to work out in the morning… and I didn't want to throw off my study routine at night. And then I was just too tired/busy/lazy on the weekends. HAHA.

But now that I'm DONE STUDYING FOREVER, I'd like to get back into the habit. I've been going once or twice a week the past couple of weeks. I did yoga at lunchtime on Tuesday (which I'm still sore from…). Trying to get slowly back at it!

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Anonymous]

Hey there!!!

I haven't worked out in FOREVER! I love this thread and that we are revisiting it 🙂

So this is my story…I moved across the county, started a new job, and bought a house all in a 3 month period…while my husband waited for his job opportunity (which we needed to go forward in the home search) we lived with a family friend. I wasn't comfortable cooking in her kitchen (not enough counter space!) and it was Fall busy season so we have been eating out …EVERY NIGHT : /

I also did not pass my third attempt at FAR : ( …soooo I will take it 11/19 ONE LAST TIME ( i hope) and hopefully won't have to take extra classes to get licensed…

oh wait…this was supposed to be about fitness lol

well needless to say, with everything going on in my life I have not seen the gym in months…my butt is getting a lil too bootylicious for my liking, although for someone who eats like crap, I look pretty darn good ;)…

I've become addicted to pinterest and bodybuilding.com and I've told myself “just pass this ONE LAST exam and THEN you can become as much of a fitness guru as your lil heart desires…just wait until you pass!!!!!!!”

I literally don't even like the awful food i've been eating…I've never “craved” healthy food until now. Can't wait til the fridge in our home is delivered and the stove is hooked up to the gas line so that I can have a nice homecooked meal for a change 🙂

BTW, i need to lose like 15-20 lbs 🙁

[UCMCPA]

I'll be down 15 lbs by Jan so my old business clothes fit a bit easier, might not help much though since I will just be dropping fat. See how I feel at 220.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[jeff]

I curled a 20oz Red Bull last night like it was nothin'.

People in the convenience store know I ain't playin'.

[UCMCPA]

I'd advise warming up first, Jeff.

FAR - 84
AUD - 94
REG - 86
BEC - 86

[Author]

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