MCAT and Weight Loss

[ManimalJax]

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This will probably be the weirdest topic ever posted in the SDN forums. But here it goes...

As of October 2011, I was 220 pounds (massively overweight). I have put in the effort with a cardio/fitness routine and as of today, I'm 185 pounds. My goal is to reach 155 pounds.

The problem is, with me, I can only focus on one big goal at a time. For years, I have been telling myself that I need to take the MCAT but I would always put it off (I'm an old non-trad, 28 years of age). But this year, I just have to do it. And I have to take it this September.

The problem is, b/c I can only focus on achieving one goal at a time, I know I'm going to pull an Oprah and bounce back to my original weight once I start hitting the prep books. Part me me just says that I should just forget the fitness routine, go all-out with the MCAT, and get back in shape after September.

Anyone got any advice?

 

[nabilesmail]

First of all EVERYONE should do some kind of physical activity, no one should just stay home and study. It is good for the mind body and soul to workout, I feel like it will even help you with your studying.

DO BOTH, no other option. Make yourself want both goals! I lost 15 lbs last semester (I'm naturally scrawny, and it takes me a lot to build up muscle mass) and was very dissapointed in that. This semester I'm going to be studying for the MCAT, taking classes, reseasrching, spending time with girlfriend, AND WORKING OUT!

just dol it

 

[johnisles2011]

Honestly, I think part of a good study program from the MCAT is to eat HEALTHY, like HEALTHIER THAN NORMAL, because it helps your brain achieve peak function. The same goes for exercising. These things are good for you, and they'll help your brain work faster and harder and achieve the best it can achieve. Why don't you frame it that way? If you can only pursue one goal, your one goal is the MCAT. But you need to consider ALL the factors that will help you own the MCAT. That includes diet and exercise.

And don't worry, I think we've seen stranger topics than that.

 

[iceman132]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xorC6vCrI-s[/YOUTUBE]

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

First off ManimalJax, congratulations on the great job so far. That is really impressive. I think you need to account for the bounce. I don't mean to be defeatist, but everytime I lose twenty pounds, I put ten back on. After three cycles of doing this over the years, I'm in a healthier weight category.

I think the trick is to tie them together. Twice a week, run home from the library or wherever you're studying. Summarize information in your head as you run to make doubly good use of that time. Schedule little bursts into your daily study routine. Do twenty-five pushups between homework sets. It will wake you up a little and help you start the next set fresh.

Most of all, have accountability. Post your weight and homework progress somewhere you can see it everyday. Tie the two together. Think about eating an apple while you study and generate cravings in your head for healthier foods. It's all mental. If you say you can only focus on one goal at a time, then make it a goal that fuses health and studying.

 

[PJS87]

Taking into account your a non traditional and probably working decent hours, it might be a little different for you but I find that personally studying for extended periods of time doesn't work for me and I retain little of the information so after a few hours, I'll usually go to the gym and get a good work out, grab a good meal and then return for another session. By the time I'm back to studying I feel refocused and feel much better. Crossfit can be an amazing short workout (metcon aka metabolic conditioning) and the work out might only take 10 minutes total depending on the workout of the day posted on the crossfit website. Best of luck.

 

[ridethecliche]

Find a gym close to where you live.

Go in the morning before work for an hour.

Study for 3-5 hrs after work.

Eat/sleep.

Rinse repeat.

Tbh, 3-4 days of cardio/lifting mixed with a good diet will keep you in good shape and health.

I've been slowly going insane since I haven't been able to work out since nov 2010 due to an injury. Mental and physical health were way better and I was way more on task when studying.

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You're going to need to learn to be able to focus on more than one thing at a time. Why not start now?

 

[dmf2682]

Find a gym close to where you live.

Go in the morning before work for an hour.

Study for 3-5 hrs after work.

Eat/sleep.

Rinse repeat.

Tbh, 3-4 days of cardio/lifting mixed with a good diet will keep you in good shape and health.

I've been slowly going insane since I haven't been able to work out since nov 2010 due to an injury. Mental and physical health were way better and I was way more on task when studying.

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You're going to need to learn to be able to focus on more than one thing at a time. Why not start now?

All this. I feel this posters pain in the injury. I messed my knee during a marathon last October and haven't been able to run since. I think I've gained about ten pounds and a small beer belly.

 

[typicalindian]

try and see if you can just wake up early and hit the gym for a good hour or so, I'm not sure how it works for other people but I find working out + shower before I do anything else will keep me sharp for the entire day. If you can't get a gym membership just try doing some stuff at home like p90x or something.

 

[vin5cent0]

Pretty simple advice - buy the 'Insanity' workout. The first month of workouts are like 45 minutes long, at most, and the second month are about 1 hour (55 minutes, I think).

If you can't spare that kind of time during the day to workout, you're a lost cause and you will probably be fat for the rest of your life. Sorry, blunt truth sucks, but it is what it is. Insanity requires nothing other than you and some dedication. I do it in my cramped room, and I've lost 8 lbs in two weeks, along with significant increases in my cardio.

 

[typicalindian]

Pretty simple advice - buy the 'Insanity' workout. The first month of workouts are like 45 minutes long, at most, and the second month are about 1 hour (55 minutes, I think).

If you can't spare that kind of time during the day to workout, you're a lost cause and you will probably be fat for the rest of your life. Sorry, blunt truth sucks, but it is what it is. Insanity requires nothing other than you and some dedication. I do it in my cramped room, and I've lost 8 lbs in two weeks, along with significant increases in my cardio.

Shaun T is a monster!

 

[FrkyBgStok]

The fact that you are saying that you will gain it all back tells me you are doing a fad diet or a quick fix but you haven't made a lifestyle change. I am also very overweight and have done every diet imaginable with weight fluctuations that are ridiculous and i can tell you with confidence that if you continue with the diet plan or quick fix plan you are on, you will gain all your weight back anyway. Everyone always does. I did. But this past year I decided to make a true lifestyle change. I eat less and move more. Count your calories. That way you can have pizza, cake, veggies, fruits, breads, whatever you want and not have to worry about it. And after a few weeks you get used to eating smaller portions or eating this instead of that. the weight isn't coming off as fast as I wish it did, down about 30 pounds in 5 months, but it is a lasting change.

you need to change your lifestyle. work on that. that way you can do the mcat and not worry about gaining weight. i am also a 28 year old non trad and again, I am big. In fact, 220 is my goal weight right now, so much larger. you need to change your lifestyle and you won't worry about minor stuff like this.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I've got the opposite problem right now. I'm losing all of the muscle I worked to put on before starting to study for the MCAT🙁.

 

[intheclouds]

Great job on the weight loss! I have finally come down from 185 to 155 and hopefully another 10lbs while doing grad school/studying for MCAT/attempt to live life.

I am currently dealing with some mental health issues so weight loss is definitely on the back burner for me but I don't feel bad about it. I am happy with my weight.

It's all about prioritizing. If it's really important to you, make it apart of your life. I now schedule "fitness dates" with friends. Instead of going out for drinks we will meet up and go for a walk. It's all about changing the little aspects of your life. Just because you can't make that extra 1 hour cardio workout a week anymore doesn't mean you should toss in the white towel. Try to take an extra flight of stairs everyday or park further away from the store.

I just did a whole course on Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases...trust me the little things DO count. It won't help you become athletic/fit but it will help you become healthy.

You need to decide in your head what you want. If you want to be healthy then make that a goal! Our society has definitely made it hard for us to be healthy since there are so many mixed messages in the media and in grocery stores.

If you want some help with this PM me, I consider myself to be a veteran with weight loss techniques/advice.

Good luck!

 

[ridethecliche]

I've got the opposite problem right now. I'm losing all of the muscle I worked to put on before starting to study for the MCAT🙁.

Haha yeah, same here except it was my injury that did me in.

I'd never been happier with my body and now I'm back to weighing as much as I did when I was a bike racer. Oh well.

 

[ScarlettOHara]

Looks like you've gotten lots of good advice. Just wanted to add that I can relate. When I set a goal I get intense about it and to be intense about two things is hard. Weight loss isn't just going to the gym longer, it's planning meals, being hungry (even if you eat well--lots of protein and fruits and veggies--you'll still be just a bit hungry), thinking about how close/far you are from your goal, etc. It just kind of takes over your mind a bit. And obviously the MCAT is something just as mind-invading. But as everyone has said you've just got to do both, no way around it. Use this as an experience to train yourself to do more than one intense thing at a time because in the future that will be your life (being a doctor + having a family will take energy if you want to be good in both domains!). Good luck. And if you absolutely don't think you can't do both then go for the MCAT and maintain your current weight. Eat well and build good lifelong habits.

 

[Bojack Horseman]

This will probably be the weirdest topic ever posted in the SDN forums. But here it goes...

As of October 2011, I was 220 pounds (massively overweight). I have put in the effort with a cardio/fitness routine and as of today, I'm 185 pounds. My goal is to reach 155 pounds.

The problem is, with me, I can only focus on one big goal at a time. For years, I have been telling myself that I need to take the MCAT but I would always put it off (I'm an old non-trad, 28 years of age). But this year, I just have to do it. And I have to take it this September.

The problem is, b/c I can only focus on achieving one goal at a time, I know I'm going to pull an Oprah and bounce back to my original weight once I start hitting the prep books. Part me me just says that I should just forget the fitness routine, go all-out with the MCAT, and get back in shape after September.

Anyone got any advice?

the best shape I think I have ever been in was while I studied for the mcat. I would study hard until I couldn't focus/got bored then I would go workout then study some more... try it