question about working out while studying for mcat

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Hey,
So I started getting into a weightlifting routine that I'd like to continue through my mcat study time. However, I've noticed that my workouts are very mentally/physically taxing, even if I get sufficient sleep the night before. I do not have time to go back to my apartment and sleep for hours.

What's the best time to workout/eat meals to maximize my energy for studying? Studying for this exam is more important to me than working out. Should I not eat a lot of carbs before the workout? Would working out at night before I go to bed be better?
Thanks.
 
I think it's very dependent on each individual.

I find my productivity drops drastically from 2-5 PM so I never do work during this chunk. I'll go to the library 9 AM - 2 PM, gym from 2:30-4:30ish, eat dinner, then head back to the library or work on campus.

I did this while studying for my MCAT as well, and it worked out well for me. It gave me some time to recooperate and refuel before beginning my studying again.

Alternatively, get up early, like 7 AM, study 8-3 or 4PM and then workout and relax for the rest of the night
 
Eat something as soon as you wake up (I would do some greek yogurt and maybe a piece of toast), then start workout about an hour after waking up, then shower, then drink coffee then go about your day. Also, cutting carbs out of diet helped me really focus and study better, I saw marked improvements in my MCAT prep when I went on this routine

And although each person's different, I wouldn't recommend doing the workouts at night. Your body's probably gonna be a bit worn from the day and I've found workouts at night are never as intense as they are first thing in the morning. Plus, it can be difficult to fall asleep after a heavy workout bc of the adrenaline/energy/etc. so I also wouldn't recommend lifting at night either, as it may negatively impact your quality of sleep.
 
I work and when I started to study for the MCAT, I had to make a choice between gainz and getting a good score. I chose the latter and stopped lifting and playing sports. I ended up getting accepted but I am never compromising on gainz again. The MCAT is and should be your priority for the next however months you choose to study for it. However, adjust your diet accordingly, I'm on a 2-a-day status trying to cut down before school starts.
 
My optimal MCAT schedule that I held strictly for a few weeks:
7am-5pm library. This was the most intense study time, including taking and reviewing practice exams.
5-7: gym, no mcat thoughts at all. Mostly lifting because I'm a meathead.
8-10: passive studying. Reading and Khan academy videos.

Search aerobic exercise and its cognitive effects in pubmed. Don't stop working out.
 
I'm probably going to start lifting either really early in the morning (like 6 am) or really late at night (11 pm) because it gets pretty crowded at the beginning of the semester. Maybe I'll have to change though if it hurts my ability to sleep, as mentioned above
 
acetylmandarin said:
I'm probably going to start lifting either really early in the morning (like 6 am) or really late at night (11 pm) because it gets pretty crowded at the beginning of the semester. Maybe I'll have to change though if it hurts my ability to sleep, as mentioned above
Click to expand...

6 AM lift -> HIIT -> sauna -> shower -> best start to my days I've ever had
 
I studied from 7am to around 6 then took a break for 2 hours for gym, then last 2 hours of the day were YouTube review videos and going over mistakes from the day/ things I learned. I only worked out on certain days: when I studied psych/soc (bc that was the chillest section for me) and after a full length. Bio and Chem were taxing for me and I was wiped out so I didn't gym those days (plus I needed more study time for those subjects).

Also when you're working out, don't feel like you need to be hitting PRs and giving it your 100%. Just use it as relaxing and de-stressing time. Your priority right now is the MCAT. Once you're done, you can focus on specific gym goals.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
I actually used my gym time to just listen to khan academy videos, and watched them while running. But I was really short on time and only was exercising to destress, so none of that crazy weightlifting. (No idea if it was really that helpful, but it certainly made me feel productive!)
 
My routine varied, but I was in the gym for 2 hours 5-7 days per week while studying. And I got an MD acceptance so that seemed to work out. I would sometimes study for 2 hours, work out for 2 hours, then study for two more hours every afternoon after school or work
 
I'm going to be taking classes too, so I can't study full time. But we'll see how it works out. I also studied for the mcat previously, I just didn't feel ready and didn't take it. So now I'm restudying again, a few months later.
 
acetylmandarin said:
Hey,
So I started getting into a weightlifting routine that I'd like to continue through my mcat study time. However, I've noticed that my workouts are very mentally/physically taxing, even if I get sufficient sleep the night before. I do not have time to go back to my apartment and sleep for hours.

What's the best time to workout/eat meals to maximize my energy for studying? Studying for this exam is more important to me than working out. Should I not eat a lot of carbs before the workout? Would working out at night before I go to bed be better?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
PREWORKOUT.
 
I had the same problem. I usually worked out in the afternoons, but found that I just didn't have enough energy left to study effectively afterwards. Soooo I started going in the evening, problem solved.
 
Mclovin0351 said:
I have flashbacks from the first time I took the real Jack3d when I was 18.
Click to expand...

OG Jack3d was absolutely unbelievable - I'll never forget the first time I took it when I was 19 (after a 10 hour day doing manual labor) I PR'd in 4 lifts over 2 hours and then played 3 hours of full court pickup basketball afterwards and still felt pretty good

I would do anything to get my hands on some of that again lol...nothing other than DS Craze (RIP to that as well) has come close...
 
Here's what I would recommend. Might not work for everyone.

1. Work out at night right after you're done studying. This way you won't be fatigued from lifting while studying and you'll probably be itching to do something physical after studying.

2. Eat smaller meals throughout the day. This means you'll be eating enough for the lifting to have an effect, you won't be hungry, and you won't food coma out.

3. Make use of protein shakes

4. Keep the workouts short. If you're lifting 4x/week, you should probably be in the gym for 45 mins at a time.

5. Get as much sleep as is reasonable
 
I actually just started using egg protein and creatine, which I'm going to stop doing. For the past two weeks or so, I've just been terribly out of it. I feel sick and tired all day, even after getting a full night of sleep. I'm always lightheaded, and everything feels disconnected. I can't focus at all. And I feel so nauseous all the time.
 
acetylmandarin said:
Hey,
So I started getting into a weightlifting routine that I'd like to continue through my mcat study time. However, I've noticed that my workouts are very mentally/physically taxing, even if I get sufficient sleep the night before. I do not have time to go back to my apartment and sleep for hours.

What's the best time to workout/eat meals to maximize my energy for studying? Studying for this exam is more important to me than working out. Should I not eat a lot of carbs before the workout? Would working out at night before I go to bed be better?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Fruits and veggies and don't be afraid to eat if you're hungry. Human brain uses a lot of glucose whilst studying
 
acetylmandarin said:
I actually just started using egg protein and creatine, which I'm going to stop doing. For the past two weeks or so, I've just been terribly out of it. I feel sick and tired all day, even after getting a full night of sleep. I'm always lightheaded, and everything feels disconnected. I can't focus at all. And I feel so nauseous all the time.
Click to expand...

kabdollakyzy said:
Fruits and veggies and don't be afraid to eat if you're hungry. Human brain uses a lot of glucose whilst studying
Click to expand...

Also if you're lifting, you need to be eating a lot of calories anyway. Like more than you think. Increase your calorie intake by 35-50% of what you eat before you started lifting.
 
It really depends though. Do you want your workout to be a kickstarter, wake up, or a night cap? Usually early morning, mid afternoon, or late session is the debate for work out times.
 
acetylmandarin said:
I actually just started using egg protein and creatine, which I'm going to stop doing. For the past two weeks or so, I've just been terribly out of it. I feel sick and tired all day, even after getting a full night of sleep. I'm always lightheaded, and everything feels disconnected. I can't focus at all. And I feel so nauseous all the time.
Click to expand...

I used creatine for a while and found that it spiked my resting blood pressure by 20 points. Went back down after I discontinued. Haven't heard anyone else complain of that, anecdotal evidence but YMMV...

Sounds like definitely you should stop and see if symptoms improve. And probably see a doctor...
 
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WedgeDawg said:
Also if you're lifting, you need to be eating a lot of calories anyway. Like more than you think. Increase your calorie intake by 35-50% of what you eat before you started lifting.
Click to expand...

I was eating a ton (a ton of chicken, beans, and rice, ick), but it got to a point where I was eating so much when I wasn't hungry. I don't want to get super fat.
 
acetylmandarin said:
I was eating a ton (a ton of chicken, beans, and rice, ick), but it got to a point where I was eating so much when I wasn't hungry. I don't want to get super fat.
Click to expand...

You won't unless you stop lifting or are eating way more than you need to. Eat at 500-1000 calories above normal per day and you'll be good to go. You don't put on fat overnight and if you notice unwanted fat gain, you can cut down the calories a bit. In order to gain muscle, you'll have to gain a bit of fat too.
 
WedgeDawg said:
You won't unless you stop lifting or are eating way more than you need to. Eat at 500-1000 calories above normal per day and you'll be good to go. You don't put on fat overnight and if you notice unwanted fat gain, you can cut down the calories a bit. In order to gain muscle, you'll have to gain a bit of fat too.
Click to expand...
500 at the most! 1000 is going to be so much fat, unless you're a teenage boy. 1 a week (500 calories surplus a day) is plenty. Imagine 52 lbs in a year lmao
 
Gurby said:
I used creatine for a while and found that it spiked my resting blood pressure by 20 points. Went back down after I discontinued. Haven't heard anyone else complain of that, anecdotal evidence but YMMV...

Sounds like definitely you should stop and see if symptoms improve. And probably see a doctor...
Click to expand...


I stopped taking it for about 2 days and felt fine yesterday. Just took it again after working out, and I immediately felt lightheaded and dizzy. Not sure if it's some kind of placebo effect or maybe something else, like my diet, but I think I'm going to stop using creatine for now. I'll just keep using the egg protein, and if the sickness doesn't stop, then I'll eliminate that too
 
WedgeDawg said:
Also if you're lifting, you need to be eating a lot of calories anyway. Like more than you think. Increase your calorie intake by 35-50% of what you eat before you started lifting.
Click to expand...

TDEE calculators are pretty accurate. I eat at mine and weight stable.
 
Miami_Postbac said:
You should be eating plenty of carbs if you're studying for the MCAT, and certainly if you're about to take it. Cognition, mood, energy. Generally I find I function best cognitively on either TDEE or just above, and my best score on a practice exam was the day after I mawed an entire pizza and pint of ice cream.

My weight routine is quite intense - I do Arnold's routine except I do it once per day instead of twice.

http://www.muscleandfitness.com/wor...s/arnold-schwarzeneggers-double-split-routine

I love the results - my bench has shot from 275 to 345 in 3 months - but some deloading is good around MCAT time...I don't want to be dealing with DOMS or the mild headaches this type of routine produces on the MCAT.
Click to expand...

Thanks to that link I've spent a good 10 minutes looking up how to properly do a clean and press. GG
 
acetylmandarin said:
Hey,
So I started getting into a weightlifting routine that I'd like to continue through my mcat study time. However, I've noticed that my workouts are very mentally/physically taxing, even if I get sufficient sleep the night before. I do not have time to go back to my apartment and sleep for hours.

What's the best time to workout/eat meals to maximize my energy for studying? Studying for this exam is more important to me than working out. Should I not eat a lot of carbs before the workout? Would working out at night before I go to bed be better?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I think since you just started lifting you are going to feel a lot sore and tired, it's normal. Since you are not looking to lose weight, there is no need to cutback on carbohydrates. Try to enjoy your workouts and look at the gym as a stress reliever. Don't make it seem like a chore. Workout whenever you feel like the time is right. Like WedgieDawg said, (😉) eat small meals throughout the day, keep that metabolism going. Use complex carbohydrates with your meals and eat grilled chicken breast, fish, and lean steak. I sometimes grill my veggies to change it up. I toss up some olive oil and black pepper on them. Oatmeal on the mornings with some berries is a dope way to start your day.
👍
carbs.jpg
 
Miami_Postbac said:
You should be eating plenty of carbs if you're studying for the MCAT, and certainly if you're about to take it. Cognition, mood, energy. Generally I find I function best cognitively on either TDEE or just above, and my best score on a practice exam was the day after I mawed an entire pizza and pint of ice cream.
Click to expand...

I brought candy and potato chips for lunch when I took the MCAT. I remember laughing at all the nerds with their salads and carrot sticks. There's a time to be healthy and a time for comfort food IMO.
 
Miami_Postbac said:
I heard adcoms have the testing center take notes on what kind of food you eat during the breaks. Apparently they frown upon anything other than organic vegan stuff.
Click to expand...
And if you shake it more than 3 times after going to the bathroom you can kiss going to medical school in the US goodbye. Overindulgence is severely frowned upon.
 
Gurby said:
I brought candy and potato chips for lunch when I took the MCAT. I remember laughing at all the nerds with their salads and carrot sticks. There's a time to be healthy and a time for comfort food IMO.
Click to expand...
Now you know why I scored better than you gurbster. My brain is healthier.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what gurby scored.
 
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bro you need to hit your macros and get some sick MASS GAINER bruh. For some mad gainzz you gotta up your cals and lift heavvyyy bro optimizee
 
Mass gainer for da bloated gut mane. Dat der creatine will give da best gainz
 
JB50 said:
Now you know why I scored better than you gurbster. My brain is healthier.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what gurby scored.
Click to expand...

Let's just say that statistically I likely beat every single one of those insufferable salad nerds.:corny::spam:
 
Don't let anyone tell you you can't do both. I'm a D1 athlete in college and I studied for the MCAT during the semester while we were in-season and while taking 12 credit hours of other classes. I would study late at night after workouts, class and practice, study on bus rides/flights and at hotels, take practice exams till 4 a.m., etc. Anything is doable if you are motivated enough. Just make sure you're consuming a lot of calories - after all, it's only 2-3 months of your life. Grind hard and then it's over. Good luck
 
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