Health in law school Forum

[britt2010]

I'm curious to know how 1Ls fared this semester. Apparently, I'm genetically weak and if I were ever to face apocalyptic circumstances (or perhaps go camping for a week) I'd die.

I didn't think I was too stressed or particularly unhealthy in my habits, but a culmination of factors has left me somewhat unhealthy.

-I've been getting very little protein
-Okay, who am I kidding, I've been eating very little (it's not as if I'm starving, here, though)
-I've lost 10lbs, including muscle mass
-My hair, notorious for being unruly and big, is thinning

Has anyone else suffered a beating? I'm pretty concerned, because at no time this semester did I really think I was doing anything too harmful...I look like hell. In undergrad (especially freshman year) I'd pull all-nighters, drink like it was my job, and generally put my body through a lot (I was an athlete in college).

[06072010]

I did pretty well, except for the lack of sleep. Towards the end, I was getting almost no sleep. For some reason, I was much less stressed in law school than I was during pre-lsat / acceptance season.

I think my mental health took a way worse beating than my physical self. I know one thing, I'm making sure to take one day off each week. If I even think about law school during that day, I'm going to punch myself in the junk repeatedly until I'm incapable of coherent thought.

I'll take down the other thread - better chance of catching 1L's here.

[Katkins]

I didn't gain any weight... and I was pretty doughy before LS, so I think that means I didn't get any fatter

But OMG my skin... my skin... first of all, my poor face is used to the 90% humidity of southeast Texas, not the harsh winds of New York. And all the grease I've been consuming for finals-fuel has basically made me a giant breakout. Blegh.

I'm hoping to restore myself over Christmas break. Houston humidity/home cooking, do your thing!

My hair, notorious for being unruly and big, is thinning

MINE TOO! Seriously. And mine's already thin and fine to begin with, so I'm a little worried.

[Dschinghis Khan]

Near the end of the semester, I subsisted entirely on soda and junk food -- and still somehow managed to lose weight. I theorize this is muscle loss from reading and outlining all day with no time for exercise.

[britt2010]

Apparently, what I've found in terms of the hair thinning thing is that our diets are most likely missing protein and zinc. Another thing I've read is that we may be getting too much vitamin A...?

[Corsair]

..

[dssinc]

I am in much better shape coming out of the first semester than going in. Being on a campus for the first time in a long time, working a college schedule, has been perfect for exercise. 80 minutes til that next class? Great...that's time for a workout and shower. 4-5 days a week. That just never happens in the business world.

On the downside, I've boozed much more than ever before, and my ass and neck hurt from all the reading.

Still, net plus here!

[worldtraveler]

Britt and Katkins if you need some hair, you can have mine. Seriously. I'm not sure how that would work in reality, but I am somehow blessed with enough to make J-Lo look like she's going bald.

[dat_raw_n_tellect]

Deleted

[SecondTimeAround]

I've pretty much kept my health -- physical and mental. I've had to give up the walking that I did when I worked in the city; I work at home exclusively now, and go to class at night. But I've stuck to my early morning exercise regimen and have eaten less. I find that when I'm studying or thinking intensely, I forget about food. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad, but I still fit into my clothes. On the mental side, my ego is a bit slimmer after going through the first semester, but I take that as a good thing too.

[GodSpeed]

I've lost about 20lbs. I was only about 170lbs when I got here
I've lost a ton of muscle mass (didn't have much to spare) and some fat. I'd say it's 50-50%. I'm just at the point where my body doesn't want to get any skinnier (naturally). Although, my hair has been a lot thicker since I stopped drinking so much.

[NewHere]

Thinning hair does, or at least might, have to do with protein indeed. I know, 'cause I'm a vegetarian. I used to have thicker hair when I wasn't.

Interesting what you're saying about vitamin A. Can you really have too much of that? I forget what the sources are, also.

Law school and health, hm, after trying to eat as cheaply as possible all through the semester because Manhattan is crazy expensive, around finals time I decided that I didn't have time to worry about that, or to cook, and I started eating a lot of deli food. Don't know if that's healthy or not.

[GodSpeed]

NY is prob one of the few places that deli meat is quasi-healthy

[Reznik]

.

[06072010]

fight club pic?

[SeekingHeight]

Machinist.

[mac.empress]

The stress was getting to my skin and I felt horrible from all the junk food.

I now cook almost all my meals. In batches then I put them in the freezer. I therefore look and feel better.

But my vitamin regimen has almost eliminated my colds...

[apper123]

Fall semester I got swine flu.

Seriously.

It sucked.

[270910]

This ought to be a fun thread for 0Ls to stumble upon

In all seriousness, it's amazing what a toll law school takes. When I say I know nobody who made it through first semester unscathed, I'm not exaggerating. Law school leaves a mark, and it's a little bit different for everyone. The people I know who maintained great health often got pwned in other aspects of their life (mental, social, etc).

[legends159]

most of my classmates came out of first semester unscathed. Yes it was tough, but not nearly as apocalyptic as some people make it seem.

I went to the gym 3-4 days a week but stopped a month before finals. I started up again this quarter but have stopped going b/c finals are coming up in 2 weeks.

yes there were times in the semester filled with self-doubt and panic. They still come at times, but nothing life altering.

[OperaSoprano]

My weight plummeted from a healthy 129 lbs (I'm 5'7", and naturally curvy) to a slightly less healthy 114. People noticed. The bigger toll was psychological, however. I was prone to self esteem issues before starting law school, but by finals week, I looked in the mirror and hated myself. I would say the crescendo hit when I got my grades back. It was a really emotional time, and it was hard to eat much or get a good night's sleep.

Things are much better now. I'm back up to 117, and I feel healthier; I have more energy. I'm making tons of plans to see friends around the country, and the anticipation is good for me; it gives me something to focus on besides A) my GPA B) my GPA and C) my GPA. I can't wait to see everyone in Charlottesville!

[EijiMiyake]

Just out of 0L curiosity, how many of you worked FT jobs before this? I realize that LS is a uniquely challenging experience, but I'm hoping that I might have gotten the time management / existential angst issues out of the way.

On a related note, I can't imagine (normal, non-traumatic) experiences that could be worse than my first all-nighter or 80-hr workweek, and I'm sincerely hoping that that LS isn't worse than that.

[OperaSoprano]

Just out of 0L curiosity, how many of you worked FT jobs before this? I realize that LS is a uniquely challenging experience, but I'm hoping that I might have gotten the time management / existential angst issues out of the way.

On a related note, I can't imagine (normal, non-traumatic) experiences that could be worse than my first all-nighter or 80-hr workweek, and I'm sincerely hoping that that LS isn't worse than that.

I did. I also worked almost full time while taking 18 credits, so I thought I had acquired the requisite time management skills. I failed to even imagine what it would be like to go head to head with my classmates, people I came to know, respect, and even love, and deal with the fallout from the curve. I would rather eat yellow snow than compete with these people, but such is the nature of law school. For me, it was the competition, and the sense that my life would be over if I couldn't get the grades I felt I needed. I wanted high grades, but I hated myself for the realization that I would have to earn them at someone else's expense.

I'm feeling a lot better, but the competition issue is still there.

[Mr. Pablo]

Just out of 0L curiosity, how many of you worked FT jobs before this? I realize that LS is a uniquely challenging experience, but I'm hoping that I might have gotten the time management / existential angst issues out of the way.

On a related note, I can't imagine (normal, non-traumatic) experiences that could be worse than my first all-nighter or 80-hr workweek, and I'm sincerely hoping that that LS isn't worse than that.

Existential angst?
I have been working for 6 years, 3 of which I had my own business (ie 80 work weeks for extended periods, all-nighters, etc..) I too hope that LS isn't more taxing. I'm with you on that.
But what do you mean by existential angst?

[EijiMiyake]

Just out of 0L curiosity, how many of you worked FT jobs before this? I realize that LS is a uniquely challenging experience, but I'm hoping that I might have gotten the time management / existential angst issues out of the way.

On a related note, I can't imagine (normal, non-traumatic) experiences that could be worse than my first all-nighter or 80-hr workweek, and I'm sincerely hoping that that LS isn't worse than that.

Existential angst?
I have been working for 6 years, 3 of which I had my own business (ie 80 work weeks for extended periods, all-nighters, etc..) I too hope that LS isn't more taxing. I'm with you on that.
But what do you mean by existential angst?

Just that there seems to be a lot of self-questioning and doubt along the way.