- Quickdraw McLaw
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“He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.”
Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore
Last year during the Annual Airing of Grievances, one of you wrote, “Our legal community suffers from obesity. The state bar should require Weight Watchers in addition to CLEs.” Unfortunately, whether from legal work being primarily a desk job or just too many catered meals/cookies at depositions and events, a lot of our legal community is obese. There’s no hiding that fact (although wearing a black robe and sitting on the bench helps). The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. We all know people who have made changes in their life and shed some weight. The better news is, you can do it too!
Here’s your chance to offer some suggestions on how to manage your burgeoning waistline. To get you started, check out this post extolling the virtues of “A Year in Juicing” from J. Devoy over at the Legal Satyricon. What do you think? Does juicing work for you or is CrossFit the answer? Have any of you had success with WeightWatchers? Is it possible to lose the pounds without exercise? How do you deal with all the candies and cookies being delivered this time of year?
I'll admit it. I'm a fatty. I actually enjoy exercising, it clears my mind and calms me down. In fact, I've had some of my best litigation strategies/theories/ideas pop into my head while working out. The problem for me (a young associate), is that the ebb and flow of litigation is so disruptive to a daily routine. Sometimes deadlines, unexpected crises or the volume of work itself requires that I come in very early or stay late, which inevitably eats into the time I would have been working out. And whatever time I have left after working, I like to spend with my kids first. Any suggestions?
Getting a Fitbit has really helped make me aware of how little I was moving and turned working out into more of a "game." On days I can't work out, I try to walk during lunch. An app that tracks your calories also helps. For me, realizing that every little bit helps and eventually adds up to results changed my mindset. It is really hard to find the time, but you have to make yourself a priority…hope this helps.
Even with limited time to exercise, you can make healthier choices with what you consume. It's much easier to avoid eating a cookie than attempting to burn off 500 calories. Fruits, veggies and lean meat throughout the weekdays should be a staple.
P90x. Can't say enough good things about it. After all the extra "baggage" I added on through life, law school, and law practice, it has helped me get back to the same weight I was in high school. None of my suits fit me anymore, which is fine.
It requires a bit (ok a LOT) of motivation and the first 3 weeks suck, but after that you (and your significant other) will thank you profusely. I suggest picking a time either before or after work and sticking with it. An added bonus-all the stress relief makes me less prone to drinking to alleviate stress, which is another problem in our profession. Thus P90x can kill two birds with one stone. And the icing on the cake—some of the people in the videos are lawyers themselves, which is pretty cool.
My tip would be that whatever exercise you do, do it first thing in the morning before work. That way, it is already done before everything creeps up on you during the day. Plus, at least for me, waking up early stings a bit at first, but I have more energy then than I do at the end of the day when I usually feel exhausted.
EAT FEWER CALORIES THAN YOU BURN. You are probably eating waaaay to much food. Try a counting app like myfitnesspal.
Ride a bike or walk somewhere.
I hear about a lot a lawyers riding bikes, but let's be frank, doesn't that do damage to the boys? Walking is much better.
Ask Lance Armstrong. Five kids, two of them conceived with only one testicle.
Keep in mind – attorneys who are also avid bikers tend to get their law licenses suspended at a higher rate.
I just pray a lot that I don't get fat. It seems to work. God must not care about the rest of you fatties.
Weight watchers works because it is just a fancy way of eating fewer calories than you burn. That's it. And portion control/self control. No additional exercise needed.
God is the absolute worst.
Eat Less, Move More. For details, watch this Youtube video with step-by-step instructions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKs0oEIVOck
Who is the BK attorney in this month's bar counsel report? I'm sure everyone who does BK already knows.
I was wondering the same thing when I read it. I thought about doing a bit of research to try to figure out who it is, but I'm too lazy. Hopefully somebody here can say who it is.
Who are the cyclist lawyers in trouble with the bar?
Try googling: "las vegas attorney united states cycling team"