Stress = Pounds

I am not sure if my metabolism quit working all together when I turned twenty-five or if it is stress related, but I have gained 10 pounds since I have been in Dallas. TEN!

Honestly, this normally would not freak me out. My weight fluctuates five to ten pounds in any given month and my clothes always fit, so I generally could care less... Except I am home with my parents, eating their diet food, and gaining weight. And, as noted in my posts throughout the summer, I am working out quite often. I like to think my weight gain is all of my fat turning to muscle, but I fear that is not the case.

Most of you are probably going to throw stones at me when you hear this next part, but stress normally makes me lose weight. In law school, I would lose around 5 pounds while studying for finals. I never changed my eating habits, but my body seemed to super process food when I was studying (or maybe it just didn't process it) but either way... I lost weight. Over my month and a half of studying and stressing over the Bar (as opposed to 1 to 2 weeks when studying for finals) my body has decided to change tactics. It appears to be storing up all the fat it can take in because it knows I am about to freak out and go into super study mode... Which up till how has always meant weight loss.

Body... I am on to your tricks and I do not approve. I am interested to see if I continue to gain weight once I am studying on my own and in control of my destiny or if I will continue to reach new heights on the scale. (Disclaimer: I know I am thin. I know I am healthy. I am not any bigger than I was when I was 10 pounds lighter (which incidentally was right after finals and a 5 pound weight loss) and all of my clothes fit. I am not worried about my weight, but I do think it is funny that I gained weight while eating healthier than I have ever eaten... got to love the irony.)

I have two more days of BarBri and then the fun begins. After Thursday I go into what BarBri likes to call the "self-study" portion of the review. They break our days into Morning, Afternoon, and Evening sessions and we have no days off between this Friday and the Bar. I am thrilled (sarcasm), but it is a necessary evil because I am no where near ready for the bar and it is THREE WEEKS AWAY!

I fear I will have no more "study break" posts between now and the bar. Feel free to check in on me though if you are interested in hearing about my sanity (or quite possibly a lack there of), my studying, my workouts (and potential water-bottle throwing incidents), and maybe my weight should it chose to make any more roller-coaster turns. The bar is an interesting thing... I don't think I could every adequately put it into words... If you have been through it, you understand. If not, be thankful!

As far as how my family is doing, we are getting by. The funeral is tomorrow at 10am and will probably be quite difficult for my family and George's. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement. It means the world to me and my family!