Health and Fitness - live your life long

 I've all made cuts this past year that either positively effected our health or negativity effective it. 

I for one cancelled my gym membership. Granted I kept it way longer then I should of hoping they would reopen.  We dropped all eating out from our lives and budget. This was tough as at first felt like we should support the local community, but that got expensive and really wasn't the best for long term health. We also didn't sign up to any ski passes this year.

I know many people gained weight and stressed ate over this last year. I know one of my friends switched to diet pop since he couldn't workout as much. He is an IRONMAN athlete. And it seems more exercise equipment was bought this past year in the last 5 years combined.  Probably not true, but it sure seems that way.

I pivoted a lot of my "normal" activities.  We had a small home gym already which was mostly used during the winter. Treadmill, a bench, and one of the free weights where you can change the weight by turning the dials.   I used the basement gym more and tried workouts I found online.  After while I found that I wasn't pushing myself and more going through the motions.   My wife cancelled all her yoga, pilates stuff, but for awhile she used at home stuff with her membership.  She used that for until the pre-paid part was over. And realized the cost per month was not worth online classes.  

We asked around some friends what equipment they were using.  One of them just got a Peloton bike and said we could use there rowing machine.  Score.  Our basement is unfinished. So concrete floors and cold in the winter.  In the past couple of days I bought some interlocking pads to cover the ground were we working out on.  This helped so we didn't need 6 yoga pads to save out knees.   Our gyms has slowly grown through the years and really has been for while now good enough to get ride of gym memberships.  Yes you miss the dedication/guilt of a gym membership, but huge savings.  

I will say we resent got the latest Apple Watches.  I had the original series 1 and the apps were not working anymore.  Any the point is that it came with free 3 months of Apple Fitness+.  Now I would of never tried this or paid for this. But since it was free and we are all stuck inside I gave it a chance.  After using for a month or so. I do enjoy it and it does give you a great workout.   They people are all encouraging, entertaining, and a nice variety of workout.   Once the "free" part it over I think we will continue the $5 family subscription.   I know there are some similar ones out there and if you are using them 3x a week keep it or signup for the paid service.  If you are not using them drop it. You can also find workouts in books or youtube.  I for along time used a Bruce Lee book with his workouts as my model for workouts.  

We all want to eat great food that is good for us and helps us lose weight. This is much much easier said then done.  I found books like cook your self thin as a great source. Otherwise the really only and probably best way is to track your book.  Apps like myFitnessPal  is an app that you can track your food. You can scan the stuff you eat or create recipes and it tracks your calories. This also will sync with most of you fitness trackers.  The point of it is to measure Calories your intake vs Calories you burn.  Only way to lose or maintain weight. I am not currently using the app, but I will probably start to again. I used it for many years and have used it constantly for long periods of time.  It does take a routine to track you food and a team effort if you are not always cooking your own food.  i.e. wife has to remember was ingredients she used. It has an amazing database of meals from almost all restaurants or common made food at home. It just takes a reminder to input it into the app/page. 

The world is changing and you need to as well.   Gyms are the way our parent got in shape and it just it the way anymore.  Cut the cost find something that works for you and live a long life.  Enjoy.

Knowledge is Power

I was never someone who sat down an read a book/blog or whatever.  While time moves on I do want to understand what interests me more.  Until we can just inject the information in our heads. I think there is really only three ways to do it.  Reading (or touch), listening, or watching.  I personally think reading and listening are the two best. Watching either on TV or PC is to distracting and doesn't seem to sink in as much.   

I started to read books for personal enjoyment in my late 20s. The Four Pillars of Personal Finance by William J. Bernstein said it perfectly.  "Personal finance/investing can be quite boring or dry to due to the content."  He recommended you read the educational book for a chapter or so then switch to another type of book that you enjoy. I know some people can just plow through non-fiction books while others need a break to not get bored.  I have found it to work very well in keeping my interest up in some books that has great information, but it was either very long and full of numbers and such.

I list of must reads or listen.

1. 'A Beginner's Guide to Investing: How to Grow Your Money the Smart and Easy Way' by Alex Frey
• This explains the concepts very well and helps you understand all the terms
  
2. ‘The Little Book of Common Sense Investing’ by John C. Bogle - Audio booked this one
3.  'The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing' by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, and Michael LeBoeuf
4. 'The Richest Man in Babylon' by George S Clason - Audio booked this one
5. 'ChooseFI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence' by Chris Mamula, Brad Barrett, and Jonathan Mendonsa
   

 
 
 The more I learn about personal finance and investing the more you release you don't know.  You hear stocks, bond, put, and short all the time. But do you really know what they are?  You know what a budget is and they are important, but do you know why?   I find the best time for me to improve in walking my dog. I listen to podcasts or audio-books exclusively on my 30-40min walks. Exercise and knowledge. Enjoy.