A hostel with 45 other kids = party when you’re 18, major nuisance when you’re 35.

Just like the act of putting a few dollars away every month/week/day will appreciate in 30 years, I can bank some time on exercise now and get a similar appreciation later when I retire (only in years instead of money).

The way I see it in order of importance it goes:

Health
Family
Time
Friendships
Money

I made a goal in my early 40s to live to be 100 (had my first kid at 40 which motivated the goal) and am working on it.

The discipline – financial or physical – is pretty much the same. Work on good habits (exercising daily, eating right and in moderation, etc.) and make them part of my *daily* routine.

I spent 20 years in the military so travel has always been part of my life (take the subway in Paris, don’t walk!) but finding ways to travel now – especially with our kids – is valuable to all of us.

BTW, I couldn’t afford to buy the comics. I would sit for hours at the store as a kid and just read everything from the rack. I really appreciate all those merchants who just looked the other way.

I have to say, I think getting finances in order allows/makes us focus on other areas of our lives that need work too, but that we’ve put off for too long.

I’m a fellow “third stager” and have been thinking about these issues as well. I don’t even want to lose much weight just want to firm/tone up. I used to hit the gym a few times a week early in the morning and felt so good the rest of the day. I need to get back in the habit rather than relying on a caffeine fix in the AM to get me going.

Welcome back, this is certainly a terrific first post after a long trip.

And I love the Moody Blues reference…

Just consider the fact that because of a healthy lifestyle, your chances for cancer, heart disease, and many other chronic illnesses are reduced significantly. Compared to the cost for treating those diseases, spending more on food and the gym are a bargain.

I think we need to take care of our mind, our spirit but most importantly our body. Its about maintaining a healthy and balanced sense of lifestyle and listening to what your body needs.

Without our health we can’t even get out of bed, let alone make the most of out of life.

Thanks for this post =)

Any gym membership is a waste of money if you don’t go. But if you go and use it (and love it!), then it’s not a waste at all.

When I was in chemo, I went to the mall one day and skipped up the steps to get to the second floor, and when I got to the top I realized that despite having been in chemo for two months, I was still healthier than a lot of the people walking around the mall.

Bodies just need to be taken care of: lots of movement, good fuel, enough sleep. So simple, and yet so difficult…

It also equals fewer sick days at work, several of my rather unhealthy obese friends are frequently sick and have used up their sick leave and have to use their annual leave to cover sick days or they won’t get paid.

I used to be in the obese range and had high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. I changed my diet = no more junk food and started exercising (I jog 6 days a week) and lost 40 lbs in time for my 50th birthday. I’m 51 now and have kept the weight off and I feel great. That good feeling after a workout lasts most of the day and really reduces that stressed out feeling so I’m more productive at work.

If I had not done this the doctor was ready to put me on diabetes drugs and high blood pressure medicine essentially for the rest of my life. But no need now thanks to exercise and a good diet all my numbers are in the normal to excellent range.

In contrast, I made myself sick last year (at 44) with overwork at a desk job and virtually lost 6 months out of my life due to ill health afterwards. One of the things we tend to forget is that people like farmers (or sports stars) take time off every winter, they don’t just push themselves all year long like desk-jockeys.

Nowadays, although I could work 10 or 15 hours a day if I wanted and make lots more money, I’m pacing it out at less than 7 hours a day. It seems to be the sweet spot to still have a life outside of work. I’d also like to recommend the book “The Power of Full Engagement” to anyone who still feels the urge to overwork just to make more money.

Now regarding your article, I’ve been trying to convince my wife all along that you health is one of the most important asset you have and it’s been hard to convince her to get out and exercise! but i will continue to try, encourage, and find things she will like to do.

My parents are a fantastic example of how health is so important.

Mum has had breast cancer twice and has high blood pressure, but religiously walks for at least 5 miles a day, plays tennis twice a week and does bushwalking one day a week. Her health is excellent, she loves to travel and can go all day, walking everywhere.

My father has not taken care of himself, has type 2 diabetes, hardening of the prostate, has had shingles, has had 6 back operations, actually I don’t think we have enough time to go through all the issues he has, oh and he never walks anywhere and doesn’t like to leave the house unless he is going somewhere on holiday…He loves to travel as well, but because of his health issues he can’t just go day after day and has to rest alot.

Mum and Dad love to cruise, I think because Mum likes to be active and Dad can be lazy, although they left on a cruise this morning and Dad said that he would be exercising more this time…

As for myself, I am 38, hiked to (almost) Mount Everest last year (Altitude sickness is a killer). I trained the whole year doing cardio, boxing, 5-7 hour hikes, boot camp and gym training. I lost 4 kilos the whole year!!

This year I am doing personal training, gym work, aquarobics class and swimming. I love to move my body.

I love to travel as well and have been to North America, South Pacific, most of the way around Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and most of Western Europe!

This morning I put in 30 minutes @ the rowing machine + 25 minutes on the stationary bicycle for a total of… (let me look, I wrote this) 621 calories. I’m wearing pants right now I haven’t worn in 5 years (see, I never lost hope).

I got serious about cardio for weight loss thanks to Tom Venuto. I swear by that guy’s ebook. He tells it like it is & reminds you there’s no magic “6 minute workout” that’s going to get you in shape. You need at least 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week for maintenance… you need more for weight loss.

Anyway, sound like I’m shilling for the guy but no, seriously, check out that book if you get a chance. It changed my life.

Oh, and you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to make his system work– just apply some of his principles. I don’t do things exactly like he says but it’s close enough that still works.

As for the walking and fatigue some of that is just normal. Unless you walk all day at work you are gonna have fatigue. But I always wear good shoes – generally my Mizuno working shoes. I don’t care if I look like a lazy American…I’m a comfortable lazy American and I can see more sites if I’m comfortable and get the support I need.

I had always dreamed of travel. I am now 40 and have been in over 20 countries. And still trying to get to more! On a recent trip to Egypt, we too saw many elderly travelers who could barely keep up. One couple in particular complained very vocally that they were not told how much walking (and general fast-pace) the tour required….

Since going freelance he has specialized in geriatrics, and his advice to anyone younger is JUST GET MOVING. The people who are active tend to keep their abilities. The people who sit down and rest lose their abilities, and lose them fast.

If you love Monday Night Football or Jersey Shore, go ahead and watch – but run in place, drop and give ‘em twenty, jump rope, walk on a treadmill. Or better yet, set your DVR for your favorite show, go to the gym, and watch the show when you come back – minus the commercials.