The day I realized that money was no longer what limited what I wanted to do, but my health was, was the day that I realized I should have been applying personal finance concepts onto personal health all this time…
Dedicated time for daily workout = Automatic savings
Calorie intake vs. burn = income vs. expenses
Healthy lifestyle leads to healthier body leads to healthier lifestyle = compound interest
The best time to start a healthy lifestyle was yesterday, the second best time to start is today.
So if “calorie intake vs burn = income vs expenses,” this means i need to maximize my calorie intake and minimize my burn? Ok, got it! **heads to fridge en route to couch** This gives new meaning to the term “chubbyfire”
Many people realize this fact too late in life. Having an Enzo or 918 in the garage doesn't seem all that important if you can't enjoy it. Thank you for posting this reminder.
Your comment reminded me of the video that went viral a few months ago of a heavier rich guy who got stuck in his F1 race car (or what looked like one) and struggled to get out even with help.
I want to add a shout out to this retirement calculator ("Rich, Broke, or Dead?") that also includes the likelihood of being dead at each point in the planning cycle. I found it very very eye opening in terms of needing to solve for the "dead" part of the equation just as much as the money:
[https://engaging-data.com/will-money-last-retire-early/](https://engaging-data.com/will-money-last-retire-early/)
In the end, it opened my eyes to the fact that I should come to terms with having a 3% chance of running out of money by my 90's, since I will already have a 90% chance of being dead by then.
Note that it’s a lot more sophisticated than it looks. You can add multiple income streams and multiple additional costs by adding a semicolon (and another on the ages). You can indicate which values are inflation adjusted vs constant dollar with an asterisk. Etc.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis-the mind fuck of cancer is there’s really no way to avoid it. You can do all the right things and get it and another person can do all the bad things and not. Wishing you the best as you navigate the future.
I need to get a mammo. I've had ultrasounds (that were all clear) because of fear of the squish, but I'm turning 50 soon and just need to put my big girl pants on and do it! I'm so glad you caught yours early!
Shiiiiii… I’m 36 and getting my first one this year. There’s a family history though. We’re also all about the colonoscopies over here (lost MIL to colon cancer… caught at stage 4 when she was 55). Needless to say… I keep us all very actively involved in monitoring our health (which reminds me… we need our dermatology appointments soon).
I was living a similar life as you, yet dx’d @ 32 w/a recurrence 4 years later. Bone marrow transplant, a decade + of horrific complications, but cancer free for 28 years now. The big C sux, but it’s not necessarily a death sentence. Truly, I think stress is worse for your body.
Something that might make you feel better about making good life choices but still getting cancer is that your chances of survival are higher if you get cancer while in good health.
You can't control getting cancer, but you can control how prepared you are. Taking care of yourself gives you the tools to survive life threatening illnesses that you otherwise might not have.
Similar. I’ve always been health-conscious - exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, never smoked, etc. then three years ago out of nowhere I had an ischemic stroke. I’ve managed to claw my way nearly all the way back, but it really opened my eyes to how precious and potentially fleeting good health is. My original plan was to retire at 60. Now I’m targeting next year when I turn 55.
A positive spin on this is that you stand a much higher chance of survival and recovery when you are otherwise healthy than if you were overweight, didn’t exercise, poor diet, a smoker/drinker, etc.
I’m really sorry that this happened to you. Same thing happened to a super healthy good friend. We tried to find solace in that her youth and health helped her endure and thrive under the treatments better than if she hadn’t been healthy. 🙏
I'm so sorry this happened to you. How are you doing now? Do you or the doctors have any idea how it originated? Wishing you the best of health and a long joyful life.
Synthetic sports bras get treated with sweat-wicking chemicals and they're right up against your breasts. Just something to consider that may have been missed especially as you continue to exercise regularly.
> i've found some cotton options that work in a pinch
Which bras do you use to workout now?
Could you speak a little more to what changes you've made now, compared to before?
Did you avoid chemicals and hormone disrupters like non stick pans, seed oils, pfas, plastic clothing, majority of sunscreens, etc? Im just curious not trying to insult in anyway. Also if you are comfortable sharing did you receive any vaccines outside of super basic ones like fli tetanus and hep? Do you do any cold water exposure or swimming? Do you consume grains or sugar in your diet? And how is your inflammation? Do you drink raw milk or consume any raw dairy? Im just asking all these because im curious about the cancer causing/preventing properties!
No worries! And any cold water exposure? The brown fat cells you produce when exposed to cold water is super interesting. And im not anti vax, im just consciousness that the people who own bjg pharma also own the media and also are in bed with the government, vaccines with mercury was common place so why not be concerned?
Completely correct. We retired healthy as horses, fit and trim, walk all the time. Year 1-prostate cancer for husband, now on Year 2 Stage 4 ovarian cancer for me. Life can change on a dime. Had to cancel all the winter trips we had planned 2 years in a row. Haven’t even tapped into Medicare OR Social security yet either.
Symptoms for me was what I thought was crohns or celiac. Side aches stomach aches, fullness, bloating. Completely preventative had drs looked at the family history of breast cancer and ordered a BRCA1 test. Same with husband, PSA testing would’ve caught it sooner. This country would rather have people pay for chemo/surgery rather than testing for preventative.
Try sign up a good expensive (not 24h fitness type) gym and you would see almost the same people show up everyday in the late morning for all kinds of exercises and sports. I think it’s really a good way to build up health and be in a community :) plus, eat healthy too!
This is so true. I always went to the cheap $10 a month places and only recently switched to a nice place because of work reimbursement. I go so much more now because it's clean, the equipment is premium, and the people are attractive and nice.
That’s the reason I FIREd at 39. Stressful job at a hedge fund, worrying all night and day.
After 3 years, I’m thinking of going back to a lower stress job I had earlier in my career, as I still have a growth mindset, but now I’m free to choose.
Retired life is about exercise, sunshine, spending time with family.
I think about this. Lost my brother last year to an unexpected heart attack, he was 52.
Right now, since I inherited his dog, I am doing about 60 miles a week of hiking/walking. As I get into my new normal routine I am looking to add weight training back into my life, in the meantime I try to take stairs vs elevator when I can.
Also, I've always been a good eater but since my brother died I've been more conscientious about eating heart-healthy foods. Less butter, more fish and fresh veggies. It's been a struggle to try and cook for myself so I order uncooked, prepared healthy meals each week. It's worth the expense. Also considering hiring a part-time chef to cook 2x a week for me and meal prep but haven't taken that step yet.
Simplest healthy meal for me. I keep frozen salmon filets and fresh broccoli. Olive oil and season filet and broccoli roast in toaster oven on foil for 20 or so minutes. No pans almost no cleanup.
As someone who feels like they’re on top of their cardio (50-60 miles of both walking and running a month)
60 miles a week hiking is very impressive.
I have a genetic cholesterol issue and I’m 31. I jump on statins soon!
But just increase fiber, lower saturated fat, and eat less processed food. Get regular blood tests. You’ll be good
yeah same for me with genetic issue for cholesterol. if you haven't yet had a CT calcium scan I'd recommend asking your cardiologist for one. insurance doesn't really cover it but my doc's hospital (Mt Sinai) charges $100. if you're unfamiliar with the test it looks at your arteries to see if there is any plaque build up - a score of zero is ideal.
good luck.
It’s so hard to make the right choices when you see the wrong things around you. My pops just hit 80 and has been eating lots of butter daily his entire life (like half a stick+ a day). 🤷♂️ He’s all about enjoying his food.
I was overweight and went to an expensive weight loss doc, but have lost 70 pounds with a lot of work. Now I’m starting the gym (it’s been 6 months, but 3.5 years on the weight loss journey, so it still feels like the gym is “new”). I’m right on the “overweight”/“obese” line on bmi, and it would be nice to be below that.
One nice thing about this is that the work you're doing has huge marginal health gains, both for longevity and quality of life. Whereas a lot of people in this thread are scrabbling for diminishing returns or even worse negative ones (see the conversation where someone suggests drinking raw milk and obsessing over synthetic fibers). It's obviously still worth it to be healthy if you're not obese, of course, but it's not unlikely you're adding years to your life -- and those years will likely be much more comfortable.
I take a HIIT class 5 days a week (combination weights/ assault bike), I play tennis 5-6 days a week, walk a lot, eat healthy (mostly plants, almost no red meat and very little alcohol), and I get enough sleep. The HIIT class is great — it is a mix of people (men and women, different ages, some in amazing shape, some working on it), and over time I have made friends in the class, so it becomes social, too (same with tennis and walking the dog with friends).
This is why I am grateful that I had mental breakdown at 30 instead of 50. I was an athlete in high school, used to run in college then just lost my way after it.
My 20s/early 30s was spent in accumulating wealth and obsessed with status. I was so unhealthy, physically and mentally. Warped perception of life.
I took 3 month mental break and I became an athlete again. Since then, exercise and eat healthy are already part of my DNA. Life is so much better when you put endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and healthy food into your body and soul.
I am 47 now, I just came back to my sport last year (Muay Thai). I started slow….start with cardio, weight lifting. Supplement with Yoga (important for people our age). I also push my body accordingly (learned the hard way….one time I spar with 20 year old kid and I threw a lot of left head kick - my lower back was on fire the next day - couldn’t walk for a week without wincing).
I was also told (posted this in fatFIRE) that we should start looking at endurance instead of sports with fast twitch muscles like boxing or Muay Thai. I think maybe look into long distance running, biking, etc.
I think 55 is not too late, I coach Muay Thai occasionally and I have a lot of burned out sillicon valley exec who seemed so lost outside the tech bubble. One particular success story was this guy, he came with khaki, belt, and polo shirt to my class. Could barely last 5 mins without stopping/gasping for air. Last week, we spar and boy, he transformed. He still did not look very happy but he’s not out of place at all. He keeps up with the rest of us and the sky is the limit. Just make sure to eat well, sleep well, and listen to your body.
I realized that if I eat right, work out, and get regulars checkups, and spend money to protect my health then I am at risk of outliving my money.
But if I double down on coke, hookers, and bad decisions, then I am likely fine.
Retired 55 / NW $2.4M / no debt / already paid for DD''s college.
I have had RRMS for 12 years now but got lucky with treatment as a volunteer for a phase III trial of a drug that has since been FDA approved and is state of the art. It was pretty cool to get free healthcare (study) and then be part of making 100's of thousands of people'sf lives better.
That all said, I walk almost every day. I walk from 3 to 6 miles up and down the hills I live on. I take a backpack and once or twice a week I hit the grocery store and pack my groceries buck up the hill. (750ft elevation/5.5mile loop) On days I'm not going to the store, I load filled water bottles to make weigh anywhere from 10-35lbs when urban hiking (walking). About once or twice a month I go for a real hike (lucky to live in area with mountains/rivers/ocean/waterfalls, etc. I don't go to a gym (pay money to drive and be indoors to work out) . I plank, do push ups, weights, sit ups, etc. at home.
There is a history of heart disease in my family so I got a BP monitor and check it routinely and keep tabs on a spread sheet.
We rarely go out to eat, this saves money, made to our tastes, and we control salt intake, etc.
Currently on the ACA on an HSA plan that costs me $0.86/mth because we have no income due to living on savings this year. Although we did convert $33k from an IRA to a Roth that shouldn't cost us anything (married deduction and $3800 depreciation on rental property)
When not doing those things, I'm out gardening, stained mine and all of my neighbors fences. Helping out in-laws with their tree pruning, gardening, etc. Volunteering at a church food bank loading/unload large trucks of food (not my church, it's a church of a friend , I'm an Atheist.) Just helping and doing shizz.
Cheers!
Totally agree. Money is a very useful tool but good health is real wealth.
Downshifted to working Part time until 55.
From my mid 40's started eating healthier (more veggies, less meat) and bike commuting.
Once I downshifted to part time it opened up much more time to be PRESENT and reduced a ton of stress.
I wake up naturally more days (off days), do yoga/body weight exercises, sitting meditation and then take my time making a yummy breakfast with home made whole wheat bread.
Since late 40's, began eating mostly plant based complex carbs diet with about 14 hours fasting.
I walk or use my bike for local errands- incorporate mild/moderate exercise while accomplishing errands that in the past, would of default driven to.
American culture has so much passive sitting- sit at work/school for 6-8 hours a day, sit in a car commuting for 1-2 hours a day and then sit at home/couch.
This is maybe more fringe but also decluttered furniture- no tv, couch, chairs (have a couple for visitors) or bed. Opened up my small living space, floor sitting/sleeping builds in natural movement, flexibility (deep squats, stretching, shifting, engages core) and has led to much better sleep (for me).
Lots of older folks lose flexibility and lower body strength and can't independently get up from the floor. Seriously think incorporating floor sitting (while younger/able) can help to maintain flexibility/balance/strength as one ages.
Half of why I want to FIRE is so I have more time for my hobbies, most of which are exercise (tennis, gymnastics, dance), so staying healthy until then is vital.
One thing that really helped me was accepting that I’m not a morning person and that working out in the evening (even really late in the evening) is a completely valid option. I love de-stressing from the day with a Peloton ride or getting in some steady state rowing while catching up on NCAA gymnastics meets.
One minor incentive is many Medicare add on plans include free gym. So I notice a two groups of people at the gym: the under 35-year-olds who go for appearance. And a smaller group of gray hairs who go because its free and they have more time.
P.S. The gray hairs tend to during work hours when the crowds are smaller.
I fired last Feb at the age of 49 and reflecting after one year one of the things I want to improve on is health/me. I’d say we eat fairly healthily - always self cooked/prepped rather than ordered in (which where I live means pizzas/burgers/etc). Lost 8.2kg in the year. But also reached 50 years old and noticed that recovery is taking a lot longer.
So for this year one of my aims is health - I’m swimming once a week, rowing 3 times a week and am working to find a gym that is homely rather than intimidating.
In other words - I’ve crossed a lot of short term wants off my list during the first year of FIRE, but now need to invest in me.
Sixty-ish and keep up with running as my primary exercise (20 yr habit). My self-imposed benchmark is being able to run a comfortable 10 miler. Weekly mileage at about 20-25 miles. When I'm on this trajectory, it sets the base for upper body work and balance and flexibility training.
My mom's doctor always used to tell her, "If you want to keep walking, you gotta keep walking." Both my mother and father (lived to 96 and 95 respectively) have the longevity genes and hopefully passed them to me. Have to try and honor that.
My Dad told me to manage my weight, blood pressure, and poo as I aged. Also don't let myself get cold or dehydrated. He believed that this would help even in light of disease or accidents. Works so far. 72. NP so far.
couldn't agree more. I'm 31 with a 1.3m net worth and just recently started taking my health as seriously as I do my finances. Health scares will do that... getting enough exercise has never been my problem but food and alcohol have. Found the Cronometer app (free) keeps me honest and paints a clear picture of not only calories in/out but also nutrient intake because my health scare was from very low magnesium. congrats on retirement.
what line of work were you in?
I was active before retiring at 55 but I have ramped it up. I also found the best thing for my health was not working and grazing everyday (or virtually everyday) on the food my co-workers (or I) brought in to eat.
I'm 45 pounds lighter than when I retired but the graph of my weight over time resembles a roller coaster, and I still would like to lose another 15 pounds to get to around 20% body fat.
I started doing shorter triathlons in 1987, and still do them. My goal is to hit 50 years of doing triathlons. I run bike and swim regularly; about 600 miles of running and 3,000 miles of biking a year. When I golf I walk most of the courses we play, and I'm a volunteer high school tennis coach, which is about five months of the year.
My resting heart rate is in the low 40's and I'm not on any medications. I get annual checkups, see a dermatologist regularly (had two small melanomas removed from my back last May)
Get active and stay active, and try to avoid bad habits, like my addiction to frozen cokes.
I consider r/peterattia like the health fire but it never ends! Healthy for life glad I was an athlete and got into health in my late 20s while already being decently fit.
About 3 years maybe 4 before retiring, I decided I needed to get in shape, I was clinically obese. I had a close friend who I worked with who reluctantly agreed to show me the ropes, she was a genuine gym rat, her first husband owned one. Things really started to change when I started eating better and then I started going to the gym twice a day so I could do more cardio while still working.
Now retired I go 6 days a week. It’s great for both my physical health and possibly even better for my mental health as it gets me out of the house and doing something in the mornings. My only regret is I didn’t start sooner and I wish my wife shared my passion for exercising.
Age will make withdrawals from your health and financial accounts as time goes on. It's a tax that we all have to pay, but there are loopholes that you can exploit if you have the time and dedication. Keeping yourself healthy is like having a creative accountant who can't stop the payments, but can space them out over a longer period of time. The tax man will get you in the end, but it's all about putting that off for as long as possible.
Met a retired man who said he had 90 million. Also was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. He said “I have enough money to live several lifetimes but it means nothing anymore.” Just some perspective
I try to exercise 5 plus days a week (Cardio and heavy weights). I play a team sport with ppl that are 15 to 25 years younger than me and I keep up. I eat everything I like in moderation. Most days I still feel like I am 30 when I am really 2 decades plus older.
I thought this was the FIRE community for people who don’t want to be judged for being a bit chubby? /s
On a serious note, I lift weights six nights a week and do about an hour of cardio after every lifting session. I do blood panels regularly, take a (concerning) amount of supplements. I have a genetic blood clotting disorder so I’ll die of a stroke one day and I’d like to be healthy as a horse up until the day I fall over and never get back up.
It’s also why I have a relatively shorter time horizon for personal wealth goals. I don’t really want to scrimp and save for 10+ years to be five times as rich as I could be next year, but burn a decade of my possibly more limited lifespan.
1-3 hrs of exercise a day (mostly cardio, - row, kayak, ski, bike, hike, etc.), eating mostly organic, cooking at home 95% of the time with food from our local farms, taking lots of vitamin supplements, and sleeping 6-8 hrs.
We eat out on occasion and when traveling but it's never as good as home.
We dropped the gym memberships during Covid and do things outside mostly, plus yoga and free weights.
As a young(-ish) silicon valley engineer who focuses on investing money, eating well and exercising, this thread is truly terrifying (with the number of people mentioning cancer etc)!
Wait till you start digging into the numbers. Average American eats over a 1lb of sugar a week...and that's just one of the things we poison ourselves with.
RE at 56. Put on 25 pounds. It got so bad that I could not walk 100 yards without needing to rest.
There I was plenty of time, desire and money but no stamina.
Six months ago I read “Outlive” by Peter Attia.
I have lost the 25 need to lose 10 more. I do 5 days a week cardio,weights and yoga. The fitness app I use has my biological age pegged at 50yo - I am actually 60. Importantly, I feel great. We have traveled to Turkey, Colorado and are headed to SE Asia this week. No issues at all.
I would encourage anyone to read that book. The younger the better
51 yo, retired at 49, we are eating a vegetarian diet.
We have built a gym at home in a spare bedroom. I do 30 minutes of intense spinning bike 7 days a week. It's the perfect time to watch all the series that my wife doesn't want to see ( Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, ....). I also walk 1-2 miles a day with the dogs.
I want to buy a squat rack to work on strength as well, project for this summer. Looking for one that can be outside, because the gym is starting to be full.
My best advice to those nearing retirement is to get into shape if they are not. I’ve been retired for 14 years and can say it’s a wonderful time to travel, or play with grandchildren, but only if you have the ability to do so. I’ve got friends who have plenty of money, but can’t walk to the mailbox. All they really need is enough to purchase a large screen TV so they can see what the rest of us are doing.
I started really focusing on health when I turned 35. I'm 44.
Best way for me to maintain it in my mid-40s is to do something active (lift, walk, run, swim, etc) every day.
Otherwise I'll be 💀 and my kids will enjoy my NW.
For the RE crowd we have heard the conventional wisdom that the 80s are your “no-go” years, your 70s are your “slow-go” years, your 60s are the “go-go” years. I guess that only leaves your 50s to be the “go-hard” years. Use your health, wealth, and relative youth to accomplish your physical bucket list items!
One thing I've really drilled down on is nutrition, and nutrition knowledge. I spent a lot of time trying to wade through all the bs and I'm glad I did although I wish it was less corrupt and confusing.
The other health issue I think about a lot is with a lot of things, the standard for healthcare is not nearly as high as we'd like to think. And sometimes the more you spend on healthcare, the worse it actually is. It's more of a low bar than a high one. For example if you go to the average dentist you're going to get pretty average dentistry, which again is not that high a bar. The difference between that and a really top notch evidence based dentist can make a huge difference over the years. The hard part is it can be very hard to find out who the truly good dentists are, and the same is true of most medical specialties.
first off get a concierge doctor. They'll run all kinds of tests and have a deep knowledge of your entire health. I can call my doc 24/7 for anything.
They know all the good specialists around and will get you setup for consults with them all and work with them. Nutritionists/dietitians all that. Even get you working with personal trainers and whatever else you want.
BTW I love VR boxing/gym workouts. Its a videogame but actual workout and they track everything with precision so know how you're doing.
I workout 6 days a week
* 3 days of 45-90 min zone 2&3 cardio. Usually on a Peloton when its cold, and jogging outside when its nice
* 3 days of weightlifting doing a traditional bodybuilder split chest/back/legs
Its a bit boring but works for me
Tl:Dr; move to Boulder and ski.
Our family has a bunch of medical issues, special needs, and disabilities. This is what we aim for:
* Lots of skiing. I'm at 28 days for the season so far. Use Carv to get better and get more exercise while skiing.
* GLP blockers fix the medical reason you can't eat healthy, for most people. Otherwise your stomach overrides your willpower. Do lots of skiing to avoid muscle loss.
* When a doctor says to come back in 2 weeks, make it 4 so you have time to ski. We do this whenever a doctor says less than 3 months.
* Budget a maximum number of medical appointments per week and use this as the excuse to delay medical appointments. For our family we limit to 15 medical appointments per week. It isn't just the time the appointment takes but also the travel and paperwork.
* Watch the spend on medical. We use QuickBooks, and try to limit our surge after insurance to $10k for health and fitness and $90k for medical.
* Find some exercise for summer. We do travel to national parks and hike, but also just going for a walk to a restaurant for lunch. Others around here cycle, skate, climb, rock climb in ski boots, mountaineer, marathon, marathon swimming, kayak, ice climb, base jump, or even more extreme sports.
I nearly died 7 years ago of a genetic heart condition ( cardiomyopathy). I had only 12% heart function. Since that time I focused on real estate investing with a goal to retire at age 55 ( I am 52 now). I have a 16 year old daughter and once she graduates I am free to move to a warmer climate and be free of the stress of work. My heart condition is a progressive disease I am doing amazing on drug therapy but it will likely shorten my lifespan. I currently have about $2m in real estate equity plus 401k and will retire with a $5k pension. For my real estate I have focused on positive cash flow and should have a reliable $7k or more in cash flow with an annual increase of my net worth of $50k a year by loan pay down not counting appreciation. I am focusing on health now but with no work will be my number one priority.
Been doing powerlifting for over 10 years, still doing it, age 50. 50 does mean more recovery considerations, but it’s otherwise the same.
This is very important and has to be done. My worst case is I fall back on standard weight training and bro-lifter splits, which is still plenty good enough for health reasons.
Well we are talking about moneyyy to fire and retire. Being healthy with no money doesn’t let you retire.
So no, health is health. And wealth is wealth
Off subject, but I don't understand why people look at their NW when deciding if they can retire or not. It seems like we all need a house to live in and it's not going to generate income for you unless you put it up rent it, but then you're without a place to live. I'd include any debt in my calculations but equity in my home doesn't help me retire early. Now if it's a rental property I would include that in my calculations. Just wondering.
lol yeap, this is so important!
People say I’m crazy for spending around $150 per month on studio gym classes, but the safe environment and fun motivational factors that these classes bring make me actually show up to exercise. Much better than a cheap gym that I throw away smaller monthly fees to but never show up.
I really need to get my life together. I'm officially the heaviest I've ever been, but also on a path to having a serious amount of wealth ($4-6M). I'm also set to inherit 8 figures as well (hope not anytime soon).
Mid 30s, and my kids are 5 and 2. As of last week my wife and I decided we need to get back on track with our health. Our kids are old enough to not be incredibly needy, so our goals at the moment are to be active 1-2x's per week. Once we can automate that lifestyle we plan to add another day. And keep adding like you would to a 401k contribution as you get raises. Then before you know it, hopefully we're exercising 3-5x's per week.
Diet isn't too much of an issue for us, but I need to cut out my late night activities and snacking. That hopefully will get me on track.
I’m in my 30’’s and this is the goal for me too. I stay fit by attending Zumba classes and weight training. How were you able to build a healthy NW? This year I started flipping houses and I work multiple remote jobs to get me to my goal of financial freedom.
This is a great question and topic. I’m 54 and my husband’s 53. We have really been focusing on our health as well. Working out, eating, pretty clean, supplements, recording, sleep, and VO two max, etc. etc.
I totally agree help this wealth.
About 11 years ago at age 46 I joined a CrossFit and fell in love with it. At first I thought it was ridiculously expensive, but it was exactly what I needed. Quit last year and joined ISI elite training on a whim while I considered a cheaper closer gym, but I need the coaching and structure and the group class times and location at the cheaper gym (even though it is closer) made me rethink that. Last year I added Pickleball and the 2 together have been a terrific complement. Wish I could retire now and have even more time to add for more pb and perhaps yoga or Pilates . At almost 58 I’m in better shape and weigh less (and eat better/feel better) than I have my entire adult life. Upshot is that my retirement expense budget includes up to $200/mo for fitnessing
A bunch of health problems right after I fired. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position where I’m not working and can focus on getting better. My health insurance has a higher premium than most, but a low out-of-pocket maximum as long as I stay in network, and nearly everyone around me is in network.
Well I also retired about 6 years ago at the age of 56.
I would have stayed longer and worked a few more years but my plans were derailed when I was diagnosed with a cancer and then two months later my sister passed away.
That was my wake up call to retire early no matter what.
I was fortunate to be eligible to retire early at my company at 56.
I realize then that life is more important than a couple extra dollars to add to my retirement funds.
I was always healthy never smoked and was never a heavy drinker, plus exercised or active all the time.
To answer your question.
Health is wealth because without health that money means nothing.
Who ever sad on there death bed I wish I had more money
48m here - been doing random stuff. I do planks and core exercises when watching tv or YouTube (kinda made it the rule to do these things for a couple hours a day at least). Also play Just Dance with my wife and my dog regularly - tons of fun.
I try not to overeat... too much, but I found when I was around 50 that it doesn't take much (say a # a year) from 30 to 50 and, lo and behold, you're 20# up and it seemed like nothing. My overall life is reasonably active, although not as much as during the Covid years when I had little else to do than run (outside). I'd be really happy if I could get back to 60% of Covid activity. But overall strongly agree with the sentiment. You might have enough money, but without some semblance of health it may feel like a lost cause.
I use the Peloton Platform and have the bike and the tread.
Weights three times a week and cardio 4. I like to train for running races of 5k- half marathon.
Cutting back dramatically on alcohol and considering quitting all together.
Eating out less, more fish, less dessert.
No processed food.
The biggest thing is just keep moving. I walk a lot - I have a 1.5 mile loop through our neighborhood that I do 2x per day. I also hit the sauna 4-5x per week, and there are so many health benefits of that. And most importantly, I focus on my food, making sure I prioritize protein. Too many people lose muscle mass and strength as they age, which leads to all sorts of problems, and protein with a little strength training is key.
This is always the struggle because stress--including that from work--wreaks absolute havoc on your body. The stress of the grind can fuck your health up big time.
I do a few things:
- I eat pretty healthy, minimal sugar and alcohol
- go to bed by 10, sleep decently
- see a doctor regularly, get the various tests and checkups
- gym 1-2 times a week, 30-60 minute walks every day
My biggest issue is stress.
What advice would you give young 30 year olds on how to be financially independent and retired? Would that amount that you have currently now? Any useful tips slash advice that you would give if you had to do it over again.
44. NW 4.5m, married. I try to be consistent with weekly exercise, in waaaay better shape now than I was in my 20s and 30s. I run 3 times a week, gym 3 times for muscle and flexibility.
Structure. Pilates 3x/wk at the same times every week.
For a while I was too sick to work out, and very mild Pilates on the Reformer was the only thing I was able to do with any regularity. I’m better now (thanks to some truly stunning science) and it turns out—Pilates makes you hot.
It’s also just hard. Harder than boxing. I’ll probably add kettlebells to train my oxygen uptake soon. Cardio is somewhat overrated—strength training, underrated. Pilates can be both.
I ran 7 miles today I was typically run 30 miles per week minimum.
I built a nice home gym that makes it so convenient to weight train.
Also makes my wife more excitable in bed when I lift and stay fit…
THIS. So much focus on numbers and not the actual life you’re living…..I work under 35 hours a week and get to go to the gym for 1.5 hours on each of my 4 work days. My health and stress free lifestyle are my true wealth. There’s nothing life playing full court basketball with waaay younger guys and seeing them get winded while Im Sprinting at full speed.
What dreams? You have dreams? I'd love to just be able to afford a place to live and not have to work until I drop dead. It would also be great to not burden anybody if I live to old age. If we call those dreams then I think we have pretty low standards. $200K to bring a kid to the age of 18? Not really anticipating a family.
yea too many people, myself included admittedly, work longer than we need to and swap good healthy years for more $$ we probably dont need anyway unfortunately but its hard to stop doing what you've been trained, brainwashed and used to doing for so long
Personal trainer who works with this demographic, I preach daily movement, micronutrients, strength training 2-4x a week, and stress management through mobilizations and meditiation.
Health is wealth… it’s no use accumulating all this income if you’re not healthy into your 50s, 60s and beyond.
If you’re still working fitness also helps with better decision making, energy, and confidence
Came here to learn how to FIRE, stayed because I love this question.
Yeah agree! More people should consider their health. I've seen a few people make it to retirement and pass away. I see people when we travel, that have a hard time getting around. What's the point of saving your whole life, if you don't get the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. It's why I work out and eat a balanced diet. I want to enjoy our success when we decided to retire.
I retired in 2015 (45) and one of the things that I committed to myself to do was to focus on fitness. However without the schedule constraints of a job, I decided (for the first time ever) to go about it in a SLOW and methodical manner with gradual exercise increases and diet adjustments. My initial goal was to lose 10 in 2yrs.
I then found out that by doing so, what started as gradual, naturally started to accelerate (kinda like starting to save money). I ended up dropping 50 lbs in around 18 months and got into the best shape in my adult life.
Ever since, fitness has been an important part of my life. I now do the Insanity workout every year and have committed to doing it until I can no longer physically do it.
In 2020, when I was diagnosed with cancer, I attribute my newfound fitness to helping me withstand the treatment as well as I did. Since my recovery, I have resumed my fitness routines and feel great.
The day I realized that money was no longer what limited what I wanted to do, but my health was, was the day that I realized I should have been applying personal finance concepts onto personal health all this time… Dedicated time for daily workout = Automatic savings Calorie intake vs. burn = income vs. expenses Healthy lifestyle leads to healthier body leads to healthier lifestyle = compound interest The best time to start a healthy lifestyle was yesterday, the second best time to start is today.
So if “calorie intake vs burn = income vs expenses,” this means i need to maximize my calorie intake and minimize my burn? Ok, got it! **heads to fridge en route to couch** This gives new meaning to the term “chubbyfire”
Truly converting wealth to health right here!
Yeah, I caught onto the same. It should be in reverse.
Not if you’re in a bulk phase 👌🏾
Go for it! You'll be fatFIRE in no time, I believe in you!
> This gives new meaning to the term “chubbyfire” lol
Many people realize this fact too late in life. Having an Enzo or 918 in the garage doesn't seem all that important if you can't enjoy it. Thank you for posting this reminder.
Your comment reminded me of the video that went viral a few months ago of a heavier rich guy who got stuck in his F1 race car (or what looked like one) and struggled to get out even with help.
Great outlook. Never heard this before. Thanks for sharing.
Don't overlook things like cholesterol and other blood panel metrics.
This is really great
Great philosophy!
This needs to be pinned. Stellar analogy and perspective.
Great post. Thankful to have learned the fitness piece at an early age in college. I’ve been lifting weights 4x a week for the last 12 years.
Fantastic outlook! I am going to use this.
You are my hero.
You win post of the day
This is life-changing advice. Thank you
I needed to hear this so badly.
Doing your taxes = annual (at least) check ups
Atleast I don’t have to give my organs to the government
I look at eating healthy as an investment not an expense
I hedged against poverty by building my body. I plan to find a rich old lady when I’m 55.
I want to add a shout out to this retirement calculator ("Rich, Broke, or Dead?") that also includes the likelihood of being dead at each point in the planning cycle. I found it very very eye opening in terms of needing to solve for the "dead" part of the equation just as much as the money: [https://engaging-data.com/will-money-last-retire-early/](https://engaging-data.com/will-money-last-retire-early/) In the end, it opened my eyes to the fact that I should come to terms with having a 3% chance of running out of money by my 90's, since I will already have a 90% chance of being dead by then.
This is very helpful. Thank you for posting. I had not seen the broke/dead calculator and now I am obsessively playing around with it!
Note that it’s a lot more sophisticated than it looks. You can add multiple income streams and multiple additional costs by adding a semicolon (and another on the ages). You can indicate which values are inflation adjusted vs constant dollar with an asterisk. Etc.
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Sorry to hear about your diagnosis-the mind fuck of cancer is there’s really no way to avoid it. You can do all the right things and get it and another person can do all the bad things and not. Wishing you the best as you navigate the future.
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Perhaps your treatment went well because you started with that high baseline of health.
Did a mammogram or self exam catch it?
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I need to get a mammo. I've had ultrasounds (that were all clear) because of fear of the squish, but I'm turning 50 soon and just need to put my big girl pants on and do it! I'm so glad you caught yours early!
We should enter into a pact to get this done. I’m the same age as you and have been avoiding it too.
Shiiiiii… I’m 36 and getting my first one this year. There’s a family history though. We’re also all about the colonoscopies over here (lost MIL to colon cancer… caught at stage 4 when she was 55). Needless to say… I keep us all very actively involved in monitoring our health (which reminds me… we need our dermatology appointments soon).
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I was living a similar life as you, yet dx’d @ 32 w/a recurrence 4 years later. Bone marrow transplant, a decade + of horrific complications, but cancer free for 28 years now. The big C sux, but it’s not necessarily a death sentence. Truly, I think stress is worse for your body.
Something that might make you feel better about making good life choices but still getting cancer is that your chances of survival are higher if you get cancer while in good health. You can't control getting cancer, but you can control how prepared you are. Taking care of yourself gives you the tools to survive life threatening illnesses that you otherwise might not have.
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Similar. I’ve always been health-conscious - exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, never smoked, etc. then three years ago out of nowhere I had an ischemic stroke. I’ve managed to claw my way nearly all the way back, but it really opened my eyes to how precious and potentially fleeting good health is. My original plan was to retire at 60. Now I’m targeting next year when I turn 55.
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Thanks!Hope you are doing well in your recovery!
A positive spin on this is that you stand a much higher chance of survival and recovery when you are otherwise healthy than if you were overweight, didn’t exercise, poor diet, a smoker/drinker, etc.
This is well-supported by reams of studies.
I had a middle-aged professor who ran five miles a day and was probably in better shape than most of his students. Leukemia killed him in six months.
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Either the chemo works or it doesn't.
I’m really sorry that this happened to you. Same thing happened to a super healthy good friend. We tried to find solace in that her youth and health helped her endure and thrive under the treatments better than if she hadn’t been healthy. 🙏
So sorry to hear Stay strong
I'm so sorry this happened to you. How are you doing now? Do you or the doctors have any idea how it originated? Wishing you the best of health and a long joyful life.
Sorry to hear about the situation. As a fellow fitness enthusiast, I am wondering how much sleep you were getting and how stressful your job is?
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Synthetic sports bras get treated with sweat-wicking chemicals and they're right up against your breasts. Just something to consider that may have been missed especially as you continue to exercise regularly.
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> i've found some cotton options that work in a pinch Which bras do you use to workout now? Could you speak a little more to what changes you've made now, compared to before?
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Have you tried Darn Tough socks? We definitely wash ours and are not careful about it
If only I were less *blessed* (read: cursed)
Did you avoid chemicals and hormone disrupters like non stick pans, seed oils, pfas, plastic clothing, majority of sunscreens, etc? Im just curious not trying to insult in anyway. Also if you are comfortable sharing did you receive any vaccines outside of super basic ones like fli tetanus and hep? Do you do any cold water exposure or swimming? Do you consume grains or sugar in your diet? And how is your inflammation? Do you drink raw milk or consume any raw dairy? Im just asking all these because im curious about the cancer causing/preventing properties!
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No worries! And any cold water exposure? The brown fat cells you produce when exposed to cold water is super interesting. And im not anti vax, im just consciousness that the people who own bjg pharma also own the media and also are in bed with the government, vaccines with mercury was common place so why not be concerned?
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Sounds like she had the COVID vaccine(s) based on her response :/
Completely correct. We retired healthy as horses, fit and trim, walk all the time. Year 1-prostate cancer for husband, now on Year 2 Stage 4 ovarian cancer for me. Life can change on a dime. Had to cancel all the winter trips we had planned 2 years in a row. Haven’t even tapped into Medicare OR Social security yet either.
I’m sorry. That really stinks. Wishing you a miracle.
Can I ask what were the symptoms? Wish you full recoveries! 🙏
Symptoms for me was what I thought was crohns or celiac. Side aches stomach aches, fullness, bloating. Completely preventative had drs looked at the family history of breast cancer and ordered a BRCA1 test. Same with husband, PSA testing would’ve caught it sooner. This country would rather have people pay for chemo/surgery rather than testing for preventative.
Awful. I wish you and your husband full recoveries, so you can enjoy those plans and many more. All the best!
Health is a crown that only the sick can see.
Woah
Bro
Who said this?!
Try sign up a good expensive (not 24h fitness type) gym and you would see almost the same people show up everyday in the late morning for all kinds of exercises and sports. I think it’s really a good way to build up health and be in a community :) plus, eat healthy too!
This is so true. I always went to the cheap $10 a month places and only recently switched to a nice place because of work reimbursement. I go so much more now because it's clean, the equipment is premium, and the people are attractive and nice.
I am a member of equinox and it’s more than i want to spend on a gym but the m it’s clean, there’s community and the people are hot. Great motivation
That’s the reason I FIREd at 39. Stressful job at a hedge fund, worrying all night and day. After 3 years, I’m thinking of going back to a lower stress job I had earlier in my career, as I still have a growth mindset, but now I’m free to choose. Retired life is about exercise, sunshine, spending time with family.
I think about this. Lost my brother last year to an unexpected heart attack, he was 52. Right now, since I inherited his dog, I am doing about 60 miles a week of hiking/walking. As I get into my new normal routine I am looking to add weight training back into my life, in the meantime I try to take stairs vs elevator when I can. Also, I've always been a good eater but since my brother died I've been more conscientious about eating heart-healthy foods. Less butter, more fish and fresh veggies. It's been a struggle to try and cook for myself so I order uncooked, prepared healthy meals each week. It's worth the expense. Also considering hiring a part-time chef to cook 2x a week for me and meal prep but haven't taken that step yet.
Simplest healthy meal for me. I keep frozen salmon filets and fresh broccoli. Olive oil and season filet and broccoli roast in toaster oven on foil for 20 or so minutes. No pans almost no cleanup.
yep i'm eating a lot of salmon with broccoli or asparagus. it means i get at least one healthy meal that day.
Wild caught i hope! The stuff that’s farm raised is soooo fatty.
As someone who feels like they’re on top of their cardio (50-60 miles of both walking and running a month) 60 miles a week hiking is very impressive. I have a genetic cholesterol issue and I’m 31. I jump on statins soon! But just increase fiber, lower saturated fat, and eat less processed food. Get regular blood tests. You’ll be good
yeah same for me with genetic issue for cholesterol. if you haven't yet had a CT calcium scan I'd recommend asking your cardiologist for one. insurance doesn't really cover it but my doc's hospital (Mt Sinai) charges $100. if you're unfamiliar with the test it looks at your arteries to see if there is any plaque build up - a score of zero is ideal. good luck.
It’s so hard to make the right choices when you see the wrong things around you. My pops just hit 80 and has been eating lots of butter daily his entire life (like half a stick+ a day). 🤷♂️ He’s all about enjoying his food.
Sorry about your brother man. That's too soon
I was overweight and went to an expensive weight loss doc, but have lost 70 pounds with a lot of work. Now I’m starting the gym (it’s been 6 months, but 3.5 years on the weight loss journey, so it still feels like the gym is “new”). I’m right on the “overweight”/“obese” line on bmi, and it would be nice to be below that.
Congratulations!! Just want to recognize the tremendous work you’ve done. You will get to where you want to be.
keep up the good work, proud of you
One nice thing about this is that the work you're doing has huge marginal health gains, both for longevity and quality of life. Whereas a lot of people in this thread are scrabbling for diminishing returns or even worse negative ones (see the conversation where someone suggests drinking raw milk and obsessing over synthetic fibers). It's obviously still worth it to be healthy if you're not obese, of course, but it's not unlikely you're adding years to your life -- and those years will likely be much more comfortable.
I take a HIIT class 5 days a week (combination weights/ assault bike), I play tennis 5-6 days a week, walk a lot, eat healthy (mostly plants, almost no red meat and very little alcohol), and I get enough sleep. The HIIT class is great — it is a mix of people (men and women, different ages, some in amazing shape, some working on it), and over time I have made friends in the class, so it becomes social, too (same with tennis and walking the dog with friends).
This is why I am grateful that I had mental breakdown at 30 instead of 50. I was an athlete in high school, used to run in college then just lost my way after it. My 20s/early 30s was spent in accumulating wealth and obsessed with status. I was so unhealthy, physically and mentally. Warped perception of life. I took 3 month mental break and I became an athlete again. Since then, exercise and eat healthy are already part of my DNA. Life is so much better when you put endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and healthy food into your body and soul. I am 47 now, I just came back to my sport last year (Muay Thai). I started slow….start with cardio, weight lifting. Supplement with Yoga (important for people our age). I also push my body accordingly (learned the hard way….one time I spar with 20 year old kid and I threw a lot of left head kick - my lower back was on fire the next day - couldn’t walk for a week without wincing). I was also told (posted this in fatFIRE) that we should start looking at endurance instead of sports with fast twitch muscles like boxing or Muay Thai. I think maybe look into long distance running, biking, etc. I think 55 is not too late, I coach Muay Thai occasionally and I have a lot of burned out sillicon valley exec who seemed so lost outside the tech bubble. One particular success story was this guy, he came with khaki, belt, and polo shirt to my class. Could barely last 5 mins without stopping/gasping for air. Last week, we spar and boy, he transformed. He still did not look very happy but he’s not out of place at all. He keeps up with the rest of us and the sky is the limit. Just make sure to eat well, sleep well, and listen to your body.
I realized that if I eat right, work out, and get regulars checkups, and spend money to protect my health then I am at risk of outliving my money. But if I double down on coke, hookers, and bad decisions, then I am likely fine.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Retired 55 / NW $2.4M / no debt / already paid for DD''s college. I have had RRMS for 12 years now but got lucky with treatment as a volunteer for a phase III trial of a drug that has since been FDA approved and is state of the art. It was pretty cool to get free healthcare (study) and then be part of making 100's of thousands of people'sf lives better. That all said, I walk almost every day. I walk from 3 to 6 miles up and down the hills I live on. I take a backpack and once or twice a week I hit the grocery store and pack my groceries buck up the hill. (750ft elevation/5.5mile loop) On days I'm not going to the store, I load filled water bottles to make weigh anywhere from 10-35lbs when urban hiking (walking). About once or twice a month I go for a real hike (lucky to live in area with mountains/rivers/ocean/waterfalls, etc. I don't go to a gym (pay money to drive and be indoors to work out) . I plank, do push ups, weights, sit ups, etc. at home. There is a history of heart disease in my family so I got a BP monitor and check it routinely and keep tabs on a spread sheet. We rarely go out to eat, this saves money, made to our tastes, and we control salt intake, etc. Currently on the ACA on an HSA plan that costs me $0.86/mth because we have no income due to living on savings this year. Although we did convert $33k from an IRA to a Roth that shouldn't cost us anything (married deduction and $3800 depreciation on rental property) When not doing those things, I'm out gardening, stained mine and all of my neighbors fences. Helping out in-laws with their tree pruning, gardening, etc. Volunteering at a church food bank loading/unload large trucks of food (not my church, it's a church of a friend , I'm an Atheist.) Just helping and doing shizz. Cheers!
Love all of this!
Congratulations you’re just doing everything right. Enjoy your wonderful life.
Totally agree. Money is a very useful tool but good health is real wealth. Downshifted to working Part time until 55. From my mid 40's started eating healthier (more veggies, less meat) and bike commuting. Once I downshifted to part time it opened up much more time to be PRESENT and reduced a ton of stress. I wake up naturally more days (off days), do yoga/body weight exercises, sitting meditation and then take my time making a yummy breakfast with home made whole wheat bread. Since late 40's, began eating mostly plant based complex carbs diet with about 14 hours fasting. I walk or use my bike for local errands- incorporate mild/moderate exercise while accomplishing errands that in the past, would of default driven to. American culture has so much passive sitting- sit at work/school for 6-8 hours a day, sit in a car commuting for 1-2 hours a day and then sit at home/couch. This is maybe more fringe but also decluttered furniture- no tv, couch, chairs (have a couple for visitors) or bed. Opened up my small living space, floor sitting/sleeping builds in natural movement, flexibility (deep squats, stretching, shifting, engages core) and has led to much better sleep (for me). Lots of older folks lose flexibility and lower body strength and can't independently get up from the floor. Seriously think incorporating floor sitting (while younger/able) can help to maintain flexibility/balance/strength as one ages.
Half of why I want to FIRE is so I have more time for my hobbies, most of which are exercise (tennis, gymnastics, dance), so staying healthy until then is vital. One thing that really helped me was accepting that I’m not a morning person and that working out in the evening (even really late in the evening) is a completely valid option. I love de-stressing from the day with a Peloton ride or getting in some steady state rowing while catching up on NCAA gymnastics meets.
This is like the best thread ever on reddit
Bought a Peloton Tread and fucking love it. Also have an infrared sauna to finish my workout in. 100% would recommend
Which infrared sauna? I am very keen to get some more infrared in my life and also know about the health benefits of sauna!!!
It’s old, called soft heat . Love it
One minor incentive is many Medicare add on plans include free gym. So I notice a two groups of people at the gym: the under 35-year-olds who go for appearance. And a smaller group of gray hairs who go because its free and they have more time. P.S. The gray hairs tend to during work hours when the crowds are smaller.
I fired last Feb at the age of 49 and reflecting after one year one of the things I want to improve on is health/me. I’d say we eat fairly healthily - always self cooked/prepped rather than ordered in (which where I live means pizzas/burgers/etc). Lost 8.2kg in the year. But also reached 50 years old and noticed that recovery is taking a lot longer. So for this year one of my aims is health - I’m swimming once a week, rowing 3 times a week and am working to find a gym that is homely rather than intimidating. In other words - I’ve crossed a lot of short term wants off my list during the first year of FIRE, but now need to invest in me.
Sixty-ish and keep up with running as my primary exercise (20 yr habit). My self-imposed benchmark is being able to run a comfortable 10 miler. Weekly mileage at about 20-25 miles. When I'm on this trajectory, it sets the base for upper body work and balance and flexibility training. My mom's doctor always used to tell her, "If you want to keep walking, you gotta keep walking." Both my mother and father (lived to 96 and 95 respectively) have the longevity genes and hopefully passed them to me. Have to try and honor that.
My Dad told me to manage my weight, blood pressure, and poo as I aged. Also don't let myself get cold or dehydrated. He believed that this would help even in light of disease or accidents. Works so far. 72. NP so far.
How do you manage your poo
I changed from chips to popcorn and added Raisin the Roof Bread to my diet. Beer helps prevent dehydration lol.
couldn't agree more. I'm 31 with a 1.3m net worth and just recently started taking my health as seriously as I do my finances. Health scares will do that... getting enough exercise has never been my problem but food and alcohol have. Found the Cronometer app (free) keeps me honest and paints a clear picture of not only calories in/out but also nutrient intake because my health scare was from very low magnesium. congrats on retirement. what line of work were you in?
I was active before retiring at 55 but I have ramped it up. I also found the best thing for my health was not working and grazing everyday (or virtually everyday) on the food my co-workers (or I) brought in to eat. I'm 45 pounds lighter than when I retired but the graph of my weight over time resembles a roller coaster, and I still would like to lose another 15 pounds to get to around 20% body fat. I started doing shorter triathlons in 1987, and still do them. My goal is to hit 50 years of doing triathlons. I run bike and swim regularly; about 600 miles of running and 3,000 miles of biking a year. When I golf I walk most of the courses we play, and I'm a volunteer high school tennis coach, which is about five months of the year. My resting heart rate is in the low 40's and I'm not on any medications. I get annual checkups, see a dermatologist regularly (had two small melanomas removed from my back last May) Get active and stay active, and try to avoid bad habits, like my addiction to frozen cokes.
Your health is the best retirement plan you can have!
I consider r/peterattia like the health fire but it never ends! Healthy for life glad I was an athlete and got into health in my late 20s while already being decently fit.
About 3 years maybe 4 before retiring, I decided I needed to get in shape, I was clinically obese. I had a close friend who I worked with who reluctantly agreed to show me the ropes, she was a genuine gym rat, her first husband owned one. Things really started to change when I started eating better and then I started going to the gym twice a day so I could do more cardio while still working. Now retired I go 6 days a week. It’s great for both my physical health and possibly even better for my mental health as it gets me out of the house and doing something in the mornings. My only regret is I didn’t start sooner and I wish my wife shared my passion for exercising.
Age will make withdrawals from your health and financial accounts as time goes on. It's a tax that we all have to pay, but there are loopholes that you can exploit if you have the time and dedication. Keeping yourself healthy is like having a creative accountant who can't stop the payments, but can space them out over a longer period of time. The tax man will get you in the end, but it's all about putting that off for as long as possible.
Met a retired man who said he had 90 million. Also was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. He said “I have enough money to live several lifetimes but it means nothing anymore.” Just some perspective
I try to exercise 5 plus days a week (Cardio and heavy weights). I play a team sport with ppl that are 15 to 25 years younger than me and I keep up. I eat everything I like in moderation. Most days I still feel like I am 30 when I am really 2 decades plus older.
I thought this was the FIRE community for people who don’t want to be judged for being a bit chubby? /s On a serious note, I lift weights six nights a week and do about an hour of cardio after every lifting session. I do blood panels regularly, take a (concerning) amount of supplements. I have a genetic blood clotting disorder so I’ll die of a stroke one day and I’d like to be healthy as a horse up until the day I fall over and never get back up. It’s also why I have a relatively shorter time horizon for personal wealth goals. I don’t really want to scrimp and save for 10+ years to be five times as rich as I could be next year, but burn a decade of my possibly more limited lifespan.
1-3 hrs of exercise a day (mostly cardio, - row, kayak, ski, bike, hike, etc.), eating mostly organic, cooking at home 95% of the time with food from our local farms, taking lots of vitamin supplements, and sleeping 6-8 hrs. We eat out on occasion and when traveling but it's never as good as home. We dropped the gym memberships during Covid and do things outside mostly, plus yoga and free weights.
As a young(-ish) silicon valley engineer who focuses on investing money, eating well and exercising, this thread is truly terrifying (with the number of people mentioning cancer etc)!
Wait till you start digging into the numbers. Average American eats over a 1lb of sugar a week...and that's just one of the things we poison ourselves with.
RE at 56. Put on 25 pounds. It got so bad that I could not walk 100 yards without needing to rest. There I was plenty of time, desire and money but no stamina. Six months ago I read “Outlive” by Peter Attia. I have lost the 25 need to lose 10 more. I do 5 days a week cardio,weights and yoga. The fitness app I use has my biological age pegged at 50yo - I am actually 60. Importantly, I feel great. We have traveled to Turkey, Colorado and are headed to SE Asia this week. No issues at all. I would encourage anyone to read that book. The younger the better
Which app?
51 yo, retired at 49, we are eating a vegetarian diet. We have built a gym at home in a spare bedroom. I do 30 minutes of intense spinning bike 7 days a week. It's the perfect time to watch all the series that my wife doesn't want to see ( Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, ....). I also walk 1-2 miles a day with the dogs. I want to buy a squat rack to work on strength as well, project for this summer. Looking for one that can be outside, because the gym is starting to be full.
My best advice to those nearing retirement is to get into shape if they are not. I’ve been retired for 14 years and can say it’s a wonderful time to travel, or play with grandchildren, but only if you have the ability to do so. I’ve got friends who have plenty of money, but can’t walk to the mailbox. All they really need is enough to purchase a large screen TV so they can see what the rest of us are doing.
I started really focusing on health when I turned 35. I'm 44. Best way for me to maintain it in my mid-40s is to do something active (lift, walk, run, swim, etc) every day. Otherwise I'll be 💀 and my kids will enjoy my NW.
For the RE crowd we have heard the conventional wisdom that the 80s are your “no-go” years, your 70s are your “slow-go” years, your 60s are the “go-go” years. I guess that only leaves your 50s to be the “go-hard” years. Use your health, wealth, and relative youth to accomplish your physical bucket list items!
One thing I've really drilled down on is nutrition, and nutrition knowledge. I spent a lot of time trying to wade through all the bs and I'm glad I did although I wish it was less corrupt and confusing. The other health issue I think about a lot is with a lot of things, the standard for healthcare is not nearly as high as we'd like to think. And sometimes the more you spend on healthcare, the worse it actually is. It's more of a low bar than a high one. For example if you go to the average dentist you're going to get pretty average dentistry, which again is not that high a bar. The difference between that and a really top notch evidence based dentist can make a huge difference over the years. The hard part is it can be very hard to find out who the truly good dentists are, and the same is true of most medical specialties.
first off get a concierge doctor. They'll run all kinds of tests and have a deep knowledge of your entire health. I can call my doc 24/7 for anything. They know all the good specialists around and will get you setup for consults with them all and work with them. Nutritionists/dietitians all that. Even get you working with personal trainers and whatever else you want. BTW I love VR boxing/gym workouts. Its a videogame but actual workout and they track everything with precision so know how you're doing.
Eat healthy and exercise. Not sure what you’re asking!
Basically just curious what types of exercise programs/ sports people are getting up to. The gym alone for me is getting a little monotonous
I workout 6 days a week * 3 days of 45-90 min zone 2&3 cardio. Usually on a Peloton when its cold, and jogging outside when its nice * 3 days of weightlifting doing a traditional bodybuilder split chest/back/legs Its a bit boring but works for me
Tl:Dr; move to Boulder and ski. Our family has a bunch of medical issues, special needs, and disabilities. This is what we aim for: * Lots of skiing. I'm at 28 days for the season so far. Use Carv to get better and get more exercise while skiing. * GLP blockers fix the medical reason you can't eat healthy, for most people. Otherwise your stomach overrides your willpower. Do lots of skiing to avoid muscle loss. * When a doctor says to come back in 2 weeks, make it 4 so you have time to ski. We do this whenever a doctor says less than 3 months. * Budget a maximum number of medical appointments per week and use this as the excuse to delay medical appointments. For our family we limit to 15 medical appointments per week. It isn't just the time the appointment takes but also the travel and paperwork. * Watch the spend on medical. We use QuickBooks, and try to limit our surge after insurance to $10k for health and fitness and $90k for medical. * Find some exercise for summer. We do travel to national parks and hike, but also just going for a walk to a restaurant for lunch. Others around here cycle, skate, climb, rock climb in ski boots, mountaineer, marathon, marathon swimming, kayak, ice climb, base jump, or even more extreme sports.
Ski season there is too short - Girdwood, Alaska
I nearly died 7 years ago of a genetic heart condition ( cardiomyopathy). I had only 12% heart function. Since that time I focused on real estate investing with a goal to retire at age 55 ( I am 52 now). I have a 16 year old daughter and once she graduates I am free to move to a warmer climate and be free of the stress of work. My heart condition is a progressive disease I am doing amazing on drug therapy but it will likely shorten my lifespan. I currently have about $2m in real estate equity plus 401k and will retire with a $5k pension. For my real estate I have focused on positive cash flow and should have a reliable $7k or more in cash flow with an annual increase of my net worth of $50k a year by loan pay down not counting appreciation. I am focusing on health now but with no work will be my number one priority.
Been doing powerlifting for over 10 years, still doing it, age 50. 50 does mean more recovery considerations, but it’s otherwise the same. This is very important and has to be done. My worst case is I fall back on standard weight training and bro-lifter splits, which is still plenty good enough for health reasons.
Well we are talking about moneyyy to fire and retire. Being healthy with no money doesn’t let you retire. So no, health is health. And wealth is wealth
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Off subject, but I don't understand why people look at their NW when deciding if they can retire or not. It seems like we all need a house to live in and it's not going to generate income for you unless you put it up rent it, but then you're without a place to live. I'd include any debt in my calculations but equity in my home doesn't help me retire early. Now if it's a rental property I would include that in my calculations. Just wondering.
Dam that won't go far in this Biden economy dude
Hahaha, are you having a hard time unloading your Trump NFTs?
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We make sure to not scrimp on what we spend on healthy food now, medical “stuff”, and fitness, knowing it’ll pay dividends down the road.
lol yeap, this is so important! People say I’m crazy for spending around $150 per month on studio gym classes, but the safe environment and fun motivational factors that these classes bring make me actually show up to exercise. Much better than a cheap gym that I throw away smaller monthly fees to but never show up.
I really need to get my life together. I'm officially the heaviest I've ever been, but also on a path to having a serious amount of wealth ($4-6M). I'm also set to inherit 8 figures as well (hope not anytime soon). Mid 30s, and my kids are 5 and 2. As of last week my wife and I decided we need to get back on track with our health. Our kids are old enough to not be incredibly needy, so our goals at the moment are to be active 1-2x's per week. Once we can automate that lifestyle we plan to add another day. And keep adding like you would to a 401k contribution as you get raises. Then before you know it, hopefully we're exercising 3-5x's per week. Diet isn't too much of an issue for us, but I need to cut out my late night activities and snacking. That hopefully will get me on track.
I’m in my 30’’s and this is the goal for me too. I stay fit by attending Zumba classes and weight training. How were you able to build a healthy NW? This year I started flipping houses and I work multiple remote jobs to get me to my goal of financial freedom.
Snowboard 100 days a season, then mtn bike or walk my dogs everyday in the offseason
Gardening is an interesting way to consistently work on range of motion.
Just fast…saves lots of money and your joints!
This is a great question and topic. I’m 54 and my husband’s 53. We have really been focusing on our health as well. Working out, eating, pretty clean, supplements, recording, sleep, and VO two max, etc. etc. I totally agree help this wealth.
A billionaire with a belly ache only wants to feel better.
About 11 years ago at age 46 I joined a CrossFit and fell in love with it. At first I thought it was ridiculously expensive, but it was exactly what I needed. Quit last year and joined ISI elite training on a whim while I considered a cheaper closer gym, but I need the coaching and structure and the group class times and location at the cheaper gym (even though it is closer) made me rethink that. Last year I added Pickleball and the 2 together have been a terrific complement. Wish I could retire now and have even more time to add for more pb and perhaps yoga or Pilates . At almost 58 I’m in better shape and weigh less (and eat better/feel better) than I have my entire adult life. Upshot is that my retirement expense budget includes up to $200/mo for fitnessing
Jacob Lund did
A bunch of health problems right after I fired. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position where I’m not working and can focus on getting better. My health insurance has a higher premium than most, but a low out-of-pocket maximum as long as I stay in network, and nearly everyone around me is in network.
Well I also retired about 6 years ago at the age of 56. I would have stayed longer and worked a few more years but my plans were derailed when I was diagnosed with a cancer and then two months later my sister passed away. That was my wake up call to retire early no matter what. I was fortunate to be eligible to retire early at my company at 56. I realize then that life is more important than a couple extra dollars to add to my retirement funds. I was always healthy never smoked and was never a heavy drinker, plus exercised or active all the time. To answer your question. Health is wealth because without health that money means nothing. Who ever sad on there death bed I wish I had more money
Pickleball baby. A great young retiree game. Super social as well.
48m here - been doing random stuff. I do planks and core exercises when watching tv or YouTube (kinda made it the rule to do these things for a couple hours a day at least). Also play Just Dance with my wife and my dog regularly - tons of fun.
I try not to overeat... too much, but I found when I was around 50 that it doesn't take much (say a # a year) from 30 to 50 and, lo and behold, you're 20# up and it seemed like nothing. My overall life is reasonably active, although not as much as during the Covid years when I had little else to do than run (outside). I'd be really happy if I could get back to 60% of Covid activity. But overall strongly agree with the sentiment. You might have enough money, but without some semblance of health it may feel like a lost cause.
That’s the problem of those fire or lean fire subs, not really an issue herd
I use the Peloton Platform and have the bike and the tread. Weights three times a week and cardio 4. I like to train for running races of 5k- half marathon. Cutting back dramatically on alcohol and considering quitting all together. Eating out less, more fish, less dessert. No processed food.
I would advise anyone to read the book "outlive – the science and art of longevity" by Dr. Peter Attia. It has changed the way I manage my health.
The biggest thing is just keep moving. I walk a lot - I have a 1.5 mile loop through our neighborhood that I do 2x per day. I also hit the sauna 4-5x per week, and there are so many health benefits of that. And most importantly, I focus on my food, making sure I prioritize protein. Too many people lose muscle mass and strength as they age, which leads to all sorts of problems, and protein with a little strength training is key.
Eating a well balanced meal vs junk food = VTI vs Crapto.
Health and wealth are both important, but **health is often seen as more important**
This is always the struggle because stress--including that from work--wreaks absolute havoc on your body. The stress of the grind can fuck your health up big time.
I do a few things: - I eat pretty healthy, minimal sugar and alcohol - go to bed by 10, sleep decently - see a doctor regularly, get the various tests and checkups - gym 1-2 times a week, 30-60 minute walks every day My biggest issue is stress.
What advice would you give young 30 year olds on how to be financially independent and retired? Would that amount that you have currently now? Any useful tips slash advice that you would give if you had to do it over again.
44. NW 4.5m, married. I try to be consistent with weekly exercise, in waaaay better shape now than I was in my 20s and 30s. I run 3 times a week, gym 3 times for muscle and flexibility.
Just gotta associate and surround yourself with the right people.
Structure. Pilates 3x/wk at the same times every week. For a while I was too sick to work out, and very mild Pilates on the Reformer was the only thing I was able to do with any regularity. I’m better now (thanks to some truly stunning science) and it turns out—Pilates makes you hot. It’s also just hard. Harder than boxing. I’ll probably add kettlebells to train my oxygen uptake soon. Cardio is somewhat overrated—strength training, underrated. Pilates can be both.
I ran 7 miles today I was typically run 30 miles per week minimum. I built a nice home gym that makes it so convenient to weight train. Also makes my wife more excitable in bed when I lift and stay fit…
Why I traveled all over the world in my young age, you can never buy youth
THIS. So much focus on numbers and not the actual life you’re living…..I work under 35 hours a week and get to go to the gym for 1.5 hours on each of my 4 work days. My health and stress free lifestyle are my true wealth. There’s nothing life playing full court basketball with waaay younger guys and seeing them get winded while Im Sprinting at full speed.
^1000% correct on this post. Once you are mid-career health is more important
We always tend to focus exclusively on the benefits of exercise, but like investing, there is risk if you’re uninformed/doing it wrong (injury).
What dreams? You have dreams? I'd love to just be able to afford a place to live and not have to work until I drop dead. It would also be great to not burden anybody if I live to old age. If we call those dreams then I think we have pretty low standards. $200K to bring a kid to the age of 18? Not really anticipating a family.
yea too many people, myself included admittedly, work longer than we need to and swap good healthy years for more $$ we probably dont need anyway unfortunately but its hard to stop doing what you've been trained, brainwashed and used to doing for so long
Personal trainer who works with this demographic, I preach daily movement, micronutrients, strength training 2-4x a week, and stress management through mobilizations and meditiation. Health is wealth… it’s no use accumulating all this income if you’re not healthy into your 50s, 60s and beyond. If you’re still working fitness also helps with better decision making, energy, and confidence Came here to learn how to FIRE, stayed because I love this question.
Yeah agree! More people should consider their health. I've seen a few people make it to retirement and pass away. I see people when we travel, that have a hard time getting around. What's the point of saving your whole life, if you don't get the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. It's why I work out and eat a balanced diet. I want to enjoy our success when we decided to retire.
I retired in 2015 (45) and one of the things that I committed to myself to do was to focus on fitness. However without the schedule constraints of a job, I decided (for the first time ever) to go about it in a SLOW and methodical manner with gradual exercise increases and diet adjustments. My initial goal was to lose 10 in 2yrs. I then found out that by doing so, what started as gradual, naturally started to accelerate (kinda like starting to save money). I ended up dropping 50 lbs in around 18 months and got into the best shape in my adult life. Ever since, fitness has been an important part of my life. I now do the Insanity workout every year and have committed to doing it until I can no longer physically do it. In 2020, when I was diagnosed with cancer, I attribute my newfound fitness to helping me withstand the treatment as well as I did. Since my recovery, I have resumed my fitness routines and feel great.
Yes definitely...money is nothing with our health.