I started going fishing every few days after I was laid off 2 years ago. It was a great way to get outside and clear my head. It was one of the things I built my day around. Take my daughter to school, drive to the day's fishing spot, pick up my daughter from school.
You are doing the right thing addressing this now. I can tell you waiting will only make things worse. I got serious about improving my health during COVID and now walk about 8 miles a day and lift weights twice a week. My personal trainer is pricy but it is an investment in my health span and is money well spent. I am much stronger, healthier, and mentally stronger. I still have the aches and pains of being 56 but I can’t imagine where I would be if I had not invested in my health. Good luck!
Right now I have the benefit of still being on my wife's health insurance through Uber. I am definitely watching healthcare premiums though for my FIRE plans, particularly as there are changes in the new budget bill.
My mind telling me yes. But my body’s telling me no.
In all seriousness, I’d love to see an update as things improve. Just like with personal finance, having awareness and some sort of monitoring system goes a long way.
Great to meet you last night, André! I *knew* I’d want to read what you were up to. The things one learns in “retirement” or late-life-layoffs — talk about a revelation. You get it. I feel like buttonholing every young whippersnapper with this advice, as I wish someone had done for me.
Or DID they? Maybe I just shook my beautiful “live-fast-die-young” head?
The health vulnerability— which as you found, is often triggered by a chink in one’s pleasures— is perhaps the biggest.
Recently, I found an easy way to cut calories: I skip dinner! My routine is now: a hearty breakfast, a late lunch around 2–3 PM, small evening snacks like fruit or nuts, and then no dinner.
You’ve taken the all-important first step toward prioritizing your health—now it’s time to make it a daily commitment! The next essential focus? Cultivating peace by reducing or eliminating stress.
If you haven’t yet embraced this journey, start by reading Peter Attia’s Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.
I am using Macrofactor right now and am liking it. I set a goal, goal pace, and then it gives me the specific calorie breakdown to target with weekly refreshes based on the actual numbers.
Love it, Andre! I have found (as a 38-y/o) that consistency far eclipses any other sort of effort you can make in exercising. Even doing 10% of your planned workout is very beneficial compared to skipping it entirely.
Also, trying to leave something in the tank allows you to stay consistent when you don’t feel like it - much more productive for your health than working out hard and then having to take a week off before the next one.
Any recs on how to approach the healthcare costs if you have a hdhp with hsa (planning to never touch hsa till after 55 so I can use as triple tax advantage)? Since costs technically still add up for me in this scenario, curious if your take is still to go to as many preventative doc appts as possible? Or maybe a more balanced approach still?
It is a good question. I was personally much more reluctant to do all these tests while I was on the HDHP last year. Getting back on the EPO removed the barrier.
I would run the numbers. Often the out of pocket maximums are not too crazy where you can bundle all your expensive preventative/diagnostic treatments in a single year.
Alternatively, maybe there is a strategy around switching to a PPO/EPO every 3-5 years?
You are doing the right thing addressing this now. I can tell you waiting will only make things worse. I got serious about improving my health during COVID and now walk about 8 miles a day and lift weights twice a week. My personal trainer is pricy but it is an investment in my health span and is money well spent. I am much stronger, healthier, and mentally stronger. I still have the aches and pains of being 56 but I can’t imagine where I would be if I had not invested in my health. Good luck!
What health care are you getting? Silver or gold? How much do you pay monthly? Thanks for sharing
Right now I have the benefit of still being on my wife's health insurance through Uber. I am definitely watching healthcare premiums though for my FIRE plans, particularly as there are changes in the new budget bill.
Are you really FIRE if your spouse works?
I consider myself closer to a stay at home parent than FIRE. “Semi-fire” if you will: https://www.faangfire.com/p/officially-semi-fired?r=8tqoq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
My mind telling me yes. But my body’s telling me no.
In all seriousness, I’d love to see an update as things improve. Just like with personal finance, having awareness and some sort of monitoring system goes a long way.
Great to meet you last night, André! I *knew* I’d want to read what you were up to. The things one learns in “retirement” or late-life-layoffs — talk about a revelation. You get it. I feel like buttonholing every young whippersnapper with this advice, as I wish someone had done for me.
Or DID they? Maybe I just shook my beautiful “live-fast-die-young” head?
The health vulnerability— which as you found, is often triggered by a chink in one’s pleasures— is perhaps the biggest.
Let’s go fishing, eh? More to dredge up.
Sorry to hear about the injury; nonetheless, very cool to hear about the fishing routine!
Would love a future post exploring how you got into it (from a personal, and of course, a financial lens)
Recently, I found an easy way to cut calories: I skip dinner! My routine is now: a hearty breakfast, a late lunch around 2–3 PM, small evening snacks like fruit or nuts, and then no dinner.
You’ve taken the all-important first step toward prioritizing your health—now it’s time to make it a daily commitment! The next essential focus? Cultivating peace by reducing or eliminating stress.
If you haven’t yet embraced this journey, start by reading Peter Attia’s Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.
What do you use for calorie tracking?
I am using Macrofactor right now and am liking it. I set a goal, goal pace, and then it gives me the specific calorie breakdown to target with weekly refreshes based on the actual numbers.
Thanks
Love it, Andre! I have found (as a 38-y/o) that consistency far eclipses any other sort of effort you can make in exercising. Even doing 10% of your planned workout is very beneficial compared to skipping it entirely.
Also, trying to leave something in the tank allows you to stay consistent when you don’t feel like it - much more productive for your health than working out hard and then having to take a week off before the next one.
Any recs on how to approach the healthcare costs if you have a hdhp with hsa (planning to never touch hsa till after 55 so I can use as triple tax advantage)? Since costs technically still add up for me in this scenario, curious if your take is still to go to as many preventative doc appts as possible? Or maybe a more balanced approach still?
It is a good question. I was personally much more reluctant to do all these tests while I was on the HDHP last year. Getting back on the EPO removed the barrier.
I would run the numbers. Often the out of pocket maximums are not too crazy where you can bundle all your expensive preventative/diagnostic treatments in a single year.
Alternatively, maybe there is a strategy around switching to a PPO/EPO every 3-5 years?