Health and the Small Business Owner/Investor.

[IPAfan]

It occurs to me that I spend a lot of time (ok..all my time) working, trying to grow my business, and reading about other businesses (which can give me ideas to grow my own). I pretty much spend ALL available time doing these things.

At the same time, I'm in bad health for my age. Most of these problems can be helped with a healthier lifestyle. However, I'm the sort of person who has to put a LOT of work in if I'm going to get down to even a healthy weight, and would probably need to devote 1.5-2 hours a day to exercise just to get in shape and drop all of these health complications.

So on the one hand, if I start devoting 2 hours a day to my health then my business/investing is going to take a hit since I have to come up with those 2 hours somewhere, I'm not sure how much opportunity cost, but it could be very substantial. On the other hand, I'll probably have my career cut short and net worth decimated due to bad health if I don't make this kind of time commitment to my health.

This is one of the reasons I'm being more aggressive about hiring help. Hopefully I can free up some more of my time and still continue to grow the business.

[ModE98]

All I can say is your health is vital to your existance, what good is any business if a heart attack (or other major ailment) puts you 6 feet under or a life in assisted living or a nursing home? Do not get me wrong, I am not criticising your devotion to building your business, just maintaining your health is necessary. Basically, such applies to everyone, ignore your health and sooner or later face dire consequences.
May be worth some thought.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

No doubt ModE... You have to be here to make cash for the family. JMO IPA.. Start by doing some sit ups and push ups. 20-30 at a time, there are ab work outs on youtube that promise rock hard abs in just 8min a day. LOL... Doubt that will happen, but just starting with 8-15 min a day and eating better, and I bet you start to notice a change in 6 months to a year. It took years to get where you are, give yourself time to get back to where you were.. It's all about LONG TERM planning.. ;D

[Deleted]

Apr 29, 2012 11:17:52 GMT -5 IPAfan said:

At the same time, I'm in bad health for my age. Most of these problems can be helped with a healthier lifestyle. However, I'm the sort of person who has to put a LOT of work in if I'm going to get down to even a healthy weight, and would probably need to devote 1.5-2 hours a day to exercise just to get in shape and drop all of these health complications.

So on the one hand, if I start devoting 2 hours a day to my health then my business/investing is going to take a hit since I have to come up with those 2 hours somewhere, I'm not sure how much opportunity cost, but it could be very substantial. On the other hand, I'll probably have my career cut short and net worth decimated due to bad health if I don't make this kind of time commitment to my health.

Serious justification of "why bother" going on there! IPA - how about you commit to 15 minutes a day and do that for a while. Make a commitment, even a small commitment and follow through. Otherwise make sure you take out a $5M life insurance policy & you can make the family rich that way instead of working so hard.

[Bluerobin]

IPA, start with 3 good meals a day. Loading up on one or two is a problem that causes weight gain. THEN, get creative in your exercising. Can you read a computer while using the treadmill or the exercise bike? A little multitasking can help. One of the best exercises for the time is swimming. Remember, you are going to have to start slowly. Good Luck.

[IPAfan]

Thanks for the comments! Sadly, 15-30 minutes a day just won't cut it.

As some background...I was diagnosed w/ type 2 diabetes about 5 years ago (along with high BP and cholesterol). I've lost 50 pounds since then. However, I still need to lose 20-25 more pounds to get to an ideal level of body fat. For the last 2 weeks I've been trying to do 10 hours a week of mountain biking, and am finally starting to see progress again. It just becomes a bigger and bigger time commitment. In the past I've been exercising 1.5 hours a day and still hit a plateau on the weight loss, so I'm trying to up the intensity by mountain biking on tough terrain.

Booze is another big source of calories for me. Trying to drink champagne and whiskey now since they're substantially lower on calories than beer, but I may need to cut the alcohol to lose these last pounds. Argh.

[IPAfan]

Apr 30, 2012 1:37:38 GMT -5 @chef241 said:

IPA,

A two prong approach is best: Healthy diet and exercise. I found Weight Watchers has one of the best meal plans for weight loss if you do not buy the company's prepared foods. Foods in their natural state are the healthiest; if you eat fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, meat, and seafood in moderation you will lose weight. The biggest diet busters are alcohol, soda, processed foods, and sweets.

If you make time to fit exercise into your lifestyle, you will feel better and live longer. Exercise makes you feel good because of the endorphins that are released. Pick an exercise that you enjoy and you will be more successful, and people who have an exercise/diet buddy increase their chances of success. If you have health issues, please see your doctor first. Good luck!

That's exactly what I've found. Sweets/alcohol are my bane. Last night I came to the realization that half a bottle of champagne has fewer calories than a single dark chocolate bar...easy decision

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Hope things are still on track for ya IPA..

I have been working my ass off over the last 6 months moving up from property management to property ownership.. Have a few really good people that I'm going to be working with and looking at securing a sweet chunk of land for a buy and hold strategy with an acreage development along with some cash generating rentals. Plus we are going to have our 4th next year, that was my DW's early mothers day gift. We got to tell the grandmas on moms day though... ;D

[brdsl]

Apr 30, 2012 11:30:03 GMT -5 IPAfan said:

Thanks for the comments! Sadly, 15-30 minutes a day just won't cut it.

As some background...I was diagnosed w/ type 2 diabetes about 5 years ago (along with high BP and cholesterol). I've lost 50 pounds since then. However, I still need to lose 20-25 more pounds to get to an ideal level of body fat. For the last 2 weeks I've been trying to do 10 hours a week of mountain biking, and am finally starting to see progress again. It just becomes a bigger and bigger time commitment. In the past I've been exercising 1.5 hours a day and still hit a plateau on the weight loss, so I'm trying to up the intensity by mountain biking on tough terrain.

Booze is another big source of calories for me. Trying to drink champagne and whiskey now since they're substantially lower on calories than beer, but I may need to cut the alcohol to lose these last pounds. Argh.

I just saw the thread, and figured I would give my 2 cents.

You are overexercising. The max one needs to work out, is 45 min a day, anything more is just asking for an injury. I dropped 50lbs, in 6 months. 2lbs a week is what you should be dropping to be healthy.

Also, if you are just trying to bike off the weight, without dieting, you are a hamster on a wheel....your not going to get anywhere.

In short, you can probably find 45 minutes a day, without impacting your business. 6 small meals a day, fist size portions. 1 carb, 1 protein....you should shred the weight.

Good luck.

btw. My fiance is losing weight, hasn't really exercised much, just dieting, and lost 16 lbs. in two months.