Health and Fitness - live your life long

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cooking on the cheap

 Ever since I moved our of my parents house, which was shortly after graduating college and starting my career.  I started to eat healthier.  I wouldn't of called it better just healthier as at time time a 20 something single guy can.   I didn't know it at the time, but it was very FI.  I only need a couple of ingredients and only a couple of appliances.   My breakfast if I had it was cereal Cheerios. Lunch and dinner was rice usually whole gain, with a protein (chicken, streak, shrimp), and veggie (frozen mix bad).  That was it no seasoning. To go along with running I got into good shape and saves a lots of money.  Now I did go out with friends and co-workers for lunch/drinks and such, but otherwise simple.  

Fast forward almost 20 years and here we are.  Lets talk about a real life not some post college living on the cheap, but lets talk about practical cooking and practical expenses.  

First lets talk about what appliance you need to have.  I used to say a rice cooker, but the more modern and more practical is a instant-pot.  Air-fryer. This can pretty much replace a microwave and oven.  Not only does it save on electricity compared to over it has so many uses.  A mixers like a nutribullet. The reason for this, is to mix smoothies or chop stuff up.  Good set of knifes. You can get away with just that, but to make your life quicker get a microwave, pots, and pans. You doesn't need much more especially for a family of 4.  If you feel like these are to small. It maybe time to rethink how you make dinner and portion sizes. Think appetizer sizes not thanksgiving sizes. 

A quick look

1. Instant-Pot
2. Air fryer
3. Nutribullet (mixer)
   
4.  Knifes
5. Microwave
6. Pot/pan/stove

Everything else is extra convenience.  Over and grill are also great things to have, but you can live without and find yourself not using very much. 

We all know cooking in bulk helps save money and your time, but what to do with all the bulk. You can freeze it, you can just eat it through the week, or like many make it,eat it, and throw away because you go tired of it.

Making old like new.  Ok we all get tired of left overs. Here what I like to do to mix it up. 

• Add different sauces I prefer buffalo. 
• Put it in a tortilla (make a burrito or quesadilla)
  
• Add the ingredients to a calzone
• Make a soup or stew
• Make them into a sandwich