{"id":780,"date":"2015-11-13T15:02:09","date_gmt":"2015-11-13T21:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extrapolatethis.com\/blog\/?p=780"},"modified":"2015-11-13T15:02:09","modified_gmt":"2015-11-13T21:02:09","slug":"living-healthier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extrapolatethis.com\/blog\/archives\/780","title":{"rendered":"Living Healthier"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately as my fortieth birthday looms on the horizon – what’s the point of saving for retirement if I don’t take care of my health now? <\/p>\n

I’ve read too many stories of people who saved their whole lives only to die before, or just after, retiring. I’d hate to think all the careful planning would be for nothing. <\/p>\n

Plus, even if I live well into my 90’s, I want to be healthy enough to get around on my own. I envision visiting forest preserves and taking vacations, but that won’t be possible if I am in poor health.<\/p>\n

Coincidentally, I was at the library earlier this week when I came across this book.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

I devoured it in a single night. Unfortunately, I learned that while I’m doing some things right when it comes to my health, there is definitely room for improvement.<\/p>\n

Things I’m doing right:<\/p>\n

Working out 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week on my elliptical machine
\nEating fruits & vegetables
\nGetting at least 6.5 hours of sleep every night (although my body prefers 8-9)
\nKeeping my stress levels low<\/p>\n

Things I’m doing that are a detriment to my health:<\/p>\n

Eating processed foods and junk food
\nNot eating any fish
\nNot pushing myself harder on the elliptical machine or doing any weight training
\nTaking vitamins & supplements
\nNot having correct posture
\nSitting too much<\/p>\n

I’m sure there’s more but there’s only so many things I can tackle at once.<\/p>\n

Eating properly is a tough one because all the foods I really enjoy are not the most nutritious things to eat. I don’t eat fried foods constantly, but I do like red meat, bread, and potato chips. Plus I love to bake. Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and while I do eat fruits and vegetables, I wonder how much of the “bad stuff” is affecting my overall health. <\/p>\n

I will try and add interval and weight training to my schedule, however. I have been doing the interval stuff a little already, but no weight training. I can do that while I watch TV. That could also help with the whole sitting too much thing if I stand while doing it.<\/p>\n

The vitamin thing really throws me because I’ve always heard vitamins are good for you. Now studies are showing that multivitamins in particular are linked to a higher risk of mortality. I do not take a multivitamin, but I do take a few single vitamins for very specific health reasons:<\/p>\n