Monthly Archives: September 2020

FIRE.111 IF Lockdown…

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IF locked down, how would you voluntarily change your routine, yourself?

I decided to experiment right BC.  That’s Before Covid. 

I tried a random eating schedule starting at the beginning of March, a couple of weeks before lockdown.  I decided to try this hip Intermittent Fasting thing—“program”—and see IF I noticed anything.  I thought I would use an intermediate level of 16:8 (16 hours fastings:8 hours eating)—versus 20:4, 18:6, or say 12:12. 

I thought this schedule would be really hard for me since I had previously used the “eat small meals all day long—every 1-2 hours—to keep blood sugar consistent” to help me lose 140 pounds over 2 years.  Eating “every hour or so” was my whole “one pound per week for two years” plan.  I had been eating a little bit every hour or so for over 20 years.  It would be a pretty major change for the morning hours.

It’s strange, with my IF plan, I just ate the same foods as always but in a more compressed window.  I ate pretty much the same calorie content as I always had. 

My new schedule was: eat from Noon-8p  (Fast 8p-noon).  I would eat the same foods, just eat my breakfast oatmeal at noon, then often something else at 1 or 2p.   Dinner around 4, 5, or 6p.  Snack at 8pm.   As I got used to the schedule, I now don’t eat my breakfast until 2p or even 3p on some days.

Somehow this schedule produced amazing results.  I actually cannot believe the results.  More specifically, I cannot believe that it’s pretty easy to stick to my 16:8 (noon-8pm).  Yes, I know, that some studies suggest that starting the evening fast by 6pm or even 4pm is more metabolically efficient, but that’s not acceptable for my style.

My scale results were starting at a good 176 pounds and smoothly dropping to a consistent 170ish.  The weight loss was about 1 pound per month.  I’m actually fine at the 175 range +/- 3 pounds.

Note: I did change my gym/weight lifting/resistance training routine from 2x/wk to 3x/wk because I had the option to fill my hockey/swim day since businesses were closed. 

As for workouts, I did more running, biking, and weight lifting so far this year, than any other year.  I always thought I had to have sustenance to get through my 60-90 minute workouts, but that turned out to be false.  I feel pretty good during my workout and after.  I do think my performance/power level is a little lower than the past because I’m on the downhill side of 50.

I had a cool surprise during lockdown.  With the addition of a 3rd resistance day, my musculature has gone up significantly, even when using a few dumbbells and rubber bands at home.  I really thought not eating meat (for the past two years) and growing older was the reason I lost a noticeable amount of muscle…and maybe it was, but adding a little more frequent effort (let’s be honest, I push myself kind of hard for an hour with the resistance) was plenty to bring back a really good muscle tone.  [could that restored/created muscle be a significant factor in my weight drifting and staying lower?]

It’s safe to say that 1) I have more muscle than when I started.  2) I’ve proven I can do full cardio and weight workouts without morning fuel (not sure if I’m burning glycogen or fat) and 3) ALL my clothes— some that I’ve had for 20 yrs—all fit looser 6 months into lockdown. 

IF you were tracking your body, IF you made a simple change, IF you tried Intermittent Fasting, what do you think would happen for you?  I have to say, all of my millennial friends, and the older medical podcast folds I listen too (talking health and lifespan), may all be correct.  They said IF was great, and I have to say, for me, so far, it’s worked out well.  I’m not sure that I’m going to stop my noon breakfast schedule.

*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice.  I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be.  You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.

FIRE.110 Aging out….50!

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So this year I left my 40s.

I left the decade of being “not really that old yet.”  Of course, being 40-something is NOTHING like being 30-something.  Yet, being 40-something still gives you a little sense that much of the world lies ahead.  After completing your 50th year, you realize in every way you are on the downhill slide to “poof.”  There’s no way you can truly avoid the truth of the “downhill.”  It’s very clear you are in the second half of a century.

Am I leaving 40s or entering 50s?  For me personally, I’m entering my 50s.  I’ve finally “grown into the man suit,” especially related to my thinking.  Funny thing, I don’t—nor have I ever—wear suits…especially in FIRE.  I mean, I barely wear socks now thanks to Sanucks. 

I’ve always been older than my age.  I’ve always had older friends, I was a college professor when I was 21, I worked as an umpire for Little League Baseball when I was 12 and my classmates we on the field, and lived a mentally older thought driven (cautious?) lifestyle.  This age/decade is going to fit me fantastically.

Experience

I also like the fact that I have enough decades (as an adult) to be a little wiser and have many, many experiences to base my thoughts around.  I also love that none of those experiences can ever be taken away from me.

At this point in life, some may realize they care less about what everyone thinks.  Wait, maybe that’s only me?  Yet, I believe the odds of pleasing everyone are lower than the odds of winning the lottery, especially in this age of Twits.  It’s important to be true to yourself and hopefully, you are a good, caring, helpful, productive person.  Doesn’t that seem like a good way to live your upcoming half-century?

Normalness is different for everyone

For normal folk, retirement is 62, 67, 70?, etc.  Early retirement is 60.  Really early retirement is 58, 55.   Super early retirement may be 50…an entire decade+ earlier than normal.

There is an AMAZING feeling of having so much time to tackle activities and passions.  Anything…everything, is available for you, if you only go for it and grasp the adventure ahead.  I know this is the case based on my 6 years of activities in FIRE already.  Note: I may learn a different perspective in the future, but for now I operate with amazement, each and every day.

I would like to say thanks to Joe at Retire by 40. I saw his blog when I was 40 and ready to leave work.  I thought “wow, other people have this same plan, position, and passion.”  I could have left work at 40 but I loved my job and stayed 3 more years.  No need to rehash those posts here.

So, for some, their 40s are a significant time to optimize the growth phase.  They can grow in life, income, spending, but hopefully saving as well.   The 50’s are often considered your highest earning years.  That’s an important consideration to deal with when considering turning off the direct deposit spigot.  However, if you’ve “lived like no one else, so you can live like no one else-Ramsey” then you can let “your army of dollar bills march off to work each morning so you don’t have to-TheMoneyGuy(s) or Mr Money Mustache.”

I’ve noticed changes in myself

Before, I absolutely enjoyed meeting and discussing personal finance with everyone.  People in their 30s or even 20s had interesting ideas.  You could see the fire in their eyes when they realized the opportunities ahead (yeah, I saw the pun). The lesson of living your smart lifestyle and not living your income-to-the-max is so empowering.  It was great to see others grasping hold of this concept.

Once you’re past the big 5-0, you’ve become an old dude (on the outside…well, maybe inside too?)

You care more for your specific life/time.  You don’t want to waste 30 min, or an hour+, doing something that is not in your core interest.  (see how I shortened my typing a little there, without using U R 4, etc)

You get the sense that you’re moving on, or have moved on from some interests, tasks, actions, even discussions.  Sometimes you realize the discussions are similar to one’s you’ve heard many times before and chose not to participate in (Twits)—maybe because they seem to never lead to a resolution, or even progress.

I wonder if that is “aging out” or “aging up” or “giving (something) up” or something entirely different.  Maybe it’s refocusing onto new matters or more perceived important (to you)-matters.  Maybe it’s a Rewire of yourself.  It’s a very interesting time of introspection.

*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice.  I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be.  You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.