Fat git, 65K savings – take six months off to get fit?

whiteside

This is a good and interesting thread.
My tuppence worth would be that anyone in a position where they feel like taking time off work should go for it. This is assuming they are sure they can resume the job etc at the end of the career break and that they have the savings to do it.
I know a lot of people will snipe and call this sort of decision a mid life crisis but I don't think rethinking your priorities in life should be called a crisis. It sounds like common sense to me.
In your last few breaths in this world if your life flashes before you I can guarantee that taking a 6 month/1year or whatever career break will not be amongst your regrets. On the other hand i would hazard a guess that many will look back and have regrets that they didn't make more time for leisure/personal time.
I like the quote in an earlier post that in the end we are all dead.
Now I'm off to fill in my carreer break request. :D:beer:

kidmugsy

Among the middle-aged and elderly, it's those who are"overweight" and mildly obese who live longest.

Many more people lose weight by dieting than ever succeed in keeping the weight off over, say, five years.

Much that's said and written about diets isn't much better than superstition. I recommend that you eat a mixed diet because that covers you for what the doctors know, for what they don't know, and for what they think they know but are wrong about. The only specific advice I'm tempted to give is that (i) a mixed diet ought to include plenty of fish, and (ii) beware fruit juice - it's very easy to consume large amounts of sugars that way without noticing. I avoid sugary fizzy drinks too.

In your case, you should probably cut back on the booze. And as for exercise, avoid being sedentary, but understand that there's not much evidence that violent exercise in the gym does people much good.

Here's one of the best articles on nutrition that I've come across.

http://www.csicop.org/si/show/science_and_pseudoscience_in_adult_nutrition_research_and_practice/

kidmugsy

Oh, and I should say that easily the best website on nutrition that I've come across is junkfoodscience e.g. http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.co.uk/2007/05/science-of-sweets.html

She seems to have stopped writing new stuff but there's a wealth of fascinating info there.

butterfly72

Stay in work and get yourself a personal trainer. I've been seeing one for a while now with my OH. (Its for the OH really... he was getting a bit podgy!) Its not cheap but they are really focused and set you targets as well as advise on diet.

OH did two weeks off all carbs along with moderate exercise and lost loads of weight.

good luck!

chewmylegoff

racing_blue wrote: »

40 x 53k / 10 = £212k, so it looks like you have been underaccumulating (like most people).

A silly formula. A 20 year old on minimum wage should have accumulated £20k in savings according to this!

My total career earnings are about £500,000. According to the formula I should have £250,000 in the bank.

Utter nonsense.

chewmylegoff

I don't think you need to take 6 months off work. If you can't motivate yourself to lose weight when you're working then you'll probably find that when you're not it's even worse.

I binned about 25kg in a year a couple of years back, combination of stopping boozing, cutting out silly foods and going to the gym 5 times a week, you can make this commitment and do a full days work no problem. Just give it a try, taking 6 months off is a last resort.

EndlessStruggle

Ditching the booze would be a good start, so many calories there! Also have you thought about getting a mini exercise bike for under your desk (as long as it was fine with your work that is)



And maybe do a few gym sessions and classes, you don't have to stick at one gym most you can pay per session/class when you are travelling. You need to change your lifestyle really, healthy eating and exercise. You don't need 6 months off to do that. I know many people that have done crash course dieting and exercise and the weight has just piled back on them.

jfdi

Get the DVD 'Fat, Sick and nearly Dead' - total Lifestyle change but very thought provoking.

Elvisia

Cut out the booze, it sounds like you could be drinking 600 calories a day in alcohol, if you're drinking wine. More if you're drinking beer or spirits with soda.

And Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is amazing!! Google Food Matters and watch that movie, that'll change the way you eat.

calypso_rhapsody

OP - can i recommend that you take a look at 'Dine Out and Lose Weight' - sorry have forgotten the author's name and have lent my copy to a friend! It's a great guide to losing weight whilst also attending business lunches etc.

Also i wonder if you are the sort of personality that needs an objective in order to keep yourself to an exercise regime? I know a lot of my colleagues did things like signing up to run a marathon, cycle LEJOG (Land's End to John o Groats) or climb Kili ... it worked for them as a focus. Not my style however!

PS am glad you've decided to stay in work - your challenge is a lifestyle one and i doubt that 6 months would change your habits ...