Fiscal & physical fitness are both required to live a stress-free life. Any overconsumption of fat and money can lead to fiscal as well as physical obesity. Debt and Obesity are major problems for a lot of people these days. The problem is, even if they know they want to get rid of it, they have a hard time figuring out how to start.
Both debt and fat are easy to accumulate but very difficult to get rid off. Some very big service industries are already thriving, counselling people to lose fat and debt from their lives. The mental trauma which both debt and fat create in our lives is paramount. However, we still play games with our physical and fiscal fitness. Stop doing it!!!
Disclaimer:- I am not an expert on any of these two fields. What I am sharing is my own struggle to get rid of both debt and fat.
Here are a few key points that have helped me and may help you too. These points are based on a few common sensical things we know but have difficulty remembering them at crucial times :)
1. Acknowledge the problem - This by far is the most important point that will actually help you get rolling in this process. Although we know we have a problem, we still live in denial, thus elongating the recovery process. The earlier we acknowledge, the lesser the damage will be.
2. Take baby steps for giant recovery - Remember the old adage? The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. This is exactly what we need to do here. No one has eliminated the debt of 50,000 dollars or shed 25 kg in a week. Take baby steps, be mindful, closely watch how you are spending and what are you eating. Brisk-walking for 20 minutes and not eating at the cafeteria can go a long way.
3. The Law of Debt & Diet -
Debt => Expenditure > Income
Obesity => Calorie consumed > Calorie burned
You don’t need a degree from Stanford to understand these two equations. It is plain common sense, yet graduates from all top universities also tend to accumulate big debts. Reduce your calorie intake and live within your means.
4. The Frugal way - Become frugal with what you are eating and how you are spending. Avoid that evening coffee at Starbucks or pizza at your favorite outlet. Stop watching TV or reduce it to a bare minimum. Instead go for a walk or run or spend some quality time with your family and kids. This will help you cut down on your electricity bills as well as make you lose extra pounds.
5. Income and Exercise - What extra income does to debt is what exercise does to fat, right? Both help you reduce fiscal/physical imbalance. Take up an extra job to increase your income and send that money straight towards debt. Extra physical work will also help you shed more calories.
6. Be Publicly Accountable - Tell your friends what you are doing and the likelihood of you making the commitment to reduce debt and fat will increase. Talk to your close ones about this; their motivation will definitely help you maintain the spirit to achieve your fiscal and physical health goals. Your spouse will be happy to see you working for them.
7. Eat at home - A simple yet ignored fact. This one change can help you become fit physically as well as fiscally. By preparing food at home you will become more aware of your eating habits and thereby spend less money. Pack your lunch box for office and you can easily save $200 in a month. Double the benefit if you are dining outside.
8. Avoid the car and instead bike to office - Though not feasible for everybody, cycling to office can help you shed more calories and also save money on gas. The calorie offset of cycling will be enough to avoid gym and its membership fees.
9. Kick the ‘lattes’ and punch the ‘cappuccinos’ - Instead of spending $4 - $10 per coffee on lattes and cappuccinos switch to green tea. It is beneficial for both the body and the pocket. Green tea helps in increasing metabolism and boosting immunity.
10 Pay yourself first - Last but not the least, pay yourself in terms of both money and health. Your first expenditure of the month should always go into your savings account. Spend what is left after saving and not vice-versa. If we see closely, both problems are intertwined. We are driven to chase money in our life thanks to the consumerism trend and excellent marketing campaigns of various companies, thus neglecting our health. Then we pay the same hard earned money to buy-back our own health by paying to gyms and weight loss programs.
Although this is not a foolproof guide to become healthy and wealthy, it is intended to re-introduce you to the common principles of health and wealth. It has helped me and I am sure it will also help you to get rolling to achieve a healthy and prosperous life.
Disclaimer:- I am not an expert on any of these two fields. What I am sharing is my own struggle to get rid of both debt and fat.
Here are a few key points that have helped me and may help you too. These points are based on a few common sensical things we know but have difficulty remembering them at crucial times :)
1. Acknowledge the problem - This by far is the most important point that will actually help you get rolling in this process. Although we know we have a problem, we still live in denial, thus elongating the recovery process. The earlier we acknowledge, the lesser the damage will be.
2. Take baby steps for giant recovery - Remember the old adage? The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. This is exactly what we need to do here. No one has eliminated the debt of 50,000 dollars or shed 25 kg in a week. Take baby steps, be mindful, closely watch how you are spending and what are you eating. Brisk-walking for 20 minutes and not eating at the cafeteria can go a long way.
3. The Law of Debt & Diet -
Debt => Expenditure > Income
Obesity => Calorie consumed > Calorie burned
You don’t need a degree from Stanford to understand these two equations. It is plain common sense, yet graduates from all top universities also tend to accumulate big debts. Reduce your calorie intake and live within your means.
4. The Frugal way - Become frugal with what you are eating and how you are spending. Avoid that evening coffee at Starbucks or pizza at your favorite outlet. Stop watching TV or reduce it to a bare minimum. Instead go for a walk or run or spend some quality time with your family and kids. This will help you cut down on your electricity bills as well as make you lose extra pounds.
5. Income and Exercise - What extra income does to debt is what exercise does to fat, right? Both help you reduce fiscal/physical imbalance. Take up an extra job to increase your income and send that money straight towards debt. Extra physical work will also help you shed more calories.
6. Be Publicly Accountable - Tell your friends what you are doing and the likelihood of you making the commitment to reduce debt and fat will increase. Talk to your close ones about this; their motivation will definitely help you maintain the spirit to achieve your fiscal and physical health goals. Your spouse will be happy to see you working for them.
7. Eat at home - A simple yet ignored fact. This one change can help you become fit physically as well as fiscally. By preparing food at home you will become more aware of your eating habits and thereby spend less money. Pack your lunch box for office and you can easily save $200 in a month. Double the benefit if you are dining outside.
8. Avoid the car and instead bike to office - Though not feasible for everybody, cycling to office can help you shed more calories and also save money on gas. The calorie offset of cycling will be enough to avoid gym and its membership fees.
9. Kick the ‘lattes’ and punch the ‘cappuccinos’ - Instead of spending $4 - $10 per coffee on lattes and cappuccinos switch to green tea. It is beneficial for both the body and the pocket. Green tea helps in increasing metabolism and boosting immunity.
10 Pay yourself first - Last but not the least, pay yourself in terms of both money and health. Your first expenditure of the month should always go into your savings account. Spend what is left after saving and not vice-versa. If we see closely, both problems are intertwined. We are driven to chase money in our life thanks to the consumerism trend and excellent marketing campaigns of various companies, thus neglecting our health. Then we pay the same hard earned money to buy-back our own health by paying to gyms and weight loss programs.
Although this is not a foolproof guide to become healthy and wealthy, it is intended to re-introduce you to the common principles of health and wealth. It has helped me and I am sure it will also help you to get rolling to achieve a healthy and prosperous life.
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