C
Cut-Throat
Guest
nm
unclemick
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Yep
Amen to that.
Yep
Amen to that.
dex
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Messages
- 5,105
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Sorry to hear about your loss. I mentioned this exact idea to a young poster planning for early retirement.
Basically, I said he should plan to enjoy life along with saving for early retirement. We always think it is the other guy that dies of cancer or a car accident. This is one reason why I plan to retire next year.
In my planning for ER I have been getting health check ups. Recently, I had a hart stress test to find out the condition of my hart. Pictures of your hart are taken before and after the test. The test involves being injecteted with a radioactive die and then getting on a tred mill. I don't have the results.
My next test will be a colonoscopy. I had to ask my doctor for both tests. I'll also get eye and dental test. If everything checks out I will sell the house and give my notice.
I take what happend to your friend seriously. Thanks for the reminder about what it is all about.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I mentioned this exact idea to a young poster planning for early retirement.
Basically, I said he should plan to enjoy life along with saving for early retirement. We always think it is the other guy that dies of cancer or a car accident. This is one reason why I plan to retire next year.
In my planning for ER I have been getting health check ups. Recently, I had a hart stress test to find out the condition of my hart. Pictures of your hart are taken before and after the test. The test involves being injecteted with a radioactive die and then getting on a tred mill. I don't have the results.
My next test will be a colonoscopy. I had to ask my doctor for both tests. I'll also get eye and dental test. If everything checks out I will sell the house and give my notice.
I take what happend to your friend seriously. Thanks for the reminder about what it is all about.
cute fuzzy bunny
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Cut-Throat...very sorry to hear about your friend.
Your points are well taken.
Cut-Throat...very sorry to hear about your friend.
Your points are well taken.
BunsGettingFirm
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,502
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Saw this at work, of all places: "Life is not measured by how many breathes we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away." Just imagine your high school friend on top of Mt. McKinley. Very few people have been on top of that moutain.
Saw this at work, of all places: "Life is not measured by how many breathes we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away." Just imagine your high school friend on top of Mt. McKinley. Very few people have been on top of that moutain.
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
I'm approaching 57 in several months and I feel I am in the best shape of my life (weight lifting 4x a week, daily work bike commuting 20 miles) but such a final event certainly makes you wonder.
I plan to retire in about 6 months.
MJ
Sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
I'm approaching 57 in several months and I feel I am in the best shape of my life (weight lifting 4x a week, daily work bike commuting 20 miles) but such a final event certainly makes you wonder.
I plan to retire in about 6 months.
MJ
J
John Galt
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Hello MJ. Hope you make it. As the regulars know,
health worries helped propel me into ER. BTW, I don't know you but you are not "in the best shape of your life". I read that one all the time. Doesn't matter how
much you work at it (which I agree is a good thing to do)
at 57, you are well past "the best shape of your life."
Besides, there are a lot of things out there that can kill
you besides being out of shape. One thing is for sure,
if you can get to ER reasonably healthy, you will enjoy it
a lot more.
John Galt
Hello MJ. Hope you make it. As the regulars know,
health worries helped propel me into ER. BTW, I don't know you but you are not "in the best shape of your life". I read that one all the time. Doesn't matter how
much you work at it (which I agree is a good thing to do)
at 57, you are well past "the best shape of your life."
Besides, there are a lot of things out there that can kill
you besides being out of shape. One thing is for sure,
if you can get to ER reasonably healthy, you will enjoy it
a lot more.
John Galt
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Cut-Throat,
Very sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like he lived far more than most people even though he died young.
As Paul Terhost said:
"In our society it's considered normal to work during the best years of our lives. You work when you're young, healthy, and inquisitive. You work when you still have a family at home and your kids need you the most. You give the best years of your life to a career and the last few years to yourself. Are we crazy or what?"
This quote was one that inspired me to figure out how I could retire early. You're right, life is very short.
What is 10-20 years in the prime of your life worth...$500K, $1M, $10M?.....would I trade those years for any of these dollar amounts...I don't think so. I'm 39 and starting a bare bones early retirement this year. I'm looking at 40-60 as those prime years.
Thanks for the advice,
Surf
Cut-Throat,
Very sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like he lived far more than most people even though he died young.
As Paul Terhost said:
"In our society it's considered normal to work during the best years of our lives. You work when you're young, healthy, and inquisitive. You work when you still have a family at home and your kids need you the most. You give the best years of your life to a career and the last few years to yourself. Are we crazy or what?"
This quote was one that inspired me to figure out how I could retire early. You're right, life is very short.
What is 10-20 years in the prime of your life worth...$500K, $1M, $10M?.....would I trade those years for any of these dollar amounts...I don't think so. I'm 39 and starting a bare bones early retirement this year. I'm looking at 40-60 as those prime years.
Thanks for the advice,
Surf
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Hey John,
I think I'm in the best shape of my life because most of my adult life I could have been in better physical shape although I did have lapses of healthy sports activity in my younger days.
But the fact that over 3 years ago,
I got back on my bicycle averaging about 5K annually,
I began going to the gym to lift weights (1st time),
I dropped my total cholesterol from about 275 to 170 (with no drugs)
and as I sit here at work, my resting pulse is currently at 45,
so I guess I am in good shape for a 40 yo, oh sorry I meant a 56 yo.
Now for that 4th pack of cigs and 5th cup of Java.....
Hey Surf,
I guess a lot of us are over the hill (puff puff). But I envy your early ER start. Good Luck.
MJ
Hey John,
I think I'm in the best shape of my life because most of my adult life I could have been in better physical shape although I did have lapses of healthy sports activity in my younger days.
But the fact that over 3 years ago,
I got back on my bicycle averaging about 5K annually,
I began going to the gym to lift weights (1st time),
I dropped my total cholesterol from about 275 to 170 (with no drugs)
and as I sit here at work, my resting pulse is currently at 45,
so I guess I am in good shape for a 40 yo, oh sorry I meant a 56 yo.
Now for that 4th pack of cigs and 5th cup of Java.....
Hey Surf,
I guess a lot of us are over the hill (puff puff). But I envy your early ER start. Good Luck.
MJ
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Hi MJ,
I don't think your over the hill I also believe that you are in the best shape of your life...congrats!
I feel that I too am in the best shape of my life.
I cook my own healthy meals...or eat fresh fish while traveling
I drink several cups of green tea instead of coffee
I surf 3-5 hours per day when there are good waves.
I stretch and do yoga daily.
If no waves, I'll swim, walk, hike, bike...
I have more muscle and less fat than ever.
My back problems (likely stress related) are gone....bulged disk
I didn't have time to be as healthy or relaxed when I was working full time.
Surf
Hi MJ,
I don't think your over the hill
I also believe that you are in the best shape of your life...congrats!I feel that I too am in the best shape of my life.
I cook my own healthy meals...or eat fresh fish while traveling
I drink several cups of green tea instead of coffee
I surf 3-5 hours per day when there are good waves.
I stretch and do yoga daily.
If no waves, I'll swim, walk, hike, bike...
I have more muscle and less fat than ever.
My back problems (likely stress related) are gone....bulged disk
I didn't have time to be as healthy or relaxed when I was working full time.
Surf
J
John Galt
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
You guys need to get a grip. Old farts declaring "I'm in the best shape of my life" is ridiculous. Your best days are behind you. Deal with it.
John Galt
You guys need to get a grip. Old farts declaring "I'm in the best shape of my life" is ridiculous. Your best days are behind you. Deal with it.
John Galt
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
You are absolutely right John. It's all relative. The key is to be in your best shape for your whole life. Face it. I couldn't beat my 25 year old self in a foot race now that I'm 61..........but I bet I could beat 90% of the other males my age.If you were a fat smoker for 40 years, and suddenly decided to shape up, you might gain a couple of years, if you're lucky. Unfortunately the damage was done years ago. 
You are absolutely right John. It's all relative. The key is to be in your best shape for your whole life. Face it. I couldn't beat my 25 year old self in a foot race now that I'm 61..........but I bet I could beat 90% of the other males my age.
If you were a fat smoker for 40 years, and suddenly decided to shape up, you might gain a couple of years, if you're lucky. Unfortunately the damage was done years ago.
J
John Galt
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Well, gosh Zipper, it's nice to see that someone else
sees this "I'm in the best shape of my life" as the
nonsense it is. I don't care what you do. If you are 60
years old, you are not the man (woman?) you were at 25. End of story..............
John Galt
Well, gosh Zipper, it's nice to see that someone else
sees this "I'm in the best shape of my life" as the
nonsense it is. I don't care what you do. If you are 60
years old, you are not the man (woman?) you were at 25. End of story..............
John Galt
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Just because someone is young doesn't mean they're in good shape. I fence, and I compete against a lot of people who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The older athletes hold their own quite nicely against the younger ones (and often kick some serious butt)... considering that we're comparing "fit 50 year old" with "fit 20 or 30 year old" and they do pretty darn well, I'd say that they are in MUCH MUCH better shape than a 25-year-old who just does desk work and goes home to watch TV. I have no idea how fit they were in their 20s and 30s, but it's not a real stretch to say that a fit 50-year-old could be in the best shape of his/her life.
Just because someone is young doesn't mean they're in good shape. I fence, and I compete against a lot of people who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The older athletes hold their own quite nicely against the younger ones (and often kick some serious butt)... considering that we're comparing "fit 50 year old" with "fit 20 or 30 year old" and they do pretty darn well, I'd say that they are in MUCH MUCH better shape than a 25-year-old who just does desk work and goes home to watch TV. I have no idea how fit they were in their 20s and 30s, but it's not a real stretch to say that a fit 50-year-old could be in the best shape of his/her life.
J
John Galt
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Hi Holly and all. Okay, I will revisit this and move on
(promise). I concede it is possible for a 50 year old to be in better shape than when the same person was 25.
I personally have never seen it, but I've never seen a
troll either and yet know they exist from visiting here
John Galt
Hi Holly and all. Okay, I will revisit this and move on
(promise). I concede it is possible for a 50 year old to be in better shape than when the same person was 25.
I personally have never seen it, but I've never seen a
troll either and yet know they exist from visiting here
John Galt
J
Jack Rigg
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Dex....I just recently went thru a series of test that found a 90% blockage in an artery. Thank God I had insurance. One stent later I was on my way. Thing is I hadn't really noticed any problems. Some chest pains , but I'd quit smoking and contributed them to my stupidity. If it hadn't been for the doctor going to the extreme , I'd passed a stress test and simple EKG, and giving me the nuclear test. Its likely I'd have had a massive heart attack (They said within two weeks) once they saw I had a problem I didn't even get the chance to put mah underwear back on before they whisked me away to a big city hospital.
Jack
Dex....I just recently went thru a series of test that found a 90% blockage in an artery. Thank God I had insurance. One stent later I was on my way. Thing is I hadn't really noticed any problems. Some chest pains , but I'd quit smoking and contributed them to my stupidity. If it hadn't been for the doctor going to the extreme , I'd passed a stress test and simple EKG, and giving me the nuclear test. Its likely I'd have had a massive heart attack (They said within two weeks) once they saw I had a problem I didn't even get the chance to put mah underwear back on before they whisked me away to a big city hospital.
Jack
E
EGADS!
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............!
Ya'll need to fix that, it asked for mah full name when I posted. Now some mass murderer will track me down and kill me ! Shoot (that's Southern Baptist for $#!& ) now Ah have to burn mah computer and go out back and bury all mah money!
Jack Rigg in cognito
Ya'll need to fix that, it asked for mah full name when I posted. Now some mass murderer will track me down and kill me ! Shoot (that's Southern Baptist for $#!& ) now Ah have to burn mah computer and go out back and bury all mah money!
Jack Rigg in cognito
dex
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Messages
- 5,105
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Egads,
I took the test several weeks ago.
I'll call my doctor tomorrow.
Thanks for the warning
Egads,
I took the test several weeks ago.
I'll call my doctor tomorrow.
Thanks for the warning
wabmester
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2003
- Messages
- 4,459
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Dropping dead from a heart attack is probably my biggest phobia. The heart is the one thing in my system where I think evolution screwed up on the design. I would have made things a little more fault tolerant.
Anytime I feel any sort of pain anywhere in my upper torso, I go through this little ritual:
-- I move around to verify that the pain was muscular rather than heart-related (I've heard that cardiac pain doesn't go away with movement).
-- I'll cough (this probably does nothing, but the idea is that the diaphram can sort of fill in for the heart to get things pumping).
-- I'll pop an aspirin. Aspirin is a cheap blood thinner, so if your arteries are clogged, this will help prevent blood from coagulating and completely blocking an artery.
Basically, fear of CHD has made me crazy
Dropping dead from a heart attack is probably my biggest phobia. The heart is the one thing in my system where I think evolution screwed up on the design. I would have made things a little more fault tolerant.
Anytime I feel any sort of pain anywhere in my upper torso, I go through this little ritual:
-- I move around to verify that the pain was muscular rather than heart-related (I've heard that cardiac pain doesn't go away with movement).
-- I'll cough (this probably does nothing, but the idea is that the diaphram can sort of fill in for the heart to get things pumping).
-- I'll pop an aspirin. Aspirin is a cheap blood thinner, so if your arteries are clogged, this will help prevent blood from coagulating and completely blocking an artery.
Basically, fear of CHD has made me crazy
J
John Galt
Guest
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Hi Wab! Still on the diet, but more cheating now....
(only a bit ). Now, I need to get blood work done
to see if any changes. One good thing is that I am
more aware of diet and exercise and thus more likely to make better choices. I doubt I would agree to
cholesterol-lowering drugs unless someone told me
I was in imminent danger of dying. Anyway, I understand your angst, although your biggest fear
is probably my biggest wish. I would love to just drop
dead, just not yet
Got to go eat my oat bran................
John Galt
Hi Wab! Still on the diet, but more cheating now....
(only a bit
). Now, I need to get blood work doneto see if any changes. One good thing is that I am
more aware of diet and exercise and thus more likely to make better choices. I doubt I would agree to
cholesterol-lowering drugs unless someone told me
I was in imminent danger of dying. Anyway, I understand your angst, although your biggest fear
is probably my biggest wish. I would love to just drop
dead, just not yet
Got to go eat my oat bran................
John Galt
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
I heard that coughing can help sometimes (e.g., some types of temporary arrythmias), and hurt at other times (e.g., some types of coronary artery blockage, burst blood vessels). My opinion is that if you cough, it is best to fully research the subject so that you understand when it will help, and when to avoid it. It can be dangerous.
It might be too late by then. Most of the time it is better to find a good doctor, and do what the he says. Blocked vessels don't always lead to quick and easy deaths. Often, a person winds up disabled, unable to do what they want to do because of a damaged heart. A blocked vessel in the brain can leave you paralyzed. Nasty stuff if you can improve your odds of preventing it with one tiny pill per day.
I heard that coughing can help sometimes (e.g., some types of temporary arrythmias), and hurt at other times (e.g., some types of coronary artery blockage, burst blood vessels). My opinion is that if you cough, it is best to fully research the subject so that you understand when it will help, and when to avoid it. It can be dangerous.
It might be too late by then. Most of the time it is better to find a good doctor, and do what the he says. Blocked vessels don't always lead to quick and easy deaths. Often, a person winds up disabled, unable to do what they want to do because of a damaged heart. A blocked vessel in the brain can leave you paralyzed. Nasty stuff if you can improve your odds of preventing it with one tiny pill per day.
wabmester
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2003
- Messages
- 4,459
Re: Reality Check - Friend Dies...............
Now if I can just shake off this phobia of coughing.....
Yep, simply going from eating food to making conscious decisions about what I eat was a big help. Eventually the "cheating" becomes a slippery slope, which is why most diets fail. That's another reason why I like a low-carb diet. You don't have to be a martyr to follow it, so there's less incentive to cheat.
Now if I can just shake off this phobia of coughing.....
