Recently when discussing lifestyle adjustments for a leaner
physique and less hung-over, more memory filled lifestyle I suggested going to
the pub less and was me with “Yeah, but
you’ve gota live haven’t you?”
Where to start?...
I’ve had this, or words to this effect as a reaction many
times when giving lifestyle advice and it always confuses me.
ME: “Stop eating
McDonalds every lunchtime.”
THEM: “You’ve gota
live though haven’t you?..”
If your definition of living life is food from McDonalds
then I suggest you aim a little higher.
I set out at the start of 2017 to make a healthier year with
higher quality memories. Not necessarily doing more, but more than likely doing
less and investing more time and money into these things. I decided that rather
than mindlessly having a few drinks with friends at the weekend on a regular
basis I would try to drink alcohol once per month (ideally 1 day, if not 1 full
weekend) for a pre-organised event or occasion.
I went through my calendar and marked off some events that I
knew about in advance. The first weekend of the rugby 6 nations – February
event. The final weekend of the rugby 6 nations – March sorted. Birthday
weekend – May sorted. By April I had booked a summer holiday and also a rugby
tour had come my way – I soon had nearly every month organised.
This was great for me as I was able to focus my training for
set blocks of time with an end goal in mind. It also meant that I wasn’t going
out wasting money at pubs on my local highstreet which made the bigger, more
memorable events financially viable.
Don’t get me wrong – I wasn’t cooped up ignoring the world
for weeks on end. I still saw friends, I still went places with my girlfriend
and I still did things with my family; I just didn’t blow my money at the local
boozer.
This gave me 2 things:
- More money to do better stuff
- More energy to be more productive with my gym work and everyday life
So who’s living more? Productive me with something fun and
memorable planned for every month of the year? Or Mr McDonalds lunch break and
his inevitable gain in body fat and lack of energy which came with it?
I’m not doing this to pat myself on the back and say “Aren’t
I great – Aren’t you useless!” I just find peoples definitions of “living” very
odd!
Rather than allowing yourself junk food and alcohol which
you term “living”, it may be possible, with a little planning and self-control
to actually “live” more and make more memories and do more AND be healthier!
Imagine that!?...
PS: I did the “drinking once a month” for 6 months, then
went on holiday and drank every day. I’ve since kept to once or twice per month
but still keeping the fun events and memory makers going.
