Why do people ignore the best return on investment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The only four deaths in my circle of friends in our 50s have been men who were athletic. Two cancer, two heart attacks. Yes it’s good to exercise, but hubris is bad. You aren’t in control of all health outcomes.

This. I have six siblings. We are all boomers. Two of us have died, one before age 20 in an accident. But the other one, the most athletic of any of us (ran and walked miles every day) died a few years ago at age 66 from cancer. None of us saw that coming. He did not smoke or drink and ate healthy.
His death has really broken us, but the one thing he taught us is that we should not put things off. His last words to me were "enjoy your life".
You just never know. We all thought he would be the one to live to 100.

So sorry to hear about your siblings! Of some of the people I know or know of who recently passed away in their 30s or 40s of cancer:
- one was a skinny white guy
- one was a slightly overweight Asian American woman (who was a doctor!)
- one was a skinny white woman
I know 2 other non-overweight, very active Asian American women who were diagnosed with cancer within the past couple of years. None of these people were morbidly obese or very overweight. Yes, if you're very obese your chance of bad health outcomes goes up, but much of the time, this stuff strikes at random.

None of these

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The $50/month cost isnt the issue. Its the amount of effort it is for some people to make it to that gym consistently enough to get the health benefits.

Imagine you have to manage child care, or you work long hours and have a long commute, and no energy or time at the end of the day.

Or you have anxiety over trying to access equipment when the gym is crowded (thats the main reason I stopped going).

Sure it would be easy to make this happen if you have an hour or two free each day AND you aren't a human being who has a lot of demotivating factors in your life.

OP here. I agree with you. I didn't think about your point of view.

=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exercise doesn't mean you avoid health problems. In fact if I wasn't exercising as aggressively I probably wouldn't have arthritis in my shoulder.

I guess it's time for water aerobics for me.

Switch to gymnastics rings. They made a huge difference for me. I don't know your gender but if you are a man avoid stupid exercise like the bench press shoulder press etc. These exercises are not joint friendly for older folks like us.

Do you use the gymnastics rings like a TRX set-up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering health care costs, it does belong in this forum. There are so many people who save aggressively for retirement but then do nothing to ensure they remain healthy enough to enjoy it.

You are basically asking: If you have money why are you out of shape, fat, drink, eat badly . . . The list is long.

And you then should also ask, if a 401K is available to you, why are you taking advantage of it?
Why did you buy an expensive car instead of investing the money?
Same for expensive house?
This is also a long list.

The reasons can be psychological and/or physical. Hence, no reason for the questions to be here on this forum.

DP
The reasons are always psychological/emotional - always.

I work at one of the largest corporations in the world and I’m mid-level global manager. I’m completely flabbergasted that the levels above me (just below senior executives/CEO) are all unhealthy. They literally sacrifice their health for their job. I’d never do that!! Probably why I’m where I am and not higher. The senior executive level do not appear unhealthy physically - but they are all unhealthy mentally. I think most (or all) of them are psychopaths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exercise doesn't mean you avoid health problems. In fact if I wasn't exercising as aggressively I probably wouldn't have arthritis in my shoulder.

I guess it's time for water aerobics for me.

Switch to gymnastics rings. They made a huge difference for me. I don't know your gender but if you are a man avoid stupid exercise like the bench press shoulder press etc. These exercises are not joint friendly for older folks like us.

Do you use the gymnastics rings like a TRX set-up?

You set them up on a pull up bar. At the beginning pair them with elastic bands until your body is used to balancing etc. There are many great videos on YouTube.

[Anonymous]

It's a good reminder, OP. One of the best estate planning workbooks I've read talks about the relationship between health and wealth. It's a very small percentage of people who have both. Investing in your body and relationships allows you to enjoy your wealth longer and better.

I agree with the PP physician. It is discipline that makes diet & exercise a lifetime habit. I see it play out with my 75+ Mom. She exercises 3-4x a week, including weights. Her friends are frail and have had falls that resulted in hospitalization. She fell and nothing broke because she'd been building bone density with planks, weights, etc. It's the fountain of youth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The $50/month cost isnt the issue. Its the amount of effort it is for some people to make it to that gym consistently enough to get the health benefits.

Imagine you have to manage child care, or you work long hours and have a long commute, and no energy or time at the end of the day.

Or you have anxiety over trying to access equipment when the gym is crowded (thats the main reason I stopped going).

Sure it would be easy to make this happen if you have an hour or two free each day AND you aren't a human being who has a lot of demotivating factors in your life.

In the middle of my medical specialty training, I still found time to exercise despite small kids, long work hours and long commute. I would wake up at 4:30 and hit the gym from 5-6 before returning home to shower and head to work. It’s not motivation that keeps you going, it’s discipline. It’s understanding that despite the fact that your tired right now, you will feel better later (later today, later this year, later in life) if you go even when you don’t want to.
I strongly believe any time you spend now in improving your health, is the single best investment you can make in overall quality of life. But as a physician, I am surrounded by people who suffer from often preventable illnesses. It’s a constant, daily reminder of why prioritizing my overall health is important.

So you got by on 5 hours of sleep? What job did your spouse have? I love getting up at 5 its a nice time of day, but Im up to midnight cleaning up from day after getting home at 7, cooking dinner, caring for kids etc. I have heard sleep is even more important than exercise for health?

Who watched your kids? Did you have a nanny that cooked and cleaned? Or do you just function on 4 hours of sleep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people ignore the best return on investment?

You can find a gym membership for $50/month. You just need to work out hard 3 to 4 times a week and you will give yourself the best chance to stay healthy

Yet people just don't work out. It amazes me.

Instead folks have million saved, but with a bucket filled of drugs, knees done, hips done, back done...how do you enjoy your money in old age if you are not in good health?

You are ignorant. Working out does not stop people from having knee problems, hip problems, back problems. You sound like a very dumb 19 year old. Otherwise I agree that it would be good for most of us if we exercised more.

[Anonymous]

What gym is $50? Some janky planet fitness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people ignore the best return on investment?

You can find a gym membership for $50/month. You just need to work out hard 3 to 4 times a week and you will give yourself the best chance to stay healthy

Yet people just don't work out. It amazes me.

Instead folks have million saved, but with a bucket filled of drugs, knees done, hips done, back done...how do you enjoy your money in old age if you are not in good health?

We exercised, ate right, did not drink alcohol or do illicit drugs and still ended up with health issues. Exercise certainly helps, but good genes are more important. Look at Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Total Gym = best investment. Any age, any injury. Save money, time, and inhaling other people’s grossness at a gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people ignore the best return on investment?

You can find a gym membership for $50/month. You just need to work out hard 3 to 4 times a week and you will give yourself the best chance to stay healthy

Yet people just don't work out. It amazes me.

Instead folks have million saved, but with a bucket filled of drugs, knees done, hips done, back done...how do you enjoy your money in old age if you are not in good health?

We exercised, ate right, did not drink alcohol or do illicit drugs and still ended up with health issues. Exercise certainly helps, but good genes are more important. Look at Churchill.

I am a Statistician. I think OP is talking about the average person. Of course you always have outliers. I am not familiar with data when it comes to health an exercise but if I were to guess I would believe there is perhaps some positive association between exercise and health outcome for the average person all else equal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people ignore the best return on investment?

You can find a gym membership for $50/month. You just need to work out hard 3 to 4 times a week and you will give yourself the best chance to stay healthy

Yet people just don't work out. It amazes me.

Instead folks have million saved, but with a bucket filled of drugs, knees done, hips done, back done...how do you enjoy your money in old age if you are not in good health?

You are ignorant. Working out does not stop people from having knee problems, hip problems, back problems. You sound like a very dumb 19 year old. Otherwise I agree that it would be good for most of us if we exercised more.

Imbecile exercise absolutely improve your chances for better knees back etc as you age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, the question is,

how do I stay healthy but also not live past about 75?

One of my parents was very difficult but at least she had the decency to leave us at 72.
My father is easier but is 80, and intends to live forever. He doesn’t have much money so he costs my siblings quite a lot in support (I do the oversight part, take him to drs or clean). No one is particularly attached to him. He is the health nut however. I don’t want to be like him.

This is a sad statement.

I know lots of people in their 80's who are doing well, enjoying life, and not a burden to their families.

Just because your parents are not easy, does not mean that all elderly people are like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought the best return on investment was with education and your career pursuits. But I get your point. Part of me feels that being active and physical begins in your youth. I played outside growing up and did youth sports then athletics in high school. Intramurals in college. From that basis, physical fitness has just always been a priority. My diet is fair and I know you can't outwalk a bad diet, so that is a focus for 2026. If you get out of the routine esp older, very difficult to resume even moderate activity.

I wish that all kids were more exposed to health and fitness, and created a life-long habit. The parents set the examples, and society can help by funding programs to keep kids active.

My brother (now 59) was always interested in music and theater. My parents never encouraged him to try sports or do anything active. I feel bad that he grew up thinking that fitness was for jocks. So he's always been pretty sedentary. He walks their dog, and that is pretty much it, which is so sad to me. His health is pretty good, but he doesn't have the joy that comes from having a daily fitness routine. I am age 56 and have always exercised (every day for at least 60 minutes), and really value the joy that it brings to my life. I have always worked full-time and have 3 kids. I just made it a priority to always exercise every day -- it can be done.