We have just come off five days of gluttony and spending. This time of the year, Americans indulge in over-eating and over-spending more than any other time in our year. To compensate for Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday, we spend the next eleven months tightening our belts to lose weight and regain a financial cushion for the next year.
When I looked at those who I shared my Thanksgiving Day meal, I saw a wide variety of body types and sizes. Those did not correspond to the chosen portion sizes. Mary had more green bean casserole than Mike did, and I took a larger portion of pumpkin pie and cool whip than Fred. Still, by the end of the day, everyone (myself included) complained of pain from their expanded stomachs.
My hat off to those who ran the 5K Turkey Trot run before sitting down to their Thanksgiving Day meal. That was one way to curb an appetite and not consume so much food. Still others head for the fitness centers to lose the weight gained, only to not attend as often when February and March come around.
The vast majority of Americans who choose to work off their Thanksgiving meal with a Friday morning shopping trip to the local mall. In doing so, they run up credit card debt with the purchases of supposed once a year ultra-low prices. To keep the little ones happy, a break from shopping is done by going to the local theater and watch either Moana 2, or Wicked or any one of the other recently released movies. While not paying attention to the debt, they have piled up.
Another type of exercise is required to eliminate the credit card debt and near empty saving accounts. This type of exercise requires more than reduced spending until April’s tax refund. Setting a budget and sticking to it in times where shop owners are tempting you with a great bargain.
True masters of our own lives require discipline above the emotional, whether it be personal body type and financial.
You and I have seen commercial ads promoting an easy solution, but in reality, the solution needs to be tailored to each individual. Over the years, I have tried different fad diets for my body and wallet. At the most, they lasted only a few months. It wasn’t until I found I could workout at the gym two to three times a week with my own set routine; I kept going to the gym and my health improved. I even found an app for my phone that helps me monitor my spending. Both have helped me not to be so gluttonous and in debt as well as all the guilt that goes along with it.
I leave you with this one question; Have you found the physical and financial exercise program that works for you?
(The above names given were changed to protect the guilty)
