Like many folks looking forward to early retirement, Captain Sparky is thinking about how he can become more fit.   Retirement goals are predicated on good health, and a lot of early retirees make it a priority.

My health has always been good. I had my appendix out once, but that’s about it. I’m 49 years old, 6’ 2” and weigh about 215 pounds, which is down about 10 pounds from last year. If I could get my weight down another 15 pounds I would feel pretty good. I’ll get there.  I’ve been going at it slow & steady, tracking what I’m eating each day and walking on the treadmill or going golfing on non-work days.

It’s certainly a lot easier to “find the time” on days that I am off (weekends). I recently saw a post on Reddit/Financial Independence on whether early retirement has made people more “fit or fat” (is Covert Bailey still around?).   I aggregated the responses that people had posted and here’s what I saw:

• 14 people – More Fit
• 2 people – About the Same
• 2 people – Less Fit

Not a huge sample with only 18 respondents, but a decided tilt (78%) toward using your extra time to become fitter.  I suppose once you are retired, it is harder to find excuses not to be active.  Some people say “get a dog for exercise” (we don’t have one right now).  Another suggested that you work “exer-errands” into your day – ride a bike up to the store, for instance.

My DW works out pretty much every weekday (when I’m at work and DS is in school).  I’m hoping I can continue my work out for an hour every day I am not working into retirement. At least boost it from two times a week to five times. That would be a huge improvement.

Image Credit:  Pixabay