Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 95 posts

Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#1

Post by throwaway21432 »

I’m willing go spend up to $100,000 this coming year in order to:

* Lose 30 pounds * Eat a strict carnivore / keto diet for a year * Get stronger * Be more flexible

I know what you’re thinking: It doesn’t cost much to eat healthy, go for walks, buy some running shoes. But these things never last for me.

I’m 47. Overweight (240lb), and I suffer from chronic digestive issues and inflammation. I’ve tried on and off for years everything under the sun but I just can’t stick with it. I run out of will power.

I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars to figure out what’s going on with my body and this is what I know:

- I need to eat strictly carnivore (or Keto Low FODMap) - I need to lose weight. - I want to get strong. - I need to stretch.

Whenever I try and do these things myself it works for a few weeks, and then I go back to old habits. I’m done trying the same thing over and over, and then failing. Instead of a stupid cyber truck I want to buy good health.

If you were me, and you could spend 50k to get healthy. How would you overcome these will power issues?

Looking for creative ideas please. I don’t want to die early, and don’t want the diabetes….etc. that’s coming down the pipeline if I continue this way.

I know you can't buy discipline. But can I kick start it somehow? How would you do it?

I've read all the books, tried all the apps, need something that's a higher level of intervention.

Side note: There might be a startup here. How many millionaires out there are happy to spend 100k for a high-touch, guaranteed upgrade to their health and well being?

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#3

Post by dangle1 »

It's really hard to understand someone's individual barriers to change without spending time with them in real life, so forgive me if this isn't useful, but the first thing I wonder is how much does your career affect your health?

How much longer do you actually need to work, or work full-time, for your values of 'need'?

Would $100K effectively 'buy' you more time off so you can spend more time on yourself without feeling like you need to always try to carve time out of your day for yourself?

I mention this because I tried my whole life to maintain a healthy weight, and was never super-successful until I retired. Then it's like a switch flipped, and taking care of myself became my job, and I enjoyed doing it. Now it's almost kind of spooky how long I've stably maintained the lowest weight I've been as an adult.

In my case, I think that direct effects of stress on cortisol levels, along with the placating psychological effects of overeating and eating unhealthy foods on my stress levels, made it harder for me to achieve my goals while I was working.

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#4

Post by defrost »

Set a goal such as walking a 225 (Larapinta) or 1,000 kilometer (Bibbulmun) walking trail, or traversing the Western Arthur ranges, spend a month working | training | planning, and then go head first into completing an end to end.

Take a friend or hire a trainer for support.

The first week or so will be hell, it gets better - you'll enjoy it by the end.

Plan for the weather, Tasmania in the summer (christmas time in the southern hemisphere), the walking tracks in the winter (no snow, it's the Australian mainland).

Many parts of the world have hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, long walks with packs and a commitment to finish are more immersive than intending to go to a gym. If there are track forums it might suit you to walk with a group.

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#6

Post by mathhulk »

I think you should spend your money on a respectable in-person personal trainer who will help you meal prep and exercise with you daily. You need to find someone who will force you to be consistent with your efforts, whether that involves exercise or diet. I certainly don’t think you need to spend $100K, but if you have the money, find someone who will help guide you through the hard work you’re already willing to try.

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#7

Post by coolThingsFirst »

>I know you can't buy discipline. But can I kick start it somehow? How would you do it?

I'm in excellent physical shape with visible abs. While I do have some genetic advantage in general it's as simple as walk a lot & go to the gym once( you read that right) a week.

That's all it takes. Just start walking. Doesn't matter the shoes, doesn't matter where.

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#8

Post by TheAlchemist »

Register for an Ironman race for next year. Buy a good bike, hire a coach to help you kick start the preparation.

You need a vision, a goal. A long term one. Ironman is perfect for that.

You practice 3 sports - and they are complimentary - you're unlikely to get injured.

It's achievable - yeah, I know that right now at 240lbs it probably doesn't seem like that, but the beauty is that anybody can do it. And once you register, you will have a strong incentive to prepare.

It will completely transform your self-esteem and the relation with your body and food.

PS. It doesn't cost 100k, but it's still expensive - registration, bike, maybe a coach - you're looking at 5-10k probably.

Re: Ask HN: If you could spend $100k to get healthy and fit, how would you do it?

#10

Post by rahimnathwani »

TheAlchemist wrote: post #8

Register for an Ironman race for next year. Buy a good bike, hire a coach to help you kick start the preparation. You need a vision, a goal. A long term one. Ironman is perfect for that. You practice 3 sports - and they are complimentary - you're unlikely to get injured. It's achievable - yeah, I know that right now at 240lbs it probably doesn't seem like that, but the beauty is that anybody can do it. And once you r…

I thought an ironman was a really long triathlon? Is it realistic to go from couch to full ironman in a year? Or do you mean sign up for th shortest triathlon first?
Post reply on HN