The average American woman now weighs 166 pounds — as much as a 1960s man

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Don't discount the role of genetics in all this. It is a factor - not just something people use to rationalize their behaviour.

Agreed - it is a factor for sure. It's just that people see small slices of other peoples lives, draw incorrect conclusions, and use that to rationalize their behaviour.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by polak

The problem is, those extra years are added on to the worst part of life.

Obviously moderation is key, you don't want to die when you're 40, but man, you get one life. Enjoy it.

You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. If you're fit and healthy when you retire, your 50's, 60's and beyond can easily be the best years of your life. Think of your life now but never having to work at a job you don't absolutely love, ever. Wiser and smarter than you are now and able to basically do what you want when you want.

Youth is a wonderful thing, but it's wasted on the young.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Zevo

You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. If you're fit and healthy when you retire, your 50's, 60's and beyond can easily be the best years of your life. Think of your life now but never having to work at a job you don't absolutely love, ever. Wiser and smarter than you are now and able to basically do what you want when you want.

Youth is a wonderful thing, but it's wasted on the young.

Very optimistic outlook on life. Yes if I'm floating around on a yacht in my 60's then that would be awesome.

Reality is most people are retiring closer to their 70's, eventually living in a small condo after downsizing, good chance they're alone, and spend most of their time saving so they can live off a small pension. And it's only going to be worse from here on in when the retirement age goes up and the boomers drain our economy.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by polak

Very optimistic outlook on life. Yes if I'm floating around on a yacht in my 60's then that would be awesome.

Reality is most people are retiring closer to their 70's, eventually living in a small condo after downsizing, good chance they're alone, and spend most of their time saving so they can live off a small pension. And it's only going to be worse from here on in when the retirement age goes up and the boomers drain our economy.

Really? That's you're outlook?? How can these be your best days if that's how you think you are most likely to end up? I know some people like that but the majority of people I know in that category, if fit and healthy, are as happy as a pig in ####, and before you say it, no they aren't at all wealthy.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Really? That's you're outlook?? How can these be your best days if that's how you think you are most likely to end up? I know some people like that but the majority of people I know in that category, if fit and healthy, are as happy as a pig in ####, and before you say it, no they aren't at all wealthy.

I don't just expect to be living the high life. At this point, I don't have a realistic plan or idea to exponentially increase my quality of life. Everyone expects that one day something will happen that will make them able to live their dreams but the reality is significant upward movement in society is rare.

Happiness is relative. Sure, I might find walking around the park and feeding birds to be a hoot when I'm older but some how I think I'll look back on all the crazy crap I did in my 20's and 30's and know that I had a lot more fun then, so I'm going to take my chances and enjoy my youth to its full potential, even if it costs my 10 years in my late 70's and 80's.

(Just want to highlight, moderation is key again. Don't want to die when I'm 40).

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by polak

I don't just expect to be living the high life. At this point, I don't have a realistic plan or idea to exponentially increase my quality of life. Everyone expects that one day something will happen that will make them able to live their dreams but the reality is significant upward movement in society is rare.

You mean like finally cashing in on RRSPs that one has been aggressively contributing to all their career? It's not out of reach if you plan and save for it.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Nyah

You mean like finally cashing in on RRSPs that one has been aggressively contributing to all their career? It's not out of reach if you plan and save for it.

That's all well and good.

You have to make enough to aggressively contribute, which in turn takes away from what you can spend when you are younger. It's a trade off.

Only problem is even if you treat your body like a temple, lots of things can derail your retirement years.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by polak

Eat tasty "bad" food, smoke, drink and f*** anything = you die.

Live healthy, eat clean, don't drink = you die.

Originally Posted by polak

The problem is, those extra years are added on to the worst part of life.

Obviously moderation is key, you don't want to die when you're 40, but man, you get one life. Enjoy it.

Originally Posted by polak

Very optimistic outlook on life. Yes if I'm floating around on a yacht in my 60's then that would be awesome.

Reality is most people are retiring closer to their 70's, eventually living in a small condo after downsizing, good chance they're alone, and spend most of their time saving so they can live off a small pension. And it's only going to be worse from here on in when the retirement age goes up and the boomers drain our economy.

Originally Posted by polak

I don't just expect to be living the high life. At this point, I don't have a realistic plan or idea to exponentially increase my quality of life. Everyone expects that one day something will happen that will make them able to live their dreams but the reality is significant upward movement in society is rare.

Happiness is relative. Sure, I might find walking around the park and feeding birds to be a hoot when I'm older but some how I think I'll look back on all the crazy crap I did in my 20's and 30's and know that I had a lot more fun then, so I'm going to take my chances and enjoy my youth to its full potential, even if it costs my 10 years in my late 70's and 80's.

(Just want to highlight, moderation is key again. Don't want to die when I'm 40).

Originally Posted by polak

That's all well and good.

You have to make enough to aggressively contribute, which in turn takes away from what you can spend when you are younger. It's a trade off.

Only problem is even if you treat your body like a temple, lots of things can derail your retirement years.

I miss being in my 20's and having all the answers.

[polak]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I miss being in my 20's and having all the answers.

I'm just sharing my outlook on life at the moment. The future looks bleak, enjoy it while it lasts.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by polak

i'm just sharing my outlook on life at the moment. The future looks bleak, enjoy it while it lasts.

Eeyore

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by polak

You have to make enough to aggressively contribute, which in turn takes away from what you can spend when you are younger. It's a trade off.

Not necessarily. When I started out in my early 20s, I would only put around $50/pay into RRSPs, and as I get older I contribute more & more as I can. It certainly doesn't take away from anything I enjoy doing. It's not a trade off, it's a cop out. You'd be surprised at how even little contributions when you're young will help you in retirement down the road.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by polak

I'm just sharing my outlook on life at the moment. The future looks bleak, enjoy it while it lasts.

To most people the future looks bleak. So yeah, I'm gonna live life to the fullest while I'm healthy and stop worrying about the future and love the bomb.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Don't discount the role of genetics in all this. It is a factor - not just something people use to rationalize their behaviour.

I don't put much stock in the genetics argument, I consider them to be nuance's more than deciding factors.

In my experiences with fitness:

Fit people say "It all boils down to calories in and calories out".

Out of shape people say "It's genetics".

I know who's advice I'm taking.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by polak

Reality is most people are retiring closer to their 70's, eventually living in a small condo after downsizing, good chance they're alone, and spend most of their time saving so they can live off a small pension. And it's only going to be worse from here on in when the retirement age goes up and the boomers drain our economy.

And yet studies show that happiness is a demographic 'U', with people happiest when they're young, comparatively unhappy in middle age, and happy again when they're old. There's something to be said about not having anything left to prove and being comfortable with who you are.

Originally Posted by darklord700

To most people the future looks bleak.

That's not true. Maybe you're projecting.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Don't discount the role of genetics in all this. It is a factor - not just something people use to rationalize their behaviour.

A moderate factor. But it doesn't explain why in the U.S. you come across many morbidly obese people, and yet among people of the same ethnicity and genetic make-up elsewhere in the world morbid obesity is almost unheard of. Way more 300+ lb people in Minnesota than in Sweden.

[Muta]

Genetics likely won't explain why the average weight has gone up since the 60's. That's too recent to determine that type of evolution in our DNA footprint.

Matata said it best - listen to the fit people who tell you its all about calories in, calories out... not the general population that tells you its genetics.

[karl262]

so can I get my calories by eating sugar?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by karl262

so can I get my calories by eating sugar?

Sure, let us know how that turns out.

[karl262]

Originally Posted by Muta

Sure, let us know how that turns out.

so it doesn't boil down to calories in calories out, but where I'm getting my calories?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Matata

I don't put much stock in the genetics argument, I consider them to be nuance's more than deciding factors.

In my experiences with fitness:

Fit people say "It all boils down to calories in and calories out".

Out of shape people say "It's genetics".

I know who's advice I'm taking.

Oversimplification. But you are welcome to take that view.