STUPID MISTAKE #6

Ignoring the Money-Body Connection

If you live like there’s no tomorrow, you may be right.

It can’t happen to you—until it does.

Heart disease, our nation’s number one killer, claims nearly half a million men and women each year. Those it doesn’t kill, it debilitates—millions of us, possibly you or someone you know. If you live with heart disease, you know too well the constant, hovering fear that every day, every moment, every breath could be your last. And you’re all too aware of the way heart disease crimps the lifestyles of your loved ones and of its devastating effect on personal finances.

Cancer, in one form or another, is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. The American Institute for Cancer Research estimates that one in two men and one in three women will develop some form of cancer—alarming odds, considering that ours is supposed to be among the most technologically and medically advanced nations of the world. If you’ve encountered cancer on a personal level, whether in your own family or in the life of another loved one, you know its horrible effects. There’s no way to paste a pretty picture over how this disease erodes the body, mind, and spirit of the patient and his or her loved ones—and no way to gloss over the heavy toll it can take on their personal finances as well.

But this type of thing happens only to other people, right? Sure, we read about it, see reports on TV news magazines, and perhaps even know and care deeply for someone who has died from or is fighting a major illness. But it’s not really until heart disease, cancer, or another life-wrenching disease invades our personal space—our own lives or those of our nuclear or extended families—that we realize that, yes, it indeed can happen to us. And it does.

You may be wondering why I’m devoting a segment of a book about personal finance to a subject such as debilitating disease. I wish I could avoid it—I really do. I don’t enjoy thinking about these things any more than you do. However, the physical, emotional, and financial devastation of ill health is too prevalent to ignore. As I write this, a good friend of mine is entering the hospital for quadruple coronary bypass surgery. Another is being ravaged by severe, most likely terminal, cancer. A few years ago my father left our presence too soon, one of the growing number of victims of malignant melanoma. Several years before that, Dad nursed my mom through a triple coronary bypass. (She’s led a full life since, though she is somewhat limited by the lingering after-effects of the surgery.) Another dear relative, though spry and mobile, is on oxygen twenty-four hours each day to help ease the results of congestive heart failure. Nearly every fellow baby boomer I’ve talked with recently is concerned about a parent who struggles with heart disease, cancer in some form, or other serious health problems.

It can happen to us. And when it does, it’s devastating. Not just physically and emotionally, but financially.

Poor Health Costs Good Money

And that’s why we must speak plainly about health issues here—because poor health costs good money. It can eat away at our financial reserves or even wipe them out, forcing the postponement of needs, goals, and dreams. For retirees, out-of-pocket health-care costs can seriously reduce the nest eggs from which they draw their living expenses. Even those of us fortunate enough to carry “good” medical insurance find that health issues consume increasing percentages of cash flow due to skyrocketing deductibles, copays, and no-pays. As the costs of medical treatment and prescription drugs soar, insurers find more and more excuses to decline or reduce payment.

For all these reasons, the cost of health care has become one of the primary concerns of the aging population. So as I help you put strategies in place to build financial independence for the future, I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to contemplate the financial impact of ill health and to take every step you can to be as healthy as possible. Granted, serious illness isn’t always the result of cause and effect. While many illnesses are the clear result of unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, drug abuse, and poor dietary and exercise habits, other maladies encroach for no apparent rhyme or reason. Regardless of how careful we are, there’s no guarantee we’ll go disease-free; as Sean Connery said while charging headlong into a gun battle in The Untouchables, “We all gotta die of somethin’.” However, we can take steps to proactively steer clear of the stupid, unhealthy lifestyle choices that practically guarantee a reduction in quality of life as well as a serious erosion of our life savings.

Your Body and Your Money

Just in case you’re still doubtful of the relationship between wellness and your personal finances, consider these thoughts regarding the physicalfiscal connection:

• When you’re out of shape, your mind and body lack the alertness and endurance you need to be at your best all day, day in and day out. This affects not only your performance but also your attitude. Most of us may be able to fake it through a tough day or two but not for an extended length of time. Lethargy and a poor attitude quickly drain the quality and efficiency of your work and are obvious to your leaders and peers. On the other hand, good health keeps the mind and body fresh, alert, and strong. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, you feel more energetic and upbeat. You process questions more positively and effectively. You require fewer sick days. You approach problems and challenges with a positive, can-do spirit. A sound mind and strong body help you do your job well. When you do your job well, you not only hold on to your job, but you also enhance your chances of winning promotions and raises—all of which supply the income you need to provide for your family and save and invest for your future.

• Stupid healthstyle choices wear down your body’s immune system. Eating the wrong foods, getting too little sleep, letting stress dam up inside you, failing to exercise consistently—all combine to batter down your inner reserves. Sooner or later your immune system’s going to shriek, “Unfair! On strike!” You may try to ignore the illness and work on, perhaps even selfmedicating at $12.99 a pop, courtesy of your grocery’s drug aisle, but forging ahead only wears you down further. Eventually you miss a day or more of work. You drag yourself to the doctor, who charges $85 just for a parking space and after a thorough two-minute examination scrawls a prescription costing you another $30 if your insurance covers it and up to $120 if it does not. You’ll likely recover, but it’s already cost you time and goodwill at work and cash out of your pocket. Down the road, the cumulative effect of your bad habits could dent or even drain your life savings if you’re flattened by a major illness such as heart disease, stroke, or cancer. In contrast, if you invest a bit of time, effort, and discipline now to begin trading in those poor choices for good ones, you’ll enjoy immediate benefits of alertness, endurance, and vitality. You’ll also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your new lifestyle choices will likely help avoid huge, asset-draining medical expenses down the road.

• Much as we hate to admit it, we’re all growing older. Back in your teens and twenties, middle age and senior citizenship seemed so far away, didn’t they? But now, suddenly, they are here or just around the corner. Each year seems to rush by faster than the last. As you draw closer to retirement age, you naturally begin to wonder if your health will allow you to truly enjoy the golden years. You don’t want to be bedridden or housebound, your dreams curtailed or your days cut short by untimely, debilitating illness. Good health will help supply the energy and vitality you’ll need to enjoy an active, fully engaged life. Smart, healthy choices now will help empower you physically and conserve your financial ability to truly make the most of the rest of your life.

Of Cheese, Chocolate, and Caffeine

While I’ve managed to steer clear of obviously harmful choices such as smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse, I don’t pretend to be an expert or even a role model when it comes to health and nutrition. I’ve made my share of stupid healthstyle choices. Cheese and chocolate, both high in arteryclogging saturated fat, are two of my favorite vices. I’ve made a genuine, mostly effective effort to keep consumption at modest levels. (A few years back I whooped with delight when a scientific study announced that chocolate was good for the heart—until I read the fine print and learned that the study had been sponsored by the chocolate industry.)

Too much caffeine can elevate blood pressure and chew away at the stomach lining, yet I don’t consider myself awake in the morning until I’ve consumed a cup of this wonderful life-giving fluid. And once or twice a week I’ll even take out a second mortgage on the house to finance a venti Starbucks nonfat caramel macchiato. But I’ve recognized the error of my earlier days and have reduced coffee consumption from four or five cups per day (I may as well have set up an IV drip) to one or two.

In my teens and early adulthood, I chose, more by ignorance than intent, to internalize stress instead of relaxing and talking or working it out. The result was a stomach ulcer at the tender age of thirty-one. The ulcer cleared up in a few weeks and hasn’t revisited, but it was a sobering wake-up call telling me that I needed to improve at keeping life’s challenges in perspective (it’s all small stuff). I needed to commit to laugh more and worry less, to stay in better physical shape, and to be more discerning in what I slammed down my gullet.

Kathy and I are now in our early fifties and, short of the normal dings of growing older, we enjoy good health—for which we’re deeply grateful. We realize this could change in an instant, and we do not take wellness for granted. It’s an ongoing commitment, a never-ending series of moment-by-moment healthstyle choices.

When we overrule unhealthy decisions with healthy ones, we feel so much more vital, energetic, and upbeat—so much better equipped to enjoy the great adventure called life. I’m confident you will too. With that goal in mind, as well as the financial objective of having to spend fewer dollars to treat illness now and in the future, please consider the following ten life-enhancing choices that will help you take charge of your health and help ensure a life of vitality for you and your loved ones.

Ten Smart Choices for a Long, Healthy Life

1. Make water your favorite beverage.

Four out of five nutritionists agree that water is the most essential nutrient in the body. (The fifth nutritionist was from the planet Gelkor, a waterless planet.) Water carries nutrients to the cells and dilutes and flushes toxins from the body. It lubricates joints and organs, forms blood and other bodily fluids, and promotes regularity. It is essential to the formation and repair of tissue and to the chemical reactions our bodies require.

Approximately 60 percent of the human body is fluid, and studies have found that losing just 5 percent of our body fluid can cause painful headaches, fatigue, forgetfulness, elevated pulse rate, and confusion (which may explain the nutritionist from Gelkor). We lose 2.5 to 3 percent of our bodies’ water supply through urination and perspiration—more during strenuous exercise—so it is essential that we be proactive in replenishing our internal water supply.

Nutritionists recommend that we drink a minimum of eight tall glasses of water each day. But if you’re not accustomed to sipping water all day long, this recommended minimum may seem unmanageable. How do you do it? First, rehydrate your system after the night’s fast by slamming down a tall, cold glass of water immediately upon rising in the morning, before you jump in the shower or begin your morning mirror routine. Have another as you’re fixing breakfast. Then keep fresh, cold water at your work station during the day; drink one or two glassfuls during the morning. Enjoy another with lunch and another during the afternoon. Have a tall glass of water with dinner, then one in the evening. That’s eight. If you exercise (and I hope you do), sip more water before, during, and after each workout.

2. Give yourself a break.

Keep the steam-release valve open on your pressure cooker by taking frequent minibreaks during the day. If possible, step away from your work station (go outside if the weather permits); shift your mind into neutral; do some slow, deep breathing; and stretch to loosen your neck, shoulder, and back muscles. You’ll feel refreshed after just a couple of minutes. When possible, take a vigorous walk during your lunch break.

If you’re among the millions who tend to take work home with you— in your mind if not in your briefcase—be sure you extend this practice into late afternoon or evening with a consistent exercise program. In other words . . .

3. Work it out.

I’m not talking about additional labor at the office—you already devote enough of your week to that. By “working it out” I’m referring to a brisk thirty-minute walk, jog, bike ride, or aerobic workout at least three days each week for your cardiovascular system. On alternating days, balance aerobics with a moderate resistance workout with dumbbells, barbells, or weight machines to enhance strength and muscle tone. The combination will help you lose weight; increase strength, energy, and vitality; and ease tension over the crises and stresses of your day. There’s also increasing evidence that regular, vigorous exercise releases endorphins and other natural chemicals into the bloodstream to combat pain and strengthen the immune system against disease.

4. Go to bed.

Are you getting enough sleep? Just a few years ago, “enlightened” scientists were proclaiming that the time-tested advice was all wrong, that we don’t really need eight hours of sleep each night. Then, apparently cranky from too-little sleep, they reversed themselves and declared that Mom was right all along: Most of us indeed need at least eight hours’ sleep, and we’re not getting it. We are, in fact, resoundingly sleep-deprived, which may help explain anxiety, depression, road rage, exhaustion on the job, and some of the stupid things we do with our money. Sound sleep—at least eight hours’ worth—is foundational to physical, mental, and emotional vitality.

What choices do you need to make to get the sleep you need? What two adjustments can you make in your life to get to bed thirty to sixty minutes earlier and/or rise a half-hour later?

5. Eat for life.

Recent reports indicate that more than 60 percent of American adults are overweight, which is a diplomatic way of saying, “We’re fat.” We eat when we need to but also when we don’t. We eat to be social and when we feel antisocial. We eat to celebrate anything, and we eat when we’re anxious, depressed, or bored.

In other words, when in doubt, we eat. And when we do, we tend to eat heavily processed foods loaded with carcinogenic chemicals, arteryclogging saturated fats, and colon-rotting sugars . . . because they’re convenient and they taste good going down. As a result, we’re overweight, unfit, and susceptible to disease—which not only diminishes our joy of life but also translates into higher health-care costs now and in years to come.

You can counter the destructive effects of poor food choices by determining that whenever you do eat, you’ll “eat for life” by selecting smart, healthy, delicious alternatives: foods that cleanse instead of clog, that defend instead of destroy. Studies show the following foods to be especially effective in supplying your body and brain with the nutrients they need for strength and efficiency—while helping prevent problems such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke:

• brightly colored fresh fruits and vegetables—nutritionists recommend several servings of each every day

• whole grains such as brown rice, multi-grain breads, and oats

• beans and legumes

• nuts (especially raw almonds and walnuts) and seeds

• soybeans and soy products

• salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, and sardines

• green and black tea

In recent years scientists have also confirmed that contemporary society is under constant assault by harmful free-radical chemicals (“oxidants”) that can debilitate our internal organs and other cell tissue long before their time. Antioxidants, which include beta carotene, selenium, and vitamins C and E, are crucial to the immune system and cellular integrity and also promote healing. Fortunately, our Creator has provided many delicious, natural antioxidants, including prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, red grapes, cranberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Any of these fruits can be easily added to your morning oatmeal or other whole-grain cereal. You can also drink antioxidants in the form of 100 percent cranberry juice or unsweetened grape juice (why add sugar when it’s naturally sweet?). Green tea is also high in antioxidants and can provide a pleasant, soothing effect.

Two other nuggets of good advice when it comes to eating for life:

• Read the ingredients list of any food or beverage you’re about to buy. The longer the list of ingredients, the more likely it is that the item will do you more harm than good.

• If the ingredients label lists “high fructose corn syrup” or “partially hydrogenated” anything, return the item to the shelf and choose a healthy alternative. This will eliminate many of the typical fruit drinks and snack foods purchased by well-meaning moms every week, but it will also open your horizons to a vast world of delicious, healthy foods and beverages.

6. Conquer an unhealthy habit.

If you smoke, you don’t need to be told about the horrible things you’re doing to your body and to your loved ones who must inhale the cancer with you. Unless you stop right now, you’re destined for years of wheezing and gasping and possible lung cancer unless a stroke or heart attack takes you sooner. Either way, your family and your finances will suffer. Of all the healthstyle mistakes we can make, smoking has to be at the top of the list because the word has been out for years on how harmful this stupid habit is.

On the other hand, the benefits of quitting are remarkable—and almost immediate. When you cease a pack-a-day habit, you’re suddenly saving about $100 per month. Put those monthly savings to work in an IRA averaging just 8 percent per year, and over twenty years it’ll compound to almost $59,000. Grow healthier and grow richer! More importantly, you’ll begin to feel better within days of quitting—you’ll breathe a little easier, feel more lively and alert, and experience greater endurance. Combine smoking cessation with regular exercise, and you’ll be delighted at your newfound vitality. (You’ll also smell better, for which family, friends, and coworkers will be grateful.)

You May Be Making Stupid Mistake #6 If . . .

• you allow the stresses of life to build up inside you

• you engage in concentrated exercise fewer than three days per week

• you haven’t had a physical exam in two years or more

• you smoke or hang around those who do

• you don’t take a multivitamin and mineral supplement

• your broad mind and narrow waist are trading places

If you’re not a smoker, perhaps there’s another harmful habit you struggle with—much as I’m tempted by cheese, chocolate, and coffee. If so, be honest with yourself: Which habit do you feel the least control over? Choose one harmful healthstyle choice that you’d like to change for the better—take on just one for now—and dedicate yourself to making the change permanent.

To encourage you, I’ll share another personal example. Since Kathy and I both love chocolate, we’ve always kept it around the house. A few years ago we realized that we had gone far beyond moderate consumption. We’d grab some after meals and between meals, then another helping while watching a TV program in the evening. Between the two of us (mostly me), we could go through a large bag of M&M’s in four or five days (two to three of the almond variety). It felt so good going down, but we’d feel so sluggish afterward. Finally we decided that we had to ease off this stupid habit and that the best way to do so was to keep chocolate out of the house. We made a fun wager: The first person to bring home chocolate must pay the other a $10 fine. (We’re both stubborn enough that we’re not about to owe the other such a penalty.) We determined that we’d make chocolate a special, occasional treat when we dine out instead of the everyday “entitlement” it had become.

I thought we’d go through severe withdrawal, much like alcoholics on the wagon, but there were no tremors, no hallucinations, no homicides. We started feeling better immediately. We didn’t miss our daily “fix.” Before we knew it, we’d been practicing our new discipline for an entire year. Not only were we cleansing the sugary junk from our systems, but we were also saving approximately $5 each week and redirecting it toward better things.

Before you read any further, I heartily encourage you to think of one stupid healthstyle habit in your life that is not only harmful to your health but is also harmful to your budget. Write it down and take it on. Make the change permanent. Revel in your newfound vitality and redirect the money you were spending to something positive, such as debt elimination or increased savings for your future.

7. Laugh.

Several years back, author Norman Cousins set the medical establishment on its ear with his groundbreaking book, Anatomy of an Illness. It told how, after doctors had given him little hope of overcoming a debilitating disease, Cousins found healing in laughter. Despite physical agony and exhaustion from the ravages of the illness, he watched movie after movie of the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, and other classic comedies—and he laughed. He laughed so much that his body hurt less . . . and less . . . and he regained his functionality for several more years.

We now know that the laughter was releasing powerful endorphins to strengthen both mind and body. If endorphins are that strong in combating actual illness and agony, imagine what they can do to help strengthen and rejuvenate us in the midst of everyday stresses. All we need to do is laugh and let them do their job.

Remember, life is all small stuff. Look for the humor in every situation and find something to laugh about. Laughter will help clear and relax your mind as you weigh solutions to your problems; it’ll ease bodily tension and help you keep things in perspective. Laughter is one of God’s provisions to help you stay healthy and strong.

8. Supplement your nutrition.

Many nutritional specialists believe that in our stressful, polluted world, good foods alone do not supply the full amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients we need. Thus it makes sense to supplement our diets each day with a high-potency multivitamin and mineral formula. As we grow older, we’ll want to pay special attention to our intake of calcium for bone density and to vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and selenium for their antioxidant benefits.

Much has also been documented regarding the effectiveness of certain herbal supplements such as Ginkgo biloba for enhanced mental alertness; St. John’s wort for emotional stability; and phytoestrogen, a kinder, gentler hormone-replacement therapy for women in midlife. It should be noted that some herbal supplements do not combine well with certain prescription drugs, so if you take prescription medication, be sure to check with your doctor before trying an herbal supplement.

9. Get away from it all—soon and often.

Considering the intensity of the typical American workload, one to three weeks of vacation out of fifty-two is chump change—hardly enough to truly relax, rejuvenate, and refresh for long-haul effectiveness. Add to that the guilt most of us feel over taking that well-deserved vacation, the length of time it takes to stop thinking about work, and our orders (or inner compulsions) to stay in touch with the workplace while away, and it’s little wonder that we return to work almost as tired as when we left.

A psychologist friend of mine contends that America is centuries behind Europe and other parts of the world when it comes to vacations and holidays. We take one to three weeks; they take six to eight. In search of excellence, we work harder and longer; they break away to relax and refresh. Which is truly most effective? Which course is wiser and healthier? Could it be that vacation-stingy employers and workaholic employees actually do each other more harm than good?

Alas, you and I may not be able to change the vacation policies at our places of employment, but we can take full advantage of what vacation time we do have. Do not entertain an inkling of guilt about taking every moment you’re entitled to. You’ve more than earned it. Get away from it all—truly away. Inform your colleagues that you will not be available by phone or e-mail, then leave your cell phone, pager, and laptop computer at home. Enjoy your family and the world outside your window; inhale the blessing of rejuvenation. Breaking away to rest and rejuvenate is one of life’s best investments.

10. Be proactive with your health.

We’ve all heard of the importance of self-examination of breasts, testicles, or skin moles for abnormalities. However, I suspect the reason so many of us resist taking these simple proactive measures is that we’re afraid of what we could find. In view of the possibilities, we’d rather put off selfexamination for another day—or forget it altogether and hope for the best.

The good news is that, quite often, abnormalities and even some cancers are highly treatable when detected and treated early. The key is early detection, and in most cases this is up to us because of the infrequency of our visits to medical specialists.

When my dad died of malignant melanoma, I suddenly became much more observant of skin moles and more conscientious about the use of sunscreen. I also began scheduling semiannual visits with my M.D. for thorough examinations of any moles that appear suspicious. He checks every inch of my body—from the scalp to the bottom of my feet—aided by a bright light and magnifying glass. He tells me that skin cancer is on an alarming upswing throughout the country and that one cannot be too careful. Melanoma, when detected early, is highly treatable. Once it metastasizes, however, one’s chances of survival are slim.

For women, regular self-examination of breasts is of course a vital proactive measure. For men, regular self-examination of the testicles for abnormal lumps can be performed easily while showering. If anything feels abnormal or different from your last self-exam, see your physician immediately. If it’s serious, your chances of successful treatment will be far greater because you detected it early. If it’s nothing, you’ll enjoy the wonderful peace of mind that comes from a clean bill of health.

Of course, no one should rely exclusively on self-examination. None of us enjoys the sundry pokes and prods that go with visits to the doctor, but those regular physical exams, including mammograms and pap smears for women and prostate exams for men, are essential to the stewardship of our health as we grow older. If your physician spots a potential problem, he or she can check it out further and, if necessary, administer treatment. If you’re pronounced healthy, you’ll gain an extra measure of confidence and peace of mind.

Most doctors recommend a preventive exam at least every two years through our forties, then once each year thereafter. You’ll need to be proactive because, unlike insurance agents and grinning car salesmen, M.D.’s generally don’t advertise or send reminders. It’s initiative worth taking. Place your own reminders in your long-range planning calendar and call faithfully to schedule appointments. Make your doctor a teammate in your commitment to wellness.

Pay Now or Pay Later

I trust that this chapter has helped you better understand the close interaction between your physical habits and your financial well-being. Bottom line: Poor healthstyle choices can lead to lousy finances, both now and down the road. But by taking charge of your health today, you can help steer clear of those cost-prohibitive, debilitating problems later in life.