You know that old saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Yeah, yeah, blah, blah been there heard that.  But what if it were true?  I mean what if eating an apple a day would keep you in such good health that you could cancel your health insurance?  If we all did it, hospitals would be rendered obsolete and we could convert them into condominiums – the Mayo clinic into a chain of car washes.  Healthcare workers would be re-trained as orchard employees.  Now if this old saying were true, would you actually eat an apple a day?  I mean think about the impact it would have on our “busy schedules”.  We’d have to shop for the apple, then inspect it, give it a good wash and then take the time to actually eat it.   I suppose you could save time by blending the apple and then drinking it but then you’d have to wash the blender so….that doesn’t help.  But is there any truth to this old yarn?  Eating an apple a day is clearly an analogy, with the idea being small steps done consistently add up to big results.   Recently I put it to the test by developing a plan to become fit and in the process stave off “old age”.  

Like many people I was always “too busy” to do something as simple as eat an apple a day.  Oh we all dream about a fabulous retirement, kicking back and enjoying smart cocktails on some exotic coastline dressed in oversized floral print shirts from Tommy Bahama.   After all, those financial and insurance commercials promised it.  Throughout our working careers most of us prepared for retirement by socking money away in various forms of pensions so we could afford this hedonistic lifestyle.  Our emphasis has been on the finances of retirement, but many of us have done little to no investing in our health.  When it comes down to it, what good is money if we can’t remember how-to-put-on pants?  We can’t buy our way around dementia, heart disease or frailty but there are ways of preventing them or pushing them well off.   The plan I’m working on is a take on the Canadian RRSP, Registered Retirement Savings Plan, only I call it a RHIP, Regular Health Investment Plan (Whatever you do don’t forget the H).  In short, I’m investing in my health today so I can live my best life in the years after I’ve turned sixty.  

What’s involved with my RHIP?  Well, it’s not complicated – no rocket science here.  For me it comes down to a few simple things done daily.  They involve activity, nutrition and interaction.  

Activity:  Having found myself fat and sedentary I decided to turn it around.  I now exercise 6 days a week but am active every day.  I’m not an exercise fanatic (okay maybe I’m a little on the crazy side.) but I do at least 30 minutes a day of either cardio or strength training.   30 minutes is no big deal.  I also walk.  My dog Lola gets me out the door twice a day, rain or shine.  She’s the best piece of gym equipment I could ever own.  The point is, I am active every day not just occasionally.  By prioritizing exercise and activity and making it part of my lifestyle I manage to keep my weight in check, spirits high and systems all functioning.  

Next, I’m careful about what and how much I eat.  Here too, I’ve changed.  Like many people I love a good burger and fries, or pizza or (insert food-any food- here).  But I’ve dumped the fast food and now focus on good nutritious meals – that are mostly plant based.  I don’t eat a lot of junk food or sugar although I’m a sucker for chips and anything chocolate, so I enjoy them on occasion.  I’m also careful about when and how much I eat.  I’m currently eat most of my food within a 6 or 7 hour window.  That has me consuming only two meals a day and it works really well.   I don’t feel like I’m starved, and it’s been a boon to maintaining a healthy weight.  I’m still trying to reduce my overall fat percentage but that’s a work in progress.  Of course if I’m successful I’ll have to return all those oversized shirts to Tommy Bahamas!

When it comes to fluids, I’ve decided to avoid alcohol.  For me, booze costs me more than it’s worth.   When I say cost, I don’t mean in dollar value but in terms of my health.  Drinking beer or wine causes me to pack on the pounds (aka: Beer belly) and consistently messes with my sleep.   It doesn’t matter how much I drink it is always the same, I lose a night’s sleep.  In fact, I believe a hangover is as much due to disrupted sleep as it is to the toxic effects of too much alcohol.  So, I’ve made the decision to abstain.  I also stay away from sugary drinks of any type which means no soda or fruit juice and that includes diet drinks.  That leaves me with water, tea and coffee.  Oh, how I love my coffee.  There is plenty of evidence supporting the health benefits of all three.  So, it may not be as romantic as three fingers of Johnny Walker neat but I’m keeping it simple and sticking to basics.  

Mentally I’m still fully engaged – of course there will be people debating what that actually means and if I ever was mentally engaged.  I’m still working, perhaps harder than ever.   I‘ve been a lifelong learner and now I make time each week to learn and practice new skills.  For instance, I’m currently learning WordPress (the program behind many websites) so that I can improve this website.  I’m also practicing a skill I first picked up in Junior High School – no it’s not zit management, it’s typing.  The sound of an entire class hammering away on typewriters still echoes in my brain – remember the typewriter? Although I’ve typed my entire career, I want to increase my speed and accuracy so I’m diligently practicing.   I also read voraciously – books, magazines and newspapers.  I still love a real newspaper and I have one delivered daily which makes me a dinosaur.  Next time you’re traveling look around and see how many people are reading a print copy of a newspaper.   We’re an endangered species.  All this helps keep my mind sharp and me in the game. 

As we know friendships nourish our souls and keep our spirits high.  That’s why it’s important to make new connections and maintain long standing ones as well.  This is where I’m falling short.   Although I seem like an outgoing individual, I’m a loner at heart.  In my instance connecting with others has been made all the more difficult as a result of the isolation the pandemic has brought and a recent move.   We left our previous location of 20 years and moved to Cambridge, Ontario.   It seemed like we were still unpacking when Covid forced us to lock down.   It has been pretty difficult to meet people in our new community while locked in the basement.  I’m pretty much a shut-in I haven’t sent my life savings to a televangelist but that’s just a matter of time.  However, once I’m vaccinated and sprung from this solitary confinement, I vow to get involved in the community and make new friends.  

So that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it.  It’s been my routine during my quest to be in great shape by the time I turn 60 next September and it’s working.  Who knew that an old saying could actually be a new-age hack?  Now you’ll have to excuse me, it’s time for my daily apple.