HoserLife|Want to live life like a true Hoser, read on.

Have you ever noticed that people cringe when you bring up money?  Do you feel that you are really not sure what you are supposed to do?  What do you think when someone tells you that they just bought an RRSP?

Money is the last taboo

I have been thinking about some of this stuff lately, and noticed that when I bring it up with some people that they cringe.  It seems to me that money is really one of the last socially awkward converstation topics.  Sex, not really a problem.  People will talk openly about sex and relationships which is huge.

However that said I think that money is one of the most important things that people should be thinking about, and not becuase I am some capitalist pig.  It is because it is one of those things that is so simple, but the industry makes look so complex.  You know how it is, you go to the bank and they try to sell you this and that, they are salesmen and therefore you don’t really feel like you can trust them.  All of this makes it seem hard, when it really isn’t.

Money/Finance Blog

I am going to start to mingle the odd money/finance post into this site to try to point people in the right direction.  Since I am in my mid-20’s that is really what I know, and my ideas and comments will probably apply to those in the same age range the most.  I will try to point you to other blogs, and tools that you can use to assess where you are and ways to set goals so that you know where you want to be.

KISS (Keep it Simple STUPID <- Engineers Moto)

And most of all I will try to make it as simple as I can, because money is a tool, and people should learn to use it as such.

Weight: 252 lbs  <- I think, forgot to check in the morning

Moving Ave: n/a

I got to play some basketball today, but still no gym. The basketball was pretty good, a very good run.

In the afternoon I got to go cart racing and that was a blast.  My arms are still burning.

Weight: 250.6 lbs

Moving Ave: N/A

Well I guess that today is going the way that I had planned.  I was going to go to the gym this morning, but late last night I was informed that I am going to a fancy dinner for work and therefore has to get to work early so that I can finish some work up.

At this rate I am not really kicking myself in the ass at all.  I really have to find a way to get more weight lifting into my daily routine.

Why Moving Average?

In case anyone is wondering what a Moving Average is, it is a method to track trends when the input information is volatile.  A lot of experts say that you shouldn’t weigh yourself daily since you can go up and down without much problem.  If you are looking at the moving average however it will smooth out the ebbs and flows so that you can see the trend.

How it is done is to simply average in the previous 4 and the most recent samples.  That is why I will not be able to calculate the moving average of my weight until the 5th day.  You can use any time period that you want, it doesn’t have to be 5

If you have any more questions about this please let us know by leaving a comment and I will be sure to answer them to the best of my ability

Cheers,

Being active makes a person healthy and strong. It is not just for people who have a weight problem but for everyone who likes to stay fit.   

There is a lot a person can do such jog or walk every morning, play basketball or any other sport with friends but if a person wants to have muscles and look lean, then one can sign up and workout in a gym.

People workout for 3 reasons;

The first is that the person is overweight and the only way to lose those extra pounds will be to reduce ones calorie intake and at the same time workout in the gym.

The second is that the person is underweight and the only way to add extra pounds is to have more calories in ones diet and workout.

The third is just for fun and to keep that person in shape.

The best exercise plan should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase ones metabolism and gain or lose weight.

Just like taking any medicine, one should first consult the doctor before undergoing any form of exercise.

Here are some benefits of exercising;

1.    It is the easiest way to maintain and improve ones health from a variety of diseases and premature death.

2.    Studies have shown that it makes a person feels happier and increases ones self esteem preventing one from falling into depression or anxiety.

3.    An active lifestyle makes a person live longer than a person who doesn’t.

Working out for someone who has not done it before should be done gradually. Endurance will not be built in a day and doing it repeatedly will surely be beneficial to the person.

It is advisable to workout regularly with a reasonable diet.

A person can consult with a dietitian or a health professional to really help plan a good diet program. It starts by evaluating the lifestyle and the health of the patient before any program can be made.

Afterwards, this is thoroughly discussed and recommended to the person which usually consists of an eating plan and an exercise program that does not require the use of supplements or one to purchase any expensive fitness equipment. 

A good diet should have food from all the food groups.

This is made up by 2 things. The first is carbohydrates. The food that a person consumes should have vitamins, minerals and fiber. A lot of this can come from oats, rice, potatoes and cereals. The best still come from vegetables and fruits since these have phytochemicals, enzymes and micronutrients that are essential for a healthy diet.  

The second is fat which can come from mono and poly saturated food sources rather than animal fats. Since fat contains more than double the number of calories in food, this should be taken in small quantities to gain or lose weight.

Another way to stay healthy is to give up some vices. Most people smoke and drink. Smoking has been proven to cause lung cancer and other diseases as well complications for women giving birth. Excessive drinking has also shown to do the same.

For people who don’t smoke, it is best to stay away from people who do since studies have shown that nonsmokers are also at risk of developing cancer due to secondary smoke inhalation.

Many people love to go fishing, instead of playing tennis or golf. Others make it their primary sport activity together with their families and friends to relieve boredom and stress. Surveys say that more than 50 million Americans love to go fishing and make it their lifestyle option instead of other sports.

In Alabama, fishing represents a substantial impact on the state economy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are represented and about 20,000 people list fishing as their source of livelihood. However, most people consider it as a form of relaxation and a family activity. In general, it is a lifestyle option.

In the book titled “The Incomplete Psychology of Everyday Fishing;” psychologist Paul G. Quinnett dedicated an entire chapter about fishing as a source to relieve stress. In the chapter, “Ethics of Fishing” he points out that a person must appreciate and enjoy the benefits of nature. He also highlighted that fishing correct is a way for an individual to become more disciplined in his lifestyle.

“Family Life First,” an organization dedicated to introducing how to spend useful family time to parents for their children, have factual data that in the past 20 years, 25 percent of a child’s playing time has decreased. Outdoor activities, where most children spend their playing time, have also declined by 50 percent. Since 1969 to 1996, 22 percent of family time activities have lessened proven by the study of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Any fruitful time to interact with your children is time worth investing. Fishing is a way to connect. The quality time you get is really worth the effort. The experience you get by catching fish is what makes it wonderful to enjoy and that is the important part of fishing. There are 23 public fishing lakes having plenty of fish waiting to be caught. All children can experience the excitement and adventure of fishing. You will always remember the very first time you caught a fish, and the parent who showed you how to catch it. You gain enjoyable and learning experiences from fishing that makes it a great family activity.

Alabama, for example, promotes its lakes and open banks as places best for fishing. You do not even need a boat to catch fish. There are also stores where you can find what you need for fishing. You may bring your family with you and the time of being together and enjoying the fun of fishing is the best family activity you could have.

Weight: 251lbs

Moving Ave: N/A

Well today I played hockey in the morning. 

Didn’t make it to the gym, but tomorrow I am planning on doing a Chest/Bieps workout in the morning before I head to work

The time has come to kick myself in the ass and get back into the gym.  I have started to see signs of my decline, sure I am being active getting some good excerise 3 times a week, but being winter, that is all of the excercise that I am getting.

To add some incentive, I am going to be posting daily updates to how I am doing.  These will be posted here, and I will NOT be posting these on the homepage as they will not be useful to most of my readers.  I will be doing a monthly update on how I am feeling though.

The post will have a little note on what I did that day, with a summary of my gym and my morning weight and a moving average over 5 days.

There is one thing about winter and it is the gloom.  There is just so much gloom, you go to work when the sun is only peaking out and you go home long after the sun has left us for the day.  There is not much that you can do to fix this, maybe you can look forward to a Southern Vacation, or have solice in the fact that the days are indeed getting longer.

Myself, I use both.  I plan trips away during this time so that I have something to look forward to, and I enjoy the fact that the sun is now up when I go to work, and if I leave on time I may be able to catch the sun set on my way home.

But that is the problem for the last week or so, I have not been able to leave work on time.  I opened my mouth and said that I was slow and was attacked with work.  Nothing long term though, by the end of this week it is looking like I will be slow once again.  All of this work doesn’t leave me a lot of time to go to the gym.  I have been getting great activity at least 3 times a week, but no gym.

This is something that I am going to have to try harder to change, even if it means that I am not getting home till later.  I have to start going since I am paying for it if nothing else.  I have it worked out that I have to go at least 10 times a month for it to be worthwhile, and the little that I have gone in the last few months means that I really have to get into it to make up for all of that lost money.

As for me getting into a better shape, I am doing well, the good activity that I am getting in place of the gym is doing wonders.  I am playing basketball once a week and hockey twice.  I have noticed that I have a lot more lungs during hockey than I did in December and I am running more in basketball.  I have not had much change in the waist or weight, but that will come.  I will be sure to post my stats at the end of this week and will do so every 2 weeks.

Cheers and have a hot toddy on me

For many people, the connotation of flying economy class sends shivers down the spine.  Economy class may be the step daughter of the airline industry; however it is responsible for the majority of travelers and for most people is perfectly fine and quite comfortable.

For most people, it isn’t worth paying hundreds of dollars more to have a better meal or a leather seat.  Many people who fly economy wouldn’t be able to fly unless the fares are low enough and although economy class is usually seen as sub par, it is mainly a gimmick so that people pay a lot extra for some extra refinements.

Economy class does have its low points though, it usually has the least amount of room and this should definitely be a consideration if you are extra tall or weigh a lot.  Most seats in economy class are usually the least comfortable and covered in cloth. However, if you are only flying for a few hours, it should be more than fine.  There are plenty of chairs in most people’s living rooms less comfortable than economy airline seating.

If you are looking for a great airline fare and aren’t that choosy on amenities, economy class is usually a great way to fly.
 

First class is where airlines try to give their passengers the best in service, seating and amenities.  First class seating usually consists of extra wide seats made from the best leather or materials, lots of leg room, top quality gourmet food, excellent wines and liquors and plenty of service for passengers that  require assistance or just want to enjoy a flight.

First class is usually two to three times the amount of a standard airline fare, but for many people that either fly for business or are on a special once in a lifetime trip is well worth the monetary value for the level of service that they receive.

Everything in first class is done to satisfy the passenger.  You can enjoy a gourmet meal developed by a leading chef and eat it with real silverware and dinnerware.  You also have a choice of fine wines and top shelf liquors.

Comfort is taken to a new level, with some first class seats being able to fully recline, like a bed for extra long trips.  There is usually plenty of entertainment available such as satellite TV, music and magazines.  Service is usually at a much higher ratio than economy or even business class.  If you have the resources or are on a once in a lifetime trip, it definitely pays to fly first class.