What Warren Buffet Can Teach Us About Our Health

Warren Buffet is a household name in the investing world and his success is truly unmatched.  So, what principles from his career can be valuable to fitness?  Well I can say it’s likely not drinking a can of coke per day… but if you understand his many sound principles of investing, these ideas can be of big value in your fitness journey.

START EARLY 
Warren Buffet bought his first stock at age 11.  Simply incredible, and I’m not sure if that’s legal these days but the point is starting your fitness journey early and keeping it can have a breadth of benefits. Of course, at 11 most of us are playing vs “working out”.  Studies show that the best age to start and keep a fitness routine is around 17-18 which can have the most health benefits long term.  Even starting a sound routine in your 30’s or 40’s can dramatically decrease your rate of morbidity vs starting in your 50’s and later. 

BE CONSISTENT
One thing we know about Warren is that he has very strict investing principles and rarely diverts from.  This consistency since a young age has led him to his financial success later in life.  In fact, did you know that he earned about 90% of his wealth after he turned 80 from just a few stocks?  

Consistency is a principle that is just as important in fitness.  The best part is that it can be very simple.  In fact, if you just did 4-5 habits every week CONSISTENTLY, your health  would be miles ahead of everyone else.  Here are just some of those things:

-Do 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise every week
-Drink moderate to little alcohol 
-Drink 2L of water/day 
-Eat vegetables with every meal

Sounds easy right?  Doing it for a lifetime takes real discipline.  

STAY AWAY FROM THE SHINY STUFF
We’ve all been tempted by the quick fix diets and fads out there.  I’ve been guilty of this once or twice too.  In Buffet’s case, he doesn’t touch penny stocks(shiny stuff) or any quick get rich schemes that are highly risky.  We should treat our healthy habits in the same way in that if we decide to make lifestyle changes, it should be for years and not weeks.  Stick to the sound principles.

PLAY THE LONG GAME
This one’s pretty self explanatory.  Plan your goals for the long term.  It’s easy to plan for a couple months but have you thought about what you’d be doing or your fitness 5 years or 10 years from today?

As the saying goes - HEALTH IS WEALTH

In health,

Mike