It is year five of maintaining a healthier lifestyle!
See where it all began. On July 29, 2019 I wrote a post called A Year to a Healthier Lifestyle. That was the one year mark of working towards a healthier lifestyle and tracking my weight.
Portion control and willpower
Six years ago a doctor read off the results of my blood work and noticed my blood sugar levels were getting towards the high end of the normal range. She cautioned that I don’t want to cross into diabetes territory and suggested losing weight would help keep the blood sugar in check. Portion control and willpower was her advice.
Yeah, right. Easier said than done. Willpower and portion control is a daily battle for me, that I don’t feel like I’m winning.
It’s not easy. I’m a compulsive over eater. I would keep shoveling food in if I could get away with it. I keep reminding myself I’ve got to keep my blood sugar levels down because I don’t want diabetes. This is something I can control. Especially since fear is a great motivator for losing weight.
For the most part that works.
My ideal weight is 110 pounds and I managed to get there and below a couple of times. Once there, I decided staying within 3 pounds one way or the other would be realistic. And ideally, staying on the lower side of those 3 pounds would be the way to go.
And tough as hell to maintain!
Losing weight is not easy. Keeping the weight off is not easy. About 80% to 90% of people who lose weight gain it back.
Why?
Metabolism, genetics, and behavior play a huge role.
Only 20% of people are able to maintain their weight loss after one year. Within two years people will regain 70% of their lost weight. Yikes!
It was really hard work for me to lose weight. I couldn’t let that go to waste now, could I?
It’s not easy…
Daily weigh in and falling off the wagon
I’ve pretty much quit it with the daily weigh ins. But that’s because I don’t travel with a scale! Or don’t have one available where I’m staying.
On May 6, 2024 I was weighed at a medical clinic on a scale with the weights that slide back and forth. I weighed in at 113 pounds. A couple of weeks later on a step-on scale I’m at 110 pounds. So I’ve more or less stayed in my range for 5 years now. That’s a huge accomplishment. And something I should celebrate by doing Slattery’s chocolate challenge tomorrow!
Ha ha! You probably think I’m kidding. I’ve been fascinated by this Manchester bakery’s challenge for serious chocoholics and dying to give it a shot. Yeah by eating a week’s worth of calories in one sitting. Stupid! I just happened to have 3 nights free at the end of July between housesits. Slattery’s is closed on Sundays and Mondays which is highly inconvenient, so the only time I can fit in is Tuesday, July 30, and then I have to haul it back to London.
That’s OK. I might not ever be back in Manchester. Even this time, I’m going out of my way to get here for just one night.
It’s getting back on track, and trying not to beat myself up about it.
Keep an eye on my YouTube channel to see if I succeed.
A healthier lifestyle is not all about weight loss
As the years pass, I don’t really want to dwell too much on my weight loss. And sure, I’m pleased that I’ve been able to keep it off and maintain the weight loss. It’s all part of my journey and I don’t want to gloss over how tough it is not always getting to eat what I want.
There are other ways in our lives to maintain a healthier lifestyle, and this annual post is my round up of what I’ve been doing to stay healthy.
International housesitter
Last year when I wrote Year Four of Maintaining a Healthier Lifestyle, I was housesitting in London, England.
Let’s fast forward to 2024. Any guesses where I am?
Well… I’m actually back in England again. In a couple of days I will be housesitting for the same family again because they’re off on their annual three week trek!
The big difference between last year and this year, is they have a new addition to the family, a dog who’s about a year old.
Over the past year I’ve also had housesitting gigs in another part of London, Bristol, Yeovil, Folkestone, Oxford, and Lee-on-the-Solent.
Housesitting is all part of keeping myself financially healthy because I don’t have the stress of paying rent or a mortgage. Very important on a low income to keep the expenses down!
Countries I’ve visited
It’s not always about how many stamps are in your passport, but the accomplishments along the way.
And you know what? I don’t always get a stamp in the passport. I’m looking at you, England! It’s done digitally which makes it a little harder to track in/out dates.
In the past year I’ve set foot in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Slovenia.
Wow! Jet setter on a low income budget. It’s not easy.
Camino de Santiago
On September 20, 2023 I began walking the Camino de Santiago in St. Jean Pied de Port, France. 37 days later on October 27, I blew into Santiago on a very stormy day.
I walked the Camino Frances route. That’s roughly 500 miles or 800 kilometers. Yeah that’s an accomplishment! I did it! There were many times I questioned what the hell I was doing there. This is not an easy walk in the park. I struggled with knee pain, sore feet, and sore legs. There was anguish over the difficulties of finding a place to sleep. And the heat! Spain was having an unseasonably hot September and October. Temperature was 30C every day. Until about the third week in October when the rain began as I closed in on Santiago, thanks to Atlantic storms battering the coast.
Maybe it’s because I come from a wet part of the world, but when the rain came, it was like I finally hit my stride. I did two days in a row where I walked 27 kilometers. Not bad for an old lady! If someone had told me last year that I’d walk two back to back 27 kilometer days, I’d have been skeptical.
One of the most asked questions pilgrims ask each other is “why are you walking the Camino?”
That was also asked on the form I filled out in Santiago before receiving my compostela (certificate of completion). The best choice for me to answer on the form was “health”.
I also walked the Camino de Santiago for the adventure. And to prove to myself I could walk 800 kilometers (500 miles). I’d say walking the Camino was a big part of my last year and part of living a healthier lifestyle. That’s a lotta walking!
Volunteering
It’s always a good idea to give back, volunteer, and make a difference if we’re able to.
And when you’re a nomad and have a low income, any volunteer opportunities that include a place to live should be seriously considered.
Early December I spent 5 nights in Alcazar de San Juan with a program put on by the VaughanTown English language school in Madrid. Duties? Having conversations in English. I loved it! Very fulfilling watching the Spaniards gain confidence and increasing their skills. Meeting new friends and learning about their lives in Spain. Priceless! Bus ride, hotel, and all meals were included. Perfect for a nomad watching her pennies! Click here to read about my culture exchange through communication at VaughanTown.
I heard about an animal welfare organization in the Caribbean looking for volunteers. They provided a house to stay in but the volunteer was responsible for paying their way there and buying food. Who doesn’t want to spend some time in the sun during the winter months? Taking care of dogs and swimming in the sea sounded good to me. Click here to read about how I was making a difference on Mayreau Island.
Finances
My biggest concern these days is still my finances. And how my bank account is dwindling fast! I have a very low income and most months my expenses are much higher than what little money comes in. That which means I’m dipping into my savings.
Travel expenses are huge. Whenever I move – whether it’s by plane, train, car, bus, or ferry – it costs money. So I try to stay put as much as possible. Normally I only accept long term housesits, but I make an exception in the UK where it’s relatively inexpensive to get around. Especially if I stay in the London area or within a two hour train ride from London.
I don’t usually have back to back housesits. Sometimes I’m hanging around a few days, a week, maybe longer. That means I’m spending money on a hotel or AirBnb. And I’ll let you in on a little secret about England and Europe – accommodations are expensive! I can spend $100 or more on a crummy hotel room. But I don’t have a $500/night budget for nicer places.
And seeing as how I’m on the continent, I should see and do as much as possible, right? I mean, who knows when I’ll be back. Maybe next year. Maybe never.
I expected to be spending more money while travelling in Europe, but honestly I didn’t think a year later I’d still be here spending money!
Then there’s travel insurance. It’s around $200/month, and last year I paid the year in advance. And then I had to find another insurance company to cover the last 6 weeks I’m in Europe because the first company doesn’t renew. In other words, one year is the maximum they insure.
The highest priced food I’ve come across was in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In Mayreau Island it was even more expensive. Generally food inflation is everywhere. Sometimes it’s cheaper to eat out than buy groceries. And sometimes there’s just not much choice when staying in a hotel. That usually means restaurant meals.
This year I’ve also had a lot of veterinary expenses.
And the struggle to stay debt-free. I’m paying off my credit card in full each month. But man, the temptation to leave my money in the savings account and not pay the full amount is strong.
But I will be stronger! Being debt-free is part of a healthier lifestyle.
Cajun
Can’t let one of these posts go by and not talk about my little guy.
Cajun is living the good life on a ranch with other retired horses.
In early March there was a health scare with him and I was freaking out, thousands of miles away from my baby. It turns out he was in the early stage of pneumonia, it was caught in time, treated, and he steadily improved over the following days.
Veterinary bill? $1,600.
Yikes!
The joys of horse ownership.
And then I shelled out another $400 a few weeks later for his annual shots, dental, and check up.
And a few weeks later the ranch informs me he is limping and not getting better. He has arthritis in his right hock and it’s time for another injection to help him stay comfortable. There’s another $1,000 for the vet work and medication.
And then in June the coughing came back. Possible more vet work if it doesn’t improve. Estimate for scoping him? Just over $1,000. Welcome to July!
Cajun’s health scare made me realize how much I miss him and I might be re-evaluating my travel plans in 2025. If these vet costs keep happening I might have to come out of retirement and look for work again. Sigh. It won’t be the first or last time a retiree that has had to do that.
Loving animals is part of how I live a healthier lifestyle.
Goals
Part of maintaining a healthier lifestyle is to make goals and do what I can to make them happen. My goals haven’t changed too much from 2023, other than a little more wisdom that comes from long term travel. I’m just figuring it out as I go.
- Find long term housesits
- See more of the world
- Downsize my worldly possessions
- Increase my savings/investments
- Quit spending too much money
I have a 4 month housesit beginning in September and when that ends, I have a 3 month housesit booked. This is more like it! The longer I can stay in a housesit means the less money I’m spending on hotels. Not to mention every time I move, it costs me in travel expenses, whether that’s by plane, train, bus, car, or ferry. That’s what #1 on my list is all about.
The second on my list is seeing more of the world. I’d like to housesit in Australia. I want to visit Thailand and other countries in that region where the cost of living is low. And I still want to spend time in South America. However, I might be settling for more housesits in North America for 2025 so I can be closer to my horse. I really miss him. 😢 Plus he’s getting even more expensive!
I carry all my worldly possessions in a suitcase, backpack, and laptop bag so you might be wondering what more can I downsize?
Well, for starters that darned suitcase is getting heavier and heavier. That’s why I try to stay as long as I can in a place so I don’t have to move it!
Seriously, I gave away my sleeping bag and rain poncho that I used on the Camino. They both added bulk and a couple of pounds inside my suitcase. I ditched my hiking sandals in Spain, and threw out a pair of pants and a shirt I wore on the Camino. Another shirt was tossed in the trash before leaving St. Vincent. The load just doesn’t seem to be getting any lighter! And no, I haven’t bought any new shoes. I did buy a shirt in Vienna, Austria. My little souvenir of the Spanish riding school. And I was down 3 shirts, so I allowed myself a replacement.
OK, let’s get back on track with the healthier lifestyle chat and tackle the last two items of my goals.
Increase savings/decrease spending
I decided to put numbers 4 and 5 on my list of goals under their own little subheading.
It all comes down to money. Making more. Spending less.
I’m retired. I don’t have a job bringing in income. Right now I have to rely on my investments increasing in value. And to bring in dividends so I can have some income. I don’t have a lot of money coming in. With my CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and dividends, I usually have a little over $1,000 income. The months when a quarterly dividend is included, it might be closer to $1500. And yeah, that’s Canadian dollars. I’m just one of many low income seniors out there. I see news articles where some seniors are struggling on an income of $1700 a month, and I’m thinking well that’s more money than I have coming in.
I already figured out Canada is no country for old women, so that’s why I’m living my best life and enjoying a healthier lifestyle on the road.
So what am I spending my money on? Ha ha – mostly Cajun! Boarding a horse and vet costs ain’t cheap.
Travel is a big expense. Whenever I move around – airplanes, train, bus, ferry – it costs money.
I’m not always housesitting and living in a house for free. Sometimes I’m inbetween housesits and that means a hotel for a few nights. Hotels are not cheap! Especially in Europe. And what you pay a night for a hotel in Europe and what you’d pay for a night in a hotel in Las Vegas are miles apart when it comes to quality. Vegas wins! I look for budget hotels but even still I’m paying well over $100 a night many times.
Food is my other spending. When I’m housesitting I go to grocery stores and prepare my meals in the house. I also occasionally enjoy eating out, especially when I’m out exploring.
Simple living is a healthier lifestyle choice
Keeping my life simple is all part of living a healthier lifestyle.
When it comes to keeping my body healthy, I continue the course when it comes to portion control and eating healthy at least 80% of the time. I try to limit foods with salt, sugar, or deep fried. I’m doing a lot of housesitting and usually buy bagged salads, oatmeal, fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola bars to have on hand.
These days most of my exercise is walking 5 miles or so a day, depending on the weather.
I’m glad for my health. Staying healthy – body, mind, and financials – is my goal for another year of maintaining a healthier lifestyle.
I’ve been truly blessed this past year enjoying my life as an international housesitter and volunteering.
I am a citizen of the world.
Until next year’s update – stay well everyone. And thank you for reading The Lifestyle Digs!
Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on July 29, 2024 and revised October 30, 2024.
The chocolate challenge
Oct. 30/24: Adding in my YouTube video of the Slattery’s chocolate challenge I mentioned above.
