Diet Advice That Makes You More Money

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[The following is a partial transcript of this episode of The Scott Alan Turner Show. Listen to the full episode to hear this story, listener questions, money hacks, and inspiring stories of people that are changing their financial lives. Subscribe to the free podcast on iTunes or Google Play]

I’ve got some tips today on mixing up health, food, and money that are simple, easy, and achievable.

Most of you know by know fitness is a big part of my life. And I notice when I discuss fitness I get comments from most people that they are on a fitness journey or wanting to get in better shape. You know already I’m always encouraging you in everything you do, not just finances. Finances impacts every part of your life, but it’s only about 25% of your life. Health and diet have a direct impact on your finances.

And like the basics of money, which are pretty simple, I like simple diet advice. Because I’ve tried counting macro nutrients before and it don’t work. That ain’t simple. And if you confuse, you lose.

So my dad was a meat and potatoes man. He did eat a salad almost every night with dinner, but there is proof positive that didn’t do him any good. His jobs were very physical, lots of standing when he worked at the factory. He liked beer. He ended up getting quadruple bypass surgery. That’s where they take an artery out of your leg and re-wire it into your heart. And his leg was never the same.

He got to where he couldn’t walk more than 100 yards before his leg hurt. He made the flight to my wedding – that was the last time he ever flew – and I remember him going through the hotel to our rehearsal dinner, and he needed to sit down on the walk to the restaurant from the hotel lobby.

What is that image you think about when it comes to good health, or bad health?

Good health – I think about Thor.
Bad health – my dad.

And we choose. I choose to eat meat and potatoes, but I also choose to look like a very sad version of Thor. Like if Thor lost his hammer and started watching Dr Phil and eating potato chips all day because he was so sad he lost his hammer.

And after spending over $10,000 in medical bills trying to diagnose why I’ve felt lousy for so many years, I’m even more committed to saving money by staying healthy.

Here’s some diet advice you can use

I’m like the hobbits in Lord of the Rings. I have first and second breakfast, first and second lunch, and dinner. That’s it. Second breakfast and lunch are basically snacks that take about two minutes to eat.

Keto, Paleo, Atkins, all-fat, no-fat, low-fat. Blueberries are amazing. Blueberries will kill you. I’ve tried about everything. And everything had one problem or another.

I have my own diet I call the God diet. Did God make it? It’s probably not going to kill me. I follow the 80/20 rule, which is more like the 95/5 rule for me. 95% of the things I eat I can pronounce and come from the Earth.

Cheese enzymes and Yellow #5 don’t grow on trees, in the ground, or on a bush.

I eat unprocessed foods because they are cheaper and I can spruce them up as I like. Oatmeal is the perfect example. I add cinnamon, maple syrup, milk, and butter. It costs about 90% less than buying processed packaged oatmeal that’s loaded with fake sugars.

That’s easy – can you pronounce it? Must be good for you.

EveryWell – this is a must get if you have digestion issues. I was shocked to find out all the good healthy stuff everyone says to eat were the same foods that made me feel lousy. Eggs, almonds, spinach, carrots, yogurt.

My long time listeners know I’ve bragged on the InstaPot and how you can make your own Greek yogurt (takes 5 minutes) for 1/4 the cost of buying it at the store. It’s a great money saver, but not great if it makes you feel like garbage.

You have to figure out what foods work for you. It’s not based on any diet. It’s what works for you so you feel good. It took me years to get this right. I’m trying to save you some time. Pay attention to your body.

Cheat meals, gotta have them. When I hung out with Phil Collen, lead guitarist of Def Leppard, he said he and his wife have a ‘Dorito Day’. A day they eat junk, then feel like garbage afterwards.

Everyone should have a ‘Dorito Day’ one meal a week to keep your sanity for your diet goals.

When I worked with a personal trainer the plan I was on had one cheat meal a week. Currently I have 1–2 a week.

Vacations: Everything goes out the window. I’m packing on the pounds, don’t care. I’ll work it off later. Goals are important in life – it’s how you will get what you want. The goals I have in my life are for more travel and enjoying the local cuisine. Which always involves lots of wine and double desserts. So I’ll intentionally lose five pounds in the few weeks leading up to a trip with the expectation I’ll add it back on during a trip.

Counting calories / macro nutrients/numbers/points. If you confuse, you lose. I don’t bother with this. I let the scale and the mirror be my guide, which makes it super simple.

• Gaining weight? Eat less.
• Not losing weight? Eat less.
• Feeling great? Keep doing what you’re doing.

That’s a simple approach, right?

How do you feel?

Set yourself up for success

I can resist a cookie for about 1 nano second. Unless it’s those pink frosted ones with the sprinkles from Walmart, which are just gross.

So we don’t keep things around the house that are irresistible. Willpower takes just that – power. And studies show people run out of willpower as the day goes on. Weird, right? So just remove the temptation and you won’t break your plan.

Embrace the boring. Here’s a fact: If a person loves chocolate and they were forced to eat nothing but chocolate, they would hate chocolate after about 48 hours and be begging for a carrot.

I eat the same meals over and over most of the week. And I give myself those 1–2 meals on the weekend to focus on and look forward to. Those special meals taste a lot better. Which is why if you’ve been listening for a while, you know I’m a bit of a foodie. That’s why! When you have those all important goal meals, you’re not wasting your time on frozen cardboard pizza.

Snacks help with success. This is my favorite protein powder (that’s my breakfast!). It’s outrageously expensive but I’m limited in what I can eat. I used to buy this one called Naked Goat which was great, but it’s milk based and that’s off the list now.

Peanut butter is my go to snack, and always will be.

This is not a fad diet, it’s a way of life. It’s a lifestyle that works.

The first part of DIET is DIE. Because depriving yourself of all the wonderful food life has to offer is a slow painful death.

Great food isn’t expensive. Becoming financially fit is a lifestyle change that comes from new habits.

• Would a person expect to be a success if they call in sick all the time or are in constant pain or discomfort?
• Would a person be able to focus and offer their employer their best every day if they are in a brain fog?
• Would a person be able to realize their dreams – debt freedom, becoming a millionaire, travel the world – if they struggle just to get out of bed in the morning to grind it out

Unlikely.

Becoming physically fit is the exact same thing as becoming financially fit. New habits will change your life for the better.

• you will feel better
• you will look better
• you will be happier
• you will be healthier
• you will be wealthier

Having a good attitude and good health is like a magnet for building wealth.

When you have

• an abundance of energy
• are in good spirits
• and are happy with how you feel

that’s living, not DIEting.

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