Comments on: What I “pay” for health care

By: Thrifty

Thrifty — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:31:58 +0000

I got the Warrior Diet book from the inter-library loan system (my local library doesn’t have it and I’m not willing to pay before I see it). What Ori said all made sense to me except one thing: how the digestive systems going to handle the overeating “at night” while generally that’s the time for them to rest?

Nonetheless I decided to try. For the last 3 days I felt ok in the day time until about 3pm then I lost all my energy. Sometimes it will come with a slight headache.

Biggest problem now is my dinner has to be quite big for tomorrow’s not eating but my stomach is not prepared. The whole evening I’ll be so full and so tired. After 5 hours or so I’d still feel full when I go to bed. As the result my biggest problem is overeating instead of under-eating phase.

Any suggestions as the book didn’t mention too much about transition eating?

You guys still remember the reaction for the first couple days/weeks?

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:54:22 +0000

@Anna - I don’t think that is what I implied. What I implied was that the billions of dollars that are spent to hide the symptoms of preventable diseases are a waste of money when people could prevent the actual diseases by changing their lifestyle. For instance, I was born highly allergic. Tough luck. I tested positive on pretty much everything. After being on an inhaler for a couple of months my parents decided to get rid of the cat and any thing that would collect dust. Things were cleaned once a week. My dad gave up smoking cold turkey. Similarly we cut all the bad stuff out of the diet. I grew up being allowed to eat something like one cookie a week - or five pieces of candy. When the grass was blooming, I stayed inside.
In the US, people tend to keep their lifestyle but load up on benedryl, etc. I mean, I see commercials on TV that suggests that one takes pain killers against repetitive stress injuries so they can keep on going. I do not understand this?!
As for the allergies, today, 25 years later, I am a lot more tolerant of allergens than I used to be. Grass rarely bothers me. We even have a dog and a carpet. I’m still told I’m one of the lucky ones that grew out of it. That’s not exactly how I see it. Rather than messing up my immune system with drugs to hide its overreaction, I gradually changed the system to something that worked a little better.

American’s just have a fascination with OTC medicine that is unparalleled in the world. For instance, I don’t know any Europeans that are on blood pressure medicine under the age of 60. Of course they’re there, but they’re rare. Here the rule is 120/80 for all. Over there, it’s 100+age allowing for individual differences. In the US, people get on medication as soon as they exceed government limits on blood pressure and cholesterol. Do people in the US live any longer? No.
I would that those that are living a lifestyle that statistically targets health risk levels that are several hundred percent higher but intend to get around it with medicine and health insurance indeed are weak or at least misguided. Or to put in in a nicer way, I don’t think they should solve their main problem via the marketplace.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:07:24 +0000

I would die without my daily medication and monitoring by doctors for a potentially fatal illness. You have been extremely lucky health-wise, and I am very happy for you, but it doesn’t make you better than other people who need expensive ongoing medical assistance. Your lifestyle may work for you, but many people require medical science in order to survive. Please don’t imply that those of us whose lives depend on medical technology are somehow weak, or that people should give up lifesaving medication in favor of biking just because you were lucky enough to win the health lottery.

By: SavingDiva

SavingDiva — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:18:17 +0000

I love flossing!

I’m amazed that someone can stick to the warrior diet. I’m a big fan of eating a large lunch and a smaller dinner…

By: HS@ OurDebtBlog

HS@ OurDebtBlog — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:20:13 +0000

I wish I was like you, I don’t take medicines for anything and I floss a lot but I can’t give up my car and lately I’ve been extremely lazy!!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:58:10 +0000

@DNA - I try to avoid uncomfortably full, but sometimes it happens (I suffer from the “gotta finsh off the plate” syndrome).

By: DNA

DNA — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:23:47 +0000

Jacob, when you eat the huge evening meal on the Warrior Diet are you eating until you feel uncomfortably full? It’s an interesting approach to diet that I might try as an experiment, but I don’t like the overly-full feeling. I run in the mornings and find that I can’t skip dinner the night before without feeling low on energy, so this diet interests me.

About doctors and medicine, were all people as thoughtful about their diet and exercise, we would do well with physician assistants and nurse practitioners doing most all procedures and diagnoses. For cost reasons, that makes a lot of sense. But with accidents, childbirth, birth problems, burns, etc there will always be a need for people with advanced medical training waiting in the wings.

By: FHR

FHR — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:22:35 +0000

Alex,

I have friends with vehicles and I’ll take trips with them. Like you, I like to get away from people, just not all of them.

FHR

By: Alex K

Alex K — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:29:20 +0000

FHR,
I commute to work by bike also (when it’s above 40F) but I like to have a 4×4 truck for the weekends. It’s the only way to go camping out in the desert, away from people. Don’t you miss that kind of ability?

My bike has an electric motor on it but I still pedal my arse off the whole time… I just go faster than I would otherwise. I average about 19 mph on a beach cruiser that has a big comfortable seat and an upright riding position. The best is when I pass serious riders in spandex in a headwind and they are speechless since the motor is very stealthy and totally silent.

By: FHR

FHR — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:17:43 +0000

@mjukr - I am about 5-8 miles from work, depending on the route I take. Obviously if I’m tired or running late I take the shorter route. If I am feeling good, you know the rest.

Weather is a big concern for me. I live in Southwest Texas where temps in the summer are routinely approaching 100 (or more). Luckily, I have shower facilities where I work.

Like you mentioned, the unfriendliness of drivers was a concern at first. Over time, people have started to recognize me and I get lots of “way to gos” now. Actually, I don’t think it was any animosity or anything at first. I think it was more of a surprise at seeing someone running that wasn’t on a treadmill or in the city park. I hate constraints though, unless they are of my own doing.

Since this is a PF site (kinda), I’ll briefly touch on the financial side of my “commute”. When I moved down here I had a vehicle. Once I started commuting, I sold it. NOTE: I tried it for a couple of months to make sure I could live without the car. I no longer pay gas, insurance, registration, maintenance, etc. I’ll bet it’s safe to say I’ve saved (ahem, not spent) over $5,000 in a couple of years.

Best to ya.