Comments on: Using Twitter and Blogging to Motivate Yourself Towards Personal Finance and Other Personal Goals

By: KJ

KJ — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:17:44 +0000

If you’re at your desk during the day, you might be interested in Breakpal.com – it’s a software package that pops up at intervals (say 1 x hour) to encourage you to do short exercises at your desk/cubicle, interspersed through your day.

I don’t know if it really would replace a workout/fitness plan, but it seems like it might be a useful way to bump one’s metabolic rate without too much hassle.

I don’t sell/get kickbacks on it; it’s something that I’ve been contemplating for myself and others in my family, and am only mentioning it because it might be useful in helping you to accomplish your fitness goals.

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:48:54 +0000

Absolutely!

That extra push from knowing others are watching is a great way to go … precisely how I’m trimming the financial fat right now, and Pruning the Money Tree.

By: Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:18:09 +0000

Trent,

Congrats on starting your weight loss/BMI reduction journey. I think it’s really nifty to use Wii Fit to do it. I’ve lost a little weight playing Wii sports; combined with some jogging and weightlifting, I think I could make an even bigger dent. I think your health Twitter has inspired me to do the same thing. I’ve wanted to hold myself more accountable, and this seems like a damn fine way to do it. Thanks for the help, and best of luck to you.

By: Trent

Trent — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:42:56 +0000

I mostly use BMI as a metric because it’s less depressing than using weight as a metric. My target BMI is basically a converted BMI from what my doctor told me my target weight is.

Wii Fit is great. The yoga poses and the aerobic stuff are what I’ve been focusing on – good stuff.

By: H-Bomb

H-Bomb — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:17:53 +0000

How are you liking the wii fit? I just got mine as a birthday present. I think it is amazing! It seems less of a workout and more like a video game so i don’t feel like i am doing something I hate doing. Yes, it hurts but I am to busy concentrating on keeping the red dot in the middle of the circle to notice. :)

By: Ryan McLean

Ryan McLean — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:36:03 +0000

It is funny how a financial blog can inpire you to do better with your finances and also empower you to do better with your finances (from the income streams you have coming in).
I also have a financial blog and I find that it drives me and inspires me to know more about money and to use money effectively.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:11:25 +0000

Hi Trent! Best of luck in reaching your health and fitness goals. I definitely recommend the CRON-O-meter (http://spaz.ca/cronometer/) to help track your eating habits (just like creating a budget and tracking your spending). I saw on Twitter that you are tracking your calories, but are you also tracking your intake of fiber, vitamins, minerals, fats, etc?
I know Pollan is not a fan of “nutritionism,” but I thought it was very helpful to know whether I was eating enough foods with vitamin C or potassium, or too many foods with sodium or sugar. It really showed me the importance of eating a variety of unprocessed foods, especially veggies. It’s free and I highly recommend it!

Also, thanks so much for your great articles. Today I made the final payment on a 13K student loan and it feels great!!

By: fathersez

fathersez — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:32:07 +0000

The process of blogging is incredibly motivating.

I started my blog as a means to guide my children based on the mistakes that I had made in my life. As it progresed, it also made me tweak my own goals and has resulted in a lot of quite significant changes in my own life.

By: felix

felix — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:16:25 +0000

Trent,

The Wii Fit isn’t a bad start but it’s no match for real exercises. Have you considered playing badminton in the backyard or use a hola-hop?

For the best all around exercise in the summer, nothing beats swimming.

By: Regular Enough

Regular Enough — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:33:49 +0000

My biggest problem is with motivation… even if I do follow these steps, setting a goal, writing down a plan etc, somewhere on the course you encounter difficulties, and, sooner or later, you are beginning to see that it simply won’t work.
As for ‘letting friends to see the progress’, I tried that one too, but I can tell they too loose interest in it and stop checking how it goes.

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:33:44 +0000

Trent, have you checked out the Buff Dad program? I’ve heard several around the blogosphere using it as it seems to cater to us busy dads. I haven’t picked up the book myself, but may use it as a summer training guide. I’m also really enjoying what I read about Wii Fit and may succumb to non-frugal desires and pick one up.

By the way, I didn’t realize you were a fellow big dude! I’m about 6′4 myself, but only have one shoulder “of an NFL linebacker.” I tore my rotator cuff last year and it just hasn’t been the same since surgery.

I appreciate your ideas on accountability, financially and otherwise, and definitely agree it helps to motivate if you share your goals with others and ask for their support.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:31:40 +0000

Trent, some of your reasons for starting a blog mirror my own – I wanted to create accountability by making a public commitment and have an opportunity to write every day.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll still keeping myself accountable as long as you have!

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:12:34 +0000

Hi Trent,

I have read your blog quite religiously for the past year or so, and this is the first time that I’ve felt compelled to comment. First, your assessment that you need to tune your diet is correct. Most people should start here and don’t. Next, I agree with Silver in regard to your calorie intake. If I were you, I’d start at 2200 calories. That will take weight off you in a nice steady pace without having your body think that there’s a famine going on. I have LOADS of easy, healthy, semi-frugal recipes, information, websites, and motivation to share if you’re interested, or have questions. Please email me; it would be my pleasure to share. -Barb

By: kelly

kelly — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:51:27 +0000

So you got a Wii Fit? I LOVE mine!

By: silver

silver — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:15:58 +0000

I’m a bit worried by your goal calories of 1600 per day. That is really low for a man, especially a 6′6″ one. Your current BMR (given your height, age, and the BMI you posted) is probably around 3000 *at least*. It may be higher, depending on your activity level. Your goal weight would give you a BMR of around 2000-2500 calories a day (again, depending on activity level). For your height, 1600 calories would maintain a weight of about 115 lbs! Even if you want to lose weight, you should be eating way more than 1600 calories. You’re setting yourself up for diet-failure if you restrict your calories that low. The slower the weight loss, the more likely you are to maintain it. Aim for 2000-2500 calories a day, not 1600.

By: paidtwice

paidtwice — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:00:06 +0000

BMI is a horrid metric. My spouse has 8% body fat (he’s been on a very extensive diet for health reasons for the past 6 months and lost 35 lbs) and his BMI is 25, because he has built a ton of muscle with his personal trainer. (He’s at his goal for weight and body fat now). If you can get your body fat measured periodically via a nutritionist or a gym I would really recommend that as a much better metric.

BMI is really only useful for sedentary people.

Good luck! I need to follow my spouse’s example and lose some of my post baby fat…. my baby is 18 months old so really, I have no excuse :)

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:49:54 +0000

best of luck on your fitness goals sir. I am actually so out of shape and so hurt for time with both school and work running full time that I got permission to drag some free weights into my cubicle at work so I can snag short sessions of 5-25 minutes on my breaks

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:33:54 +0000

Accountability from others is a great way to get some motivation. I also like the 30 day trial method, where you commit to a specific goal for 30 days, see how it goes, and then reevaluate. It is a great way to build habits. Good luck, good post, and keep up the good work.

By: Michael G.R.

Michael G.R. — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:27:30 +0000

I think it was Jason Calacanis that coined the term “Fatblogging”. If it gives results, more power to you!

By: Vered

Vered — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:27:16 +0000

Wow. Good luck with your weight loss journey. I think it’s wonderful that you are making yourself accountable like this.