Birthday update

First posted on Vox.

This birthday I feel is more meaningful than the last because it comes as I'm trying to change the way I live. Specifically, actively controlling my finances and health.

In the case of finances, I'm almost ready to make my virgin investments (just waiting for my account passwords). The euro situation is making me nervous, but I keep reminding myself that I never intended to time the market anyway. I've also done a lot of reading up on insurance policies in the past week, and have determined a strategy for maximising my CI coverage (my biggest worry) without paying too much. It's still a hefty cut of my salary, though. Now it's just up to the underwriters.

For my health, I succeeded in doing my version of Fast-5 (eating in a 6h window instead) from Monday to Friday this past week. I hope to see results soon. I read that most people lose inches before they lose weight, which I'm looking forward to! It might take awhile since I give myself a break at the weekend. I'm also very happy today to do 20min straight on the crosstrainer today (over 4km, approx 100 calories). I hope to gradually improve till I can do 30min without killing myself.