Before you know it....

Went running over the weekend and decided to give it a go at the pull-up bar. My NS status is that i am 'excused' for pull-ups so never needed to complete that for IPPT since i fractured my wrist many years back.

Since then i got a bit rounder at the waist, and was a 'zero-fighter' for some time. However, since focusing a little bit more on my health last year in 2015, I had been doing adhering to the habit of doing 20 diamond push-ups every morning before work.

Lo and behold! At the pull-up bar, i managed to do 5 and believe that i can do a few more if i wanted to.

I think there's an inflection point in everything we do. I can't do a pull-up for the longest time ever, and when i DID managed to do 1 pull-up, i managed to do 5 at the same time. To me that is a breakthrough point. The lesson for me is things in life is not linear.... we may be stagnant for a while, but once the breakthrough has been made, growth can be exponential.

0 to 1 pull-up is difficult, but 1 to 5 pull-ups is comparatively easier.

I believe it is the same as my financial journey... while i have not made my pot of gold, the 2nd and 3rd pot of gold will come easier once the first pot has been made. It could be the magic of compounding, could be greater access to other investments, but yea, looking forward.

Note to self to carry on saving/investing in the year 2016 for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! One step at a time.

Paleo lifestyle on a budget

Since using YNAB from the beginning of the year, i have generally budgeted $10 per lunch for myself. Most times i have kept way below my target, give and take some more expensive lunches due to occasions (friends/colleague  birthday/farewell/welcome etc). Also paleo meals are pretty expensive to adhere to.

For the uninitiated, the paleolithic diet, also know as the paleo diet or caveman diet, is a diet based on food human's ancient ancestors might eat, such as meats, nuts and berries. [source wiki]

This is generally to the exclusion of carbohydrates (rice and noodles) and diary products. Pretty hard to be satiated eating fish soup without rice all the time!

With the need to eat healthy and keeping to a budget, i am beginning to explore packing my own lunch occasionally. Viola! My lunch for next week.

1 Whole chicken from the roast counter at Cold Storage - $7.95

1 packet of salad at Cold Storage - $5.95

4 eggs, hard boiled - $2?

Total damage : $16 (rounded up because i will add some yummy spicy sriracha sauce!)

I split the above into 2 meals. Each lunch would then be $8. Within budget. 

I'm sure i can come up with more satisfying paleo lunches at cheaper rates. Let's see.