Health(ier)

I just had a landmark birthday...50! Not sure why birthdays divisible by 5 are more important than the others, but they just are. These landmark birthdays are a time of reflection during which I realized many things; one that stands out is the importance of time. Time is truly the most valuable commodity one can have. There is the time (or lack thereof) one has during fixed periods such as a day, week, month, or year. I spend much of my life optimizing how I spend my time during the day (much of it written in the Loupe). However, one must also focus on expanding time (lifespan). Hence, I decided to adopt healthier habits to accomplish just this!

This week's Loupe is dedicated to healthy changes to expand the timeline.

Chenot Palace
Hotel, Spa

I wasn't supposed to be there. My family was fortunate to be traveling in Europe (so nice to be away). I planned to travel home with my son while my wife and daughter were going to Chenot Palace. Unfortunately, on the last day of skiing, my wife concussed herself. She rode the gurney down the mountain, took an ambulance to the hospital, had a CAT scan...the whole nine yards. Needless to say, she was in no position to travel home, but I had to take my son back for baseball. I promised her that if she needed me, I would come back. The next day she texted me, "Come back!" And so I had my inadvertent and unexpected spa experience. I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass without being fully committed. The program includes a medical assessment followed by a week of very-low-calorie intake (850 calories), detoxing mud baths and massages, no caffeine or alcohol, a little hiking, and plenty of relaxation. It is located in one of the most picturesque places on the planet, Lake Lucerne (see my picture above). After a week, I had lost 10 pounds and had a plan to keep it off. Please go here or someplace similar for a healthy reset; it was just what I needed and hopefully will extend my lifeline!

Square Fare
Food

I am convinced (beyond a reasonable doubt) that losing weight and being healthy is significantly weighted towards one's food intake rather than activity levels. After leaving Chenot Palace, I lost an additional 5 pounds with similar eating and low activity levels. Eating well is easier said than done. I know many people who have had success with various nutritionists and health fads. However, many can't afford that route and don't know-how. I recently had the good fortune to meet an entrepreneur who has a novel take on dieting, especially in a big city like New York. She describes it as a nutrition concierge, a combination of Artificial Intelligence and a nutritionist. This service provides a survey of your health and habits in order to come up with a personalized plan. This plan comes in the form of a daily text message that provides a lunch and dinner that they will order for you on one of the many food delivery apps. They have the nutritional information of specific meals and specific menus, and they customize it to your particular diet needs. You can go pick up the meal yourself, or they will order for you by simply responding; it's that easy! The best part of this plan is it costs only $7.99 per month...what a bargain! They are only piloting in NYC, sorry everyone else! If you don't want the meal, there is nothing you need to do, and it potentially gives you an idea of where and what to order if you are out.

Time is valuable, use it wisely ... and consider Chenot Palace and Square Fare Found!