Good Morning DINKS. Throughout the year I mostly struggle with two aspects of my life…my wallet and my weight. I try to stay active and eat healthy throughout the year, but there is definitely added pressure to look good and be skinny during the hot summer months when everyone is wearing short shorts and bikinis. This time of the year also brings out all of the summer sales at stores in malls all across America. I have said it before and I will say it again, there are many similarities between personal finance and personal health because they are both a direct reflection of our personality.
If someone is well organized and lives a very well planned life their eating habits as well as their personal finances are usually under control. Someone who manages their money on a short leash usually also control their weight very well with very little spending or eating splurges. On the other hand if people have a more go with the flow attitude they may eat whatever they want to and they may spend their money on whatever they feel like buying. This type of person usually keeps eating until their belly is more than full and they may also spend their money until carelessly until it is all gone. Our personal habits, both financial and health are a direct reflection of our personality.
Saving Money or Saving Calories?
During my daily lunch hour at office I often find myself struggling with the choice whether to keep my wallet full or my belly full. Every day at 12 noon I have two options on how I can chose to spend my lunch hour and unfortunately I can’t seem to decide between either. I can save my money and spend the lunch hour eating, but then I am adding excess calories into my body. Or I cannot eat, save the calories, and walk around the mall while I go shopping. This saves calories but it does not save money.
If I eat during my lunch hour then I am saving money, but at the same time I am gaining weight. If I chose to shop during my lunch hour I am saving calories by not eating, but I am not saving any money. I guess at the end of the day this is a personal choice that I have to make; I have to decide if it is more important for me to save my money or to save my calories. I enjoy spending my lunch time eating with my friends and co workers, but sometimes I just want to be alone. The only way to be alone is leave my office and walk around the shopping mall.
Sometimes I get the urge to eat more food then I need to and sometimes I also get the urge to spend money carelessly; afterwards I usually feel bad about them both. Although to be honest whenever I waste money I dwell on it and regret my purchase for several days, whereas when I overeat or splurge on not so healthy foods I usually get over it within the same day.
Would you rather over eat or over spend?
Photo by steven depolo
Kristina Tahnyak
Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.
Subway had an advertising tagline several years ago that I still remember: fat is cheap. So true. I’m cheap. You can figure out what comes next! LOL
Why are there only two choices for lunch, though? What about taking a walk, even if it’s not in a park? And does eating need to equate to gaining weight? Depends on what you eat, doesn’t it? My wife and I worked together and we’d often take a sandwich to the Platte River. After that we’d take a nice walk. Good time to catch up, good exercise.
I’d rather overeat. But I guess that depends on the person and if I didn’t have the fast metabolism that I have now.
Anyways, why can’t you eat during lunch? Eating nothing is worse than eating something, skipping meals usually doesn’t lead to weight loss because it lowers the speed of your metabolism.
Well, this is sort of disappointing….
“If I eat during my lunch hour then I am saving money, but at the same time I am gaining weight.”
That’s about the most ridiculous thing I’ve read all day. Eating regular, well-balanced, appropriately-sized meals throughout the day is the best way to maintain a healthy weight. The quote above reminds me of when I was in high school and overheard one girl say to another: “Tanning on your lunchbreak? You’re losing weight AND getting tanner!!” Ugh!
I bet you can find an option 3 for lunch. Perhaps find a quite conference room and a good book. Maybe there’s a park nearby where you can eat at a picnic table. What about brining your lunch to the mall. Saying your only two options are shopping frivolously or eating with co-workers seems like you’re not thinking outside the box. Saying that eating lunch leads to weight gain is just plain wrong.
Excuse me while I go eat lunch.
Others have pointed out the false choice of this post. There are so many things you can do with your lunch break, some very convenient and easy and some less so.
I’ve found eating a good salad both takes more time and offers fewer calories (and is very filling). I recommend you use your lunchtime to eat a great mixed salad with things you love (I slice a hardboiled egg in mine), and then stretch your legs with a quick walk–and if stores are too tempting and make you buy things you don’t need, avoid them! I know the simple things can be difficult to do. Don’t limit your choices!
I agree with the previous comments. Eating lunch is a GOOD thing! Eating a nutritious healthy meal does not = gaining weight. Why not pack lunch (therefore save money) and then eat lunch during your lunch hour. I’ll often spend 30min eating, and 30min going for a walk – it’s a win-win scenerio!
It’s quite a dilemma. I find that to function well I need to have a good lunch. Skimping on lunch just keeps me thinking about eating all afternoon. Not eating degrades my performance at work. You just need to eat a good healthy lunch like a salad. Not to expensive, if you bring it from home. Your saving money and eating, two of my favorite things.
Lunch is definitely my biggest meal of the day. I am happy to say that for the last couple of days I have brown baged my lunch and I have not spent any money shopping. Thanks for the great advice and support everyone.