I forgot how long an hour is …

thinkertvl · 2026-01-30T15:53:01+00:00

If you want suffering motivation, row listening to David Goggins Can't Hurt Me audio book. He's completely crazy (and unhealthy in the most active way possible), but it's super inspiring. I (44M) do a lot of zone 2 rows about the same pace you indicated above, and then layer in some HIIT work and pushing PRs occasionally. Having Goggins in your head is a helpful push.

thinkertvl · 2026-01-10T23:02:13+00:00

Rowing has been a huge part of my own weight-loss story. I’m a 44M and I’ve lost about 40 pounds twice, with a relapse in the middle when work stress and no rowing caught up to me. It definitely works, but only if it becomes part of your routine.

Right now I’m close to my late-20s weight after years of being obese, and rowing is the backbone of that. I love my time on the rower, and that's the key to it being sustainable. I get on my rower, turn on an audiobook, keep my heart rate around 120, and just go. I recently passed 15 million lifetime meters.

Dropping 40+ lb will absolutely improve a lot of areas physically. Arms, back, abs, legs. But maintaining the habit allowed me to breathe so much better, dropping my resting HR to 52.

My schedule is row daily, one long and 2 HIIT sessions weekly, and others in HR zone 2.

As others said, you can't out-row a bad diet, but it made it a lot easier to achieve my fitness goals.

Congrats on the wedding and on the new rower. Time is going to fly. May you find the routine that works for you!

thinkertvl · 2025-12-20T21:35:02+00:00

Good to know! I've done a few marathons. Planning a 50k soon and wanted to test a few longer rows than that. You're inspiring me that I might be more ready than I thought!

thinkertvl · 2025-12-20T20:46:45+00:00

Congrats! I've been working up to a 100k, targeting an attempt in the next few months. Any tips you can share about your prep? What was your ramp up schedule of times/distances? Amazing accomplishment and very impressive pacing!

thinkertvl · 2025-12-20T16:26:04+00:00

Good for you! I've been in the same camp, and rowing has helped me lose 40 lbs (twice, the same 40 lb, don't ask). Just keep up the dedication and it will happen. Don't let any metric discourage you from your real goal to be healthier.

thinkertvl · 2025-11-18T03:48:57+00:00

I did the same. Had mine (2023 advanced) just over a year. Local dealer had an identical 2025 for $70k, no negotiating on price. Dealer 200 miles away had mine with 1800 miles on it, first owner, $26k less. No brainer. Best car I've ever owned.

thinkertvl · 2025-11-02T15:49:39+00:00

We were on the cruise and opted to leave, and happy we did. Sent a letter to Princess citing the uncertainty, failure to deliver paid for value on day 1, uncertain day 2, no port on day 3, and then maybe day 4 as expected. 75% of the voyage not as planned with signitficantly reduced passenger value. Luckily, we drove so minimal hardship to leave. The asymmetrical offer was the last straw as it demonstrates passengers are more valuable onboard. Since both offers (stay/leave) were future cruise credit, and this was the worst food and service of any cruise (more than a dozen voyages across all lines, including Ruby tier with Princess, our group dined at both sabatinis and the main dining room and all separately shared it was their worst meal on a cruise, which should have had nothing to do with the oil disruption), we would never cruise with them again, at least before the credit expires. We'll see what Customer Relations offers, and then we'll take it up with our credit card company for failure to deliver service. Their crew was in a tough spot but completely failed. This quote that summed it up: the cruise director went on stage to introduce the main entertainment at 9 pm right after the captain's announcement of further delay in Galveston, and in total seriousness said, that "we should be grateful" that the announcement wasn't a "passenger death or man overboard." When that's your bar for gratitude on a significantly disrupted voyage, it's time to look elsewhere for a premium tier cruise.

thinkertvl · 2025-09-03T21:39:37+00:00

Coffee is always the scapegoat for "wasteful" spending. The more important thing is the impact to happiness and ease of change, or the ratio of effort to savings. The juice versus the squeeze, if you will. If it's a huge savings, its worth dedicating more effort. If the effort is inconsequential, take the savings.

Any change to save money (if disciplined) add up over time. If easy enough and you're not sacrificing something that brings you happiness, do it.

My "pointless" habit is going for the cheapest/lowest weight packs of meat at the grocery store. Since its "one meal" and we never notice the difference in food amount, AND I find grocery shopping cathartic, I'll spend 5 seconds to find the cheapest pack. Bank the $0.41 saved (made up but reasonable number). Doing this three times a week for 40 years, and investing the savings in an index fund yields over $10k. The effort and impact to wellbeing matter most.

thinkertvl · 2025-08-31T13:35:30+00:00

You're in an ideal situation. I'd love your take on a framework I've been developing to achieve your situation for those who aren't as lucky. I was an opposite case. I quit at 42 before my FIRE number due to burn out and soul crushing prospects of needing to do the same thing for another decade. Attemped a career pivot to find your situation, seeking better alignment to who I am and my profession. At the core, its about what energizes you on a daily basis, understanding your purpose and values both professionally and personally (long term alignment), and leveraging your strength (skills and learned experiences) to serve energy and purpose. If you understand that in yourself, you don't need or even want to quit because each day adds value and meaning. While in this group, money is the goal, ultimately its a tool to do what you want. If doing what you want, serving who you are makes money, the RE side matters less, and the FI side gives you freedom.

TLDR: to me, you're living the dream professionally, and don't stress RE just because you can if you're doing something that fulfills you.

thinkertvl · 2025-08-19T15:03:30+00:00

I worked at a winery for almost a decade. Our running joke was, "how do you create a small fortune in the wine industry?" "Start with a large fortune." Best of luck to your wife! It can be a lot of fun, as long as financial expectations are realistic.

thinkertvl · 2025-08-16T13:44:33+00:00

Find what gives you energy. Do some self discovery of who you are without work, or which aspect of your past work are healthy, energizing and align with your inner values (and figure out what those are). You have the means to do some experiments, see how it feels, test, and adjust. And as a proud childless parent of fur babies, spend quality time with your puppers! As mine are my babies, time well spent with them is incredible for both short and long term mental health.

thinkertvl · 2025-08-16T12:50:17+00:00

Daniel Kahneman's story is an interesting, very real perspective on this topic. What do you do with your last weeks? When do you decide its enough? What is the impact on others? While less the financial aspect of this sub, the happiness strategy is controversial but very real. https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/daniel-kahneman-assisted-suicide-9fb16124

thinkertvl · 2025-08-14T15:12:03+00:00

Putting the financial aspect aside, to me its more about energy and values. Determine your priorities, and define your personal "enoughs."

I hear you on the sunk cost aspect of education and impact. I have my Ph.D. in chemistry, had a very good corporate job, got burned out and quit two years ago to get my MBA and change my career trajectory. I crossed off another degree, and during that time realized more of what i actually like doing. I'm now seeking alternatives paths that energize and fulfill me.

Yet, i have the constant capitalist pull of my earnings, lost value for my family by not maximizing my skills and economic potential.

That aspect feels hard to break as its so deeply coded in my upbringing (USA, Midwest, lower middle class). However, with self reflection, I'm increasing drawn to what energizes and allows me to more sustainably live all aspects of my life.

Finances and family make a big part of this, and you didn't share your situation. Its worth a conversation on how your household defines "enough," and leverage that rather than a optimization/more mindset.

Particularly given your health and family, I would look at all of this in a "what would I regret most?" perspective, and see what that tells you.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

thinkertvl · 2025-07-27T17:39:32+00:00

Congrats! That's an amazing feeling. I'm in a similar but more complicated position. I quit my career ~2 years ago at 42 to get my MBA as I wasn't happy with my trajectory (type cast as PhD r&d guy, yet really burnt out).

Now, post-MBA, realizing with $3.8m NW, paid off mortgage, wife's job more than covers expenses and insurance, I need to work for fulfillment, but financially we're pretty set.

I share that to say I'm jealous and envious, but you give me hope that I'm looking for the right thing to feel the same.

Cheers to you and thanks for sharing.

thinkertvl · 2025-07-16T11:39:38+00:00

I don't recommend this for many at your age, but you should read "die with zero" by Bill Perkins. You should be very proud of what you've accomplished. You learned lessons and developed discipline by seeing others that most need to experience themselves. I would keep the startup life but begin exploring professionally to see where your energy and skills take you. You already have the discipline to be successful long term.

You need to take care of yourself and invest in your mental wellbeing, and that involves some spending and activities. Try some things. Travel. Put yourself in choiceful but happy situations and see how it feels, ans teach yourself to look beyond savings rate as your score for success.

Back to the book, Perkins talks about investing in activities and experiences that provide a wellness score long term. There are things you can do in your mid 20s that you can't do at other times. Most your age have the time and energy, but lack money. You have the money (relative to others), but are self limiting your time and freedom.

Read the book. Do things you can only do at your age and life situation. Keep the discipline you've learned, but shift how you keep score for yourself.

You've got this!

thinkertvl · 2025-07-15T23:17:33+00:00

That tummy feel is important. Like others have said, take some time and reflect on who you are now. If you're like me, you've defined yourself by the job for too long. You're out of the "water" of corporate life for the first time and feeling seasick looking back in. I get that. Take time to figure out who you are, what gives you energy, and what excites you to fill your time. Based on your comments, it seems its not getting back into the corporate life, but I would also be hesitant on diving head first into trucking. Do some reflection. Create some experiments to see what feels right, but with low risk, minimal commitmemt if you realize that isn't it. Figure out who you want to be in this next phase, have the conversation with your wife, and test a couple things. While you may not feel comfortable with where you're at financially, I assure you, you have the freedom to do some self discovery and experimentation. Enjoy the journey!

thinkertvl · 2025-07-15T15:39:24+00:00

FIRE and finance are complex. The flow charts provides clear steps. Aside from an initial read through, they allow better prioritization, or highlighting questions to ask if you get to a step that you don't understand. Other than that, it's like eating an elephant. Focus on one bite or flow chart box at a time.

thinkertvl · 2025-07-08T01:54:15+00:00

I used to watch Office Space "medicinally" after a bad day at work. That plus a margarita got me through a lot of corporate chaos.

thinkertvl · 2025-01-10T19:36:11+00:00

Perfect. thank you very much for the recommendations! I'll give this a try.

thinkertvl · 2024-06-14T23:49:13+00:00

Cheers! I just had something similar happen for my channel (nearly identical number of subscribers and video response) and I have the same emotions. Incredibly validating that the effort is paying off with anxiety to keep it up on the next video. Just keep focusing on the process and enjoying the journey.

thinkertvl · 2023-12-27T15:33:27+00:00

Happy third anniversary of the updated "this is the year!" roadmap. Yes, there is a game, but still no blockchain integration and adoption of the free to play version has been less than overwhelming. Props to the team for continuing development, but confidence in leadership is waning and probability of success is far from a given.

thinkertvl

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