Lifestyle

​Time is hitting us hard, and before you know it, you’re close to your 50s, while some of the plans you had for yourself left unrealized. However, this doesn’t mean that you should stop investing in yourself, as you live your life only once and it’s of the utmost importance to make the best of it. So, if you’re in your 50s, and don’t know what to invest in next, take a look at this list as it will give you a couple of great ideas to help both yourself and the people around you:
 
Health investments
One of the most important investments that you should not run away from when you hit your 50s (let’s be honest – you shouldn’t run away from these even if you’re in your 20s or 30s) is definitely connected to your health. Since your main goal in life is to stay alive and healthy, investing in regular medical checkups should be your number one priority. That way, you’ll stay one step ahead of any illness that, God forbid, comes your way, and make sure your body stays in perfect condition. Always do the regular checkups (at least 3 times a year), and don’t procrastinate.
 
Retirement homes
Yes, of course you don’t have to move to a retirement home right now, but you should definitely start thinking about it, just to make it easier for your future self. That being said, investing in retirement villages in NSW or any other place in Australia might be a great idea for the present. That way, once the time comes for you to move to such a place, you won’t have any financial difficulties, nor will you pose an obligation for your kids or grand kids. There are excellent places for the elderly, so choosing one that fits you best now should be your next move. After you’ve invested in a retirement home, you can freely continue your great life until that moment comes, knowing you have everything settled.
 
Mental health and a great body
Just because you hit your 50s doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy some things that you enjoyed while you were younger. One such thing is definitely working out, as there are plenty of people your age who work out regularly and pay special attention to the way they look. First of all, this will help your mental health as you will stay more focused and concentrated in the long run. Getting your blood flowing properly through all of your body does not only affect your body, but also your mind. So, invest in a gym membership, find a friend who is a fitness addict or get a fitness coach to help you, start eating differently and achieve in your 50s something that maybe you’ve wanted for a long time.
 
Become a landlord
A thing that will always bring you at least some profit is renting property. So if you have enough of a budget for that, this could be a great investment idea. Even though the prices of real estate properties are very high, there are some places in your city where it really pays off to invest in. Just make sure you calculate everything – the number of people living there, the actual demand for that specific part of the city or if there are universities around. You really want to get something in an area with big rental demand, and afterwards, you can use that money to invest in something else or help out your kids or grand kids with their student loans or college fees.

Make yourself happy
Last but not least; you should invest in your own happiness. Even though it won’t bring any monetary profit, doing the things that you’ve wanted to do during your life should be done right now. For example, if you’ve always wanted to buy a good car, now’s the time – why not? Also, investing in a great cruise around the world might be an excellent idea – you get to travel around the globe and see places that not many people saw. If that is what makes you happy, you should definitely go for it.
 
Hitting your 50s doesn’t mean you’re old, it only means that you should start doing things for yourself. All of your life you worked and worked to live, and this is the time to be satisfied with yourself, comfortable in your own skin and not have any fears or regrets about the things you want to do. If not now, then when?
 

​Time is hitting us hard, and before you know it, you’re close to your 50s, while some of the plans you had for yourself left unrealized. However, this doesn’t mean that you should stop investing in yourself, as you live your life only once and it’s of the utmost importance to make the best of it. So, if you’re in your 50s, and don’t know what to invest in next, take a look at this list as it will give you a couple of great ideas to help both yourself and the people around you:
 
Health investmentsOne of the most important investments that you should not run away from when you hit your 50s (let’s be honest – you shouldn’t run away from these even if you’re in your 20s or 30s) is definitely connected to your health. Since your main goal in life is to stay alive and healthy, investing in regular medical checkups should be your number one priority. That way, you’ll stay one step ahead of any illness that, God forbid, comes your way, and make sure your body stays in perfect condition. Always do the regular checkups (at least 3 times a year), and don’t procrastinate.
 
Retirement homesYes, of course you don’t have to move to a retirement home right now, but you should definitely start thinking about it, just to make it easier for your future self. That being said, investing in retirement villages in NSW or any other place in Australia might be a great idea for the present. That way, once the time comes for you to move to such a place, you won’t have any financial difficulties, nor will you pose an obligation for your kids or grandkids. There are excellent places for the elderly, so choosing one that fits you best now should be your next move. After you’ve invested in a retirement home, you can freely continue your great life until that moment comes, knowing you have everything settled.
 
Mental health and a great bodyJust because you hit your 50s doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy some things that you enjoyed while you were younger. One such thing is definitely working out, as there are plenty of people your age who work out regularly and pay special attention to the way they look. First of all, this will help your mental health as you will stay more focused and concentrated in the long run. Getting your blood flowing properly through all of your body does not only affect your body, but also your mind. So, invest in a gym membership, find a friend who is a fitness addict or get a fitness coach to help you, start eating differently and achieve in your 50s something that maybe you’ve wanted for a long time.
 
Become a landlordA thing that will always bring you at least some profit is renting property. So if you have enough of a budget for that, this could be a great investment idea. Even though the prices of real estate properties are very high, there are some places in your city where it really pays off to invest in. Just make sure you calculate everything – the number of people living there, the actual demand for that specific part of the city or if there are universities around. You really want to get something in an area with big rental demand, and afterwards, you can use that money to invest in something else or help out your kids or grandkids with their student loans or college fees.
Make yourself happyLast but not least; you should invest in your own happiness. Even though it won’t bring any monetary profit, doing the things that you’ve wanted to do during your life should be done right now. For example, if you’ve always wanted to buy a good car, now’s the time – why not? Also, investing in a great cruise around the world might be an excellent idea – you get to travel around the globe and see places that not many people saw. If that is what makes you happy, you should definitely go for it.
 
Hitting your 50s doesn’t mean you’re old, it only means that you should start doing things for yourself. All of your life you worked and worked to live, and this is the time to be satisfied with yourself, comfortable in your own skin and not have any fears or regrets about the things you want to do. If not now, then when?
 
 

​Losing weight and getting shredded is a process. That process takes time and effort, but the results are awesome. One thing is for sure though: you'll have to do it properly. Don't think that all those models who have godlike bodies managed to achieve that level of fitness in a couple of days. In order to make the whole process easier for you, we have decided to write a guide that will be useful to you. Let's see what you should do in order to get the body you desire.

Active lifestyle
There isn't a way to lose weight and get shredded without exercising. However, many believe that those 'programs' for fat loss guarantee a slim body even when you're finished with them. That's a huge misconception. People usually get back to their previous habits and soon enough their bodies are back to where they were before the training program. That's why you need to make changes that you can live with indefinitely. And if you're not exercising at least two or three times a week, you'll have to start doing it. Instead of slouching in front of the TV, buy a gym membership and start putting in some work. It doesn't matter whether you choose to start a certain training regimen on your own or join one of the group fitness classes available. The bottom line is that working out has to become an important part of your life. Do cardio if you want to efficiently lose fat, but add some weightlifting exercises and you'll both build muscles and lose weight.

Water intake
You've probably heard somewhere that drinking more water means burning more fat. That's not a hoax. Water is the medium in which most cellular activities take place, including the transporting and burning of fat. When you start working out on a regular basis, it is especially important that you stay hydrated all the time. Make sure to put a bottle of water in your backpack every time you go to the gym. On top of that, drinking plenty of water will make you feel full. That way you'll control your appetite and eat less. Drinking at least 1oz of water per 2lbs of bodyweight a day is a must. That's why it is recommended that you keep a 20-oz water bottle with you throughout the day. You'll just have to remember to fill it up about five times a day and you'll be okay.

Diet change
It is important that you consume fewer calories than you burn. Eating lean foods is highly recommended. Fish, chicken breasts, lean beef and fruits for snacks is what you should aim for. It goes without saying that junk food needs to be cut out. Another thing that you could do here is to calculate how many calories you burn a day and also calculate your resting metabolic rate. Then you need to determine how many calories you burn through exercise. Take into account that a half-hour of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise burns somewhere around 350 calories on average. A half-hour of lifting burns around 200. The equation here is simple, burn more than you eat and eat only the best quality food (junk food is not allowed).

Sleep
Getting enough sleep is a must if you want to lose weight. Poor sleep has been shown to increase the hormone ghrelin which stimulates hunger! A lack of sleep also decreases the amount of leptin which signals a need to eat more. Mess with these two hormones and you'll mess with your energy balance regulation. That means that you'll most likely eat more than you need to or deprive yourself of food which is awful since your body needs the energy when exercising. Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep is optimal. Get in your bed before midnight and avoid looking at your phone at least half an hour before turning in. You'll have a harder time falling asleep if you use your phone just before going to sleep. Also remember that your brain needs some rest, not just your body, so make sure that you get enough sleep. You'll wake up fresh and energized and you'll make it through the day easily. You won't feel tired in the afternoon. Just make this a habit and you'll feel the results.

Coffee before a workout
Yes, you read it right. Drink black coffee before working out. Why? Well, caffeine causes the body to rely more on fat for fuel during a workout, rather than glucose. The caffeine effect however is lessened when you eat a high-carbohydrate meal with it. It is recommended that you drink a cup of black coffee within two hours of working out. Avoid cream and sugar because you don't want those unwanted and unnecessary calories and fat. You also have to limit your coffee consumption! Refrain from drinking coffee at any other time of the day. Fail to do so and you'll only desensitize yourself to the fat-burning effects of caffeine.
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Stick to our guide and soon enough you'll see the results. These steps may seem difficult, but they really aren't. You just need to make a habit of it. Remember that the hardest thing here is to actually start the change. It becomes a routine afterwards, and quite a healthy one at that.