If you choose to get into something like internet marketing full time, one thing you may notice is that it is lonely work. It is you and the computer for most of the day. In fact, when I was working flat out trying to prime the pump, so to speak, I actually didn’t talk to anyone for days on end. This is not how people were meant to spend their days, and there are consequences as a result.

In fact, I actually started losing my voice at one point. This lasted for months and was not your typical laryngitis/viral ailment. I went to see the doctor and he said that everything looked fine and asked if I could have strained my voice somehow. Actually, my throat was not sore and I felt fine, other than the fact that I couldn’t speak properly.

I was first made aware of this one day when I met up with an old friend and he asked me what was wrong with my voice. I usually have a fairly deep voice, but it started sounding high-pitched and strained during the conversation.

This continued to get worse as the weeks went by and I eventually came to the conclusion that I simply was not talking enough. It was the only thing that made sense. A few days later, as luck would have it, I purchased a voice recognition program called Dragon Naturally Speaking to help me get my articles out faster. In a matter of a week, I was back to normal. Very strange.

But there are other health related problems that can crop up with this kind of lifestyle too. The fact that you are not active for a good portion of the day can mean that you can gain weight very quickly. You are also not using your muscles and this can have a great impact on your overall health.

Having been overweight, I am susceptible to becoming obese again. This is the worst possible career choice for anyone with a weight problem. If not for the fact that I basically have to starve myself to keep my weight under control, I would quickly balloon up to my previous size.

However, that was last year, and I am not under so much pressure to put in 10-12 hour days this year. As a result, I have created a schedule that ensures that I include at least an hour walk every day – rain or shine.

I also include a little weight training (a half hour a day) to round things off. The exercises also help with things like posture and cardio.

Although working at home is something that most of us only dream about, the lifestyle does come with a price if you start ignoring your health.

Most people starting an online business usually begin with a simple blog (or website) and Adsense. The reason for this is that there is no simpler way to start making money right away. Once you have your blog up and running, it’s a simple matter of pasting some code on your web pages and within 10 minutes you’re receiving highly targeted ads that make you money whenever someone clicks on them. Read the rest of this entry

Three weeks into the “program”, and I really must say, that this sucks – a lot.

I’m miserable because I’m denying myself the simple pleasures I’m used to. What’s that old saying? “My stomach thinks my throat is cut.” I think I’m going through withdrawals, not unlike a drug addict going cold turkey. I really miss the way I used to eat. It was pleasurable.

Is it any wonder that most diets are short-lived, or fail completely? It really is a lifestyle change. You must think long-term lifestyle change.

I’ve been sticking to my self-imposed misery, though. As I mentioned before, it’s just common sense; I simply stay away from fat, sugar, salt and white bread. I try to eat lots of vegetables, fruit, grains, and drink tons of water.

Exercise still consists of walking. I’m increasing the distance every day (up to about one mile on some days). The key here is routine. I don’t miss a day.

To keep on the positive side, I constantly remind myself that it’s for the best in the long run. Adding extra years to your life is always a good thing.

I have a confession. I walked by an outdoor patio the other day and I happened to glance over towards the bar. Sitting on the end, was this full pint of Boddingtons (cold, with just a bit of foam spilling over the rim of the glass). It had been freshly poured, and I guess the bartender was just waiting for the beer to settle.

As I was walking by, I had this uncontrollable urge to grab the beer and just down it, non-stop. Nothing, at that point in time, would have been more refreshing. *mental note: must treat self to ONE beer after work today, to maintain sanity.* I haven’t consumed any alcohol in three weeks, so this should be interesting.

The only ray of hope is that I might be losing a bit of weight, although it’s such a small amount, I can’t be sure. I could have sworn, however, that my belt is a little looser than it used to be. Could there be hope?