What Losing 70 Pounds Taught Me About Money

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By Tim Lyons, Lyons Resources | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Last reviewed: October 9, 2026

Short answer: Small habits, repeated, beat big plans you quit. I learned that by running. It works the same way with money.

I turn 45 at the end of this month. I just took a full minute off my 5K pace, and I am chasing down a birthday race. Some people call 45 a midlife crisis. I call it midlife introspection.

What changed when I started running?

Over a year ago I started layering in small habits, one at a time. It was not a big overhaul. I just kept showing up.

The part I thought would be hardest, the training, turned out to be the easiest to stick with. There were plateaus. There were a couple of injuries. I kept moving anyway.

I went from 325 pounds to 255. I went from not being able to run 30 or 40 steps to running 4 miles without stopping.

What does running have to do with money?

Both reward the same thing: steady action over time. Most people I talk with do not need a better plan. They need one they will keep doing.

How do small money habits add up?

A little saved each month grows into something real because earnings can build on earlier earnings. The SEC’s investor education site has a free compound interest calculator you can use to see how this works with your own numbers. Results depend on the rate and time, and nothing is guaranteed.

Here is the running version of the same idea:

  • Small habits stack up. A little saved each month works like a little more distance each week.
  • Consistency beats intensity. The plan you keep doing beats the perfect plan you quit.
  • Progress is not a straight line. Markets and months both have off days.

What should you do when progress stalls?

Expect it, and plan for it. Plateaus are normal. Setbacks happen too, like an injury on the road or an unexpected bill at home.

A cash cushion helps you keep going when something knocks you off track. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a plain-English guide to building an emergency fund. Start small and add to it on a schedule.

Where should you start?

  1. Pick one number. A monthly savings amount or a debt payment you can keep up.
  2. Automate it. Set it to move on payday so it does not rely on willpower.
  3. Check your retirement contributions. The IRS posts current 401(k) contribution limits each year.
  4. Review once a quarter. Adjust, then keep going.

Whatever you are working on, a pace, a savings goal, a debt payoff, keep going. It takes work. Get after it.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I save each month?

There is no single right number. Start with an amount you can keep up through a tough month, then raise it over time.

What if I have debt and want to save too?

Many people do both: a small automatic savings amount plus extra toward high-interest debt. A planning conversation can help you decide the split.

Is it too late to start at 45 or older?

No. Starting later means the plan has to be more deliberate, but any steady habit you begin now helps.

Do I need a lot of money to get help?

No. A clear look at where your income goes each month is a strong first step.

Want help building a money habit that sticks? Schedule a conversation with me.

Sources

About the author

Tim Lyons is the owner of Lyons Resources in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, serving families, retirees, and business owners across Northern Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. He holds Series 7 and 66 securities licenses and Florida life and health insurance licenses.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. Lyons Resources and LPL Financial are separate entities.

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