Featured "Thanks for inspiring me to walk again. I hope to walk every day!" – M.A.
Many of you e-mailed us over the past week to participate in our first ever Walking Challenge.
Several readers went beyond our challenge... adding more time and, in some cases, adding extra activities like swimming.
We especially appreciated the photos you send us of where you walk, including this one below from C.R.:
And this one from C.C.:
Hopefully this challenge helped to motivate you to continue improving your fitness year round.
Due to the enthusiastic response, we're sending a signed copy of my book, The Big Book of Retirement Secrets, to everyone who sent us their completed challenge.
We'll be in touch with everyone today about how to get your copy.
If you didn't take part in our challenge, you can still buy a copy of The Big Book of Retirement Secrets for yourself right here.
What are some of your favorite ways to stay fit? Let us know at [email protected].
Q: This is a great email and a great service to the average investor. My question is do any of these publications show where to go on the internet to get the metrics to plug into the formulas for stock and business evaluation. My experience has been with the books I've read is that they tell you what metrics are needed but fall short of providing a good tutor on where to go to find this information. – R.J.
A: In our office, we have access to lots of financial systems to give us information on companies, through services like Bloomberg and S&P Capital IQ. So sometimes, you might see some information in our research that's not available for free online.
And it depends on exactly what you're looking for. Sites like Yahoo Finance and Google Finance give you the basics. There's another free service – Finviz – that gives you some more in-depth metrics. These sites (and looking over a company's financial statements) will help you evaluate companies on your own.
Q: Is there a way of making big gains without having to use leverage like you would with options? – A.H.
A: Leverage, when used wisely, can be a good tool to have if you want to experience bigger gains than you might get from simply buying shares. But not everyone can trade on leverage in their brokerage accounts. And some people just don't want to.
So does that mean that those folks won't ever be able to experience a 10-bagger? No.
In fact, my good friend and publisher Porter Stansberry recently completed a "deep dive" analysis of every 10x performing stock over the past 20 years. He and his team are going to unveil their new project next Wednesday, but here's what to expect...
Porter has found a group of stocks that big investors essentially can't touch.
Neither can most mutual funds... big money managers... or institutional investors.
It's perhaps the only place in the markets where regular folks have an advantage over the big players.
And even though the gains can be astronomical, it's one of the lowest-risk strategies I've ever written about. It all has to do with one "factor" of investing that most investors simply don't use effectively...
Porter will explain how you can find these potential 1,000% winners for yourself in a live webinar on Wednesday, February 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Click here if you'd like us to save you a spot.
Q: Doc, what is your opinion about ketones or ketosis supplements in your diet? – Z.S.
A: Let's start by explaining what ketones are...
Ketones are acids that form when your body breaks down fat instead of carbohydrates. Normally our bodies break down carbs to make glucose. We use glucose for energy. When there aren't enough carbohydrates, your body will break down fat. When fat breaks down, it releases an acid called a ketone (the process is called ketosis).
The ketones act as energy units that feed your body. They travel through your bloodstream to keep you going. This is actually how you maintain energy when you fast.
Some folks try to get this going by following so-called ketogenic diets (similar to low-carb diets). These are popular for those folks trying to lose weight by breaking down stored fat. Typically, these are high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets.
Here's the thing... ketogenic diets work, and they do help people lose weight. But they're extremely difficult to maintain over a long period of time. One study out of the Rowett Research Institute in Scotland found that obese men following a ketogenic diet for 4 weeks lost almost 14 pounds. But subsequent studies saw high drop-out rates later on, as the diet was difficult to follow for long.
We don't recommend supplements, particularly when ketosis is a natural process your body already carries out. Some folks take ketone supplements to suppress hunger... But if you're taking ketones that means you aren't burning your own fat to make ketones.
Worse, too many ketones can kill you. Remember, ketones are an acid that travel through your bloodstream... too many and you can make your blood too acidic (this is called ketoacidosis). It can be fatal. So if you choose a ketogenic diet or have a history of diabetes, you should monitor your ketone levels.
An easier way to eat better... switch refined grains for whole grains. Think switching white flour and white rice for whole wheat flour and brown rice. In fact, a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that switching to whole grains improves your metabolism and helps you shed those extra pounds. Read more right here.
What We're Reading...
- Four simple rules of thumb to stop losing money.
- Something different: The story behind the infamous "11-foot-8-inch" bridge (video).
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Retirement Millionaire Daily Research Team
Miami Beach, FL
February 10, 2017