I know it all makes sense but it’s sad when you no longer have any vices to nurture.
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How about indulging in some new vices that don’t damage your health?
According to AI, there’s quite a few to choose from - one or two have caught my eye as possibilities 
- some don’t have much appeal! 
“Healthy vices” are activities that provide a sense of indulgence, relaxation, or pleasure without the severe, long-term health consequences of traditional vices like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption
. These behaviors, when practiced in moderation, can actually support mental well-being and stress reduction.
Here are examples of vices that do not damage your health, often bringing benefits instead:
- Culinary Indulgences (In Moderation)
- Dark Chocolate: High-cacao (70%+) dark chocolate provides antioxidants, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and improves cardiovascular health.
- Coffee: Moderate coffee consumption (up to 2-4 cups a day) is linked to lower risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.
- Full-Fat Foods: Including healthy fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil) can increase satisfaction, helping you feel fuller longer and potentially reducing overall food intake.
- Relaxing & Lifestyle “Habits”
- Sleeping In/Napping: Allowing yourself to get adequate sleep improves cognitive function, boosts the immune system, and helps with weight management.
- Massage Therapy: Regular, deep-tissue massages reduce stress hormones, decrease inflammation, and lower pain.
- Taking “Mental Health” Days: Purposefully skipping work or obligations to rest can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and decrease the risk of heart disease.
- Sunbathing (Safely): Short, controlled exposure to sunlight helps with vitamin D production, which supports bone health and boosts mood.
- Creative & Engaging Hobbies
- Passionate Hobbies: Engaging in activities like painting, knitting, playing music, or gardening can lower blood pressure and reduce cortisol.
- Gaming: Playing video games, particularly those that require strategy or object-finding, can enhance cognitive function and memory.
- Reading: Immersing yourself in a book acts as a stress reliever, reducing anxiety by providing a positive, engaging focus.
- Physical & Social “Vices”
- Active Socializing: Spending time with friends, or having “girls’ nights out,” reduces stress and increases longevity.
- Passionate Sex: Regular, consensual sex releases endorphins and oxytocin, which improve mood, boost immunity, and may help you look younger.
- Healthy Exercise Addictions: Replacing destructive habits with intense exercise (e.g., running, lifting) can provide the same endorphin rush without the long-term damage
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Passionate sex … 
…
Dark chocolate and reading sound good though.
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I couldn’t read, during sex, the book kept wobbling about.
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I’m tempted to say … just go for the ones with pictures.
But maybe not.
Intense exercise…Running…Yes I can vouch for that, I’ve been a marathon runner for over 45 years and there’s nothing wrong with me…
Dark chocolate tastes horrid, and my eyes aren’t good enough to read…And passionate Sex?
I’ve forgotten, what’s that all about then? 
there’s always chocolate cake!
nope that absolutely does not hit the spot, It’s a bit like eating brown chalk
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Perhaps controversial to suggest the addictive power of jigsaw puzzles. I used to think this was an elderly type of activity, but lots of young people seem to be addicted since covid lockdown.
There’s a certain dopamine high when it all comes together. So Jigsaws & chocolate cake. Both activities are very good socially too.
I don’t know about others, but I can only have one glorious cup of coffee a day.
Am I the only new born porridge eater here? lots of milk and a bit of honey.
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About 30 years ago I was doing plenty of 2000-piece jigsaw puzzles.
During covid I reignited my passion but settled on 1000-piece puzzles.
A couple here.
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It’s arguable that that is worse than smoking… 
At least most smokers I know aren’t overweight…
As a smoker I ran 36 full marathons and countless fell runs of over 40 miles over a ten year period. After my heart attack in 2004 I stopped smoking, but after six months I was back running half marathons, a total of 63. To be honest, I didn’t notice any difference…
I put on almost a stone in weight as a courier, sat on my bum every day and eating plenty of MacDonald’s produce, running times started to diminish, but then I became a postman, and even though I ate like a horse, I lost the extra weight and actually knocked several minutes off my half marathon times. I’ve never had joint trouble in my knees or hips, and I believe it’s carrying weight that damages those joints. Mrs Fox has a bad knee that really needs replacing she is in so much pain, but her weight has increased considerably over the last ten years, and I believe is the cause of her damaged knee…But I’m not telling her…
Incidentally, I have had porridge with honey and seeds for my breakfast for the last 25 years at least Annie.
It used to be Weetabix when I was working, no time to mess about with pans and hobs…
Perhaps if you eat 20 chocolate cakes a day! Everything in moderation, it’s ok to have a slice now and then. Porridge is great for the gut and they say all health stems from the gut.
You doubtless have elite athlete genes OGF but most people don’t and many are prone to arterial disease which is progressed by smoking. Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen to the cells and you can’t argue that is not a good thing.
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I am pretty sure there must be a correlation between jigsaws and lowering blood pressure. Unless your dog or cat knocks it over…
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Apparently getting a cat is very good for your heart health by lowering your blood pressure and helping you to relax. I can’t speak for a dog because I’ve never had one, but I suspect they give the same results.
Stroking a cat and listening to it purring really does slow down your heart and help you to reduce stress.
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Most of it comes from dedication and hard work Annie…And not being a wimp!
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I can’t remember whether you said you had continued to run marathons after the heart attack.
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Actually I was made redundant from a job in 1994 that I did for 22 years Annie, so Training for marathons was difficult trying to fit it in with a new job. I ran my last marathon and 50 mile fell run in 1996. I continued to run as usual but had to run shorter distances.
I ran lots of Half Marathons until my first heart attack in 2004 but never returned to running marathons or long fell runs. After six months of having my heart attack I ran a half marathon again, and continued running half marathons notching up 63 until my second heart attack in 2014. Although I continued running training runs of ten miles or so, family said ‘no’ to running competitively again… My last proper run of five miles was in 2021.
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As a follow-up to my lung scan the doctor recommended a CT Coronary Angiogram.
Sitting in the waiting room. Been told to allow 4 hours for total appointment time.
For a Coronary Angiogram my heart needs to be slowed down to about 62 beats per minute.
I have been given pills for that, and I will be monitored for 30 minutes to monitor my reaction.
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Best of luck with the appointment. It’s great that you are being checked so thoroughly and fingers crossed for the results.
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