The cost of being unfit

People often think that exercise and fitness is pricey; and no wonder. Gyms, crazy does everything equipment, plus fad diets and pills all cost money, sometimes, a lot of money.

Exercise is not that expensive and in the long run, it’ll cost you more to skip it. For instance, you’ll pay more in doctor bills and health care costs because all kinds of things can go wrong when you’re not fit – issues like high blood pressure, sex drive, depression, and more become more likely the less in shape you are. Along with actual health care costs you’ll dump more cash into medicine and treatment costs because things like cold medicine and sleeping pills are more common among non-fit people and so are treatments for issue like fertility. You’ll pay more for clothes that look just as good, but in a larger size. And on and on it goes. Not being fit and healthy is a financial burden.

Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to exercise and get fit…  

Eat closer to the earth – which sounds all hippie, but really, processed foods (not close to the earth) are less healthy and often less filling than food basics. Think steamed broccoli and carrots vs. boxed cheesy potatoes; tuna and pitas vs. Burger King; fresh raspberries vs. Twinkies; soda vs. water and lemon. Eventually processed foods add up cost wise and tummy wise.

Use nature as your gym. Nature is free and smells way better than the gym.

Drink water. Water is free and helps with all sorts of weight and fitness issues. Drink eight + glasses a day.

Gather inexpensive equipment: Ideas for equipment you can afford that still pack a fitness punch includes things like jump ropes, 5 lb hand weights (or big cans of beans from your kitchen), a Frisbee, the shoes on your feet, the stairs at the mall, and your own body. Do you know that your own body can act like a set exercise equipment? For example wall push ups, leg lunges, and stretching all contribute to good health, and all you need is that body you’ve already got. *Note: yeah, you might need special shoes if you start running, but you can walk in any old pair of shoes.

Skip a trainer – some people do better with a trainer, however, you can skip this cost and do some other things instead.

• Pay for one session with a trainer and end it there. You can pick up their tips and your new routine in the first one or two sessions, then do it on your own.
• Get a buddy to workout with.
• Buy one or two good exercise DVDs (much cheaper than a trainer). Better yet, if you already pay for cable, find an exercise channel you can stomach.

Know the secret. The secret is, as you may have heard, that there is no big secret to weight loss and fitness. It’s seriously calories in, calories out, plus get 30 – 60 minutes of exercise per day. That’s it. Unless you have a health issue that overrides these basic facts, you’re good to go. You can easily track calories and exercise per day yourself with a super cheap pad of paper and pen. You don’t need to pay for fads, pills, fitness books, or loads of exercise equipment, you just need to follow the basics. Eat healthy and exercise 30-60 mins a day. Simple and not all that spendy.

Tell me your thrifty exercise tips…