Tuesday, May 10, 2011
AtTQ: How Can I Stay Fit Without Spending a Fortune?
Answer:
It's easier than you'd think. You truly don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a trainer, and most people who blow a paycheck on a cardio machine end up using it as a laundry heap 5 months in. And please, unless you enjoy the gym and love using equipment inside do NOT sign a yearly contract. It's just a waste of your hard earned dough! Knowing so many moms on maternity leave right now I imagine they don't have money to burn, so this article is dedicated to you.
So how can you stay fit and be frugal? I'll give you 5 ways (although there are many more)
1. Play! Have kids? Hit the park, use the monkey bars for a great shoulder workout, try the swing for abs and climb, climb, climb your quads into shape. No kids? Take Rover to the park! Throw the ball and race him for it, bend with your legs to pick up the stick and you'll do 50 squats before you know it.
Cost: FREE
2. Run. Running is by far my favourite form of cardio to give clients, why? Because you can do it anywhere and it's an excellent calorie burner! Never run before? That's ok, start slow. Alternate walking and light jogging until you're able to eliminate the walking. Are you a social person? Grab a friend, or join/make a running group. Most communities have at least one and if yours doesn't, why not start one?
Cost: $60-$100 for a pair of good running shoes
3. Exercise videos. The days of Jane Fonda are over, there are a multitude of different and fun types of workouts available in the comfort of your living room. Try cardio kickboxing or yoga or almost anything else you can think of. Don't let anyone tell you they don't work, I am a licensed personal trainer and when I don't have time to think for myself I love popping in a DVD and following along.
Tip: Try to pick a video near your fitness level, advanced yoga might not work for you if you can't touch your toes ;)
Cost: $10-$100
4. Ditch your ride. That's right, hoof it! North American lifestyles seem to demand we drive everywhere we go, but do you really need to drive to the corner store? To the grocery store? To a restaurant? No, I mean do you REALLY need to, will it take an hour? Are you injured? No? No? Then stop wasting gas and start burning calories.
Cost: With gas at $1.40/l you might actually save a couple bucks!
5. Take a class. Yes this one can get pricey, but in my experience you're more likely to attend a class than haul your cookies to a gym (yes, admit it, you are). Plus you get social time and learn a skill. I always encourage my clients to join something rather than get a gym membership. In the past 2 years I have only had 1 client who has actually continued to use her gym membership regularly, and that's because she enjoys it.
Frustrated? Try kickboxing. Want to mellow out? Do some Yoga. Love to sweat hard? Spin class might be right for you. The options are infinite.
Cost: $30-$100 a month. (But please remember part of frugality is calculating cost per use. How many times have you use that bike in the basement?)
It's easier than you'd think. You truly don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a trainer, and most people who blow a paycheck on a cardio machine end up using it as a laundry heap 5 months in. And please, unless you enjoy the gym and love using equipment inside do NOT sign a yearly contract. It's just a waste of your hard earned dough! Knowing so many moms on maternity leave right now I imagine they don't have money to burn, so this article is dedicated to you.
So how can you stay fit and be frugal? I'll give you 5 ways (although there are many more)
1. Play! Have kids? Hit the park, use the monkey bars for a great shoulder workout, try the swing for abs and climb, climb, climb your quads into shape. No kids? Take Rover to the park! Throw the ball and race him for it, bend with your legs to pick up the stick and you'll do 50 squats before you know it.
Cost: FREE
2. Run. Running is by far my favourite form of cardio to give clients, why? Because you can do it anywhere and it's an excellent calorie burner! Never run before? That's ok, start slow. Alternate walking and light jogging until you're able to eliminate the walking. Are you a social person? Grab a friend, or join/make a running group. Most communities have at least one and if yours doesn't, why not start one?
Cost: $60-$100 for a pair of good running shoes
3. Exercise videos. The days of Jane Fonda are over, there are a multitude of different and fun types of workouts available in the comfort of your living room. Try cardio kickboxing or yoga or almost anything else you can think of. Don't let anyone tell you they don't work, I am a licensed personal trainer and when I don't have time to think for myself I love popping in a DVD and following along.
Tip: Try to pick a video near your fitness level, advanced yoga might not work for you if you can't touch your toes ;)
Cost: $10-$100
4. Ditch your ride. That's right, hoof it! North American lifestyles seem to demand we drive everywhere we go, but do you really need to drive to the corner store? To the grocery store? To a restaurant? No, I mean do you REALLY need to, will it take an hour? Are you injured? No? No? Then stop wasting gas and start burning calories.
Cost: With gas at $1.40/l you might actually save a couple bucks!
5. Take a class. Yes this one can get pricey, but in my experience you're more likely to attend a class than haul your cookies to a gym (yes, admit it, you are). Plus you get social time and learn a skill. I always encourage my clients to join something rather than get a gym membership. In the past 2 years I have only had 1 client who has actually continued to use her gym membership regularly, and that's because she enjoys it.
Frustrated? Try kickboxing. Want to mellow out? Do some Yoga. Love to sweat hard? Spin class might be right for you. The options are infinite.
Cost: $30-$100 a month. (But please remember part of frugality is calculating cost per use. How many times have you use that bike in the basement?)
