Keeping Fit Within A Budget
You are probably aware that there is a stereotype involving being poor and overweight. There is some connection between wealth and obesity, but that doesn't mean you need to fall victim to it. There are many ways you are able to stay fit, no matter what your financial situation. Here are just a few things you can do to live a healthy, fit lifestyle on a budget.
Get your diet under control. This is usually the hardest thing for people to do when they don't have much money. After all, a quarter pounder from a fast food drive through only costs a dollar, whereas grassfed beef can cost five times as much. Therefore, you need to get very clear about what your nutritional needs are, and what you can afford. There are many different sites on the internet that show you how to cook food affordably, so this should not be a big problem for you.
Get some kind of exercise routine. This is necessary if you want to stay fit. Even if you don't have much money, there are options out there for you. Video sharing sites often have short workouts that you can do for free, but if you want to buy an exercise dvd, many of them are affordable. Not only that, but some libraries offer those dvds for no cost at all. If you want to join a gym, smaller gyms offer more affordable rates than the large chains.
Don't forget, walking and running are free. Both of those are cardio exercises (if you walk briskly), so if you need to lose weight, these can be especially helpful for you. Running and walking aren't the only outdoor activities that can keep you fit; hiking, rock climbing and some other activities can be done very cheaply and keep your body moving at the same time.
Check out your local community center. Many community centers offer free use of weight machines, which is great because every good exercise regiment includes strength training. You may also be able to use the town pool for much less than you expect.
Give yourself goals. This can be done at no cost at all. Now that you know what you can do in terms of diet and exercise, you need to make sure you're mentally prepared to go through with it. You need to make a commitment to getting fit, and you need to follow through. A good way to do that is to give yourself goals.
When you give yourself goals, make sure that they are goals that you will be able to reach within a reasonable time frame. That makes it more likely you will accomplish what you set out to do.
It can sometimes seem that being fit is harder than if you were rich, but there are indeed things you can do to remain fit. Use the information laid out here, and you won't be another statistic; you can live a fit, healthy lifestyle if you really want to.
