Seven Cheap and Free Ways to Help You Get Fit
March 3rd, 2008 | by Jeniffer |As always, be sure you get your doctor’s ok before embarking on any lifestyle change, including changes in diet or exercise. Some medical conditions may be irritated or worsened by starting a routine strenuous physical activity. Only once you have your doctor’s blessing, should you perform even the simplest of changes, such as walking or yoga, as listed here.
1) Walking
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again here: walking is great exercise.
It gets you outside in the fresh air, gives you a change of scenery, can be as socialable as you would like it to be, is easy for most people to do, and burns off calories.
It also works your legs, hips, and butt muscles, firming and toning them so you look sexier coming or going!
If you live in Canada or any other country where it can truly be too cold for walks out of doors for much of the year (-20, for instance), find yourself a mall and walk in it.
Some malls even set up walking groups: check yours to see if there is one near you.
If there isn’t, why not suggest starting one?
2) Yoga
Would you like a great daily yoga workout without having to leave your own home? If so, that Yoga Today is for you!
Just go to www.yogatoday.com, where you can select which level of workout you would like, and then choose from the variety which is available.
All you need is an Internet ready computer and a bit of floor space!
3) Write this down…
This one requires the cost of a notebook and pen or pencil.
Track what workouts you do.
Pencil in your weekly or monthly Plan of Action, scheduling which workouts you plan to do on which days, then use check-marks, dots, or even stickers to indicate when you have followed through on your plan.
I used a similar system when I first started doing my thirty day challenges, before I started this website.
It’s very motivating, and you’d be amazed how gratifying those stickers or checks can be over time.
You may wish to leave an extra column, to note extra activities which you may have done.
4) and this as well…
Weigh ins, measurements, physical fitness test results, how many push-ups, crunches, pull-ups you can do in a minute–however you choose to track your progress, write that down as well.
It’s inspiring and motivating to see yourself go from unable to complete a single block long walk nonstop, to entering training for a marathon (or whatever your goal happens to be).
5) Speaking of goals
Never lose sight of your goals.
Place visual and verbal reminders where you will see them often.
Read you goals daily, re-affirming your desire to reach them, and your commitment to the work that will be necessary in order to do so.
Put up photos that depict your goal, that show the aspect of your life you are working to improve–this is true regardless of whether you are working to lose twenty pounds, or buy yourself a home.
6) Read about what it is you want to achieve
Read the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of others who have done what it is you seek to do.
Whether your goal is fitness, weight loss, happiness, running your own business–whatever the goal, others have done it before you.
Why not access their expertise, experience, and guidance, to help you in attaining the life you desire?
And books don’t have to cost a fortune. You can get them free from your local library.
7) Perform Weight Bearing Exercises
Weight bearing exercises help keep your bones and muscles strong, which is of particular importance as you age.
Best of all, by using your own body weight for resistance training, they can be done with next to no equipment.
Doing chair dips (requiring just yourself and a chair), push-ups (again, just yourself, plus some room on a floor), lunges, chin or pull-ups, etc, eliminates the need for costly gym memberships or pricey home exercise equipment.
If you would like to try adding weights, a couple of full cans of whatever you have handy will work just fine.
Try these tips, and both you and your finances will be more fit, in hardly any time at all!
Do you have an additional tip or something you would like to add? Please feel free to do so. Comments and feedback are always most welcome!
