It seems like life is constantly getting more expensive. Every time you turn around, the price of just about everything keeps going up. Getting healthy is no exception. Gym memberships, weight-loss programs, personal trainers and nutritionists – all these cost money. Fortunately, there are ways to get fit without breaking the bank.
Being on a budget is no excuse to not get healthy. It goes beyond simply Googling the #1 pre workout supplement on Amazon and purchasing a supplement (although that is a good place to start). There are lots of things you can do to live your healthiest life – on any budget.
Shop smart
One of the most important aspects of getting healthy is to be sure your home is stocked up on healthy, nourishing food. Places like Costco are good options for this, because you can purchase bulk quantities of things like vegetables and healthy meats and portion them out before freezing them, which can save you a lot of money over pricey “diet” menu plan food or convenience dinners marketed at those looking to lose weight. As an added bonus, when you have your fridge stocked with healthy options that are convenient and fast, you won’t be tempted to hit the drive thru on the way home, a habit that can certainly derail your healthy living goals.
Bring your lunch
Speaking of avoiding the drive thru, packing your own lunch from home will not only ensure you are aware of the quality of the ingredients in your lunch, you can also save money while eating better. You can pack a lunch every day for just a couple of dollars, whereas eating lunch out (which will likely be lower quality and higher in fat, salt and calories than your homemade meal) could cost you upwards of $10 per day! That’s huge savings, both in your bank account and in your calorie bank.
Take your shoes for a walk
Two of your best fitness tools are at the ends of your legs. You don’t need fancy gym equipment or fitness classes to help you get healthy. All you need are your feet and a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is a fantastic exercise for your whole body. It works out your lower body and your upper body, it provides impact for healthy bones and it is a great cardiovascular workout, too. You can walk virtually anywhere, any time of year. Too cold to walk outside? Join a mall walking club. (They’re usually free!).
Check out the library
Wait, a book? For getting healthy? We’re not talking just books here. The library is a treasure trove of resources for those looking to get healthy. Yes, you can find books about healthy living, recipes, fitness magazines, etc. But you can also take out fitness DVDs that will allow you to do just about every kind of workout right in your own home. All for free!
Write that down!
You’ve heard it before. Write down everything you eat. You may think it sounds silly or tedious, but keeping a log of everything you eat really does help you lose weight and get healthier. Why? It makes you accountable. It’s easy to say “oh, it’s only one cookie.” But if you do that three times a day, and write it down, you are suddenly forced to ‘fess up to your dietary sins. Maybe next time you reach for a cookie you’ll think twice knowing you’ll have to be honest about it when you write it down. Additionally, if you reach a plateau in your weight loss, you can look back at your food log and see where you might be able to make some changes.
Awesome tips you got there! Indeed, bringing lunch to work is always better than buying your meal outside. I’m a little obsessed with my calorie intake, I always count the calories before I eat my food and preparing my own meal works great because I know how much calories I’ll be taking for a certain meal. Plus, I can avoid the unhealthy ingredients such as MSG and salt from some fastfood!
Thanks for your contribution. Really appreciate the suggestions and thoughts.