RISMEDIA, February 24, 2009-More than 80 million Americans go on diets each year, taking a pledge to lose weight, but getting in gear and joining a gym can add up during these tough economic times. But you don’t have to break your healthy resolution because it’s breaking your bank. The Debt Diva, Clarky Davis, offers some great ways to stay in shape on budget in the new Debt Diva Frugal Fitness Guide.
The Frugal Fitness Guide outlines ways consumers can save money in all areas of their fitness routine. Ordinary items in the home can become workout tools, turning a living room into a gym.
“You’d be surprised at how differently you can look at your couch, a dinner table and even a wall,” says Davis on turning your home to your very own gym. “Everyday items around the home can used as props to hold your feet, keep you balanced and most importantly, help you get in shape you fulfill your resolution to get fit and fabulous, frugally.”
Consumers can also learn smart ways to buy the right foods to stay healthy without spending a fortune. The Debt Diva’s Guide points consumers to community resources they can use on a regular basis to help them save money and stay on track. Davis also suggests ways to lock in a routine alone or with a workout buddy.
Davis offers some great alternative ways to get fit. Stay on top of your fitness goal in 2009 with these tips from The Debt Diva:
1. The best thing you can do for yourself is just to get up and start moving! Take a few minutes each day to stretch out before you start any exercise is a great way to start any workout whether it’s cardio or strength training.
2. The American Heart Association says that a simple 20 to 30 minute walk three times a week will make you feel more energetic, happier and calmer. You mostly want to increase your heart rate when you’re working out, because the more it increases, the more calories you burn. And the more you burn, the more fat you’ll lose.
3. If you have a limited amount of time and are jumping into a workout routine for the first time, start with squats, lunges, pushups and crunches. And best of all, these are all things you can do in your home using ordinary items in your home for support – like the floor, a wall, your couch or even a dining room chair.
4. A set of weights is as close as your pantry. A regular can of soup weighs just about 2 pounds, which is fine to start with if you haven’t done much exercise. If you’ve tried a can of soup, use water bottles for more mass, which can weight about 3 to 4 pounds.
5. After you drink the water, dry out the bottle and fill it with rice to increase the weight.
6. When you’ve started to build your routine, try using plastic milk jugs filled with water (or just halfway) to increase the weights you are lifting. Just remember to tape the lids on securely or do these exercises on a linoleum or tile floor in case you have a spill.
7. Walking and jogging are great cardio exercises you can do around the house.
8. Cleaning your house also burns the calories just like walking and jogging. An hour of cleaning will burn about 200 calories!
9. Work out with a friend. You’ll help each other stay motivated and you’ll most likely stick to a routine because you know someone else is counting on you.
10. Turn your workout into time for the family by incorporating activities for everyone. It can be as simple as a game of tennis or a visit to the playground.
“Getting fit on a budget can be fun and rewarding for your wallet and your health,” says Davis. “Don’t forget to set short term and long term goals for your workout. Your short term goal should be achievable within a month, while your long term goals can be achieved over an extended period of time. Reward your short term goals with a new work out challenge so you’re not spending what you’ve saved. Then take the money you save and reward yourself in a big way, with a new outfit for example, when you achieve your long term goal.”
