You know you need to get fit and healthy. Whether your doctor recommended exercise or you just want to improve how you feel, there are plenty of good reasons to get active. But with all your bills and expenses, it can feel like there’s no way to get this done.
Thankfully, there are some budget-friendly fitness tips so you can get healthy without draining your bank account dry. To stay motivated, it helps to fully understand why you need exercise in your life.
WHY YOU NEED TO EXERCISE
What do fitness and exercise give to you? Sure, you can lose weight and be physically healthy, but as KidsHealth.org explains, there are other rewards for people of all ages. It can improve your self-esteem when you start to notice your clothes are a bit loose, and it also helps when you start to see improvements in the mirror.
But exercise also helps with your mental health. That’s because your mind and body are linked. Exercising releases endorphins that trigger peace and happiness in your mind. In fact, exercise can help people with depression or addiction issues because it does so much for both your mood and your health.
CHEAP OR FREE WAYS TO GET FIT
You don’t have to join an expensive gym to reap the benefits of getting fit. Take Charge America explains that one thing you can do that costs nothing is walking. Sure, it’s not a powerhouse for burning fat or getting your heart healthy. But walking is a great low-impact exercise that won’t break the bank. Just slap on a pair of shoes and walk outside.
You can even turn this easy form of exercise into a money-making side job. Dog walking offers physical benefits, puts money in your pocket, and because it includes a sweet, loving creature, can help keep you motivated to stay active.
You can also go dancing. This activity can be a lot of fun, and as long as you don’t visit expensive nightclubs, it can be very cheap as well. Look in your community for dance groups that meet regularly and go enjoy some exercise.
Ever wanted to join an aerobics class but don’t want to spend all that money on a membership? The Mirror recommends that you go online and watch free exercise videos. From step classes to yoga and a whole lot more, sites like YouTube are full of videos that help you exercise right at home.
Also, check with your city parks and see what amenities they offer. These days, many parks have hiking trails, outdoor gyms, or fitness paths with different exercise stations along the way. Since you pay for these through your taxes anyway, why not take advantage of them?
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH ACTIVITIES
Of course, you don’t have to go for traditional exercise like walking or aerobics. There are many alternative activities that can help you get fit. One that doesn’t get the credit it deserves is swimming. It’s gentle on your joints, exercises many muscles all at once, and gives you a cardiovascular workout. Swimming is one of the few exercises that can help improve your whole body.
However, don’t think that the only activities you can do are demanding on your body. Yoga, tai chi, and even meditation burn calories like other exercises, and they will improve both your physical and mental health. Activities such as yoga, swimming and meditation are so helpful that people in addiction recovery use them to get fit and stay that way. And because your mind and body are linked, improving your mental health will help lead to physical fitness.
EXERCISE IS FOR EVERYONE
While it’s true that you can spend a ton of money on getting fit, you do not have to. Instead, you can find ways to exercise that are cheap or even free. Between walking, online videos, and alternative activities like swimming or yoga, you have plenty of budget-friendly ways to improve your fitness.
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