I don’t need to remind everyone about the state of the American global economy. I’m sure you all have felt the effort somehow, either in the grocery store, in your pockets, or even through your home. Don’t let the effects show up in your belly, butt, thighs, wherever. Don’t neglect your health because of the economy! How can you do that, especially since in times like this, one of the first things to go are the gym and fitness center memberships?
Well, if it’s possible, rearrange your budget to include your gym, and instead take out those 3 lattes you get every single day. Or maybe the daily fast food excursions could get the boot.
But, what if you have to let that membership go and there is no cheaper alternative, such as no local YMCAs or other community gyms? (Remember, the YMCA and community gyms are highly viable options; they may not be as flashy as those big commercial gyms, but you don’t chose your gym based on flash, right?)
If you don’t have a gym, that is not an excuse to let your fitness progress lapse or to throw away those fitness goals.
In case that was not clear, I will repeat myself. Not having a gym to go to is not an excuse to let your fitness progress lapse or to throw away those fitness goals. Nor does it excuse you from starting a new fitness program!
So what can you do?
Well, the last time I checked, walking is free. So is running. So many people overlook the value of walking. They say, “Hey, I walk everyday! I walk to the bathroom, to the kitchen, to my car, to the boss’ office, and to the vending machine!”
Yeah, but what are you doing for the other 23.5 hours in the day when you aren’t walking to such places?
Try walking around your neighborhood, or around the community where you work. Walk upright, with a decent pace, and switch up the pace throughout your walk. Walk up and down hills. Challenge yourself and work your way up to jogging, then running.
If you choose a walk that passes a park, guess what you now have? An instant outdoor gym! And for free! Monkey bars can act as pullup bars, and if you swing from them, you can get a killer core workout. You can easily do dips and pushups on park benches.
Jumping jacks are free, too. A jump rope isn’t expensive, yet is an extremely effective fat-loss and conditioning tool.
You can do plenty of burpees in a park!
How to Do a Burpee (video)
But what if it’s raining? Again, a jump rope can come in handy, if your ceilings are high enough and if no one lives under you. If you have stairs in your house, run sets of stairs. Play with your kids.
Buy a pack of inexpensive exercise tubes! You can do just about anything with tubes that you do with machines or free weights.
There are endless possibilities, but my point is clear: a bad economy is not an acceptable excuse for being a slacker. Period.
Any more tips for staying fit in this economy?
