It’s no secret – it’s tough out there right now! From the national debt crisis and debt ceiling mess, to the stock market going crazy; these kinds of economic uncertainties will often cause us to pull back on our own spending, watch every dollar more closely and cut corners where we can. But we can’t stop investing in our health.
The good news is – we can stay healthy and physically fit even on a tight budget. It may just take a little planning and preparation just like any other good budget – but it’s very possible. In fact the top excuses about why someone can’t eat healthy and exercise – No time, No money – are the top excuses whether the world is in a financial crisis or not. So, what are some practical ways to eat healthy and exercise on a budget?
Nutrition –
- Bulk! The bigger backs of chicken breast, lean beef etc are always cheaper if you buy the bigger packs. Just separate it when you get home to freeze it or cook a big meal that will give you meals for a few days – saving time and money!
- Frozen! Yes – frozen fruits and vegetables are often just as good, if not better than the ‘fresh’ produce. That’s because they’re ‘flash frozen’ right away and the majority of their nutrients are retained that way. The longer the ‘fresh’ stuff sits out as it gets shipped to stores etc, it degrades the nutrients. And you can get plenty of servings from the big bags of frozen vegetables and fruit for less than the cost of fresh.
- Liquid Egg Whites! We avoid the yolk anyway, so why buy the whole carton of eggs? The containers of liquid egg whites are pretty reasonably priced, easy and no waste!
- Bottled Water – really? Do you need a new plastic bottle every time you’re thirsty? It’s expensive! Invest in one nice thermal water bottle and then refill it with filtered water from your fridge, or a pitcher of tap water in the fridge. Save money and the environment from all of the water bottles!
Exercise –
Everyone knows I love live workouts at the gym, heck, that’s why I teach and get my membership free! But if you don’t teach and can’t swing the cost of a gym there are plenty of other options to keep moving.
- Walk! If the weather is great – get outside and do some intervals of walking, brisk walking and running. Add some ankle or wrist weights for a more intense workout. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, check local malls and even public schools that allow walkers to use their facilities. Schools also often open their pools and fitness facilities for the public at certain times of the day as well.
- In Home Workouts! Invest in one, or go in halves with a friend and commit to doing it together each day! Pick one that is all inclusive with some cardio and strength training to get maximum results.
- Shake up the ‘Regular’ stuff! So we’ve got to sweep, vacuum, rake the leaves and clean the house anyway – just put some extra oomph into it! Crank up some tunes that get you moving and go! Gotta take kids to baseball or soccer practice? Do laps around the field or walking lunges rather than busting out the lawn chair.
There are plenty of ways to make exercise and eating healthy work on any budget or schedule ~ plan ahead and make it happen. No excuses!