Best Ways To Keep Fit On A Low Budget

“You must remember, my dear lady, the most important rule of any successful illusion: First, the people must want to believe in it”.
-Libba Bray

There is a need for you to acquire a certain level of knowledge on cost-effective ways of keeping fit which are centred on a change in your perception, taking up certain alternative workouts and avoiding the use of supplements among others.

The Need for cost-effective ways in Keeping fit
In the world today, we get to see adverts on social media, billboards, as well as fliers among others, dictating for us the type of food and drinks we should have; the drugs we should buy and the nature of exercises we should get involved with.

Their main objective is nowhere centred on your health and fitness but on ways of expanding their pocket through your patronage. We have fallen prey to their deceits times without number only to find out that what they offer is a myth. If it was possible, they will sell you free oxygen.

Mark Twain’s expression on health books (Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint) suggest that not all information, products and services provided by them are helpful.

We are forced to believe that supplements, gym membership, personal trainers, and expensive gym equipment among others can do the magic of keeping one fit. But in these economic hard moments, they are nowhere on the route of “helping”.

RELATED: The 7 Super Simple Ways To Live A Healthy Lifestyle

In the conceptual framework of healthy living, there is a need for consistency. There might be a need to cut cost at one point or the other. Therefore, there is the need to seek out cost-effective ways of keeping fit.

Cost-Effective Ways of Keeping Fit
You can choose to dine on the suffocating luxury of health and fitness or learn out ways that are cost-effective in obtaining the same. Hence, there is a need to read up on this article “the best ways to stay healthy on a low budget”.

Do enjoy.

1. Change Your Perception
There will always be a time when negative self-image will be seen in the self. This might warrant you in getting fit even at the expense of your hard earned money. At times, they might even endanger your health later in the future. There is a need to change your perception in other to get the actual fitness.

“Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will always be victorious”.
-Sun Tzu

Understand the Money Language
If you fail to acquire the necessary understanding of your money, you will be forced to spend on anything available.

It is important to understand the money language so as to be able to manage your resources. When you are capable of managing your inflow and outflow, you will know what is important and isn’t.

Only Buy what is Important
What’s the point of acquiring a golden toilet when you will only poop in it? It is important to be able to differentiate the expensive from the important and the important from the cheap.

It is not all kits that can be affordable are relevant. Most of them are abandoned after a while. For instance, you can use certain household items to the gym at home.

“A budget tells us what we can’t afford, but it doesn’t keep us from buying it”.
-William Feather

Deal with Social Norms
You should learn how to read your pocket when your pals, as well as relatives, encourage you to get involved in a fitness program.

Social norms were meant to encourage others; so, you should know when they are frustrating. Understanding when it is necessary to get aligned with the norms of the society is real wisdom.

Treat Yourself
Your paramount goal is to get fitness and health. Once you have reached a certain level of your achievement, you should endeavour to encourage yourself by giving a reward.

This does not necessarily be a meal or present. A simple motivational message for the self can do the trick.

Get Health Insurance
It is common to find people thinking otherwise, but being insured goes a long way in keeping you fit. You should endeavour to find out that you are getting the real deal out of your insurance as in most cases, you might be denied certain benefits.

You should look for the full benefit you stand to get from any plan you may choose to opt for. That’s the best way to choose a plan in health insurance.

Kit Up Physically and Emotionally
The secret of being fit is being fit physically and emotionally. When in the mirror, you should see yourself as someone fabulous.

RELATED: Mental Health Is Not Just Mind, Its Body Too

When going out for fitness training or its alternative, you should endeavour to kit up. This will give you support in your quest to keeping fit and smart.

2. Consider Alternative Workouts
As discussed, hitting the gym requires you more money, but they are not that important. The need to consider other alternatives in working out is essential in keeping fit.

Instead of spending a whole lot on the regular personal trainer, supplements, gym clubs, exotic equipment among others; you look up to the following cheap but effective alternatives.

Join a Team
There are a host of sports clubs available in your locality. Joining a team can be a thing of joy as well as an inspiration for getting you fit.

It doesn’t necessarily have to do with that involved in Olympic competitions, but regular local competitions are enough.

Take a Walk Daily
You can’t believe the result you might obtain in taking a walk for at least 30 minutes daily. Taking a walk daily releases certain vital metabolism, thereby helping you get relieved of stress, reducing your weight and lowering blood pressure.

RELATED: 10 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Walking 15,000 Steps A Day

It also helps you in dealing with rest and sleeps as well as preventing you from chronic diseases.

Paddle your Actual Bicycle regularly
In most cases, this can be an inspiration. You get to replace the expensive stationary bike with an actual cheap real bicycle.

Aside from the cost benefit, you get to make an impact on viewers (onlookers), get relieved of boredom, take in natural air and get socialised among others.

Use the Stairs
The stair is an insightful place to warm up.

Running up and down the stairs daily can give you the desired shape and health. Instead of taking the elevation at work to the second floor, why not make use of the stairs?

Use Indoor Video Guide or Tutors
You can choose to do home DVD workouts, video games or read up sensational articles on fitness and workouts.

You can also log on to YouTube to get a free guide on fitness training instead of getting a tutor you pay per day or per hour.

Get Workout Apps on your Smart Phone
There are tons of fitness applications available in the app store. Most of these apps can go a long way in helping you get fit.

RELATED: Best Home Fitness Training Programs For Women

They can be used to track your workout progress as well as ushering in quick home sessions.

Use Home Exercise Equipment
There is a ton of home exercise equipment available. They are readily obtainable to give you the desired fitness you can be able to derive from the use of expensive kits.

There is cheap gym equipment such as the “rowing exerciser” as well as skipping ropes that can be able to give you that fitness you so desired.

3. Avoid the Use of supplements
Most people tend to go for supplements in building up muscles as well as loosening up some pounds. Shakes are vital as food replacements and not as weight loss or fitness supplements.

Most supplements claim to give you the desired shape and health you need but are mere tea, shakes or pills. Some can add up a little complication to your predicament.

Most shakes, pills and other weight loss supplements will go a long way in extorting you. They only provide you with sugar, protein and sweet tea.

RELATED: 9 Dangers Found In Sugar For Your Health

You should endeavour to stay away from these supplements. It will protect your pocket from the evil of extorters of your hard earned money.

A major function of most of these supplements is to introduce more protein contents in the system as well as reduce your hunger for food and cravings. Using food—especially those that boost your protein intake as well as low in calories—can be the best way to stay fit and get healthier.

For instance, instead of taking energy drinks after exercises, you can take in water. It is advisable for professionals. Knowing how to use food in place of supplements will do the trick naturally, believe me.

4. Watch your meal
In getting fit, you should also watch what you are eating. Not skipping out an actual meal, making your own meal as well as drinking adequate water will go a long way in helping you out.

Eat at mealtime (Skip no meal)
It is common for people to skip out meals. If you must remain fit, you will have to eat at mealtime as well as on time.

As discussed earlier, a replacement of an actual meal with shakes and other supplements might not be the solution.

Make your meal yourself
Cooking is a form of exercising your body. You will be charged with the responsibility of stretching your arm as you chop the vegetables as well as take a walk to and fro from the cooking pot.

Aside from this benefit, it enables you to be conscious of the constituents of your meal as well as save you certain cost.

Drink Adequate Water
You should encourage yourself in drinking adequate water (not sweetened fluids). Water is essential to healthy living as well as keeping you fit. It is the backbone of food digestion in the body.

Sweetened fluids such as a soda can only pill up a certain pound in your body. But water goes a long way in getting rid of them.

Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables
It is generally known that fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to the body. Aside from providing the body with essential vitamins to protect against ailments, they also keep the body fit.

RELATED: 10 Benefits Of Eating Vegetables

Fruits such as mangoes, apples, grapes and bananas among others are essential for keeping the body fit.

5. Take Your Sleep and Rest Serious
In getting fit, sleep and rest are very vital. If you fail to take adequate sleep in keeping fit, you will eventually become fitted for the ailment. Having adequate rest and sleep increases the protein synthesis of your body.

In other words, having enough sleep and rest helps to build your muscles and keep you fit in health.

It is important to know that adequate sleep and rest:
· Controls your diet: if you want to look better, adequate sleep and rest are important to you as they control your diet. Getting enough sleep enables you to control what you eat and the quantity you eat daily.

· Reduces fats in your body: having poor sleep and rest will make you wake up feeling exhausted. It will prevent you from being active to work and as such continually build up fats in your body.

RELATED: How Bad Is It To Consume Fats For Our Body?

· Improves workout time: getting adequate sleep and rest will also improve the time you spend in working out. There will be refreshed energy when you get awakened from your sleep to get warmed up, that when you are feeling dizzy.

· Prevents cravings for food: hunger is controlled by certain hormones in the body that is associated with lack of sleep and rest. Cravings are as a result of the overstressing the body during the day.

You will need to control night cravings in order to loosen up some pounds since most supplements or vigorous exercises might just be in vain with the dominance of this attitude.

6. Join a Fitness Local Club, Community or Group
Joining a group involved in the regular gym such as a martial art school can go a long way in saving you the exorbitant charges laid on membership fees in traditional gyms.

They also keep you more active and socialised. You can join a group of fellow who involves in regular Yoga activities or your pals that takes jogging together on weekends.

When you join a local group or club, you will enjoy the benefit of commonality and fitness as you would have in a traditional gym. You can;

· Join a martial art school,

· Join a group or friends jogging on weekends,

· Become a member of a Yoga class, and

· Involve in community services (it helps keep fit).

In joining a group, you will not only save cost in getting fitness but also get motivated. It is an effective and safer way of getting fitness since most of these clubs and groups are within your locality.
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