Perhaps you're a student, trying to make it on a student budget.
Or, you're a stay-at-home mother with little cash to spare. Or
you're just getting started in your career and you don't have
much in the way of disposable income. No matter what your
situation, know that there are inexpensive ways to exercise for
weight loss.
To begin with, one of the most cost-effective ways to exercise
is simply by walking. It requires no special equipment--other
than a good pair of athletic shoes. You can do it virtually
anywhere--in a park, on a hiking trail, or around your
neighborhood. Walking is also one of the best methods of
cardiovascular exercise around. If you're able to increase your
pace from three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half miles an hour, you
can expend 50 percent more calories. That means that, in a half
hour of walking, you could burn more than 200 extra calories.
Another low-cost way to exercise is to work out with an
exercise videotape or DVD. These tapes and DVDs can cost less
than $20, but they can provide you with a year's worth of
exercise routines. Assuming you already have a VCR or DVD
player, you won't have to invest in any expensive equipment. You
can also do the exercises in the privacy of your own home, so
you don't have to worry about how you're dressed. Also, a number
of television stations run exercise programs--the only money
that's required is paying your monthly cable bill, an expense
you might already have.
Yet another way to exercise without putting out a great deal of
money is to ride a bicycle. While you will have to invest in a
bike, you might be able to pick one up at a low price by buying
second-hand through a newspaper ad or through a used bike shop.
Once you've bought your bike, you won't have to invest any
additional money in your exercise routine.
A number of magazines offer regular exercise features. These
can be quite good and may even offer full-body workouts. By
investing a mere $3.00 in a magazine, you might be able to find
a fitness routine that you can use the entire year through. If
you want to be really frugal, you can simply check out a fitness
magazine from your local library and Xerox the exercise pages
for future use.
One no-cost way to exercise is to dance. You don't even need
any training--you can simply get up out of your seat and begin
to move. Turn on a radio station with dance music and let
yourself go. You might also consider checking out dance CDs and
audiocassette tapes from your neighborhood library.
You can also pick up free exercise tips from the Internet.
You'll find that many exercise experts offer their own websites
which are filled with valuable information. Your doctor can also
help you in developing an exercise routine that's right for you.
As you can see, it doesn't take a great deal of cash in order
to exercise. And physicians say that, with regular exercise, you
should be able to lose weight. By investing just a little bit of
money up front, you can achieve as good a workout as you would
be able to get at an expensive gym.
About the author:
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in
the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his Free Exercise
and Meal Planner at
The Biggest Loser or
http://www.free-online-health.com
