Save Money, Get Fit

Uploaded to Flickr by Sydigill. Used under the Creative Commons License.

Let’s face it – just about everyone wants to lose weight. I only say that because according to Wikipedia, 64% of the U.S. population is chunky. And I think those stats are a little dated…

The diet and exercise industry, bless their heart, has figured out every imaginable way to capitalize on our desire to shed pounds and do it quickly. In trying to do the right thing, they’re also out for some killer profits. And they’re fairly good at it.

Let’s Put Aside Diets (for a minute)

I won’t talk about eating today, except to say that to lose weight, you really need to eat less. Sounds simple enough, but it’s usually the hardest part. More to come in a few weeks…

Exercise and Money

Exercise is important as hell. Beyond helping you take control of your weight, it also manages your energy level, helps you sleep, and keeps you mentally focused. It also builds discipline.

Hmm…focus and discipline? Those sounds like two great habits for managing your money.

If you’re broke, it’s all the more reason to exercise. It helps lift your mood (mmm…endorphins) and counter-act any potential effects of depression or just ‘the blues.’ If you’re trying to pay the bills, the last thing you need is blues. You want greens. Lots of them, preferably.

In all seriousness, just do it. The less you want to do it, the more you probably should. I won’t bore you – there’s a ton of literature you can read about how to motivate yourself to exercise. The important thing is just to start.

What I’ll focus on today is how to use your money effectively for exercise. Free is best, but if you do spend money, make sure you’re doing it in a way that gives you the most value for the dollar.

Ready for some tips?

:: read the rest of the article on Fiscal Fizzle ::