Everyone wants to be healthy and in great shape, but too often people think that doing so requires spending a lot of money. Instead of wasting your hard-earned cash on vitamins, supplements, gym memberships and expensive equipment, you can save money and still be in peak physical condition. The following tips will show you how you can keep yourself in good health without draining your bank account.
One of the first things you should do to stay healthy is get in the habit of drinking plenty of water. Most experts recommend that you drink around eight glasses of water every day. If you habitually reach for a soda or a fruit juice when you are thirsty, start avoiding those drinks and choosing water instead. You will save money and keep yourself in better shape once you learn to avoid those expensive empty calories.
You have no doubt been told many times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is no exaggeration. A good breakfast starts your day off on the right foot and gives your body the energy you need to stay in peak condition. Instead of reaching for a box of sugary cold cereal, have a healthy bowl of fiber-rich, whole grain oatmeal instead. This will give you the slow-burning energy you need to keep going all day long.
Keeping a food journal or diary in which you write down everything you eat has several benefits. You may be surprised to find out just how much you eat in an average day. Seeing it all written down in black and white can give you insight into what parts of your diet need to be improved and what foods can easily be eliminated from your meals. Having to write down everything you eat can also be a useful tool for resisting temptation. When you are deciding whether or not to eat that candy bar or bag of chips, knowing that you will have to make a permanent record of your decision makes it easier to make the right choice.
There is more to staying fit than just eating a healthy diet. Regular physical exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle. Find ways to incorporate different kinds of exercise into your daily routine so that you still stay trim and fit for years to come. Something as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator can give you quite a workout. Mix up the type of exercise you do from day to day so that you do not get in a rut. Take a bike ride one day, go jogging the next, and do some strength training on the third day. Variation is the spice of life, and a good, varied exercise routine will help you stay focused.
As you have seen, being healthy and in good shape does not require spending much money. You can keep yourself physically and financially healthy. By making use of the simple ideas in this article, you will soon discover that staying fit does not have to be an expensive proposition.
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