Jeani's Top 5 ~ Inexpensive Ways to Get Healthy

Turn on the TV and you're bombarded with advertisements on ways to lose weight and get healthy. Most promise quick and easy results along with "limited timed" specials that will bring the cost down. While tempting to "call in the next 18 minutes" to take advantage of some limited time offer that will bring the price down, many of us in today's economy do not have the extra money available to spend.
This is not to say that getting healthy is not important and any money spent doing this will probably be saved in the future by decreasing sick days, medical bills and insurance premiums. I have just found creative ways to start getting healthy that require little to no out of pocket expense.
Here are my top 5 low cost ways to get healthy

If you have any sort of smartphone you have a wealth of information literally at your finger tips. Pedometers, Yoga, Weight Lifting, Pilates,and Zumba you name there is probably "an app for that". Most apps have a LITE or "with ads" version that you can try out for free. I often do this first to determine if I like how the app works. Most free or LITE versions have paid upgrades(usually $0.99-$4.99), some simply remove the ads, others provide additional features. For cheapskates like me, simply removing ads isn't enough incentive to pay.

Skip the fitness class at the gym and check it out at the library. For added fun, get a group of friends together and hold your own class at each others houses. Most DVD programs provide multi-level examples of the exercise to accommodate the beginner all the way up to advanced.

For as little s $2 a month in most cases you can buy subscription to most health, fitness magazines. These subscriptions, paired with a 3-ring binder with page protectors will give you hours of exercise routines. Each month several exercise regimes are highlighted with pictures and descriptions, many even include nutrition tips and recipes. Tear these pages out, slide them into the page protectors and you have hours of exercise programs in an easy to carry 3-ring binder.

There are some great groups that have started on Facebook that are free to join in you have a (free) Facebook account. This is a great way to get daily motivation for getting up and out the door, exercise tips, recipes, apparel, or a place for you to post a question and get opinions from others who share your same interest. I try to find ones that maintain a positive attitude, don't have a ton of self-promoting from members, and don't go to extremes in any direction. You can also create a group of your own and invite friends , and if you want allow them to invite friends, to share ideas and accomplishments.

With the increase awareness on healthy lifestyles you have seen an increase of online websites offering advice and programs. Some charge a fee, others like bodybuilding.com provide a wealth of information, and pretty specific for your gender and ability level, for free. Many offer programs from top trainers and athletes that can be done either at a gym or in your own home with a few basic weights.
Making the decision to start getting healthy can be overwhelming in itself, couple that with the cost of some of the programs out there and it can be downright defeating. Remember that any change, no matter how small towards a healthier lifestyle will benefit your halite of life in the long run...and most importantly does not need to cost you a fortune to do.