Finding the Best Deals to Stay Fit
Staying fit does not mean having to push your budget to the limits and there are many low-cost workout options. 
How important is it to keep fit? Ask anyone about the benefits of exercise and its positive effects on health are sure to form part of their answer. In terms of our health, getting and staying fit can help prevent a range of conditions including high blood pressure and heart disease. Regular exercise also helps us control our weight and can prevent Type 2 diabetes. It also helps boost energy levels. To realize the benefits it is recommended that you do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. That may sound a lot but when broken down over five days it works out at just 30 minutes a day.
Exercise also has a positive benefit on our mental health. It provides an emotional lift and is a great way of combating stress.
A common misconception about exercise is that you have to join a gym to achieve the level of fitness you are looking for, however, there are low-cost activities to help you stay fit.
Walking: This is the cheapest form of exercise and one of the most effective. Walking boosts the function of the heart and the lungs and it helps improve circulation. Increasing the amount you walk is easy. Try walking to work or if that is not possible take a walk during your lunch break. Use the stairs at work rather than the elevator. Buy a pedometer or download a pedometer app to your smartphone and count the number of steps you take each day. Aim for 10,000 steps a day.
Stay Indoors: This does not mean watching the television or browsing online. Buy a set of weights or a skipping rope for a vigorous home workout. If your budget stretches that far you could buy a home version of the equipment used in gyms, such as an exercise bike or a rower.
Watch your diet: You have heard the saying “you are what you eat” and there is a definite ring of truth about it. By cutting back on junk food you can improve your fitness, your weight level, and your finances all at the same time. For instance, if you consume a lot of fizzy drinks replace them with tap water. This cuts down drastically on your sugar consumption and water keeps you hydrated during exercise far more effectively. Replace snacks that are high in calories and sugar with fresh fruit. Naturally low in calories and less expensive than processed snack foods, fruit also provides the vitamins and minerals you need to feel energized when working out.
Workout Gear: You do not have to spend a huge amount of money on gear and clothing for exercising. A common mistake people make with workout gear is to spend money on items they do not really need. Online there are numerous free resources offering reviews and product summaries. For instance, Tommie Copper videos on YouTube give you an idea of the functionality and suitability of the range of Tommie Copper products. Buying a few well-chosen items that meet your exercise needs makes much more financial sense than purchasing a vast quantity of gear that ends up gathering dust in the back of a closet. Compression clothing is one range of gear in which the benefits far outweigh the cost. For a comprehensive line of compression clothing check out the Tommie Copper range with collections for men, women, and kids. Compression garments help ease muscle stiffness and support post-exercise recovery, preventing the type of injuries that may cost money in physician fees and physiotherapy sessions.
The gym: If you think you would really benefit from joining a gym then find the best membership deal available. If your work or home arrangements are flexible you might benefit from off-peak gym membership, which is often cheaper. Some gyms offer trial periods for those who do not want to commit to long-term membership without determining first if the gym is for them. If you want to access a particular class in the gym it may represent better value to pay for it rather than take out a general membership you would not use.
Staying fit makes you healthy and happy and so does having money in the bank. Keep your fitness levels up and your bank balance in the black by finding the best fitness deals.
