The benefits of exercising and eating a wholesome diet are well-known, yet many people still struggle to find the time, money and motivation to look after their health and fitness properly. If the costs of buying fresh, nutritious food or starting an exercise program seem to be out of your reach, don’t despair. There are ways to eat well and keep fit that aren’t beyond the means of most people, plus of course, if you’re looking after yourself, you’re far less likely to incur medical expenses or have to take time off work because you’re sick.

Get some exercise

If your budget is severely limited, then the best option is to take advantage of all the free or very cheap ways to exercise. For example, walk instead of using the car or bus – which will save you money too! Taking the stairs instead of elevators is another good tip, and you can walk for free anywhere in your neighborhood. When you’ve built up some fitness, you could jog or run the same routes. The only expense involved will be purchasing a decent pair of running shoes, so you don’t put too much strain on your feet. If you can spend a little more, then a gym membership can be well worth the monthly cost, as you will have access to so many different facilities as well as expert help and advice. For instance, this chain of gyms in Tucson Arizona offers memberships perks such as tanning, hydro massage, and access to an infrared sauna, as well as all the fitness equipment and exercise facilities.

Eat well

Fresh fruit and vegetables have a reputation for being expensive, but if you’re smart, you can find some genuine bargains in the produce aisles. Look for anything that is in season, because that will be cheaper than out of season produce that has been imported or grown in artificial conditions. You’ll usually find fruit and vegetables that are discounted because they’re near their expiry dates, which will be fine eaten straight away or used for soups and one pot meals. Spending a little more on fresh produce will bring you many health advantages, and if you team your fresh items with cheaper sources of carbohydrate such as pasta and rice, you can make a nutritious and delicious meal for very little. If the range of fresh produce is limited, or there’s nothing within your price range, frozen vegetables are nutritionally just as good as fresh. You’ll also find that cooking for yourself will save you money, and if you batch cook large amounts of freezer-friendly foods like chili or pies, you’ll be able to stock your freezer with plenty of meals and save yourself time as well.

Keeping fit and looking after your health is far too important to be ignored, and having a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t be fit and healthy. If you take care of yourself and make an effort to improve your health and fitness, you could well find you are leading a happier life and have improved prospects for the future.

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