Get and Stay Fit in Hard Economic Times

As a result of the current economic climate, I have found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. With no pesky job to interfere with my cozy couch and favorite T.V. shows, I am free to inhale chips and scarf down ice cream until I slip into the warm comfort of a food coma before the soothing glow of the idiot box. A few weeks into my unemployment enjoyment I began to see the toll it has taken on my waistline. Well, what now. Thanks to my extremely fixed income a personal trainer or even gym membership is out of the question. So I've compiled a list of ways I've peeled myself out of the butt-shaped divot on the couch cushion. You'll find the fun and budget friendly(if not free).

Take hike or ride a bike:

This one will likely save you money. Make that trip to the post office or grocery store on foot, although strolling to the shop on the corner to pick up a cheese-steak doesn't count. Many cities have park trails where one can walk, run or cycle. On nice summer days these can also be excellent place to people watch. If trails aren't readily accessible just get out and explore your neighborhood. I like to get back into low traffic residential hoods and alternate by running a block or two then walk a block. Push yourself to run/jog another block. With my iPod on I'll get myself to run throughout the duration of kick-butt motivating tune.

Rediscover your past lives:

You had interests in high-school and college right? No, I don't mean keg stands and bong-rips. Dig around in your garage/closets and dust of that tennis racquet or basketball. Can't find them or never had them? 20 bucks can get you a racquet and balls. Use of the courts at the park are free. I cleaned the bearings of my skateboard and brought it to the local skatepark. Sure, I'm getting schooled by pint-sized rippers but it's still fun.

Small investment, high dividends:

I dropped about 30 dollars on a balance ball. There are cheaper ones available but this one comes with an instructional DVD, because without direction fitness equipment can be useless or even dangerous. For about the same price I picked up a door-frame chin-up bar. Fitness bands are also useful and inexpensive. There is a lot of cheap fitness equipment out there, but beware some make impossible claims. Check on-line and read reviews. You must also be honest with yourself. Are you going to use it regularly? If it is crammed in the closet it can't possibly help you shed pounds.

More time in front of the tube?:

There are a ton of DVDs out there to help you break a sweat. Tae-bo, yoga, pilates, tai-chi and in the privacy of your living room. Pick one that you think will be fun and go with it. Save more cash by searching YouTube and similar sites for work-outs that you can do in front of your computer. Face it, you've probably been caught doing stranger things in front of the computer.

Mix it up:

The same activities day after day can become boring, so break routine now and again. Use a few of these ideas each week to avoid burn-out and keep on eye peeled for new activities. People post on Craigslist to organize sports leagues all the time. Adult dodge-ball anyone? Its out there. Kickball? You bet. Get fit and meet cool people.

Hey Ho, Let's Go!:

The first steps are the biggest and hardest, but once you get moving you'll want to keep going. Sir Isaac Newton states that every object remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. In other words you've got to get moving to stay moving. Get the lead out, put the pedal to the metal, and in the words of Joey Ramone" Hey Ho, Let's Go!".