How to Stay in Shape Without Breaking the Bank

It’s easy to think that fitness costs money to achieve and maintain. It’s commercially popular to associate affluence with healthiness, but with some conscious efforts, you can achieve the same for just pennies a day.

Eat Smart

It's true ... you’ll do better when you eat your vegetables every day. Luckily, kitchen appliances are available that make eating those vegetables easier than when you were a kid. Juicers and high-speed blenders will transform fruits and vegetables into surprisingly delicious smoothies and drinks.

Even though you’ll need specialized appliances to process the fruit and vegetables, by making your own smoothies and drinks at home, you’ll start saving money immediately over grocery store or smoothie bar prices.

Exercise Daily

• Park far away. Whenever you go somewhere, park as far as you can from the entrance. That extra walking counts in your daily step total and may give you enough time to collect your thoughts before you’re off to work for the day.
• Ride your bike. Weather and safety permitting, consider riding your bike instead of driving. When you’re properly fitted to your bicycle and equipped with gear that promotes visibility, the ride can be as efficient, fast and safe as driving your car. 
• Use the stairs. Why limit yourself to the StairMaster at the gym to get the benefits of uphill climbing? Just forego the elevator whenever you can to get a workout throughout your day.
• Get a jump rope. When it’s too hot, cold or wet to go outside, jump rope. It builds cardio and strength, and when you do it to music, it’s a good way to get your energy flowing.

Differentiate Your Workout

Break up your fitness routine from time to time by doing the following.

• Run or walk fast in the park.
• Do some yard work. Whether it’s mowing or gardening, yard work involves aerobic and strength-building exercise.
• Clean the house. At a normal pace, vacuuming for 30 minutes burns about 120 calories. And picking up the pace is bound to burn more and increase your heart rate.

Spend a Little to Get a Lot

• High school swimming pools. Locals might be able to buy passes to their school district’s aquatic facilities. Most of those pools have dedicated lap lanes in Olympic-size pools.
• Parks and recreation. Water aerobics classes are another opportunity your local parks and recreation department may offer at community center pools, indoors and out. They may also have community centers with workout facilities.
• Passes for travel workouts. When you travel, purchasing weekly passes to participating gyms is another way to deal with business travel and staying fit. This also gives you a great way to meet individuals and change up your exercise programs when you’re on-the-go.

Nothing lowers the stress associated with business travel better than a good workout. Dollar for dollar, a Prime Travel Pass is an affordable splurge that gives you access to fully equipped gyms wherever you go. Try it today!