Save the Gym Membership: Frugal/Free Fitness
Want a fitness routine that you can do anywhere? Get rid of the gym membership you aren't using and get fit for free-- Try walking more.
Walking:
- Burns calories
- Allows you some good thinking time
- Is a very low impact exercise
- Doesn't require much gear or equipment-- a simple pair of sneakers is pretty much it
Walking can be done before work, at lunch, and after work. It can be easily done on vacation or business travel.
Add some simple calisthenics (sit-ups, push-ups, etc.) or simple dumb bells to pick up the intensity if you would like.
Posted by DDFD at 10/9/2008 6:54 PM 
Categories: Self Improvement, Activities, Simple Living, Health/Fitness, Frugality
Tags: Simple Living Fitness Health Activities Self Improvement Frugal Frugality
Categories: Self Improvement, Activities, Simple Living, Health/Fitness, Frugality
Tags: Simple Living Fitness Health Activities Self Improvement Frugal Frugality
In theory, this is a good idea, and probably practical for people who live in safe areas. I'd say it leaves out people in heavily urban areas - particularly women and the elderly. So it's not a bad idea for fit, healthy men who are able to do it. Except for, possibly, people who work in downtown areas and can walk at lunch, when many people are around, it's really not safe for a lot of people to walk in cities, and some people lower the safety factor of such walking further by wearing headphones that block out their awareness of their surroundings. At one time, seniors were encouraged to "mall walk" - climate controlled! Safe! Except that the predators followed them to the malls.
Walking IS good exercise, especially for people who don't have back problems or joint problems. The problem is there are fewer venues where it's safe than you actually seem to think. Even in suburbia, normally thought to be safer than the city, I think most women would certainly be hesitant to be out walking before work, or much after dark - and with good reason.
They'd be better off with workout tapes at home. Or they could simply use those gym memberships. I know I feel safer working out at my gym than I would walking where I live.
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Call me sexist, but I think women and kids should use the buddy system. We go out as a family for a walk on weekends and trail walk weather permitting-- there I definitely insist we pair up. Obviously, if you don't have the ability to buddy up-- a gym may be a better option.
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