It’s Not Necessary to Break the Bank to Begin an Exercise Program
Most people who want to begin an exercise program but haven’t been able will point to two factors: time and money. I’m going to speak to the money factor in this article, but almost everyone can find the time if they regard their exercise program as an important factor in their life (like their job) rather than an add-on which might get squeezed in after everything else is done. After all, what’s more important than your health? Anyway, that’s the subject of another article.
If you watch TV and read popular magazines, you may have the belief that a regular exercise program requires an investment in $200 shoes, $1000 wardrobes, $100 per month gym memberships, or a $10,000 investment in a home gym. Of course, the companies selling these things would like you to believe that, just like the car company selling the $40,000 SUV wants you to believe your life’ll be perfect once you get one.
The truth of the matter is that you can find last season’s athletic shoes for less than half price, you can buy your workout clothes at K-Mart, fitness centers offer special pricing all the time, and home workout equipment can be obtained at very reasonable cost.
There are a number of retailers on the Internet who sell closeout and overstock athletic clothing and shoes. One I’ve used in the past is Sierra Trading Post. A Google search for “closeout running shoes” or “discount workout clothes” or a similar term will return a multitude of choices. Remember that you don’t need Nike or Adidas running shorts or tops. Of course, if you find an excellent price on them, that’s great. But if you’re going to walk or run, the shoes and socks are the important items, and that’s the area where you want to go with the high end brands (at a discount, of course). You can apply similar strategy to whatever fitness activity you intend to engage in, be it anything from tennis to cycling.
When it comes to gym memberships, I can offer you two very valuable pieces of advice. One, read the contract. You’ll probably have to do this right there in the club at the salesperson’s desk, because they normally won’t let you take it until you sign. The salesperson may try to rush you through it, but read it all, and ask questions about anything that’s not clear to you. Secondly, and most important-don’t sign up on your first visit. Take whatever literature they give you and say you’ll think about it. They will take your phone number, and they almost invariably will call you. At that point, you can negotiate, and you have a very good chance of contract that’s much improved over the one they originally offered you. The only exception to this rule is if they’re running a special, and you know from talking to people or your own experience that this is a fantastic offer. Then you may as well snap it up. However, be aware that many workout centers run a special of some sort every week or month. Of course, when you come in, they’ll tell you that the current special is ending on such and such a date. They won’t mention that a different special will start up immediately afterwards.
As far as home exercise equipment, you can get some great deals these days due to the power of the Internet. My web site www.aa-fitness-guide.com goes into more detail about fitness equipment choices. One great option for exercise equipment is eBay. You can get some excellent deals if you’re careful to check the feedback that the seller has received from previous auction winners, and as long as you factor in the shipping cost, since some sellers will boost their shipping charges to increase their profits. One other tip I can give you is to never buy a used piece of exercise equipment if the only pictures the seller is showing are the manufacturer’s pictures of the new item. The exact used item that they are selling should be pictured. If not, the item may not be as described, or it may not even exist. Of course, you’re not limited to used stuff. You can also find some great prices on closeouts of new equipment. However, be sure to check online retailers before bidding on ebay. Sometimes you’ll find a great deal right off a retailer’s site.
Anyone, regardless of the size of their pocketbook, can enjoy the benefits of fitness, as long as they exercise a little selectivity.
Article by Joe Serpico, publisher of aa-fitness-guide.com, where you can find free information on exercise, health, nutrition, and fitness equipment.
**The authors of this site are neither licensed physicians nor scientists; we simply provide a space where hard to find information is free for the gathering. Use common sense when implementing any of our suggestions or those of your fellow reader. **
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