Shape up or ship out!

Is your health slowly sailing away? Is a costly gym membership simply out of the question? If I was to tell you that there were other possibilities out there, then why not put a healthy lifestyle back on the horizon? Anchors down, folks, Healthy Living Online, have the answer!

With a standard 12-month gym membership standing at around £395, it seems that the prospect of ‘shaping up’ is even trickier than first thought (because if you’re anything like me, then you probably don’t have a spare 400 smackers lying around for you to spend on yourself). But it need not be this way; there are plenty of alternatives available to you, given the proper guidance:

What Else Is There?

  1. If you’re completely stuck for a regime and an exercise plan to follow then why not take advantage of your local gym’s “Free Trial”? The majority of gym’s offer a Free Trial lasting between 1 and 3 days in which you are entitled to ask advice from an instructor (perhaps you could ask him to draw you up a quick exercise routine to suit you) and use all of the equipment in front of you. This will give you the opportunity to devise yourself an exercise plan which you could follow at home at none of the cost.
  2. At almost a quarter of the cost of a gym membership why not try purchasing a bicycle as an alternative, after all an actual bike has to be better than an exercise bike, right? A standard bicycle costs around £85 and hosts a large number of benefits. Bicycle riding is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise (particularly good for the heart) and also aids toning and muscle strength, specifically targeting the stomach, thighs, and buttocks. In addition to this riding a bike could quite easily substitute a car when travelling short journeys, saving petrol as an added bonus. Why not clean up the air whilst you clean up your act?! Bicycle riding is also appealing to children as a social activity with friends and parents alike.
  3. Walking is an excellent method of exercise and is much less strenuous than a workout at the gym, so why not ask ‘man’s best friend’ for a little assistance? Taking the dog for a walk not only exercises the dog you know! Walking is good for the legs, heart, lungs and not to mention your well-being. Walking can be relaxing and enjoyable and is suitable for all ages, from children to the elderly making it an ideal alternative for those who simply aren’t eligible to join a gym.
  4. If it’s the watchful eye of other gym members that’s putting you off (and not just the price) then why not exercise from the comfort of your own home? Exercise videos have been popular for decades as they give you the option to do as much or as little exercise as you feel is appropriate. With DVD’s and videos being promoted by familiar faces (such as that of Davina McCall) they can be a fun and effective method of exercise, offering privacy if you want it.

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