Working out

How to get in Shape on a Budget

Working out

Getting in shape doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact I spend less money when I stick to a healthy diet because I am not eating out constantly and spending money on booze. Here are tips on getting in shape on a budget. 

1. Start with a budget.

Know how much you can spend each week on food and fitness.  Gyms come with group classes, exercise machines and many times a free private training session. GYM Prices also vary. Crunch sells memberships as low as $10 a month. If you really want to build a skill like Yoga, it is sometimes better to go to a Yoga studio where the instructor will focus more on you. You can also find local community classes that are affordable. Some churches also offer free classes. 

2. Figure out if you can afford a gym membership or not and what type of exercise program that you want to partake in. 

If you are a self starter then working out home should be easy. If you need motivation and influence a gym or class might be the best for you. Working out 3-4 times a week is ideal. If you can’t get away from the kids, walking or park activities may be the best. 

Yoga Classes

3. If you can’t go to a gym (or do not have a desire to) you should purchase tools to help you get into shape.

Resistant bands are so easy and cheap. Yoga balls, medicine balls, and free weights are great investments. I can do a whole workout with resistant bands and a 10 lb dumbbell.

4. YouTube and fitness apps are your best friend in finding workout and health tips.

Check out different styles of workouts or do a workout for free with Youtube or Apps. Here’s a list of Apps you may like. 

5. Contrary to popular belief, eating healthy is actually not expensive.

Cut back your meat intake if you are eating it more than one time a day. Chicken and Ground Turkey are healthy for you and are cheaper meats. Beans are awesome for you and are pennies on the dollar. Oatmeal is a great breakfast choice and is extremely inexpensive. You can also purchase-frozen fruits and vegetables to save money. It starts to get a bit pricy when you purchase Organic, but not everything has to be purchased organic. If I can’t afford organic strawberries, I don’t buy them. Friends and family members that are not healthy/clean eater actually spend about 3 times more on food than I do. 

Healthy Food for Healthier You
10 Easy Ways to Eat Healthy Today

6. Walmart has great inexpensive workout clothes.

Their brand Danskin, has been around for forever. In the 90s I was purchasing it for ballet classes. You can also check the racks at your local Ross or TJ Maxx. They sell Nike, Adidas, etc. for a great price. 

Dunkin' Donuts Fries

New: Dunkin’ Donuts fries

New: Dunkin' Donuts fries

Dunkin' Donuts Now Selling Dunkin Donut Fries and Giving away free Coffee Today

04-06-2018

Staff Writer

LIMKETKAI INSIDE Dunkin' Donuts
By Nice Stranger5810 "BJ Alex" (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Boston, Massachusetts: Today, in Boston, Dunkin’ Donuts is selling their new debut Dunkin’ Donuts Fries along with pretzels and waffle-breaded chicken fingers and more as part of a new $2 snacking menu.

Today’s food test will serve as a way to gain feedback from customers and employees to help determine whether to sell the items, nationally.

 

Fast food restaurants are constantly changing items to keep up with their demographic. Dunkin’ Donuts on the west coast is now Dunkin’. Taco Bell recently introduced the $1.00 Nacho Fries, which have been a successful launch. McDonalds has recently taken the “Hot and Spicy” off the menu, resulting in petitions and boycotts. Wendy’s has now launched a campaign jesting McDonalds. 

Have you tried the new Dunkin’ Donuts Fries? Let us know on social media.

Healthy Food for Healthier You

10 Easy ways to Eat Healthier Today

10 Easy ways to Eat Healthier Today

Updated 02-27-2019

Staff Writer

Healthy Food for Healthier You
Eating Healthy is Simple! Here are some tips on how to eat healthier today!

In 2019, eating healthy is not hard because of the vast options that we have. The hardest part is re-training the brain upon what we should or shouldn’t eat. By now, we know that processed foods are not healthy for us and can lead to many diseases, but the accessibility still makes it an option.

Here are 10 easy ways to eat healthier today. 

10 Ways to Eat Healthier Today

1. Ditch the soda!

By now, we all know that artificially sweetened drinks are terrible for you (both diet and regular soda). If you still want something carbonated, try sparkling water that hasn’t any artificial sweetener and is free of artificial dyes.

2. Never let yourself get hungry

Eat 5-6 small meals a day and eat on a set time. If you allow yourself to get hungry the bad temptations will be harder to resist.

3. Tea!

Replace the second cup of coffee with green tea. It has a good amount of caffeine and it can also boost your metabolism.

4. Purchase easy accessible fruit and vegetables

Snacks are always marketed as easy access and quick food item. Why shouldn’t your fruits and vegetables be? Either food prep or purchase them in such a way.

5. Replace fatty meat with low-fat items like frozen shrimp

It is low-calorie and an easy item to fix. Just make sure that it is good frozen shrimp.

6. Brown over white

Switch to brown rice over white rice. Switch to whole grain over white bread. Did you know that brown rice is whole grain and white rice is bleached and hard for your body to digest?

7. Plan your cheat meal

Allow yourself to have a processed meal. Unless you are on a restricted “diet” for health reasons, have 1 naughty meal a week, but plan it. Plan it on the for the holiday or the night you have dinner out.

8. Start taking vitamins

Speak to your health professional first, but you will be surprised how a Multivitamin or Vitamin C can make a big impact.

9. Hide tempting food

If you have kids or others in the house that have the processed items, take them out of arms and eye reach. Out of sight, out of mind. 

10. Drink a lean protein shake to help satisfy a snack or meal

You can put fruits and vegetables in it or simply use almond milk.

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Collagene in pill and powder form

Beauty Tip: Eat your Collagen

Collagene in pill and powder form
Super Collagen in powder and tablet form

Great hair, skin and nails seem like something that should come natural to everyone, but if you are like me, it does not.

I’ve put my hair through a lot within the past years and I have decided to give back.

For the past two months, I have been taking collagen in the powdered form and recently switched to the pill form.

What is Collagen?

I have previously heard about collagen in the form of injectables (fillers) and upon doing research about fillers (I am so tired of covering my dark under eye circles), I stumbled across articles about collagen in a digestible form. I did my research and decided to go ahead and try it.

Collagen consists of Amino Acids (the building blocks of protein) and improves circulation, strengthens the structure of bones, and helps with maintaining healthy skin, hair and muscles click here for more information .

I was interested in trying collagen for superficial reasons: hair growth and maintaining healthy skin.

I haven’t noticed much improvement in my under eye circles and frown lines, but I have noticed a difference in my hair. The funny thing is that the hair on my body is growing super fast while the hair on my head is growing faster, but not as fast as I would like it to.

I haven’t noticed much difference in my nails, but I’ve always had strong nails that grow very fast.

I have noticed less skin bruising. I am accident-prone and I have noticed a lack of bruises from recent run-ins in my nightstand and dining room table.

I have also noticed less soreness after workouts (it is protien). 

So far, I like the product. The brand above is very inexpensive, easy to purchase and rated highly.

The biggest challenge for me is remembering to take the power form on an empty stomach with a source of vitamin C (orange juice was my choice). I purchased the pill form, but the price is more expensive and the quantity is lower.