Fitness Article: Exercise Can Save You Thousands of Dollars: Body Blueprint Personal Training, Mt Maunganui, NZ

If you're a regular reader of my fortnightly fit tips you'll know that there are many excuses that people make to justify why they don't exercise - and the number 1 excuse for not exercising? Lack of time. But is this 'lack of time' excuse really valid? Or is it more to do with a lack of priorities?

The other "argument" is that it costs too much to exercise or join a gym. Truth be known, is exercise really going to COST you money? Or could it be that exercise will actually SAVE you money? (Read on to find out why it's definitely the latter)

The price of inactivity is detrimental to more than just your wallet. The price of a sedentary lifestyle is the impact on your health & wellbeing, quality and longevity of your life, not to mention the impact on your family, friends and loved ones.

So, what steps can we take to improve our health and save TONS of money at the same time?

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand. 4,500 people die prematurely every year (12 deaths per day) from smoking in this country. The damaging effects of smoking have been shown to cause a number of health ailments - including coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.

If the threat of cancer isn't enough to persuade you to quit smoking, perhaps the prospect of poverty will! The financial consequences of smoking extend far beyond the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Smokers pay more for insurance. They lose money on the resale value of their cars and homes. They spend extra on dry cleaning and dentist bills...just to name a few.

Following the recent announcement of huge increases in the price of cigarettes and tobacco, New Zealand's quitline received record numbers of calls from people wanting to kick the habit, therefore the tide may be beginning to turn.

People who exercise regularly and take good care of themselves tend to get sick less often because they have stronger immune systems.

When you exercise regularly, the lymphatic system rids your body of wastes and toxins that might otherwise accumulate and lead to health problems. Other benefits of regular exercise include the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that contribute to a state of wellbeing and improved mood. In short, when you exercise you tend to be more optimistic and have higher levels of immunity than someone who doesn't.

How much do YOU spend on doctor’s bills and prescription medications for the flu, colds or other health conditions? Could these health conditions be alleviated or even prevented all together by exercising exercising regularly? Absolutely!

What would happen if you had to take time off work due to illness? How long would you be covered by insurance? Who would pay your ongoing medical bills, rent or mortgage? How would this impact on your loved ones?

It's quite ironic that many of us spend the majority of our lives working for the day when we can finally enjoy the fruits of our labour -only to be afflicted with health concerns in our latter years. Unfortunately lack of exercise and neglect of our health may have already taken its toll in the form of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease or even cancer.

When you make exercise a part of your lifestyle you'll be much less likely to need time off work due to illness and therefore maintain your earning potential. You're also much less likely to suffer from health problems now and in the future.

More often than not, a strange phenomenon takes place when we make exercise a regular part of our lives. We become nutrition conscious and make smarter food choices. In other words, regular exercise creates the incentive to eat well.

I've heard it said that 'eating healthy costs more,' however this is simply untrue!

Eating healthy will actually SAVE you money. Let’s take a look at the areas where you can save money through good nutrition.

Do you eat on the run? Do you buy your lunch from the cafeteria most days? Or do you prepare your own lunch and have healthy snacks on hand for mid morning and mid afternoon? Why not take 5-10 mins the night before or in the morning to prepare a healthy lunch and snacks to keep you energised throughout the day?

Bought lunches, packaged and processed foods can be 3 or more times expensive than preparing your own food!

Limiting the purchase of boxed, frozen, and processed foods can help you save a great deal of money every month. For example, most boxed cereals tend to be very expensive, are usually very high in sugar and are not as healthy as you may have been led to believe. Why not make yourself a delicious fruit smoothie for breakfast or make your own natural muesli?

Rather than buying vegetables, why not grow your own? Not only will you save money, home grown is more nutritious as well.

Take a critical look at your supermarket trolley next time you're about to make your purchase. The majority of your foods should be unprocessed, natural foods.

If you're hungry during the day, instead of reaching for some biscuits, a packet of chips or a can of 'V,' why not opt for a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts or home made yoghurt instead?

And if you regularly consume soft drinks cut them out now! (these contain sugar, harmful artificial sweeteners and zero nutrition)

What about takeaways? Once a week is fine, however more frequently than this can have a negative impact on your health, not to mention your wallet. How about making home made burgers instead? If you're too tired to cook a meal you could opt for a quick option such as an omelette or vegetable frittata. It takes only a few mins, it's healthy and costs a lot less than junk food.

If you're a big meat eater, consider cutting back on your meat intake and have a vegetarian meal once or twice a week instead. You'll save money and improve your health as well.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in the world. Besides the negative social and health implications, alcohol can make a big dent in our wallets! While the occasional glass of wine or beer is fine, just think what you could do with all that extra money.

For example, forfeiting just 1 average priced bottle of wine per week could pay for:

1) A whole years health insurance
2) A 1 year gym membership
3) A once per month session with a coach, personal trainer or nutritionist

Small changes such as those listed above can add up to BIG savings every month! And one other tip...NEVER go to the supermarket hungry!

Ok, so you've decided that regular exercise is a priority. The next thing to decide is what type of exercise suits your personality and your lifestyle, and most importantly, what can you sustain in the long term as well?

If you're relatively self motivated you could choose to work out from the comfort of your home. Weather permitting you could also include regular walks / bike rides etc

However, when it comes to sticking with a workout programme week after week, month after month, studies show that people who join a gym and /or invest in a personal trainer have the highest success rates.

In fact, a recent report from an international health and fitness organization revealed that 75% of people who exercise are not getting the results they want, however out of the 25% of people who are getting results, 90% of them are work with a coach or personal trainer.

Not only is this success rate attributed to having the right support systems in place, but also the motivational and social aspects as well. Being around other likeminded individuals can help you achieve your health and fitness goals faster and always wanting to come back for more.

Therefore don't consider a gym membership or the occasional session with a personal trainer as an expense - besides, when you apply the tips above you'll potentially save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per year. Consider a gym membership as an INVESTMENT in your health.

Make exercise a part of your lifestyle, reap the benefits and save thousands of dollars every year. If you don't take the time to be well, you may be forced to take the time to be sick.

Mark Woodgate is a leading New Zealand personal trainer. He has successfully transformed thousands of people thanks to his revolutionary ‘quality versus quantity’ training principles.

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