Frugal Finds Friday: Shed pounds, save money

Feeling fluffy? The summer is approaching quickly and there are many ways to whittle those winter waistlines with minimal expense.

First of all, get out and enjoy this gorgeous weather. Walking is one of the cheapest and most convenient forms of exercise you can do. Whether you park farther from the door at work, take the stairs instead of the elevator or grab a friend for a lunch-time stroll, make it a priority to add more steps to your day however you can.

Second, develop at least one new outdoor passion this summer. Tie on those running shoes and find a new path to explore. Learn to canoe or kayak. Dust off the mountain bike and trail maps. There is so much to see and experience by simply making the effort to get there. I tried kayaking once. Not for me but plenty of people enjoy the experience. When I went, I ended up capsized in the ocean with a sea turtle circling. Maybe I’ll try the lake next time.

Third, do projects around the house that burn calories. DIY projects give you exercise, experience and the satisfaction of learning what it takes to complete a job yourself. Mow your own lawn. Scrape old paint to repaint the porch, deck or side of the house.

Gardening is another “around-the-house” activity which is also a great way to save money on groceries, get your daily dose of sunshine and get a workout. From hoeing to weeding, you will be surprised what muscles come in handy. Hauling the wheelbarrow, shoveling new mulch and raking out dead leaves all contribute to the care of your yard and give great exercise. When you are done with your property, ask a neighbor to help with his or hers. You both benefit. You get the exercise and the neighbor usually appreciates the help. Make sure you ask first.

If you haven’t already, you are probably beginning to think about where you are going to spend your summer vacation and what you are going to do while there. Make sure you also think about what activities can you incorporate to at least break even on caloric intake. It is so easy to get out of control when you are eating out at every meal. If your exercise can equal or outweigh your vacation diet, perhaps coming home won’t be quite so painful when you step back on the scales.

There are many ways to add in exercise when away from home. Plan a day hike or a trip to a really big historic museum or park. Walk, walk, walk and drink lots of water. On rainy days, ask whether your hotel has an indoor pool and gym.

If you are staying close to home this summer, make sure to at least find a couple of garage sales to peruse. This is the season for cleaning out and you might find a plentitude of exercise gear that homeowners bought last year and didn’t use over the winter. From stretch bands to arm weights, you might be able to get good deal on equipment to use at home when you can’t get out but need to fit in that little bit of extra exercise each day.

Overall, whatever you are doing and wherever you go, you can find ways to get exercise simply by making sure you are moving more through the day. If you are trying to work certain muscles, make sure to stretch and know your limits so that you don’t ending hurting more than you help.

Send your questions or comments to Sarah at sarah@peppel.com or send a tweet to www.twitter.com/DIYFrugal

This article originally posted in the Phoenix on May 27, 2009.  It is being referenced at Chesco Moms in June 2oo9.

Tagged as: exercise, Frugal Finds Friday