Skip to main content

Intentional Living - Frugal Fitness

As much as my life has added undesired debt, it's added undesired weight. Going forward, to attack debt and to become healthier, my focus will be on frugal fitness and intentional living. Intentional living will become a common thread in this journaled journey.

My gym membership ran out on Monday the 5th, and spending on food/drink is often a source of extreme waste for myself and many Americans. The gym membership won't be purchased, and a simple approach will be in place to avoid waste on food and drink.

Admission:  I've wasted money in search of health and fitness. While health and fitness are important to me, and worthy of money spent, there are many things I've done that have been in waste. This includes purchasing many types of supplements (common fitness supplements, but also MLM type supplements like Beachbody and Advocare, etc.). To keep it simple, I believe supplements are a waste of money when you're purchasing them in ways that I have. I've purchased supplements to "motivate" me to get started towards becoming healthier. Motivation can't be bought. I've also purchased supplements to feel like I'm part of a community. 

These two things, a search of motivation and community, aren't necessarily bad. However, for me, it hasn't led to ongoing success in my personal health and wellness. I've followed many fad diets, purchased many fitness programs and equipment, and purchased many supplements over the years. With all of those purchases and endeavors, I'm 34 and still searching to be as well physically as I'd like to be.

So, the plan. Eat and move mindfully. Simplicity. Intentional decisions.

I have a stationary bike, a barbell with plates, resistance bands, and nature. This is all I need. Most mornings, like this morning, I will get up an hour earlier and get in some time on my stationary bike. I've found that exercise in the morning is the best way to start my work day. No extreme goals, just pedal and log miles. Day 1 - 11.5 miles. 

When I have time and desire, I'll get outside and walk, and do resistance training circuits. This will most likely happen during my lunch hour and on the weekends. This will benefit me in multiple ways, as being outside and getting my heart rate elevated recharges my batteries like nothing else.

As far as feeding and watering myself, this is where I'll save the most money. 
  • Purchase no coffee or caffeinated drinks.
  • Buy groceries and pack my food for lunch.
  • Eat mindfully, and to 80% full only.
That last one will be key. Controlling my calories is the key to getting where I want to be physically. I'll save what I eat for a future post.

I find we make life and our goals far more complicated than they need to be. I look forward to making more intentional choices when it comes to my physical, and financial, wellness in the future.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Frugal Dieting

As talked about yesterday, Americans spend a lot of money on food and drink. If you eat outside of your home often, you spend even more. Two weeks in to this 30 day budget cycle, and I'm already at my budgeted amount for food/groceries/house items. After seeing this I need to make two changes. The first change is adding another line item to my budget for household items (think paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products), because right now it's getting lumped in with my grocery dollars. The second change is an effort to eat more frugally. I've begun to do this, but efforts will be increased. Here is my plan: I need to get to a point where I make a list and shop once a week. I've been known to stop by Hannaford 3-4 times per week and this alone will lead to buying too much. I want to stick to a simple eating plan: Delay my first meal as long as possible in the morning. I think there are benefits to the combination of  intermittent fasting/calorie restriction
2 comments
Read more

Time and Money

The past four years have been a realization that there exists two main commodities in life, time and money. In this post I talked about the fact that when you spend your money, you're mortgaging your time. This was most evident a few weeks after Christmas 2014. The girls reached an age where their Christmas list was quite large; a lists of desired toys influenced by the culture they find themselves growing up in. L and I obliged their many desires that year, leading to a fairly expensive Christmas. A mere two weeks after Christmas those many wants, which were now haves in their very hands, no longer held the same meaning to them. I didn't and don't blame them for this. I feel it's a "luxury" of their generation, and if I'm honest, each generation between theirs and my own. Under that tree that year existed many hours L and I spent at work. I dare say time that would have rather been spent as a family, doing any number of things that cost little to
2 comments
Read more

Find a Tribe

With most goals, I always suggest people find a small accountability group for support. It's often said that our behaviors can be strongly influenced by the 6 closest people in our lives.  According to a survey done by the investment app Acorns, talking about money isn't something that people like to do. I dare say many find it taboo. A statistic shared by Acorns is that 68% of people would rather talk about their weight than talk about their financial situation .  One side benefit of sharing this journal, is I have found others that are on a similar journeys. Having people to discuss things with and hold you accountable (whether directly or passively) can help with motivation. Finding someone who has practiced the behaviors you're working on for a good duration of their life can serve as a great mentor, whether you actually designate that person with such a title or not. Whatever life goals you have, find a tribe of like minded individuals. Guard against people who co
2 comments
Read more