After hearing that I was trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, an acquaintance excitedly suggested I invest in the awesome bottled, portable oxygen mask that “all athletes use.” I, of course, laughed at the idea. While making a four-day trek to Machu Picchu is no easy feat for a sea-level dweller like myself, it’s not exactly Mount Everest, more than 4,000 meters higher than the highest point on the Peruvian trail. The extra oxygen would have been a bit excessive, especially since I don’t have any respiratory issues.
However, his reaction is not uncommon. Not because not much is really known about hiking but because there is this perception these days that buying the latest fitness equipment and gadgets will somehow help us build those muscles easier, lose those extra pounds faster, or learn a new skill better. To further prove my point, he later announced that he was going to learn to ride a motorcycle and that he would start out by buying a boatload of accessories he claimed he “needed” for lessons.
In fact, just like an unused gym membership, many of us spend all that money on fitness gadgets that end up gathering dust. Unless we are professional athletes training for a competition or climbing a very difficult summit that has claimed hundreds of lives, we really don’t need to spend a lot of money to stay active and fit. The COVID pandemic has proven that many of us don’t even need an expensive gym membership to achieve our fitness goal.
In fact, last year was the best for me in my entire life when I trained for my trek by climbing our local 233-step staircase (LA is famous for its hidden historic staircases) daily and hiking 10 miles a day on weekends, both of which cost me A whopping $0 total. Not only did I lose a lot of those extra pounds, but I was stronger, healthier, and breathing better.
Fitness Resolution 1: Stop buying the latest fitness gadgets for motivation
Don’t get me wrong: fitness equipment and gizmos are absolutely essential for certain exercise programs and for reaching certain goals. But, if you’ve been starting to solve your fitness this year by spending loads of money on an expensive smart studio mirror or buying one of the best smartwatches, then you’re really doing it the wrong way.
Sure, these things may help motivate you to exercise at first. But most people give up on New Year’s resolutions after just 17.8 days, according to research published in International Journal of Public Health (Opens in a new tab). And this shiny new game will eventually lose its luster if you don’t go into your fitness journey with the right mindset, as well as the right workouts for you.
I had, for example, an exercise bike under the desk that I rarely used and eventually gave it to my neighbor. It was because I spent many hours working at my desk, and it was a promising way to stay active while sitting in front of a keyboard. But, it didn’t really work for me. If anything, it only distracted me, causing me to run slower – a real waste of my time.
Fitness Decision 2: Use public facilities
Climbing my neighborhood stairs and hiking the trails around L.A. has worked for me, for example, because I love being outdoors. I supplemented these activities with home workouts for free YouTube workout videos and $12.99 per month Find out what’s good (Opens in a new tab) Membership (some Yoga by Adrienne videos, by the way, are also free on YouTube).
All I need to complete my workout plan is an Apple Watch Series 6, which I already own, a pair of $30 JLab Go Air Sport headphones that I’ve found to be more reliable and less painful to wear than my expensive Beats Fit Pro headphones, and my subscription to Apple Music. Valued at $10.99 per month.
This completely beat my $200+ monthly pilates studio membership before the pandemic, which only gave me four one-hour sessions a month. I’m not saying, of course, that you shouldn’t invest in the right equipment, but you also don’t need to spend $1,400 plus $12.99 per month on a Peloton Bike to get fit.
On top of climbing stairs and trails this year, I’ll also get better at swimming (I love swimming and being in the water, but I’m not a strong swimmer) by visiting public pools, which should cost around $5-$10 per visit.
It’s worth noting that while some gym memberships are pricey, there are others that will only cost you $10 or so per month (on top of the annual membership fee that most gyms also offer). However, if you want to skip the gym this year like me, whether it’s because of toxic gym culture or because anything near you is too pricey right now, there are also public exercise parks and outdoor gym stations that are free for everyone to use. You just have to do some searching.
Fitness Resolution 3: Eat healthy
Even if you spend two hours a day working out, all that hard work won’t matter if you’re eating crap. What you put in your body matters too, and getting junk food and/or eating junk food every day can still set you back, especially if you’re hoping to lose weight.
This year, you should also devote more time to cooking healthy dishes at home with more vegetables and less meat. Doing this not only helps you get a balanced, nutritious diet because you know and have more control over the ingredients you use, but you’ll save a lot of money, because vegetables cost less than meat and you’re not paying $15 to $25 per serving plus fees. Delivery and tips.
Not only should this help you reach your fitness goals, but it will also help you significantly reduce your weekly food bill, saving you even more money.