photo credit: Celso Flores

2008 was a year filled with ups and downs.   My wife was in and out of the hospital a couple of times, and at one stretch was hospitalized for 3 weeks straight with a blood clot. We had tons of other things going on during the year that made it a hard one, and we were relieved to start a new year relatively unscathed.

With the new year beginning I’ve set some goals for myself in the coming year, and one of them is related to my health and fitness. I’d like to lose another 30-35 pounds this year, to get to my desired weight of around 200 lbs. I’ve come close to that goal before, but I’ve never completely reached it.

In 2007 I started my journey towards becoming fit. I started the year at 255 pounds, my heaviest weight ever. I wasn’t happy at that weight, and I knew I needed to lose weight. Since I had turned 30 the year before I began reflecting on my health, where I was, and where I wanted to be. 255 pounds and unhealthy was not what I was shooting for.

That year, 2007, I lost 40 pounds to get down to 215 lbs. I was proud of that accomplishment, but because I wasn’t focused on living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I started reverting back to old habits. I started eating out at fast food restaurants again. I started getting a coffee and donut on my way to work. Finally, I stopped working out again.

My problem? I was living from the mindset that there are two ways to live. First, you can live healthy while you’re on a diet. Second, you can live “normal life”. The problem is, if you want to live a healthy life you have to make eating healthy and exercising your “normal life”. It has to become your new paradigm.

This year, my goal is to lose the weight, and to KEEP IT OFF. I want to change the way I view the world so I can get to the point where living healthy is the “new normal”.

How about you? Are you working towards a fitness goal this year? Once you reach your goal will you continue living healthy? How are you training yourself to think about living healthy as the new normal?

Over the Christmas holiday I got a new Ipod Touch through some work I did for another website.  Since my old classic Ipod was stolen a few months back I had forgotten how much I loved having an Ipod.   It was useful in so many ways,  but then again it was limited for some applications.  It was mostly just a music/movie/game machine.

Now that I have an Ipod touch, I’ve realized that it can be oh so much more.  It can do email, surf the web, play games, and use custom apps that can help you do anything from keep a shopping list to track your workouts.  I realized that the touch can help me fulfill my workout and weight loss goals I’ve set for the new year! What is my fitness goal for the new year? I’ve set a goal of losing 35 pounds by July 1st. Wish me luck!

Helpful Health and Fitness Apps

I’ve downloaded some useful health and fitness apps, and I thought I’d give a quick review of some of my favorites.

• Weightbot from Tapbots:  The weight tracking app is one of my favorite new apps.   The app is extremely simple, but has a beautiful design.  What does it do for you?  You can enter your weight daily through a simple interface, and watch as your weight decreases (hopefully) over time.   It’ll show you your BMI, and after you enter your goal weight it will show you a beautiful graph showing your progress, or lack thereof.  Basically, it is a great way to motivate yourself.  You can also make backups of the data through your wi-fi connection, and in the future you’ll be able to export your weight data.   Also, if you want to make sure that no one else views your data, you can lock it with a passcode!  Not bad for .99 cents!
• Gym Buddy: This app provides a nice way to keep track of your workouts. Define your own exercises, set up your own workouts. Allows you to keep track of your workouts by time, repititions, weight and notes. Also includes a way of tracking your cardio after a recent update. Only $2.99, and a good replacement for a workout notebook.
• PushupFu: A while back i was doing the 100 pushups challenge. I’m not doing that right now, but if you enjoy pushups, here’s a fun little pushups app. The application allows you to do pushup training, compete against others, and get scores for your pushups. Hard, but fun! $2.99
• Run Chart: This little app allows you to time your run workouts, as well as gives you audible cues as to how long you’ve been running. Set up specific routes in the software and setup goal split times to reach. The software will give you audible cues when those times are reached. Nice little piece of software for $2.99.
• Ifitness: A nice fitness app that shows you over 115 different exercises that you can perform, categorized by body region. Also allows you to log your workouts. Affordable as well at only $1.99
• Ipump Free Workout: Try out a free workout from Pump One, created by fitness professionals. They’d like to you to buy one of their paid apps, but give the free one a try first. Includes pictures of exercises, logs, exports via email. Can’t go wrong with free.
• Fit Phone: Another workout log that helps you keep track of your workouts, and then has some nice graphs to help you see how you’ve been progressing. $4.99
• Ishape: Calorie, nutrition and exercise diary. Set weight loss goals, and use the app to help you achieve them. Currently on sale for .99 cents!

So there you go, there’s a handful of good fitness apps for your Iphone or Ipod. They are certainly only a few of the apps that you can use to work towards your goals, and there a ton more waiting for you to discover them at the Apple Apps Store.

Do you have any Ipod or Iphone apps that you’re using to help further your fitness goals? What are they?

photo credit: Abdullah AL-Naser

Time to get back on the wagon!

It’s that time of year again where people are making resolutions, vowing that they’re going to lose that 10-20 pounds that they’ve gained during the year.

If you don’t already have a home gym, or a membership at a local club, you’ll probably be looking into joining a club where you can work off the extra pounds.   The problem is that most of these clubs aren’t cheap.

According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the median annual cost for a new gym member is a whopping $775 (This amount is based on a sample of IHRSA gyms.)

Tips for keeping gym costs down

An article I found on smartmoney.com offers some tips to getting a gym membership and keeping it more affordable.

• Negotiate: Even if the gym is having a “New Member Drive” with specially-discounted rates, don’t settle for the first offer they give you, says Cedric Bryant, who develops education certification and training materials for the American Council on Exercise. That’s because gyms are eager to get new members.  “Many gyms are much more open to negotiating because there’s fierce competition for acquiring new members,” says Bryant. Ask the gym to eliminate its initiation fee or reduce the monthly payments. Or request that they include programs you’d otherwise have to pay extra for.  Current members can also try haggling for a lower price. Use more attractive offers from other gyms as leverage to renegotiate your dues, for example. Or ask for any special deals they’re offering to new members.
• Tap Into Employer and Insurer Discounts: Even after you’ve haggled your way into an affordable gym membership, you may be able to reap even more savings through special employer- or insurer-sponsored discounts.  Often, large companies or unions will offer discounts at a certain gym or reimburse employees for a portion of their membership expenses. To see what’s available to you, contact your company’s human relations department. Insurance companies often offer discounts through their health and wellness programs
• Make Sure the Gym Fits: Just because the price is right doesn’t mean the gym is. If the gym isn’t conveniently located to your home or office, has hours that don’t fit yours or is just too crowded, the likelihood of actually using your membership drops dramatically, says Rofling. Before you commit, ask to use the gym on a trial basis to test out its equipment and classes. Most gyms will allow first-time members to do so for around two weeks. (Be wary of gyms that don’t.) Visit the gym during the hours that you’ll be there most. For example, while most gym equipment tends to be free on weekday mornings, it’s common to see lines of people waiting to use the treadmill in the evening. Also, check to see if the gym plan offers the services you want. Prefer to work out in groups? Make sure the membership includes classes and you don’t have to pay extra. Each gym has a different policy, says Rosemary Lavery, spokeswoman for IHRSA.
• Track Down Affordable Alternatives): Working out in a state-of-the-art gym isn’t the only way to stay fit. For those strapped for cash, look to local parks and recreation programs for low-cost fitness programs. Also, some local colleges and universities open their gyms to the general public for a small cost, says Bryant.  Another option: Try a 24-hour workout center like Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness that aren’t staffed with personal trainers or much staff for that matter. (You can, however, bring your own personal trainer or the fitness centers can supply one at an additional cost.) Each member has a key card that gives them 24-hour access to the facilities. Membership is cheaper than commercial gyms, but this option is only well-suited for those who know the proper way to work out on their own.
• Sign Up for a PassBook: For yoga, Pilates and other fitness enthusiasts, one inexpensive way to gain access to a host of fitness clubs and classes in your area is to buy a PassBook. Sold by the American Health and Fitness Alliance, PassBooks allow consumers to use gyms, yoga, Pilates and dance studios and other fitness facilities without signing up for a membership. PassBooks are available for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, and are valid throughout the calendar year. (The number of times you can visit a specific facility will vary.) One book costs $75 plus $4 postage and handling and can be found on the AHFA’s web site or call 212-808-0765.

So there you have it, it’s time to get fit. Now you have no reason not to do it becaues you should be able to fit it into any budget.  Want to workout at home? Check out my article talking about building an inexpensive home gym!

photo credit: krisdecurtis

Christmas is almost here, and if you’re anything like me you’ve got a pretty long list of people you need to buy gifts for.

I don’t really want to spend a ton of money on the gifts I buy, but I do want to give gifts that people will appreciate - and use.

With that in mind I came up with a list of 10 frugal fitness gifts that you can give to a loved one this Christmas, for under $50!  Click through to the links to see more details!

10 Frugal Fitness Gifts Under $50

1. Yoga Paws: Yoga Paws might be a good gift for that special lady in your life who enjoys doing Yoga.  The Yoga Paws are little wearable yoga mats so that you can take them with you and do your Yoga, wherever you go!  LINK: Yoga Paws - Mini Yoga Mats for your hands and feet!
2. Amphipod Running pack:  Know someone who’s a runner? Check out this little running pack - they can put their keys in it, a phone, their license and other essentials.  It won’t bounce around like crazy though, it’s meant for running!  LINK: Amphipod Running Pack
3. Biggest Loser workout: This is one of the few workout videos that I’ve actually enjoyed using.  The video features regular people doing the workouts, and its very motivating to realize that the people you’re working out with are in the same boat as you.   LINK:  The Biggest Loser the Workout Volume 1 & 2 DVD Video 2 Disk Set
4. Hoopnotica Hula Hoops:  Hula Hoops are back in this year.  After the Ninendo Wii had such fantastic success with their interactive hula hoop game, other hula hoop workouts have gained prominence.  Check out this travel hula hoop!  LINK: Hoopnotica Travel Hula Hoop
5. Apple Itunes Gift Card: Most people enjoy working out to music from their favorite MP3 player.  Give them the gift of music this  year with an Apple Itunes Gift Card! LINK:  Apple iTunes Music Card Prepaid ($25)
6. KleanCanteen Water bottle: Those old plastic water bottles aren’t very good for you.  Upgrade their water bottle with a new Klean Kanteen! LINK:  Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles
7. Exercise Ball: An old standby workout companion, the exercise ball!  LINK:  SPRI SB55VC 55cm Total Body Xercise Ball
8. Dumbells: Get someone started on a weights workout routine.  Buy them their first set of dumbbells!   LINK:  Vinyl Dumbbell, 20 LB, Black
9. Heart Rate monitor: Know someone who’s really into working out?  Get them a heart rate monitor so they can take their workouts to the next level! LINK:  Ekho E-15 Heart Rate Monitor Watch
10. Traveling Trainer:  Have a spouse who’s a road warrior, constantly going from city to city for work? Get them a portable elastic band resistance training set!  LINK:  SPRI Advanced Traveling Trainer

So there you have it, 10 frugal fitness gifts you can give this Christmas.  Have some of your own ideas for a frugal fitness gift that you’re giving this year? Let us know what it is in the comments!