Getting Fit Before The Holidays Strike

The holiday season is just around the corner.

Thanksgivings is just about 4 weeks away. Then Xmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza, to name a few. Your waistline is just about to get the assault of its life.

You know the drill...you come to work and all sorts of goodies await you... brought in by colleagues, co-workers and associates. Maybe you have the willpower to say "no" to it all. Maybe you don't.

Instead of waiting until the holiday season is over to 'get back into shape', why
not start an pre-emptive strike today?

With fitness clubs costing more and more, and their being louder and louder, requiring a special trip out of an ever increasingly hectic schedule just to work out, many of us just don't use them. Yes, we START with good intentions, only to find it a wasted expense because we just don't like to go.

The cash you ponied up for that membership could have been better spent by
purchasing a few pieces of equipment for your home...and going from there.

Here are 7 inexpensive pieces and training gear for your home fitness studio:

1) stationary bike - I just got another one today at Wally's World (WalMart) for
$88.88 - it is by Stamina fitness and is an Air Bike (AirDyne clone). However the
handles can be put in the stationary position if you do not want the movement. And, biking is LOW IMPACT, so it is great for both knee and back injuries. I was able to comfortably work up a sweat in less than 5 minutes.

2) inflatable body wedge - this is also a new purchase for today, also from WalMart ($19.88). Doing floor work is hard enough if you're out of shape. Add a low back problem and almost any surface feels too hard. The body wedge solves that problem. It comes with a DVD showing 21 different exercises that can be performed with it. And, it can double as a massage wedge so I can use it to get a back massage too!

3) free weights - light ones to start, please, as these are for toning. I got
hexagonal 5lb ones today for $2.84 each.

4) weight gloves - a no brainer. These keep your hands from tearing and makes it easier to grip the weights. I have several pairs of these but couldn't find any of them today. So, I picked up another pair for $8.88.

5) weight bench with declinability - this is for doing free weights while sitting.
Trying to find a good cheap one that is stable, well made and has a decline
function has just got easier. Danskin offers one at $39.92.

6) TaeBo Bootcamp - not quite low impact but you can do it in a low impact fashion. And the new resistance bands and how they are incorporated are revolutionary. It also gives you something to work towards, and adds variety to your workout regimen. The best deal going right now for price and delivery time is on QVC for $32.96. It includes the 5 DVDs/VHS from the infomercial with the Billy Bands. Buy it!

7) water - clean, fresh water. This is a must for any fitness and/or weight loss
program. You can either make it yourself or buy it. I prefer reverse omosis and
ozonated water, or the distilled water I find in my local health foods store. This
helps to assure that it is clean of toxins and infectious agents. Today I about a
20oz bottle of Sam's Choice purified drinking water with minerals for 35 cents in
the machine outside the store. Considering the cost of other premium water, this is a steal.

So there you have it. If you picked up each one of these you still haven't spent $200. It is a basic package that can help you stave off the pounds and be your best defense again holiday cheer.

cheryl
aka Dr. J
BetterHealthNews.com
--------------------------