Tag Archive for: fitness

Eating Healthy On A Budget

Eating Healthy on a Budget

/in /by
Eating Healthy On A Budget

We know the struggle is real. You have great intentions of eating healthy, but the convenience and price of fast food reels you in every time. And let’s face it; a greasy hamburger is a lot more satisfying than a kale salad. Positives aside, eating that McDonalds burger and fries isn’t getting you any closer to a healthier you. Price can be a big contributing factor to losing the battle against fast food, as many healthier food options are actually more expensive. To help guide you toward budget friendly, healthier eating, we have compiled a list of money saving tips.

Meal plan

So this is the part where convenience goes out the window (sorry). Eating healthy needs to be looked at as part of your lifestyle, which means you have to be dedicated to preparing your meals instead of racing through a drive-thru window. Planning your meals ahead of time makes budgeting a lot easier as you have more control over what you’re spending per meal. Plan to make foods like stews, casseroles, or stir-fries, which stretch more expensive items like meat into more portions.

Buy in season

Not only are the prices for fruits and vegetables cheaper when bought in season, but also fresher, adding to a better taste. An issue of concern with buying fruits and vegetables for a lot of shoppers is that the items will ruin. If you think that you won’t be using certain fruits or vegetables right away, buy ones that aren’t fully ripened yet. You can also freeze any leftover fruits and use them later for a smoothie.

Cut out the snacks

We don’t mean all snacks, just those unhealthy vending machine snacks that catch your eye between lunch and dinner. Sodas and sugar filled treats not only are extremely unhealthy for you, they also add up in cost. Instead, try making your own healthy snacks. Items like nuts and yogurt are great to hold you over till the next meal and are super cheap when buying in bulk.

Bulk buy

It’s going to hit your bank account hard at first, but in the long run you will spend less on groceries leading to savings. Items like chicken, steak or fish, as well as large bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables will almost always be cheaper to buy in bulk. Even if you don’t think you’ll use them all in a week’s time, you can always freeze these items and use for the next week.

Start a garden

It’s a lot easier than you might think to grow your own food, and the savings are big for this one. If you’re going to eat healthy, fruits and vegetables are a must for your diet, so you can expect to spend money on these items. So let’s break it down. The average cost for a pound of organic tomatoes is $4.00. The cost to buy a potted tomato plant at Home Depot that will produce 8 pounds of tomatoes costs $4.98. Yep, that’s a lot of savings. And don’t think you need a back yard to have a garden. You can find multiple tutorials online on how to create window vegetable gardens for those living in an apartment or condo.

Fitness- Indoor Games And Sports

How to Up the Motivation on Getting in Shape

/in /by

Let’s go back to around March or April and think about your fitness goals. Was it something along the lines of “ the ultimate beach body by summer?” If that has yet to be obtained, then there is still time to kick it into high gear at the gym and start eating a healthy diet. If your reading this blog, then chances are the reason you haven’t obtain your fitness goal is due to lack of motivation. I mean let’s face it, working your butt off at the gym and then going home to eat a salad and downing a protein shake isn’t the most exciting routine to start. To help you get in the gym and start eating right, here are some tips to help with motivation.

1. Get some new workout clothes

Ever experience that feeling of no longer dreading the next day of work because you have some new threads to show off to your co-workers? It works the same for when getting new gym clothes. Make going to the gym a fashion show. Purchase some workout clothes you feel confident in and you’ll be itching to go to the gym to show them off.

2. Recruit a fitness buddy

Misery loves company ;). We kid, but having a partner in crime to knock out the weights does make it a lot more enjoyable. Turn working out into your new weekly get together with your closest friends and you’ll start looking forward to hitting the gym.

3. Sign-up for group fitness classes

It’s not all about boring work out routines and the monotonous jog around the track. Sign up for a swim class, a dance class, a spin cycle class, or any other class that gets your blood pumping.

4. Put your money where your motivation is

We have found a way for you to actually get paid for working out, or charged for not working out. The app Pact makes you accountable by tying your bank account in with your workout success. Make a weekly pact to exercise more or eat healthier. Set what you’ll pay other Pact members if you don’t reach it and if you don’t they get paid. It works the same for you though, so if another member doesn’t meet their goal you get paid.

5. Reward yourself

If you work hard then you deserve a reward. Set goals and if you meet those goals reward yourself. Say you lose 5 pounds in a week’s time; you get a new pair of shoes. Reached a new bench press max? You get a beer (light beer). When your working for small rewards then you’ll have more motivation to make it through the week.

6. Track your success

There is nothing like success to boost your motivation. Make sure and keep track of where you start and the progress you’re making along the way. There are tons of apps and programs, like Weight Watchers, that help you track your progress so you know how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Take pictures as well so you can visually see your progress.

7. Let the world know of your progress

All your friends are doing it so why not join in? Take what they call “gym selfies” and pictures of the healthy meals you prepare and share on social media. Getting praise for a “progress pic” is a pretty good feeling. It may sound a little vain, but hey, it sure will get you motivated.

8. Create a workout playlist

Does the right music get you in the mood for throwing around weights and sprinting around a track? Make yourself a playlist of music you like that’s also up beat and only allow yourself to listen to it at the gym. Pandora has some great pre-made workout stations that you can also take advantage of.

9. Splurge on a personal trainer twice a month

If a fitness crazed trainer yelling at you won’t get you motivated to push through that workout then nothing will. Make an appointment twice a month to work with a personal trainer as a way to mix things up and ensure you get a seriously good workout. You can even get some friends to join and do a group session.

10. Get creative with your workouts and diet

It’s not just about salads and the treadmill. Make eating healthy enjoyable by trying unique, yet health conscious recipes. Working out doesn’t have to be the same old gym workout you do every time. Take a hike one day or do some indoor rock climbing. Switching things up and making them more exciting will make getting into shape something you enjoy and you’ll be motivated to keep it up.

Healthy Food- Grand Slam Grill

Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank

/in /by
Healthy Food- Grand Slam Grill

We know the struggle is real. You have great intentions of eating healthy, but the convenience and price of fast food reels you in every time. And let’s face it; a greasy hamburger is a lot more satisfying than a kale salad. Positives aside, eating that McDonalds burger and fries isn’t getting you any closer to a healthier you. Price can be a big contributing factor to losing the battle against fast food, as many healthier food options are actually more expensive. To help guide you toward budget friendly, healthier eating, we have compiled a list of money saving tips.

Meal plan

So this is the part where convenience goes out the window (sorry). Eating healthy needs to be looked at as part of your lifestyle, which means you have to be dedicated to preparing your meals instead of racing through a drive-thru window. Planning your meals ahead of time makes budgeting a lot easier as you have more control over what you’re spending per meal. Plan to make foods like stews, casseroles, or stir-fries, which stretch more expensive items like meat into more portions.

Buy in season

Not only are the prices for fruits and vegetables cheaper when bought in season, but also fresher, adding to a better taste. An issue of concern with buying fruits and vegetables for a lot of shoppers is that the items will ruin. If you think that you won’t be using certain fruits or vegetables right away, buy ones that aren’t fully ripened yet. You can also freeze any leftover fruits and use them later for a smoothie.

Cut out the snacks

We don’t mean all snacks, just those unhealthy vending machine snacks that catch your eye between lunch and dinner. Sodas and sugar filled treats not only are extremely unhealthy for you, they also add up in cost. Instead, try making your own healthy snacks. Items like nuts and yogurt are great to hold you over till the next meal and are super cheap when buying in bulk.

Bulk buy

It’s going to hit your bank account hard at first, but in the long run you will spend less on groceries leading to savings. Items like chicken, steak or fish, as well as large bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables will almost always be cheaper to buy in bulk. Even if you don’t think you’ll use them all in a week’s time, you can always freeze these items and use for the next week.

Start a garden

It’s a lot easier than you might think to grow your own food, and the savings are big for this one. If you’re going to eat healthy, fruits and vegetables are a must for your diet, so you can expect to spend money on these items. So let’s break it down. The average cost for a pound of organic tomatoes is $4.00. The cost to buy a potted tomato plant at Home Depot that will produce 8 pounds of tomatoes costs $4.98. Yep, that’s a lot of savings. And don’t think you need a back yard to have a garden. You can find multiple tutorials online on how to create window vegetable gardens for those living in an apartment or condo.

Fitness- Person Running On Track

How to Up the Motivation on Getting in Shape

/in /by

Fitness

Let’s go back to around March or April and think about your fitness goals. Was it something along the lines of “ the ultimate beach body by summer?” If that has yet to be obtained, then there is still time to kick it into high gear at the gym and start eating a healthy diet. If your reading this blog, then chances are the reason you haven’t obtain your fitness goal is due to lack of motivation. I mean let’s face it, working your butt off at the gym and then going home to eat a salad and downing a protein shake isn’t the most exciting routine to start. To help you get in the gym and start eating right, here are some tips to help with motivation.

1. Get some new workout clothes

Ever experience that feeling of no longer dreading the next day of work because you have some new threads to show off to your co-workers? It works the same for when getting new gym clothes. Make going to the gym a fashion show. Purchase some workout clothes you feel confident in and you’ll be itching to go to the gym to show them off.

2. Recruit a fitness buddy

Misery loves company ;). We kid, but having a partner in crime to knock out the weights does make it a lot more enjoyable. Turn working out into your new weekly get together with your closest friends and you’ll start looking forward to hitting the gym.

3. Sign-up for group fitness classes

It’s not all about boring work out routines and the monotonous jog around the track. Sign up for a swim class, a dance class, a spin cycle class, or any other class that gets your blood pumping.

4. Put your money where your motivation is

We have found a way for you to actually get paid for working out, or charged for not working out. The app Pact makes you accountable by tying your bank account in with your workout success. Make a weekly pact to exercise more or eat healthier. Set what you’ll pay other Pact members if you don’t reach it and if you don’t they get paid. It works the same for you though, so if another member doesn’t meet their goal you get paid.

5. Reward yourself

If you work hard then you deserve a reward. Set goals and if you meet those goals reward yourself. Say you lose 5 pounds in a week’s time; you get a new pair of shoes. Reached a new bench press max? You get a beer (light beer). When your working for small rewards then you’ll have more motivation to make it through the week.

6. Track your success

There is nothing like success to boost your motivation. Make sure and keep track of where you start and the progress you’re making along the way. There are tons of apps and programs, like Weight Watchers, that help you track your progress so you know how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Take pictures as well so you can visually see your progress.

7. Let the world know of your progress

All your friends are doing it so why not join in? Take what they call “gym selfies” and pictures of the healthy meals you prepare and share on social media. Getting praise for a “progress pic” is a pretty good feeling. It may sound a little vain, but hey, it sure will get you motivated.

8. Create a workout playlist

Does the right music get you in the mood for throwing around weights and sprinting around a track? Make yourself a playlist of music you like that’s also up beat and only allow yourself to listen to it at the gym. Pandora has some great pre-made workout stations that you can also take advantage of.

9. Splurge on a personal trainer twice a month

If a fitness crazed trainer yelling at you won’t get you motivated to push through that workout then nothing will. Make an appointment twice a month to work with a personal trainer as a way to mix things up and ensure you get a seriously good workout. You can even get some friends to join and do a group session.

10. Get creative with your workouts and diet

It’s not just about salads and the treadmill. Make eating healthy enjoyable by trying unique, yet health conscious recipes. Working out doesn’t have to be the same old gym workout you do every time. Take a hike one day or do some indoor rock climbing. Switching things up and making them more exciting will make getting into shape something you enjoy and you’ll be motivated to keep it up.

Women Fitness

10 Ways to Up Your Motivation on Getting in Shape

/in /by

fitness

Let’s go back to around March or April and think about your fitness goals. Was it something along the lines of “ the ultimate beach body by summer?” If that has yet to be obtained, then there is still time to kick it into high gear at the gym and start eating a healthy diet. If your reading this blog, then chances are the reason you haven’t obtain your fitness goal is due to lack of motivation. I mean let’s face it, working your butt off at the gym and then going home to eat a salad and downing a protein shake isn’t the most exciting routine to start. To help you get in the gym and start eating right, here are some tips to help with motivation.

1. Get some new workout clothes

Ever experience that feeling of no longer dreading the next day of work because you have some new threads to show off to your co-workers? It works the same for when getting new gym clothes. Make going to the gym a fashion show. Purchase some workout clothes you feel confident in and you’ll be itching to go to the gym to show them off.

2. Recruit a fitness buddy

Misery loves company ;). We kid, but having a partner in crime to knock out the weights does make it a lot more enjoyable. Turn working out into your new weekly get together with your closest friends and you’ll start looking forward to hitting the gym.

3. Sign-up for group fitness classes

It’s not all about boring work out routines and the monotonous jog around the track. Sign up for a swim class, a dance class, a spin cycle class, or any other class that gets your blood pumping.

4. Put your money where your motivation is

We have found a way for you to actually get paid for working out, or charged for not working out. The app Pact makes you accountable by tying your bank account in with your workout success. Make a weekly pact to exercise more or eat healthier. Set what you’ll pay other Pact members if you don’t reach it and if you don’t they get paid. It works the same for you though, so if another member doesn’t meet their goal you get paid.

5. Reward yourself

If you work hard then you deserve a reward. Set goals and if you meet those goals reward yourself. Say you lose 5 pounds in a week’s time; you get a new pair of shoes. Reached a new bench press max? You get a beer (light beer). When your working for small rewards then you’ll have more motivation to make it through the week.

6. Track your success

There is nothing like success to boost your motivation. Make sure and keep track of where you start and the progress you’re making along the way. There are tons of apps and programs, like Weight Watchers, that help you track your progress so you know how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Take pictures as well so you can visually see your progress.

7. Let the world know of your progress

All your friends are doing it so why not join in? Take what they call “gym selfies” and pictures of the healthy meals you prepare and share on social media. Getting praise for a “progress pic” is a pretty good feeling. It may sound a little vain, but hey, it sure will get you motivated.

8. Create a workout playlist

Does the right music get you in the mood for throwing around weights and sprinting around a track? Make yourself a playlist of music you like that’s also up beat and only allow yourself to listen to it at the gym. Pandora has some great pre-made workout stations that you can also take advantage of.

9. Splurge on a personal trainer twice a month

If a fitness crazed trainer yelling at you won’t get you motivated to push through that workout then nothing will. Make an appointment twice a month to work with a personal trainer as a way to mix things up and ensure you get a seriously good workout. You can even get some friends to join and do a group session.

10. Get creative with your workouts and diet

It’s not just about salads and the treadmill. Make eating healthy enjoyable by trying unique, yet health conscious recipes. Working out doesn’t have to be the same old gym workout you do every time. Take a hike one day or do some indoor rock climbing. Switching things up and making them more exciting will make getting into shape something you enjoy and you’ll be motivated to keep it up.

Food

Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank

/in /by
Food

We know the struggle is real. You have great intentions of eating healthy, but the convenience and price of fast food reels you in every time. And let’s face it; a greasy hamburger is a lot more satisfying than a kale salad. Positives aside, eating that McDonalds burger and fries isn’t getting you any closer to a healthier you. Price can be a big contributing factor to losing the battle against fast food, as many healthier food options are actually more expensive. To help guide you toward budget friendly, healthier eating, we have compiled a list of money saving tips.

Meal plan

So this is the part where convenience goes out the window (sorry). Eating healthy needs to be looked at as part of your lifestyle, which means you have to be dedicated to preparing your meals instead of racing through a drive-thru window. Planning your meals ahead of time makes budgeting a lot easier as you have more control over what you’re spending per meal. Plan to make foods like stews, casseroles, or stir-fries, which stretch more expensive items like meat into more portions.

Buy in season

Not only are the prices for fruits and vegetables cheaper when bought in season, but also fresher, adding to a better taste. An issue of concern with buying fruits and vegetables for a lot of shoppers is that the items will ruin. If you think that you won’t be using certain fruits or vegetables right away, buy ones that aren’t fully ripened yet. You can also freeze any leftover fruits and use them later for a smoothie.

Cut out the snacks

We don’t mean all snacks, just those unhealthy vending machine snacks that catch your eye between lunch and dinner. Sodas and sugar filled treats not only are extremely unhealthy for you, they also add up in cost. Instead, try making your own healthy snacks. Items like nuts and yogurt are great to hold you over till the next meal and are super cheap when buying in bulk.

Bulk buy

It’s going to hit your bank account hard at first, but in the long run you will spend less on groceries leading to savings. Items like chicken, steak or fish, as well as large bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables will almost always be cheaper to buy in bulk. Even if you don’t think you’ll use them all in a week’s time, you can always freeze these items and use for the next week.

Start a garden

It’s a lot easier than you might think to grow your own food, and the savings are big for this one. If you’re going to eat healthy, fruits and vegetables are a must for your diet, so you can expect to spend money on these items. So let’s break it down. The average cost for a pound of organic tomatoes is $4.00. The cost to buy a potted tomato plant at Home Depot that will produce 8 pounds of tomatoes costs $4.98. Yep, that’s a lot of savings. And don’t think you need a back yard to have a garden. You can find multiple tutorials online on how to create window vegetable gardens for those living in an apartment or condo.