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Friday, September 12, 2008, 13:24
We are all trying to save money in one way or another.
So with the credit crunch starting to hit our pockets, it has never been more important to beat our financial problems by boosting our fitness and improving our lifestyles
Fitness is the one thing that should be looked at as an essential to a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Today, Evening Post fitness guru Tara Hammet shows us 10 simple “Swansea-based” ways to cut costs with some DIY tips aimed at boosting your fitness while still keeping one eye on your purse!
Get out in Gower
Swansea has lots of beautiful views to enjoy at your own pace. Walkers are spoiled for choice in Swansea and Gower, as we have everything from smooth promenades and parkland for an easy stroll, to more strenuous hikes over beaches and moorland. A fantastic way of taking advantage of our wonderful city and getting some fresh air.
Ditch the car for the school run in favour of a healthier walk
With petrol prices soaring, walking the kids to school is an excellent way of saving money on fuel while improving your family’s general fitness through exercise and a much-needed breath of fresh air in the morning. Not only that, it will also be a great way to socialise with other parents who are also keen to fight the credit crunch through lifestyle change.
Stroll around the park
The Swansea Bay area has numerous beautiful parks. From the 800 acres of landscaped grounds at Margam to the well manicured gardens of Singleton Park, with its botanical gardens, educational gardens and ornamental gardens, there’s enough to get around for a day of walking.
Enjoy one of our cycle routes
Cycle the sweep of Swansea Bay between the marina and Mumbles along the former tramway to Mumbles Pier. The route runs for six miles. Alternatively, try the Clyne Valley cycle path, Blackpill to Gowerton, at 4.5 miles. Or try the Tawe tour, from Swansea to Llansamlet, at 10km.
Skip yourself fit!
This is simple, cheap, and can be done at home. As a high-impact exercise, skipping is great for building bones and a good exercise to trim hips, thighs and backsides. Skipping is an excellent cardiovascular workout and is comparable to running at 12kph when you consider the number of calories burned per minute. Remember, skipping is a strenuous exercise, so start slowly. Try skipping for 20 to 30 seconds, marching on the spot for 30 seconds, repeat. As your fitness improves, you can increase the time you skip for. You can pick up a rope from £3 at your nearest sports shop or supermarket.
Bounce your way to health
Rebounding is bouncing on a small trampoline. It’s an exercise that helps to reduce your body fat and firm your legs, thighs, tummy, arms, and hips. It helps to increase your stamina and agility, improve your balance, strengthen your muscles, provides an aerobic effect for your heart, rejuvenates your body when it’s tired, and generally improves your health and fitness. Unlike many other aerobic activities, rebounding places no strain on the joints of your body. Rebounding is suitable for all ages and abilities. You can get your rebounder from many major stores. Rebounding is also the perfect exercise for kids. They'll bounce, jump, and have so much fun they'll hardly know they’re exercising!
Get on your skates
Skating is an excellent means of exercise. Skating has been recognised for its cardio-respiratory and toning benefits. It’s also great for muscle building, co-ordination enhancing, and body fat reducing (burning around 400 calories per hour, depending on what kind of skating and level you’re doing.) You can pick up a pair of skates from £30, and the flat Swansea bay promenade is a great way of getting the wind in your hair and toning your hips, thighs and bottom.
Get fitter by doing more jobs around the home
Save heaps of money on cleaners by doing household jobs yourself. As well as cutting costs, carrying out tasks like washing the car and cleaning windows will also prove a useful way of keeping active, allowing you to exercise your body just by doing a good deed. Healthy and satisfying, you’ll never need a cleaner again!
Download the Evening Post’s monthly podcasts
Our monthly exercise podcasts are free, simple to follow at your convenience, and we have a new one every month, you will always gets variety with your exercises.
Stick with the gym
Don’t cut your gym membership just yet. But maybe look at reducing your membership from peak usage to off-
peak or weekends. This way you still make a saving on your subscription and still have somewhere to go on those rainy days.
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