As many Australians debate the affordability of expensive exercise regimes, motivation to keep fitness up can wane.
Personal trainer and TV personality, Dean Piazza, advises that keeping enthusiasm levels up for exercise is a matter of being resourceful and optimistic: "Be positive and mix with positive people, join a team or group fitness squad, learn a new sport or get a mentor who can help you be your best."
Six new ideas for staying fit during the downturn:
Cheesy generic workout videos are out, and targeted DVDs that offer you a gym-class at home are back in vogue. Whether you're into Pilates or kickboxing, there's something to suit all tastes – and the fact that you can have potentially hundreds of workouts from the one DVD is quite the bonus. Check to see if local library rents exercise DVDs in order to mix up your routine for less. Also consider swapping discs with friends, or splitting a purchase and sharing the fitness love around.
Gather a group of like-minded friends and form an exercise group. Arrange to meet every week for a run, power walk or team sport activity. If your calendar is fairly hectic, think about trading in socialising time (such as meeting a friend for coffee or a wine) for fitness time – it can be as simple and fun as taking a walk together!
Your home has plenty to offer to help you stay active, so get creative. Use walls for squats, the bathtub for tricep dips, canned goods and bottles as weights, the backyard for cardio. Even chores and gardening can provide a great workout. If you're lucky enough to have a park or walking trail nearby, lace up a good pair of running shoes and get outdoors.
Visit our Fitness & Energy Community for tools, tips and advice from fitness experts and other Blackmores members. You can complete a health check (select ‘Blackmores Health Check) and find out how you can craft your own wellness plan according to your diet, lifestyle and general health.
Also consider jumping on free auction sites, such as eBay, to pick up second-hand equipment, like treadmills and dumbbells, for low prices. Youtube is also useful for videos offering tips and exercise instruction.
Naturopath Kate Ferguson says natural therapies are great for supporting exercise. "Natural remedies may assist fitness in a number of ways. They may support metabolism, assist muscle growth and repair and are necessary for energy production."
Blogging is an ideal way to keep track of your diet and exercise and is an opportunity to get ideas and advice from others in the online community. Having friends online can also boost motivation and provide support – which is especially handy if you have a goal, such as weight-loss, in mind.