Hey Fluid Family! Welcome once again to the blog of never-ending Fluid Love! Today, we acknowledge The Economy. I know, it can be an ugly subject and we're all pretty tired of hearing about it. Unfortunately the impact it can have on our lives is undeniable, but have you ever noticed how a good workout can turn a bad day completely upside down? It's just proof that exercise provides us humans with a fundamental happiness, happiness that can't be trumped by less important things like stress. So today we celebrate the freedom of fitness while paying due respect to something we'll call "monetary efficiency." 5 tips for frugal fitness, because no matter what the bank says, you should be healthy and happy. Enjoy!
1. Don't buy music (breathe and focus)
So you're tired of your playlist for the 85th time. No matter how many new songs you add, you keep getting worn out from the same 1000
ballads over and over. You'd think that after 637 songs you'd be homefree (lost in sustained musical bliss), but no! So it's time to break the habit. No more itunes searching, no more "it's only 99 cents!", and no more ipod. There are two things that should more than fill up your mental capacity during a workout: breath and form. Instead of spazzing around to the latest techno beat, try staying calm. Focus on full breaths, making sure to expel all the air in your lungs with your stomach before bringing more in (much of your lung's oxygen intake capacity rests in the bottom)! As you perfect your breathing, also try to relax. Tensing every muscle doesn't make you faster but it does use up more oxygen (and builds more lactic acid stores)! By focusing on these simple steps instead of letting your mind wander to the troubles of the day, you'll finish your workout pleasantly refreshed. So who needs music?! You've got everything you need right up there between your ears. 
2. Commute alternativelyYou've heard this one before. "Ride your bike," "take the bus," "run to work." Maybe you got inspired and tried it for a week. You liked it, but things progressed and you started driving again. Before you knew it, things were back to normal. Understandably, some folks are prevented from trying out new transits. Maybe they have a very long commute, inclement weather or a lot of stuff to carry. But more often than not, our excuses are not that good (and even with those excuses we can find ways to make it work). So what can we ALL do to stay motivated and avoid grabbing the car keys? First: make goals. Start with something manageable; for instance, "this year I will ride my bike to work twice a week," or, "this year I will commute 500 miles by bike." Then, write your goals in marker on a big official-looking piece of fancy paper. Use your best handwriting and post it on the inside of your front door where you (and everyone who visits) will see it everyday. There's something about a fancy sign that makes us feel accountable (especially when our friends see it)! Seriously, do this and you'll be riding like crazy. And remember to update your goals (with a fresh new fancy piece of paper) once you accomplish them!
3. Buy from craigslist
So you've got a plan. Congratulations! You decided to do the home workout gig and use a bit of self motivation to reach your goals. You're definitely on the path to fitness frugality! But hey, you've come this far, why not take it a little further? Before you head to muscle warehouse to deck out the garage with the latest weights and contraptions, click on over to craigslist or your favorite local classifieds. Somewhere in your neighborhood is a three year old complete weight set that's been used seven and a half times. It's dusty, but with a wet cloth and about an hour, you'll have a brand new setup for hundreds (or thousands!) less than what you would have paid. It does take some patience and a little searching (and maybe your neighbors scare you), but hey, that just makes the process fun!
4. Wear out your gear before you upgrade
We've all done it. Emotional buying. It's who we are and it's what we like to do. Sometimes when it's cold and windy outside, we get our workout fix by buying those sweet new goggles we saw the Olympic team wearing (instead of jumping in the pool to crank out intervals). But just remember, you have the power! You control what you do. So next time those consumer emotions begin to creep over you like a werewolf in the shadows on a bright full moon, harness those emotions, throw on your worn out old clothes and put in the toughest workout you've ever done. When you get back, the inner rationality will have returned and you'll be proud of yourself for resisting.
Please note: sometimes new gear is warranted and even necessary to avoid injury! But we're confident in your ability to tell when you need it and when you want it.
5. And finally, pump up the veg!
Sorry carnivores, but this one is so cost-effective I just couldn't resist. I love a big juicy burger as much as anybody. But have you seen the price of meat these days?! Despite some misconceptions, there are a lot of alternative ways to get the protein you need (just look at Scott Jurek, a vegan and arguably one of the best ultrarunners ever). Now, I'm not saying you need to sell off the cows, buy a prius and stop wearing closed-toed shoes. But do some research online for tasty recipes and cut out the meat at least a few times a week. It's much cheaper, still very tasty, and who knows, you may decide to go veg full time!
Well, don't just sit there, get started! We hope all this helps, and please feel free to comment on our Facebook post with your own ideas! In the meantime, here's to a healthy, happy and economically sound 2011.
Cheers!
Team Fluid
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