John Is Fit

Posted: 05 May 2012 08:42 AM PDT

This is a guest post by Lisa.

Contrary to popular belief, losing weight does not have to be expensive. There are many ways things that people can do to lose weight without putting a hole in their pockets. Saving money also eliminates the need to apply for one of the best cards for bad credit. Below are some tips for saving money and losing weight:

affordable

Skip the gym membership

Many people think that they will increase their chances of losing weight if they join the gym. However, a gym membership can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 a month. Many gyms today also require that one sign a contract. If a person chooses to work out at home, he can save an extra $240 to $600 dollars per year. Additionally, one can also save money on transportation if he chooses to work out at home. All a person needs to work at home are free weights and a couple of work out DVDs.

Walk as much as you can

The price of gas has skyrocketed over the past few months, and it will probably increase again before it decreases. Many people spend a lot of money relying on their cars to get them places. One of the simplest things that one can do to save money and lose weight is walk. Walking can be done by almost anyone at anytime, which is what makes it one of the best exercises.

Drink more water

Sodas and other sugary beverages are loaded with calories. Swapping out sugary beverages for water not only helps a person save calories, but it also helps him save money. A person should strive to drink at least eight cups of water per day.

Use coupons

Healthy food is usually much more expensive than junk food. That is why people should always make sure that they use coupons when they go grocery shopping. A coupon can help a person save over 20 percent on groceries. That might not seem like much, but it will add up in the long run. For example, if a person normally saves $20 per week on groceries, he can save over $1000 in a year.

Cook at home as much as possible

The typical American eats out about four or five times per week. Restaurant food is filled with sodium, fat, cholesterol and sugar. That is why people should try to eat at home as much as possible. Home-cooked meals are both cheaper and healthier.

Losing weight doesn’t mean that you have to join a high-priced gym or sign up for a weightloss meal program that will cost you $400 a month. You can easily shed pounds simply by watching what you eat and taking advantage of your own body and the outdoors. All you really need is portion control and the right level of determination, and you can lose weight without spending a fortune.

photo by: 401K

Post from: John Is Fit - Personal Weight Loss Blog

Making Weightloss Affordable

Proper Posture Pays Off

Posted: 05 May 2012 08:10 AM PDT

This is a guest post by Jenny Ellis.

You probably heard it a million times growing up from your mom, "Stand up straight! Your shoulders are hunched over! You're going to turn into the Hunchback of Notre Dame if you don't start paying more attention to your posture!"… At least I did. I never really paid too much attention to it either, until I started noticing the drastic hunched over look in kids I saw doing homework and adults bent over their desks. My initial thought: it's really not attractive to be hunched over like that. Eventually though I started wondering how posture affects your health. Turns out, it affects your health in a lot of significant ways. If you don't think having proper posture is essential to maintaining good health, think again.

Proper posture

Poor posture affects your energy levels. Being slumped over a desk or computer all the time does nothing but zap your energy throughout the day. Because it depletes your energy levels you're less likely to be motivated to work out or even really do anything other than watch TV and lay down on the couch at the end of a long day at work. Try sitting up straight all day long. You'll probably notice that you aren't nearly as worn out when 5pm rolls around.

Poor posture makes your muscles work overtime. A lot of people who work in office jobs complain about their backs and shoulders hurting because they're stuck at a computer and behind a desk all day. However these aches and pains are directly related to how straight you're sitting, and your muscles have to compensate for the fact that you're throwing them off balance every time you don't sit up straight.

Proper posture will help you exercise more efficiently. Making sure to keep your spine aligned doesn't only relieve muscle tension and fatigue, but it also translates into more effective work outs. When you have better posture you are able to execute different exercise moves with better form, and having good form is essential to achieving maximum results when working out.

Proper posture will help decrease your risk of injury. Having proper posture doesn't only translate into good form while exercising, but also helps decrease your risk of injury while working out. Poor posture, on the other hand, causes your body to be imbalanced, which makes some parts of your body have to overcompensate for this and work harder than others, thus increasing your risk of injury.

Proper posture gives a sense of confidence. Sitting up straight and throwing your shoulders back gives off a feeling and look of confidence. This renewed sense of confidence can translate into all aspects of your life – not to mention it makes you look better all around.

Your mom was onto something all of those times she harped on you to sit or stand up straighter. Whether you realize it or not, having good posture has a direct impact on our health and well-being. So sit up straight and throw those shoulders back. And don't be surprised when your health takes a turn for the better.

Jenny Ellis is a freelance writer, and a regular contributor for aupair jobs. She welcomes your comments at: ellisjenny728@gmail.com

photo by: Yodel Anecdotal