The irony behind this entire economic recession, and cutting costs when it pertains to fitness, is that this is the time when you need exercise more than ever. Exercise is a stress release, a catharsis, and an escape. It’s an inexpensive and natural way to achieve a high, and look and feel good about your self.

If you’re like me you are tired of hearing the same conversation about our economic downturn. You can drink and smoke your problems away, but most just give you hang over, and I can guarantee you won’t look better the next morning like you will with exercise. It’s like Ok, I get it; the economy sucks. You talking about it doesn’t help.

How about using some of that wind for exercise, or harnessing that energy into something productive, something worthwhile. If nothing else it will get your mind off of the fact that our present situation is spiraling out of control, and around the holidays nevertheless.

With that being said if you are a fitness buff or just care about how you present yourself and how you feel, you will still exercise. So let’s think of some cost cutting methods where you can save in the wallet and still fit in the jeans that you carry it in, especially considering you just paid $200 dollars for some designer brand.

#1 No Equipment Necessary:
A hallmark of Mind Over Matter Health & Fitness. Your body is the only piece of exercise equipment you need. Machines are created to sell gym memberships, and make a room look aesthetically sound. Push ups, squats, lunges, dips, pull ups, etc. This is all you need. So next time that infomercial comes on trying to sell you the latest and greatest fitness craze, resist the urge to purchase that what will eventually turn into your next clothing rack.

#2 Cancel That Gym Membership:
If you were intelligent enough to have the foresight not to sign that ridiculous year long commitment to your gym, cancel your membership. As I said earlier equipment is meant to fill up a space. You can do everything at the gym more or less in the comforts of your own home. So you don’t get to look at that cute chick on the stair master, however, if you harbor any hopes of getting with her you better keep up on your routine.

#3 Stop Working On Your Wardrobe:
There’s no need to go out and spend on that outfit that makes you look sleeker than you are, just so you can get noticed while flexing your biceps. Besides, guys don’t buy workout clothes, old clothes become workout clothes. That weekend t-shirt you lie around and watch football in, Wash It! then wear it to workout in. Those shorts or sweats you sleep in, the same goes for them.

#4 Circumvent the Supplements
The reality is you should be getting your daily amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein from naturally occurring substances, namely food. Besides, chances are you don’t even know what’s in what you are taking. Just because you can read a label doesn’t mean you are a nutritionist. That giant container of Weight gain that you look like a meathead carrying home anyway, leave it on the store shelf and grab a piece of chicken or some eggs. There are numerous other valuable protein sources.

#5 Bulk Up on your Food
Bulking up doesn’t just apply to your body. You can easily go to a wholesale food distributor and buy the large container of oatmeal instead of going to your mom and pop grocery store and spending twice as much for the same size. If you want to have money to spend on that steak or take that special someone to a fancy dinner, you are going to have to cut the cost on other food purchases.

#6 Do You Really Ned That New IPod?
Keeping up with technology is a losing battle, just wait until they finally plug us in. The moment you decide to make that purchase, the next week they are out with something ten times better anyway. I’m not saying that you need to throw it back to the walkman tape player, but whatever you have is sufficient. If it plays music and the headphones work, what else do you need?

#7 Save some water for the fish:
Honestly do you need that fresh mountain stream of bottled water, and perhaps you would like some fresh squeezed lime with that? Water out of the tap is just fine. No need to buy a new bottle every time you go to the gym or do your workout. Bottled water versus tap, I challenge you to take the taste test. Go out and buy a bottle, a Nalgene or a Sigg, and reuse it. Besides you are also helping out the environment.