In today’s society, it’s very common for people to automatically dismiss the idea of clean eating because it is “too expensive” or “too much work." I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way at all! Most of us are under the impression that living health consciously comes with a hefty price tag, because most fit inspirational blogs and accounts post endless pictures with their heavy Whole Foods hauls and their trendy Nike wear. These accounts show the more glamorous and pricey side of healthy living, but not the only side.
What you wear doesn’t affect your performance. I mean, if you’re wearing a pair of 6-inch heels and a ballgown, your performance won’t be the best. What I’m saying is, as long as you're comfortable, you’re able to do anything! Whether you’re wearing some old sweats or a brand spanking new outfit from Lululemon, your workout performance will be the same, you just need the drive and self-motivation. You don’t need fancy athletic wear to have an efficient exercise session! I cannot stress this enough! Whatever you do, do not go out and buy a $100 pair of leggings because you think they will get you on the right track. They won’t. Clothing doesn’t matter, as long as you’re comfortable. Just dig into your closet for some comfy and moveable clothes, then you’re all set! No purchase necessary!
Well, we got rid of the unfathomable price tags on fit-wear clothing items, and now have run into the outrageous gym membership rates. Great news for you, you don’t even need a gym membership to live healthily either! Step outside, inhale the fresh air, and go for a run. Take a bike ride, hike, go swimming, encourage yourself to walk a lap around the neighborhood to get your heart rate going even just slightly. There are hundreds of exercise oriented activities you could do outside to get in your daily exercise. Is the weather not so great? Rent some old school exercise videos or look up free videos online! The resources are endless, you don’t even need a gym membership to get up and active daily.
When it comes to eating, you’ll realize quickly that it’s all mental. We say that we don’t want to spend more money on healthy foods, yet spend the same amount on junk. Americans on average spend more on bulk amounts of unhealthy foods than they do on small amounts of healthy foods. Sure, healthy food can be pricier, depending on what you get and how often you get it. However, would you rather spend $50 on excessive amounts of junk food for two weeks, such as bags of potato chips, boxes of Pop-Tarts, boxes of frozen foods, and cartons of ice cream, or spend the same amount on a week’s worth of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains? What I’m getting at though, is that produce doesn’t have to be god-awful expensive. If you snoop around Pinterest and find meals that all have similar ingredients, you won’t be blowing your load on all the different kinds of supplies. You’re treating your body well and you’re saving money, it’s a win-win!
Like I had said, a healthy lifestyle is a mentality. If you tell yourself you don’t look good enough in your fitness apparel to go out and exercise in public, then you won’t go out at all to improve the issue. If you tell yourself you’re improving your mental and physical image every day you step out in that outfit, you will be more motivated to go for that run or walk, even if it is in public where people can see you, because you’re trying and improving every day. If you treat your workout each day as a trip to the executioner, you will dread going and not give it your all. If you honor this time each day and treat it as therapy session, you will become more motivated to go and will have a more beneficial sweat sesh. If you purchase unhealthy foods, you are going to eat them simply because they are around and highly accessible. If you don’t have them in your house, you won’t have as easy access to them and the chances of you eating poorly will diminish significantly. You must encourage yourself every day to make the right choices and to be proactive when it comes to your mental and physical health. If anyone can do this, it’s going to be you, even if your wallet is light.
Realistically, it doesn’t cost much in green paper to be healthy. It costs time, motivation, and loyalty, if anything. If you’re super busy and don’t have much time to have a persistent hour a day to exercise, find a plan that works for you, where you can squeeze in even a half hour. Don’t jump right into it, because you will feel defeated. Slowly begin exercising and enjoying nature. Start researching healthier alternatives and incorporating them into your daily life. As long as you start off slow and stay dedicated to your health, you will succeed. No heavy cash flow needed. You can do this.
