With inflation, gas prices, interest rates, and the real estate markets flattening out, is a recession on its way? Regardless, none of us are immune to the economic climate around us.
Many of us think about our jobs and expenses when it comes to uncertain financial times, but few of us think about our health. Fact is, being overweight and obese is expensive. Researchers at Cornell University found that medical care costs alone average $2,505 more annually for overweight and obese individuals. Annually, over $800 of that alone is incurred from increased insurance premiums.
Instead of letting our health be a burden in tough times, we can make it an asset being proactive in building a body that is more resilient to illness and injury and allowing you to stand the test of time, regardless of what the world throws at you.
Here’s how to do that:
LEARN TO COOK
Cooking the majority of your food isn’t just more inexpensive than eating out, it’s also so much better for our health. Stick to cooking real, single ingredient whole foods. I like to think of my meals having just three parts; a protein, a carb, and a vegetable. Create a meal of 4-6 ounces of a meat (roughly the size of your palm), a fist sized portion of a carb like rice, potatoes, or pasta, and as much veggies as you’d like. Test out some recipes to learn how to make these items tastier and even try searching for home versions of your favorite dishes you eat out.
SCHEDULE WORKOUTS INTO YOUR WEEK
Don’t allow your workouts to just happen. Make taking care fo your health a pillar of your week by putting your workouts into your schedule. If you don’t have time to workout that day, make it a rest day or a day where you get in little bits of fitness throughout, such as walking up the stairs or doing sets of 10 push-ups.
START TO LOVE RUNNING, RUCKING, AND WALKING.
The best and most inexpensive form of cardiovascular fitness is getting outside and running, rucking, or walking. Although running is an incredible sport, it isn’t for everyone and everyone’s personal goals. So include low intensity walks to reduce stress, get some sunlight if possible, and still give the most important organ in your body – your heart – some work. Increase the intensity of the walk while adding a strength training component by wearing a weighted backpack, or a rucksack.
TRACK YOUR FOOD
Make sure you are eating the appropriate amount of calories daily by logging 2-3 days of your nutrition intake. Check it against the numbers outlined in this Nutrition Calculator if you want to be more precise about how much you are eating. Download MyFitnessPal and use the free version for tracking.
PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH
Yes, taking care of your health can be expensive. However it is still more inexpensive than the alternative. From increased insurance premiums, doctors visits, and prescription medications, our health can really take a toll on our wallets. It also taps into our more important, priceless commodities such as our energy levels, sleep quality, and overall quality of life being jeopardized when we are unhealthy.
Don’t look at just how much you are currently spending to bulletproof your life for tough financial times. Bulletproof your body by taking care of your health to feel better, move better, and save money.
