Counting Calories

Sometimes when I think about living a frugal lifestyle, I'm struck by its similarities to dieting. Both require extreme self-discipline. Both require attention to detail. Both are difficult.

I'm currently on a quest to get more exercise. My current goal is to do some form of exercise 30 minutes a day, three times a week. I plan to extend that time as I get more in shape. Eventually I will be attacking my less than stellar diet. But for now, I am working on fitness. One of the biggest things I've learned about being debt-free (except for my house) is that it is best to set specific, realistic goals. If I can have some success at the smaller goals, I can build momentum to attack the larger ones.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a dork. I like numbers. I like statistics. So I like Calories Per Hour. This FREE website has calculators that will tell you how many calories you burned doing a particular activity (30 minutes of computer typing burns 51 calories - WOO HOO!).

Calories Per Hour also has calculators to help you figure out how many calories your consuming and how long it will take you to reach your weight loss goal. I like that I can see exactly how my activity is adding up to help me reach my goals.

This healthy and frugal lifestyle stuff seems simple enough. To lose weight, simply expend more calories than you consume. To have personal financial success, you must earn more than you spend. These two things are similar and they both require major self-discipline. The key to success is to keep your eyes on the end result. Never lose site of the goals.

If this were easy, we'd all be rich and skinny. Time to go lace up my sneakers.

National Start! Walking Day

Today is National Start! Walking Day.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer in America. So in honor of the fight against heart disease, the American Heart Association wants you to get on your tenners and head out the door. It's not to late to get in some physical activity.

Their website lists some compelling reasons on why you should walk:

"Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity, and is the
simplest positive change individuals can make to effectively improve their heart health. Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes total on most or every day of the week can help you:

Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Improve blood lipid profile
Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
Enhance mental well-being
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
Reduce the risk of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes

Did you know that for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise we do --
like brisk walking -- we can live two hours longer?"

Their website has a lot of great information, including a FREE online tool that can help you
track your exercise and diet. Information and challenges like this help motivate me to live a healthier lifestyle. After all, a healthy lifestyle means I will feel better and hopefully save money on things like doctor's visits and over-the-counter remedies.

I'm currently in week two of my pledge to do 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. I'm doing well, and soon, I plan to increase my pledge to four times a week. Eventually I'd like to be doing something every day of the week. Won't you join me?

Exercise on a money diet

Well, I did it. I accomplished my goal of exercising for 30 minutes three times last week. Now I have to keep the momentum.

So far I am motivated by the fact that I feel pretty good. I'm also motivated by the fact that my mom is only in her 50s and is already having some chronic pain issues that probably aren't helped by a lack of exercise.

Now that I have made the decision to exercise. I realize that I have no excuse when it comes to say I have no equipment. In my less frugal days, I collected exercise videos and equipment like my messy Grandma collected cleaning gadgets. I have about 30 videos in my collection - everything from walking to kickboxing to yoga. I have a set of 2lb, 3lb, and 5lb weights. I have an ancient treadmill, an exercise bike, and an Ab Lounger (that was given to me - trust me nothing about it involves lounging!). I also have a decent pair of walking shoes and lots of wilderness to walk in.

No excuses. And you don't have any excuses either:

1. Check out exercise videos from your local library or borrow them from a friend. Garage sales are also great places to find videos. If you must purchase new, I have had good luck at Overstock. I've also bought things from Collage Video. The best part about Collage is that they have video clips from all their offerings, so you will know whether you will like listening to the instructor before you buy. And of course, you can always check Ebay.


2. Download exercise podcasts for free from Itunes.


3. Record exercise videos from your television.


4. Invest in a good pair of shoes. Nothing makes you quit faster than blisters on your heels.


5. Walking/Running is free. Just put on that good pair of shoes and head out your front door.


6. Soup cans or water bottles can serve as weights. Or use your own body as resistance and start doing those push-ups.


7. Join SparkPeople. This free website offers information and support for those who are trying to lose weight and get fit.


8. Play with your kids or take your dog (or your neighbor's dog) for a walk. You know they want you to.


9. Do yard work. Rake, plant, mow the lawn, shovel snow. It all gets your heart pumping.


10. Find a fitness buddy. Even though my fitness buddy and I live three hours apart (Hi, Shel!), it helps knowing that someone else is out there toiling with me!


11. Check out your community education offerings. Sometimes you can find great inexpensive classes or even get access to high school or college gym equipment.


12. Many health care plans offer discounts for gym memberships. Check to see if your insurance offers this.

What are some things you do to stay in shape when you are on a budget?

No fooling: I am going to exercise

I mean it. I am finally going to start my exercise routine. I am sick of being a flabby slacker. I want to feel better and look better. I want to live longer.

About 20 years ago, my Dad quit his 2-pack a day smoking habit. When I asked him what finally made him do it, he said, "I got tired of quittting."

I'm tired of quitting too. I'm tired of exercising for a week and then slacking. I figure if I can give up soda, I can establish an exercise routine. I need to do this.

So this morning, I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. And I plan to do 30 minutes of exercise at least two more times this week. I'm hoping that you will all hold me accountable.

And no, this is not an April Fool's joke.

New Year's Resolutions, revisited

A month into the new year. And how am I doing on my New Year's Resolutions?

Don't ask.

Okay, there are some things that are going well. But others, not so well.

Successes:

• I am down to one can of soda a day. I just can't seem to let the last one go yet.


• I have started to write down a budget and track my expenditures.


• I checked my credit reports, and was encouraged by the results.


• I have gathered more stuff for my garage sale.

Failures:

• I have exercised three times in the past month (and that was in the first week of January.)


• I have not actually stayed within my budget. In fact, I'm frighteningly far from following it.


• I opted not to price or organize items for my garage sale like I planned. Instead, it is in a giant pile of boxes in a basement closet. UGH.

I'm really big on personal responsibility. So I look at the last list of things I failed to do and ask myself, "What am I going to do about it?"

Well, first, I'm going to acknowledge that it takes time to build good habits and to break bad ones. I will start fresh this month with a better attitude and new resolve. I will ease slowly into exercise. And I will work on my budget to make it more realistic for our financial situation.

Rome wasn't built in a day... Baby steps.... that's what it's all about.

How are your resolutions going?

New Year's Resolutions

Every new year, I get a little wistful about making resolutions. So this year I decided to make some resolutions that you all could share with me. If we all tackled these, we would be healthier, happier, and have a little bigger wallet.

In the year 2008, I resolve to:

• Create a written budget. I will keep better track of my money so I don't wonder where it went.


• Plan weekly menus. I will try to plan them to use what I have and to take advantage of sales at the grocery store. It will be good to not each so much mac and cheese and helper.


• Check my credit report, and those of my other family members. Everyone is allowed one free credit report check annually. I just want to make sure ours are accurate.


• Exercise three times a week. (This will be the hardest one for me. I am lazy.)


• Consume more water and less soda. My kidneys and my wallet will thank me.


• Hold the mother of all garage sales. I need to do a massive purge - so why not bring in a bit of change at the same time?

That's my list for now. I know there are more things I could do, and I probably will do them... but you have to start somewhere.

What are some of your resolutions?

Losing Weight on a Budget

I don't know about you, but we have a LOT of candy, cookies, and other fattening things in our house right now. They are so hard to resist.... and so hard to get off my thighs!

When I was pregnant with the twins, I gained 50 pounds.. and amazingly enough, 47 of those pounds came off very easily within the first two months of their birth. But, unfortunately, a few pounds have snuck back on (I think it's the daily snack of Goldfish crackers!). I've been trying to figure out how I can lose weight and get in shape (I don't think I've been "in" shape since about 6th grade!)

About four years ago, I did Weight Watchers. I lost 20 pounds. By osmosis, my husband lost 30. Now three kids later, our weight has crept back up. I was contemplating returning to Weight Watchers since I know it works. But getting to meetings is a challenge for me, and as a cheapskate, I can no longer justify the $40+ a month to be a member.

So I found this website and I signed up for it. It's called SparkPeople, and it does quite a few of the things that the Weight Watchers Online program does - a community of people to chat with, a food and exercise tracker, regular e-mail reminders and tips, exercise demonstrations and ideas, and more. It also customizes a diet and exercise plan based on your personal goals. The whole things is FREE, which is what I am totally jazzed about.

I'm only in day two... and to be honest, I've really only been tracking my food (which I realize now is really not all that healthy for me!). The program seems easy to follow and the site is easy to navigate. I plan to dive head first into living healthier at the start of the new year and keep you updated. First I have to get all this fattening stuff out of my house! Kit Kat, anyone?