The world is your gym

The countdown to Christmas is approaching and many of us are beginning to think about attempting to shift the pounds in attempt to fit into that perfect office party dress.

Joining a gym or health spa (and paying a usually steep and contract binding membership), or hiring a personal trainer would, of course, seem like the perfect fat busting solution. But if I was to go by recent high street sales figures and the frenzy of the credit crunch- I could assume that many of us will be struggling with our finances more than ever this year and really cannot afford this.

Don’t let this deter you from doing exercise. The world is your gym. There is very little that can be done more effectively in a gym, than without the use of expensive gym equipment, and pushy membership contracts.

Admittedly a personal trainer provides many of us with the self motivation, that many of us lack when it comes down to convincing ourselves that 30 minutes of exercise actually will make us feel (and of course, look) ten times better than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea. (No, lies; this is a proven scientific fact. Exercise is good for our mental wellbeing.) But they’re expensive and we don’t NEED them. They’re this generations new craze, a perfectly good idea, but not necessary. Motivate yourself. It worked for years before somebody tapped into how appealing, our progressively ‘lazy’ society, would find someone willing to essentially do the hard part (getting yourself out of bed/ or off the sofa) for them.

Run in fields, swim in the sea, lift cans of beans, bound up and down the stairs. Walk, everywhere and walk fast. Dance in your living room, dance with friends and dance in clubs. Stretch. Do pull up’s on (strong) tree branches, pretend to box.
Do whatever you please- just don’t pay for it.