Walking, jogging or running (depending on your physical condition and your preference) are great ways to get a good workout with extensive health benefits, while keeping within your tight budget.

Many people are spending large sums of money on workout and health clubs with contract memberships automatically linked to bank accounts.  The worst part is that many people never use these expensive memberships to their full potential if they even use them. Another costly workout method used by a large number of people is purchasing expensive treadmills that double as laundry get racks, or other weird expensive exercise equipment sold on late night T.V. by buff actors who probably do not even use the equipment any more than required for the filming of the infomercial.

There is an entire industry that thrives on selling junk to people who falsely assume that it will make them healthy and fit. A better method would be to just save all that money and spend it on healthier food and juice to replenish your body after a real workout from walking or jogging.

All that is needed for a great workout is some loose fitting clothes and some decent shoes. You can get a great workout walking or jogging for free. Your biggest expense will probably be the shoes you wear out every few months.

Walking is the easiest way to get out and burn some calories. There is no need for a treadmill, just get out and get some fresh air and sunshine. Head for a local park, university campus, large office complex, or just around the block. Some people in large cities don’t have very good environments to walk in so they go to indoor malls or large public buildings and walk laps around the hallways. Some malls even open their doors early for groups of people for what they call a “mall crawl”. You can still get good walking workout inside, especially if you add in some stairs.

Jogging and running are beneficial for those who are more fit and want a greater workout. This can build up you leg muscles and increase the strength and vitality of your cardiovascular system. If you can stay away from busy roads and car exhaust, it will be better for your lungs and you will have less chance of getting hit by a car or truck. Fresh air is good for running and even better if you can find a river or ocean to run near to keep the large amounts of air you are processing moist with water ions. If you have access to dirt trails or grass to run on, this can be more comfortable for your body as you will put less impact on your knees than running on concrete or asphalt. Many larger parks have jogging and walking trails around them.

With running, jogging or even walking, good shoes are important, but you don’t need $130 top of the line shoes. Any decent brand with good arch support and a comfortable feel are more important than the latest new design. The $130 running shoes are nice and feel great when you try them on in the store, but after you run a week or two in them and they start to break in, the fancy gel and foam insoles start to break down. At that point, they won’t feel much different from any average running shoe. You can often find last year’s shoes on clearance for less than $50.

Your workout clothes don’t need to be high priced brand name workout pants or jackets. A regular pair of sweat pants and a light jacket from you local department store works just as well for a fraction of the cost. The fancy workout clothes do feel nice when you try them on, but if you’re looking for an affordable workout, you don’t need that type of stuff.

One important thing before any good work out is to make sure your body is stretched out and limber. Many sports and workout injuries and strains happen because people were not stretched out and ready for the workout. When your body is stretched out it can handle the impact and strain of a workout more easily. Remember to do a few basic stretches before your walk or run. C3RGGPCXKEDM