Frugally Fit Friday: Yardwork

This week for Frugally Fit Friday (err... Saturday) I want to focus on the amazing workout of yard work.  It may not be a glorious task, but it can definitely be a workout, which I have learned more with this new house.    So before you go out and buy a riding mower, or pay someone to landscape or mow check out some of the numbers that I ran this week.

On Thursday, I decided to be nice and mow our yard.  Normally this is something that my husband does, but with his new job he gets off work later and he's been doing a lot of side jobs, so his "to do" list was getting long.  We have currently have a push mower on permanent loan.  At our old house that we rented just our front yard was over 0.1 mile long, so there was no way that you could push mow it, so we used the owners' riding mower.  At our new place we have a medium/small yard (in rural Indiana terms), so push mowing is an option.  This was the first time that I have push mowed it.

I thought I would surprise him and have it all done.  Well, it was just a trick to get the mower started.  A little bit of shoulder strengthening exercises is what I could label it as.  Then I had to push it through our grass.  I hadn't thought that our grass was super tall, but my husband has informed me that I am weird in that I like tall grass.  Apparently the grass was long because I could barely push the mower through the grass without it almost dying.  Also, it was hard to push the mower through the grass because of how long it was.  Maybe I'll have to rethink my long grass love, or else I'll have to learn how to raise the deck of the mower.

I only killed the mower once.  I'm still not sure whether it was lack of gas or too long of grass, but it definitely died.  I gave it some more gas (even though, from what I could tell it didn't need a lot) and promptly partially flooded the mower.  I found out later that you don't need to push the red ball if the mower is "warm."  I pushed through the back yard and the sun was blazing down.  It felt good though.  I definitely felt alive.  Our carpenter bees (who's days are numbered) were very upset though.  I rolled my eyes at them and kept moving (they don't sting, just act very territorial).

By the time I reached the front yard I was getting pretty tired, but I was determined to finish it all.  We have a half mound septic system in our front yard and a ditch, so I really worked hard going up and down the mound.  This is how I felt like I looked.



Luckily when I was about halfway done with the front my husband came home and I went in and made us up some food.  All in all I had push mowed for two hours- non - self propelled.

Being the curious person that I am, I looked up the calorie count.  With my weight, I burned over 500 calories!  Not too bad if I say so myself.  I think all of the neighbors thought I was crazy though because they all have riding lawn mowers.  I want to put off buying one as long as possible, because a 500 calorie workout is something that I need on a regular basis.  I like workouts like this one because I am accomplishing something other than just exercising.  Maybe I'll take over more of the mowing chores this summer.

I figure doing yard work like push mowing saves me money in two ways.  First, we currently have a free to us (permanent loan) push mower.  We would have to go out an buy a riding mower.  Push mowers cost only  a couple hundred bucks (if you can convince your significant other to get a reel mower they are even cheaper).  Riding mowers are easily $1000-$3000, and some are more than that.  Push mowers also use less gas (once again- if you can convince your significant other (I can't yet) to get a reel mower, gas isn't an issue, also there are electric mowers out there as well).  Having someone come mow our yard would cost at least $30 a pop.  Finally, if I went to our local gym to get that amazing lawn mowing workout it would cost me $40/month in membership fees.  So overall, push mowing our yard is a huge $$ saver and helps keeps me and the Mr. healthy!

Here is a website that you can go to to look up calories burned by yard work activity and by your weight: Calorie Lab.  They have lots and lots of other calorie calculators.  I find them motivating when I'm not feeling like doing a certain job.



If you need motivation here is a good video I found online (I think Mr. Money Mustache posted it) about the benefits of fitness (and my kind of fitness - low/medium level- not the gym rat level).  Enjoy!

Frugally Fit Friday: Map my Ride

Today I want to share with you my latest free fitness find.  This week as I was pondering biking to work (it didn't happen, but I know it will next week), I found this lovely site: Map my Ride.  I used to use Map my Run when I would run when I was in the country.  Now I don't run much because I live near my students and frankly I look like an awkward chicken when I run. Running is something that I only enjoy doing on wide open, semi-private, country roads.  Anyway this website and its app, allow you to log your trip.  It shows the inclines and everything.  For people who are more disciplined than I am you could log each trip and all of your workouts/food intake.  For people like me, it is just mainly interesting because I can map my ride and see how far I went and how many calories I burned.  Try it out!

Frugally Fit Friday: Tracey Mallet Abs and Flexibility Workout

Last week Youtube suggested this video and it was amazing, so I have to share it, however creepy it is that Youtube knows me that well.

Tracey Mallett: Booty Barre- Abs and Flexibility workout is 13 minutes of exercises that are difficult, but not too difficult and yet they leave you feeling it in a good way the next day.  You can fit it in at any point in time during the day because they are strength moves as opposed to sweaty cardio (which I like, but you have to plan cardio around shower times- at least if you sweat like I do).  Try it out today!

Frugally Fit Friday: 100 Reasons You Should Workout Today

I find that so many days I am so stoked to exercise after work when I am at work.  However, by the time I've spent the whole day convincing teens that logarithms are something they need to know and then graded their papers and tutored for free after school, made dinner and cleaned it up, I am not always motivated to work out.  I found this giant list of reasons why I should workout.

So far, reading through this list has been motivation enough to help me get motivated to do at least a little bit of exercise.  Enjoy!

Frugally Fit Friday: Pool Exercises

Happy Friday to everyone!  This week has been spring break for many of the schools around here which means that everyone has headed down south to where it is warm and is living by the pool!  If you are one of those people or you have access to a pool this week's feature is for you.


Fitness Magazine has an article describing several different exercises that you can do in a pool that are extremely effective and in general won't make you stick out (no one wants to be that crazy lady doing water aerobics to no music all alone surrounded by kids).  It details the K-tread (treading water), Otter roll (killer on abs- but you need a beach ball or something similar), Ball lever (also needs a ball- good for arms/abs/butt), Pike Scull (similar to doing a pike crunch only with more benefit to your arms as well), and finally the Wave Maker (killer on your legs).  What I like best about this article is that it gives you a nice written description and has a 30 second video available for each move, so that if you don't understand the written description you can visualize the move easily.  Note: As you click through the article it will try and have you sign up for stuff (you don't have to).  Just click continue and it will send you write back to the article.

Frugally Fit: Mr. Helio

Happy Good Friday!  Today's video is not for the faint of heart.  It is not professionally made, but if you can handle wobbly cameras, it is a great video.  The instructor is Mr. Helio.  He doesn't speak English in the video, but he is so positive it makes exercising fun!  This is a Zumba style video.  I used to salsa in college, so this video was a blast.  I was also appreciative of the relative conservative clothing choices.  It seems like if you look up Latin style workouts it automatically equals revealing clothes.

Even if you have no dance experience at all, get off your butt today and have your own zumba party of one!

What videos or other fitness ideas did you find this week?  I'd love to hear from you.  Post your answers in the comments.

Frugal Fitness Friday: Bikini Body Ready Workout Video

Good morning and happy Friday to you all!  I'm not sure where you live, but where I live it has been ridiculously cold.  I am very ready to get out of the house, however it is just too cold so I have been doing my workouts indoors with videos as usual.

Despite the cold I am looking forward to spring break.  If you are going anywhere warm where you might be displaying more of your body than usual, this week's video is just perfect for you.  It is called Bikini Body Ready Workout by Exercise TV.  This video is only about 20 minutes, but it really works every part of your body.  It has a lot of lunges, but the movie is short enough that they are bearable.  The instructor is helpful, but not annoyingly perky.  I like to mix it up with this quick video occasionally.

What are some of the best videos or frugal fitness ideas you have found on the net this week?  Link up below.  (Please link directly to your fitness post and make sure to link back to Frugal Fitness Friday).

Frugal Fitness Friday: 8 Minute Workouts

This week I am going old school.  8 minute workouts were made in the 90's, so you can laugh and laugh at the fashion and music, however the actual exercises are fairly effective.  My roommate in college and I used to try and squeeze these in between classes (we actually owned a DVD of these).  We liked that you felt absolute ridiculous if you couldn't fit it into you schedule.  The 8 minute fitness series consists of 8 minute abs, 8 minute arms, 8 minute legs, and 8 minute buns.  They are strength building and difficult enough that if you work hard during them you will feel it the next day, yet short enough that you don't have to worry about getting super sweaty before your next event.  Try one out this week!

If you would like to purchase these go here.

What are some of the best videos or frugal fitness ideas you have found on the net this week?  Link up below.  (Please link directly to your fitness post and make sure to link back to Frugal Fitness Friday).

Frugal Fitness Friday: Jillian Michaels for free!

Frugal Fitness Friday is back and better than ever.  Last fall when we moved we decided to get rid of satellite and just use antenna and a tivo box.  Our tivo box is connected to the internet, so now I can watch youtube videos on our tv!  Each week I hope to post one of my favorite free videos that I have found.  If you are in an area where internet is slow, I also have links to where you can purchase the videos (if applicable).  If it is nice out I might post other frugal fitness ideas.  Join me each Friday and learn how to be fit for less!

This week I am featuring my absolute favorite video.  It is sure to challenge you to work at another level.  I am talking about Jillian Michael's Banish Fat Boost Metabolism video. You can watch it here on youtube or buy it here. It is a very challenging old school calisthenics video.  Jillian inspires me though and I have to admit that I have used some of her motivational lines in my math classes.

I first came upon this video at my local library.  I would check it out and then renew it that way I could keep it for two weeks at a time.  Each time I try this video I get something different out of it.  There are varying levels of difficulty and I must admit that I have made some of my own versions of some of the moves.

What are some of the best videos or frugal fitness ideas you have found on the net this week?  Link up below.  (Please link directly to your fitness post and make sure to link back to Frugal Fitness Friday).

Frugal Fitness Friday: My Fitness Pal

My Fitness Pal is the featured free fitness site of the week.  This site is very similar to Sparkpeople because it provides an easy online free food and fitness diary.  It makes it easy to keep track of everything you eat even when you go out to eat, because you can choose your meal from a list of common restaurants.  It has nutrition facts on over 441,000 foods!  It also has a physical activity diary where you can choose between a list of exercises and input personal data and it will compute an approximate amount of calories burned.

This site also encourages you to network with other people to keep you accountable.  They have downloadable "badges" to place on your blog/emails/etc. that state how close you are to your goal.  I don't know about you, but if I was trying to lose weight, having it broadcast to the world would probably motivate me.

The most interesting tool that this site has to offer is its free iPhone application.  This way if you are out and about all day, you could easily document what you have eaten or what physical activity you have completed.  That way as you contemplate getting that gigantic piece of chocolate cake, you could see whether that is an ok choice for the day, or not.

Also remember, if you are exercising to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

Feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Map my Run
Couch to 5k
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Frugal Fitness Friday: Map My Run

Last week I brought to you the Couch to 5k program online.  You can also go directly to the program by this link.  This program helps you go from sitting on the couch to being able to run 5k in 9 weeks.  If you are feeling stuck, because you don't know how far you are running currently, fear not, I have found a new online fitness freebie.

Map my Run is free program that allows you to "draw" the route that you take when running, walking, biking, etc. to determine the distance travelled.  It will make note of mile markers (how far you have until you have gone 1 mile, 2 miles, etc.).  It allows you to choose "up and back" and "loop".  They also have a workout calculator which will determine your speed, calories burned, and bmi.  They are in the process of testing a new format- which is the beta site.  If you create a free account, you can save your routes and join "teams".

I have used this site this summer.  I live in the country, so there is not a lot of choices for routes, but I really like knowing how far I have run.  It really helps me push myself to go a little bit farther each day.  The only draw back is that you have to sit through a 30 sec ad when you first visit the site.

If you are running to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

Feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Couch to 5k
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Frugal Fitness Friday: Couch to 5k

It's summer, which means it is swimsuit season.  If you're not motivated yet, think of how good exercise will be for your heart.  Now that it is so nice out, it seems silly to stay in to exercise.  If you are just as ready to go out as I am, visit the Couch to 5k program online.  You can also go directly to the program by this link.

This program is very simple and easy to follow.  By the end of the 9 week program you should be able to run a 5k in 30 minutes or less!  I'm planning on using this program for my cardio a few days a week during the summer and I hope that you'll join me.

Highlights: There are tons of helpful links at the bottom of this page!  I am planning on downloading the free Christian music with verbal cues of when to run/jog/walk onto my mp3 player (that is if I can find my chord).

If you are running to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

If you're not a running fan, feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Frugal Fitness Friday: Yoga Today

Featured this week for Frugal Fitness Friday is the site Yoga Today.  This site has a lot of yoga information.  Each week they provide a free video.  These free videos are not just little short clips, but instead include an entire hour long class! 

I have to admit that I do not know a whole lot about yoga.  I was wary of it and it's Eastern religion connections, but I have tried some of the more "secular" yoga videos before and was excited about how my flexibility increased after just one or two classes (with a free video of course!).  So if you are looking to try yoga at no cost to you, visit Yoga Today and choose their free weekly class!

Frugal Fitness Friday: Livestrong

Ok, I'll admit that I did not get this posted on Friday.  However, this can be a lesson for all of us.  Fitness and posting about fitness is one of those areas where "better late than never" works.  For instance, this last week I just barely squeeked in my two days of working out (I ended up doing in Friday/Saturday), but that is better than not doing it at all.

The feature of the week is Livestrong.  Most of us first think of the plastic armbands used by this company as a fund raiser for research in cancer, but this organization has so much more.  On their site is a plethora of videos describing how to perform specific exercises.  They also have a large number of articles on every aspect of healthy living.  So if you are looking for any information on fitness and health go to Livestrong.

Frugal Fitness Friday: More Online Workout Videos

The Frugal Fitness Friday feature this week is women-workout-routines.com.  They have several free online workout reutines.  They really are pretty good exercises, however I will warn you that they have kind of bizarre outfits on. 

Frugal Fitness Friday: My FitnessPal

The Frugal Fitness Friday feature this week is myfitnesspal.com.  Myfitnesspal.com offers a free online food journal/ calorie counter.  I know that if I had to journal everything I ate, that I might think twice before having another chocolate.  So if you are looking for a good online food journal that is free go to myfitnesspal.com. 

Frugal Fitness Friday: Military Workouts

It's Frugal Fitness Friday again!  This week I would like to focus on a website that I found provided by Military.com.  If you go here you will find a huge list of links to all kinds of resources.

Many of the links are geared more towards men, but there are a lot of interesting ones on the site that could be for men or women.  They have workouts for each branch of military and for specific types of training.  They also have workouts for specific muscle groups.  They even have some interesting articles on different exercises and their effectiveness!

So if you are looking for intense free boot camp style workouts go here.

*Go here for a list of all Frugal Fitness posts, including links to free workout music, free online workout videos, free food journaling, and more.

Free Fitness Music

If you like peppy workout music, go here to download The Biggest Loser Workout Mix for free!  I downloaded it and it has all kinds of songs including Stronger, which always keeps me motivated!

Thanks, FrugalFind!

Frugal Fitness Friday: Exercise TV (on the internet!)

Whew!  We've already almost made it through another week!  How are you doing?  I managed to squeeze my two workouts per week in on Monday and Tuesday.  I know I should up the goal, but for now I am trying to be realistic~after all I was working out maybe once every two weeks before this.

My Frugal Fitness Feature of the Week is ExerciseTV (Note: no tv is needed!).  ExerciseTV is a website that provides free short and full length clips of lots and lots of exercise videos.  Parts of their website you have to pay to use, however I have never paid a cent and have enjoyed their large variety of exercise videos.

For those of you who are fans of a certain trainer (Jillian Michaels, Denise Austin, etc.) you can choose to only have the videos of that certain trainer displayed.  You can also choose a certain genre of video (Bootcamp, Dance, Yoga, etc.).  Furthermore, they have a few videos offered in Spanish (I like to listen to these to see how much Spanish I can understand).

So if you are already getting bored and unmotivated, go to ExerciseTV and try something completely new.  The best part is ... it's free!

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Go here to read last week's Frugal Fitness post.

Frugal Fitness Friday: Sparkpeople and more

We are already a week into the new year and I'm already realizing how difficult it will be to stick to exercising several days a week.  Many people say that the best way to stick to an exercise regimen is to get an expensive gym membership and pay for a trainer.  I beg to disagree. 

Each Friday I will be highlighting several different free/cheap resources for exercising.  These may include online videos, articles, blog-radio shows, exercises, etc.  Something very important to note is that I am not a health expert by any means, so consult your doctor before you try anything too crazy.

This week I am highlighting a site called Sparkpeople.com.  The site was started by Chris Downie and his wife (former Ebay employees) who used and continue to use some of the profit of their Ebay stock to help pay for the maintenance of the website.  They see it as their way of giving back to the community.  For more info on why it is free, go here.

Sparkpeople is a dieting, exercise, and social networking site all-in-one.  When you sign up you will have access to a diet section of the website.  It has a plethora of different recipes (I have a couple that I want to try), and many tips on how to make healthier versions of food that you love. 

For those of you who are really dedicated, you can keep an online journal of what you eat every day. It will tally the nutritional information from all of the food that you ate to give you a total sum for the day.  By looking through your journal, patterns in eating become apparent and it is easier to see when you are weak against the pull of junk food (emotional eating, eating after work, etc.).  They also suggest that you log how many glasses of water you drink.

The exercise portion of the website contains lots of helpful articles and videos.  It includes short video tutorials of exercises.  There is a section where you can log your exercise for each day and it will tally the amount of calories burned (it even includes regular activities such as raking).  I really liked that it included many different types of exercise from sports, to cleaning, to yoga, to boxing, -you name it, they have information on it.

Finally, the social networking part of the site for many people is the biggest motivator in keeping their fitness and nutritional goals.  It is similar to facebook in that you have a profile page that people can see.  You can choose to share your exercise, weight, or nutrition goals with the world.  You can earn points for doing certain things (exercising, eating healthy, just logging in) and as you accumulate more points you will reach different levels.  You can choose to share the level that you are on, on your profile page.  It is fun to look through other people's pages to see what obstacles they have overcome.

There are teams of all sorts of people that you can join.  For instance I have joined a team for people in their 20's in Indiana.  Through that team I can "talk" with other people in similar circumstances to me (can't exercise outside because it is snowing, and don't want to spend the money on a gym membership).  The teams set goals for themselves and try to work together to meet them. 

In conclusion, I chose to write about Sparkpeople for my first Frugal Fitness article for a reason.  It is by far one of the best diet/exercise websites out there, and it is free!  This site has links to almost everything you could need to stay healthy and fit.  There are many other websites that offer diet journals or exercise journals, but not that many that offer both.  Furthermore, this site more valuable information and videos than you could ever read or watch and more than most other health websites that you would have to pay for.  So, if you are having difficulty finding the motivation to reach your new year's resolution goals, sign up.  It's free!