My Simple Solution for Getting in Shape

Getting in shape isn’t just a matter of being healthy and feeling good, it can have a big impact on your wallet as well. I’ve been getting some big medical bills from the end of last year when I ran into some health issues, which could have been avoided had I been taking care of myself.

Skipping Exercise

As I mentioned in my new years action plan, my life has become substantially busier over the last two years.  Before our son and this site entered our world, I used to jog at least five times a week but that came to an end once our life got busy.  I did want to exercise I just didn’t have the time, sound familiar?

I kept telling myself things would slow down a little and I’d get back into exercising then.  Well, as life would have it, I found myself busier than ever at the end of 2008 and I made zero time for working out until I ran into some health issues.

Time off work, major pain, and medical bills reminded me that you can’t ignore your health forever.  So I sat down with my wife at the beginning of 2009 and made a plan for the year.

Simple Exercise Plan

Now I exercise about 30 minutes, 4 days a week.  Three days of the week I come home from work and head down into our basement with our son, where I hit the treadmill and he plays in the big open space in the middle of the room.  Then we fit in a session on Saturday or Sunday afternoon to make 4 days of exercise.  It’s been working out well, we’re still spending the time together and I get a workout at the same time.

It started off at the beginning of January where I was at the lowest setting for the entire session.  Each day I’ve increased the setting a little more and now that the first month of working is over, I’ve gotten to the point where I work my way up to the 4th setting by the end of the session.

Making it a Habit

I think the most important part of my plan is that it’s easy to follow.  I have a set time and I’m in and out so it’s not a big mental challenge.  Since it’s easy to do, it makes it easier to stick with the routine.

I’m taking a slow approach, not stressing out about how much weight I’ve lost at all.  In fact, I haven’t gotten on the scale since I’ve begun.  I just know if I keep up the exercising that eventually the weight will start to come off and if I incorporate it as a routine in my life the weight (and hopefully the medical bills) will stay away.

Ben Edwards, the founder of Money Smart Life, saved up enough to buy a Nintendo back when he was 12 years old. When he used the money to buy shares of Wal-Mart stock instead, he knew he wasn't like the other kids... His addiction to personal finance has paid off for his family and now he's helping you to afford the life that you want. Check him out on the web at Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook.

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