Get Buff on a Budget: 5 Ways To Have a Great Body In A Bad Economy

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr 01, 2009 -
With the economy in a slump finding the money for the body you want can seem like an impossible task.  Fortunately we talked to award-winning Washington, DC personal trainer Josef Brandenburg who has these 5 fresh tips for looking and feeling your best while saving money:

#1.  Ditch the gym:  Brandenburg says, “if money is tight, most people – especially women – can get a gym quality workout at home with no more than $200 in equipment and often less than that.  If you consider that a gym membership is $70 per month in Washington, DC that’s a savings of $640 in the first year alone.”

#2.  Create a smart home gym:  When most people think of working out the first thing on their list is a treadmill or elliptical machine.  “These kinds of machines are actually a waste of space, money and time.  You will never get the body you want from aerobic exercise – decades of research show that aerobics are almost completely worthless for fat-loss, plus a decent machine will set you back $2,000 or more!” says Brandenburg.  He says that all you need is a set of adjustable dumbbells, an exercise ball, exercise bands and a good program to get great results at home.

#3.  Use semi-private personal training:  Brandenburg advises that there is no need to pay $150 or more per hour to have the undivided attention of a topnotch personal trainer.  What you really need is a customized program for your body and goals, nutrition guidelines, to learn how to do your program correctly, and accountability.  All of these things can be done in a semi-private setting for a fraction of the cost of private training.  If your trainer creates your program in advance, he or she can safely and effectively supervise up to 3 people at the same time.

#4.  Cut back on the supplements:  Brandenburg also says that if you are taking fat burning supplements you might be wasting your money because its probably no better than a smart nutrition and exercise program alone.  He says to stick with the basics – a multi-vitamin and fish oil will do the trick for the vast majority of people looking to feel better and tone up.

#5.  Use a foam roller:  Getting regular massages can be a great way to improve your recovery and work out knots in your muscle, but they can also be expensive.  Josef recommends that all of his clients get a $10 foam roller.  “Its like a cheap, portable massage therapist that you can use to massage tight and sore muscles – its wonderful after a long day,” says Josef.