Exercise - Eat less - Move more

Yet if you could spend just 30 minutes per day exercising, this could have a life-changing effect. It is not necessary to join a gym, pay expensive membership and then fall by the wayside after a couple of visits. Remember, this site is all about saving money!

Looking at this in an objective way – 30 minutes per day = ½ hour. In a week there are 168 hours. Therefore time spent in healthy movement would take only 3½ hours leaving 164½ hours for all the other things you need/must do i.e., sleeping, working, eating, relaxing. Such a little time to ask for something that could literally be an insurance policy for your future health and figure?

If you do move around more your whole body and mind will benefit. Even if you only manage your 30 minutes on every alternate day, this will be a step in the right direction. Fail to exercise, then you do so at your peril. Old age will creep up on you sooner than you wish.

Healthy movement can constitute simple activities such a walking, running, swimming, cycling etc. Even gardening and housework fall into this category. In other words, just move more.

To do this the easy way - and reap an unintentional bonus is to visit our

Gardening Diary There you will see how to create a mini vegetable plot. Do this and you will move more and eat better.

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Have you considered exercising and stretching with a 440g. tin of baked beans in each hand. This will add an extra benefit to what is are ordinary movements. No need to set special time aside for this type of exercise. Take the opportunity, grab a couple of cans and while you are waiting for the washing machine or microwave to finish a cycle or the kettle to boil – get moving. No excuses here!

When you are walking keep your tummy muscles pulled in, breath well and soon you will develop this way of walking. Keep your body erect, shoulders back and head held straight.

Use this ‘walking time’ to free your mind, sort out your problems and you will find that you will return home with glowing cheeks and feeling more relaxed about any problems you may have. When you are walking in cold weather you will burn up more calories as your body has to work harder to generate and retain your body temperature.

Such run-of-the-mill activities as housework also burn off calories and are good for you. You will, or should be, continually moving your body, stretching etc. These movements will help keep all your working parts fit and in good condition.

So, why not clean the windows (stretching), vacuum the carpets (pushing/pulling) or get down on your knees and wash the kitchen floor. This last one is real old-fashioned housework but excellent exercise.

Another winner is gardening. Again all the stretching and bending, plus shifting weights if you are digging, pushing a wheelbarrow or mowing the lawn - all will be of benefit. You will be out in the fresh air and can even be producing vegetables which will help you save money. Remember to start with the easy tasks first, do not throw yourself into heavy digging straight away or you will be joining the Spring queue of gardeners with back ache at the doctor’s surgery.

Ladies, if you click on Tip. 9 you will find an exercise there that will not only help your figure, but will increase the strength of you innermost muscles. As the years roll on many ladies often find that their bladder control is not all that it might be. This exercise will help to strengthen bladder muscles and could put paid to embarrassing moments. Try it – it does work.

There is only one real diet – Eat Less – Move More.

A mild exercise programme - as above - can only be of benefit to you.

You will find free exercises in Fitness Magazine that you might like to try. You need to sign up to their Newsletter to receive their tips.