It’s no secret. Life is expensive. The cost of living has risen dramatically over the past few years. With inflation on the rise and the economy going through so much uncertainty how can the average person be expected to save for retirement while living a somewhat comfortable lifestyle at the same time?
Residing in Vancouver for over a decade now I consider myself extremely fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With the beach, the night life and the mountains literally all at my doorstep there is no other place I would rather be. However having all these luxuries comes at a price, and the bill is a fairly steep one. As expensive as Vancouver is, it can actually become even more costly if you’re a health freak or a gym junkie. Walk into any Whole Foods or Choices Grocery store and get ready to easily throw down $20.00 for a free range chicken breast and an organic sweet potato. So exactly how does a fitness fanatic working with a tight budget, survive in a big ticket city that can be extremely overpriced at times?
Training and dieting for fitness competitions can be emotionally draining – both physically and financially. There’s not much I can do about the physical part (it really does suck sometimes) however I believe that I have developed a tried and true system to help ease the financial burden of incorporating healthy foods and training into my monthly grocery/gym bill while not leaving me struggling to pay my mortgage at the end of the month. Check out my “Financially Fit System” for a few tips on how you too can become financially fit.
Cosgrove’s Financially Fit System:
Rule #1 – Get Healthy at Home
We all like the convenience of going out to a restaurant or cafe for the occasional dinner or lunch but getting in the habit of purchasing a bowl of “gluten-free oatmeal” for your morning breakfast at a boutique grocery store or a yogurt parfait for an afternoon snack at Starbucks can add up quickly if it becomes a daily habit.
Try This:
Don’t be lazy! Oatmeal whether it’s gluten-free or not, takes less then 3 minutes to cook! And a 2.25kg bag costs less then $7.00! Don’t use the “I don’t have time” excuse. Get in the habit of making your meals at home and bring them with you to work. You wouldn’t try to drive 10 miles on an empty tank of gas, so why would you leave the house without packing your food (i.e. fuel) to help you get you through your day? Get in the habit of prepping 90% of your meals at home. Invest in some tupperware. If you like to have fresh meals each day then get up 30 minutes earlier then usual to prep your meals for that particular day. And FYI if you are ordering any meals from Starbucks or a Fast Food Chain restaurant I can almost guarantee you that the food you are purchasing is not fresh.
Rule #2 – Organic is Overrated
Okay, before all the Yogis start throwing their reusable produce bags and biodegradable toilet paper rolls at me let me explain my reasoning for this rule.
So far, the previously-mentioned claims surrounding organic foods have yet to be proven. Limited studies and basic logic indicate that organic foods may have higher nutritional value than standard foods. However, that alone does not make these products special. All we currently know is eating organic limits our exposure to synthetic additives. With that said, organic products are extremely expensive! Eating organic is not bad; but it is also not necessary. Or, as I like to say “Overrated.”
Try This:
The main problem with organic foods are the cost. Rather than purchasing all organic, make healthy food choices based on your budget. If you can afford it, give organic a try. If you can’t, understand that organic foods are not the key to proper nutrition. Let me repeat: organic foods are not miracle products. My best piece of advice here is to eat healthy, and eat what you can afford.
Rule #3 Budget in Your Body
Working out and taking care of your body doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s not exactly cheap either. Fresh salmon and a bag of quinoa costs more then frozen store-bought hamburger patties and a bag of potato chips. This is a fact. And Yes, a yam does cost more then a white potato and no they are NOT THE SAME THING.
Try This:
You need to sit down and budget fitness into your lifestyle. This means setting aside the funds needed to eat clean, purchase a gym membership and/or train with a Personal Trainer or join a monthly group fitness class. You need to think of fitness as an investment in your health rather then a luxury in your lifestyle. It’s not necessary to own ten different types of designer name brand running shoes nor is it important to belong to an exclusive over-priced fancy gym. One to two pairs of training shoes should be sufficient and as long as the gym you belong to has some free weights and perhaps a couple of squat racks you will survive.
Rule #4 – Don’t Be a Sucker for Supplements
Supplements are a great tool to have to be able to incorporate into your fitness lifestyle, but keep in mind that they are just that – supplements. This means that they come second to real food. Therefore this is another expense that is not absolutely necessary. Don’t waste your money on over the counter fat burners, protein bars and weight gainers that are no more useful then a CrossFit exercise or the leg abductor machine at your local gym….;^)
Try This
If you have a little extra wiggle room in your budget I would recommend that you purchase a good solid whey isolate protein powder (or vega protein powder if you are a Vegan.) I also recommend that you try ordering your supplements online rather then going to your local GNC where you are guaranteed to pay almost double the price for the exact same order. Shipping costs are also usually included with your online purchase as well. Be smart with your purchase and don’t allow yourself to become another victim to an already oversaturated and grossly overrated supplement industry.
I’m by far a frugal person. In fact, I’ve been known to spend a fair amount on health foods and supplements over the years. I have learned through my financial faux pases though and now practice and preach my Financially Fit System to all of our clients on a regular basis.
I wrote this article in hopes that you won’t make the same mistakes that I made with my fitness finances when I first switched over to living a somewhat healthy and fit lifestyle.
At the end of the day it’s about keeping it simple. Try your best to maintain a diet that’s 80% clean, train with the utmost intensity and don’t rely on overpriced supplements and fitness gimmicks for quick results.
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
President
Forever Fit