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How Can I Stay Fit?

I've had a hard time staying motivated. I live out in the middle of nowhere and don't have an easy way to get to a gym or money to buy workout equipment. How can I stay fit?
- Jessie*

For some people, the hardest part of exercising isn't the vigorous physical activity, but finding a way to stay motivated enough to work out regularly. Luckily, you can try a few tricks to keep you on track. The first is to put "exercise" on your schedule — literally. Writing it down makes working out like a daily appointment.

Writing exercise down in your planner or calendar makes it harder to avoid, but it doesn't necessarily make you look forward to working out. So it's also important to make exercising fun and something that you enjoy. If you like to dance, come up with a dance routine to do a few times a week.

Living in the middle of nowhere doesn't have to be a negative thing. Take advantage of all that open space and natural beauty by biking on back roads or trails or going for a peaceful jog. Jogging, running, biking, yoga, push-ups, and sit-ups are just a few examples of exercises that can be done with little or no money involved.

Other low-cost options include exercise balls, hand weights, exercise bands, and videos and DVDs. Check out on-demand exercise programs or go online to find workouts, including yoga, zumba, and more. Whatever approach you take to working out, you'll love the results — a healthier and fitter you!

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: September 114

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.