Monday's Retail Madness

GET FREE WORKOUT GEAR!

Looking to get some new workout clothes but not interested in shelling out the big bucks? Try trading in your credit card points for a gift card to Nike, Macy's or other retailer carrying athletic brands. By regularly using your credit card to make purchases you rack up points which you can then trade in for a variety of items, including gift cards to your favorite stores. So if you have been eyeing a new pair of running sneakers or body slimming yoga pants, don't feel guilty about splurging just use your points and nab great stuff for free!

FIT TIP: Being fit means being financially fit as well, make sure you are not overspending by using your credit card. Only spend what you can pay off with the money in your bank account!

Weekend Activity

Looking to try something new and fun this weekend? Check out ooh.com, a website that lists fun activities to try throughout the world! Check out sports and leisure activities in your area or use the website when you are planning a vacation. Yoga retreat in Hawaii anyone?

Friday's Food

THE FIVE BEST FOODS FOR YOU THAT DON'T BREAK THE BANK!

This Friday's Food offers you the best foods you can eat for your health and diet and best of all they're cheap! Who says eating healthy is too expensive?

1.) Black Beans- At only 1/2 a gram of fat and 90 calories per serving, these little beans still pack a punch with 7g of protein. Use them instead of chicken in tacos or burritos or add them to salads or rice dishes to make a hearty meal. At only $0.99 per can (one can has 3.5 servings) black beans will really be a bang for your buck!

2.) Plum Tomatoes- Cheaper than some of their cousins like beefsteak or vine, they still offer the same cancer fighting benefits (if you have been spending a lot of time in the sun, stock up on these tomatoes!). They also are a great source of Vitamins A and C and with only 15 calories and 0g of fat, you can eat a ton of them! Try dicing them and adding to salads or sandwiches or make a pasta sauce or pico de gallo with these great almost seedless variety.

3.) Bananas- One of the cheapest fruits you can buy at only $0.79 per lb, bananas are rich in potassium and are much more filing than other water-based fruits. Have one sliced in your morning cereal, smoothie or yogurt. Eat one before hitting the gym for an instant energy booster. Or try slicing one and dipping it in melted chocolate for instant fondue!

4.) Shrimp- One of the cheapest seafoods you can buy, shrimp is so versatile and low in fat. Its a great choice for a protein in your meals and it is so versatile you can add it to Italian pasta dishes, Asian stir-fries, or Mexican tacos. Try seasoning it with spices prior to cooking like oregano or chipotle chilli and the shrimp will add a punch of flavor to your dish.

5.) Eggs- Stay away from the organic, corn-fed or free range chicken and you can pick up a dozen eggs for about $2.00. Eggs last a long time in the fridge so no need to eat them up right away and with a dozen of them, you'll have plenty of egg options! Try hardboiling them for a quick breakfast or combine one egg with 2-3 egg whites and scramble them for a more laid back breakfast. Use the eggs in your sandwich instead of cold cuts (even low-fat cold cuts can still provide a ton of sodium so its good to take a break!) or mix it with mayo and make egg salad. Hardboiled eggs are also great in pasta salads (use a light vingaigrette instead of mayo). Best of all, eating all the protein in eggs will keep you full all day!

Readers, are there any healthy foods you eat that are low cost?

Sounds on Thursday

This week's Sounds on Thursday Is the album Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (right). If you like that bubble gum pop music that reminds you of summer in high school then this album is for you! Songs like album titleTeenage Dream and California Girls provide great motivation to get you through any cardio workout and the upbeat lyrics may even put a smile on your face!

The entire album available at Amazon for only $7.99!

Wednesday's Workout

Hey all you frugal fitness fanatics, lose 8 lbs for *free* this month at home!! Just log onto SELF Magazine's website and sign up for the 8 lb Slimdown. Signing up is free and SELF will guide you through your daily workouts including cardio and strength training. You also will get a meal guide and free videos demonstrating strength and cardio moves. All you need is a pair of dumbbells! Don't forget to log your eating habits and workouts into the food and workout log provided on the website. With all of this at your fingertips, you have no excuses for losing those pesky 8 lbs . . . FOR FREE!

FIT TIP: Want to take your workout to the gym? Don't worry, SELF has a plan for gym rats as well!

Friday's Food

If the warmer weather is prompting you to go for a picnic, try these smart ideas to stay frugal and fit on your picnic!

Crackers and Cheese- This old staple can be made more healthy by simply opting for light cheese and light crackers. A favorite of FitBritt's is the Laughing Cow Light Cheese. These individual cheese wedges are only 35 calories a wedge and 2 grams of fat. They also have lots of flavors like French Onion, Garlic and Herb, Blue Cheese and more! Visit the Laughing Cow's website for more information (and also some yummy recipes using their cheese). As for crackers, most brands offer a low-fat versions of your old favorites but two great options are Health Valley's Garden Herb crackers and Carr's Table Crackers which come in a variety of flavors and have few calories and are low in fat.

Fruit- This is always a great way to fill up on a picnic. Try seasonal fruit because it will be the cheapest and the best tasting. A few good options are berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, chopped watermelon or pineapple, grapes, sliced apples, pears or peaches. Try combining them for a yummy fruit salad. Another great option is combining sliced strawberries with some fresh mint, a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of sugar for a sweet treat!

Lean Sandwiches- To best satisfy your appetite you should give yourself small portions of a lot of different tastes rather than a large serving of one dish. Making a number of different mini sandwiches for a group is a great way to do this. Try buying a baguette and making small slices or cut sandwich bread into smaller portions and then experiment away! Keep your meats to low-fat (like ham, turkey, chicken) and order low-sodium from the deli if you are watching your sodium intake. Then try interesting spreads like olive tapenade, hummus (try a flavor like roasted red pepper or jalapeno) or mashed avocado. Keep your spreads light, the purpose is to add flavor not calories. Then load on veggies like tomatoes, watercress or arugula or lettuce, sprouts, shredded carrots or cabbage, cucumber or peppers.

Dessert- Yes you can have dessert! A bar of dark chocolate split among friends is a heart healthy option. Or try angel food cake. You can pick up a pre-made cake at a local grocery and just add sliced strawberries and fat free whip cream! Meringue cookies are also a great and healthy dessert.

Fit Tip: Don't forget that a picnic is a great time to get active as well! Bring along a frisbee or a soccer ball or a football to toss around with friends or just take a stroll through your local part looking for a perfect place to park your picnic!

Sounds on Thursday

Taking a cue from our earlier post on National Dance Day, this week's dance anthem is Club Can't Handle Me by Flo Rida. This fun upbeat song is great for some hip hop dancing, visit our National Dance Day post to see the Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed hip hop video accessible for all dance levels. Or just turn it on and get your own groove on. Alternatively, the song is upbeat enough to pull you through any tough workout. Motivation for only $1.29 at iTunes.

Readers, FitBritt recently tried swimming laps for exercise. Do you listen to music when you swim? What player do you use?

Wednesday's Workout

If you are looking to shake up your workout routine without leaving your own home then check out Hulu! Hulu is a website that allows you to watch tv shows on your computer for *free!* Best of all, Hulu offers a ton of full-length fitness classes including power yoga, Denise Austin's series, SELF Magazine workout routines and much more. Check out all the free workout videos you can watch and you'll never be bored with your workout again!

Weekend Activity

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Why not try breaking out some of those old backyard games you used to play as a kid. Games like badminton, croquet, bocce, frisbee or even just a game of catch or touch football offer great workouts while also allowing you to utilize these long summer days. Make it a party by inviting over a few friends to enjoy in the activities!

Looking to pick up some gear? Check out Sports Authority, Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon or eBay for equipment

Friday's Foods

A great way to save money and also eat the best fruits and veggies is to buy food that is in season. If you are unsure of what is in season, check out Sustainable Table to find out what is available in season near you!

Corn is a great vegetable that is in season now but instead of topping your corn on the cob with butter, try squeezing a fresh lime for a burst of flavor!

Enjoy!

Sounds on Thursday

This week's workout tune is a dance anthem that is great for getting your groove on or for pumping up your cardio workout. Try Take it Off by Ke$sha, available on iTunes.

Groupon Update

Today's New York Groupon is $39 for 5 Women's Bootcamp Classes! Alternatively, you can sign up for three capoeira classes for just $22! Get moving NY!

Wednesday's Workout

This Wednesday try an outdoor hike to get in a good workout while spending time outdoors, absolutely for free!

Need a trail in your area? Visit Trails.com to find a trail in your area and map out your hiking plan. Don't forget to pack plenty of water and food if you plan to be hiking for more than two hours.

Wednesday's Workout

For all you pilates fans out there, this Wednesday's Workout is a pilates mat class! Pilates is a method of exercise created by Joseph Pilates, focusing on the core postural muscles. Pilates also incorporates breathing techniques and increases flexibility. Although pilates can incorporate equipment, basic pilates is done on a mat with no equipment. Try these traditional pilates exercises at home to strengthen your core and increase flexibility:

The Hundred: Start lying on the floor or a mat on your back. Pull abs up and in like you are trying to zip a pair of tight pants. Bend your knees and keeping your knees and legs together. Take your feet off the floor so you shins are now parallel to the floor and knees are directly over hips. Lift head, neck and shoulders off the mat and lift arms off the floor but keep them straight and by your side. Start pumping arms up and down in small pulses up and down while breathing in for five breaths. Continue pumping arms and breath out for five breaths. Repeat this exercise ten times.

Advanced Option- Extend legs out to a 45 degree angle and do the exercise with legs straight.

To see a video of the hundred click here.

The Plank: Start lying on your stomach on the mat. Put your hands underneath your shoulders and push yourself up into a pushup position. Pull abs in and up and hold. For a modification either drop onto your knees instead of having legs straight (as if doing a pushup on you knees) or instead of using straight arms, drop down onto your forearms but keep legs straight. Try to hold the plank for 30 seconds to one minute while keeping your body in a straight line.

To see a video of the plank click here.

Obliques: Start by lying on your back with legs straight. Lift your legs two inches off the floor. Lift head, neck and shoulders up off the floor with hands behind the head as if performing a crunch. Bend the right leg and bring the right knee in towards your chest while simultaneously bringing your left elbow to right knees. Then switch legs and bring left knee in while bringing right knee towards left knee. Keep switching legs until you have done 10-20 repetitions.

To see a video of the oblique exercise click here.

For a complete at-home pilates workout. Check out these three ten minute videos from Pilates on Fifth:

Pilates Workout 1

Pilates Workout 2

Pilates Workout 3

Trying doing all three for a great 30 minute workout!

Groupon Update

Hey all you New Yorkers. Today's Groupon for NYC is offering $15 for two-weeks of unlimited classes at YogaWorks or $49 for a whole month!! Great deal. Visit Groupon for more info and follow Frugal Fitness on Twitter to stay updated with the latest fitness related Groupons and deals!

Tuesday's Trim Down

Today's Trim Down Tip is to get outside this summer while there is still time left!! A great way to burn calories and get in a good workout is to try a new summer sport. Kayaking is one of FitBritt's all-time favorites and it is surprisingly inexpensive to rent a kayak by the hour or by the day. You can try a single or get a buddy and do a double kayak. For novices, you may want to find a tour program where an experienced leader shows you where to kayak. Those with a little more experience can get out on their own. Plus, if you are on vacation on the water, kayaking is a great way to see the sights without all the congestion.

For more information on kayaking visit KayakOnline. For information on kayak tours visit REI Outdoor School or simply try a Google search to find something in your area!

Sounds on Thursday

This week's Sound on Thursday is Hang On (Dave Aude Radio Mix) by Plumb. This is a great remix of the original and will definitely get you through a tough cardio session!

Wednesday's Workout

This Wednesday's Workout is a great way to burn calories, stay fit on the cheap and have fun! Tennis anyone?? Try playing an hour of tennis and you'll burn major calories. Best yet, most cities maintain tennis courts as part of the local park and recreation department so you will most likely have access for free or for a small fee. Check out your local high school to see if they have tennis courts or call the city park and rec and inquire about local tennis court availability. Another great option, try Cardio Tennis, a class that focuses more on running around and hitting balls than on technique. Its great for all levels and will definitely keep your heartrate up!

Tuesday's Trim Down

If you are vacationing this summer and worried about not having time (or frankly the motivation) to keep up with your workouts consider forgoing a rental car. If you have to rely on taxis or public transport to help you get around, you'll be much more likely to walk helping you burn off those calories consumed from special vacation treats! Bonus- you will be able to see more of the city!

Readers, where have you walked around on vacation?

National Dance Day

Fox's So You Think You Can Dance executive producer, Nigel Lithgow, has deemed July 31st National Dance Day. Its a day to get out and have a great time dancing! FitBritt recommends you celebrate National Dance Day! See our previous post for a playlist and ideas on gettin jiggy wit it! Also, check out the official dance day routine created by SYTYCD choreographer's Napoleon and Tabitha. Don't be afraid to rewind until you get the routine down pat. Before you know it you'll be sweating it up!