How Laziness Has Made Me Rich Part II - Physical Fitness

Yesterday, I took a look at how I use my lazy tendencies to help me keep my house tidy. Today, we’re going to see how you can be lazy, and still get out there and get some exercise. Oh, by the way, in yesterday’s post I said that my two everyday housework must-do’s were keeping the kitchen clean and making the bed. Actually, I have another one, and I can’t believe I forgot - poopy patrol! That definitely has to be done every day around here, especially with my large menagerie.

Laying on the sofa and staring at the ceiling is quite pleasurable when you feel good. But, to feel good on the couch, you first need to get your butt off the couch and move it around a little to maintain a certain level of physical fitness and health. (And of course, healthiness is much cheaper than the alternative).

Now, it would be quite easy to spend a lot of money to achieve this end, but this is how we do it lazy-tightwad style: 1. I have a big, sweet rambunctious dog 2. She loves to go for wallks everyday 3. I need exercise everyday 4. I tie Sweetie dog’s leash around my waist 5. She pulls me around the neighborhood (4 miles almost everyday). 6. I get free, bonus aerobics when she spots a rabbit. You see - she really does most of the work, but I get a lot of benefit being towed along in her wake. It’s a win-win situation.

This takes about an hour. Now that it’s getting really hot here in Texas, I like to get up early to do this. I don’t mind being in the heat that much myself, but it isn’t nice to force my pooch to suffer through high temperatures. She’s so good-tempered (and loves to go for walks so much) that she’d keep going, even in 120 degrees, but this is cruel to a poor creature that can only sweat through its tongue. Also, the hot pavement can be painful on their paws, tough as they are. When I see people out walking their dogs in the hottest part of the day, I mentally sigh. They mean well, but the poor pooch is suffering. Don’t be so rigid about your exercise schedule if your walking buddy is a fur-face. Get up earlier, or walk in the evening. You’ll get used to the change before you know it. And your loyal companion will thank you!

Here are Sadie (the Lab) and Farley (poodle mix) after their walk yesterday. They are in good health and good shape, and so really enjoy being lazy on the sofa. I’m right there with you, kids!

I get dragged around my neighborhood everyday (and I do mean seven days a week), and guess what? - I look just like a supermodel. Not. I’m actually, er, shall we say, pleasantly plump (I’m not just being self-deprecating here, it’s really true **sigh**). But that’s ok. I feel good; I have the stamina to enjoy my life.

Last summer, when I met up with my sweet sister in Washington D.C. for a fabulous tightwad vacation (she treated me, what a sis!), I walked absolutely everywhere. One day I walked from the Washington monument, to the Jefferson memorial, to the Ford Theater (closed for renovation, grrr), to the National Art Gallery, to the National Zoo, then back out the National Zoo (which is all uphill going back) then to the subway station, than from the ending subway station to my hotel. And this was on a very hot day. My chubby gams may not be supermodel thin but they have the oomph to get me where I need to go. And with plenty of energy to spare, thanks to my daily lazy one-hour outings with my four-legged friends.

The best, cheapest, and laziest healthful activity, of course, is a good night’s sleep! Strangely, I’m not such a great sleeper. Many days I get up very early, and can’t get back to sleep. I’m also a very light sleeper, so thirteen years of my husband’s LOUD snoring has taken its toll. This is probably why I take a nap most afternoons. But let me tell you, on those days that I get a full eight hours (like last night) I feel GREAT. I truly feel like I can move mountains, not to mention my mood is sooper-dooper happy.

Lazy Savings for a Rainy-Day: This one must be huge, because it affects so many other things in your life: health-care costs, clothing costs, professional mental therapy (don’t need it!). My chosen form of exercise is very inexpensive. But considering the enormous benefits of physical fitness, I think a gym membership could be worth the cost. If you work 20 hours a day (and have kids!) a gym might be the best alternative. I know people that go on their lunch hour, because that is the only “free” time they have. Also, some neighborhoods are just not safe to walk in, especially early in the morning or late at night, which may be a busy person’s only options. A gym membership or purchasing home exercise equipment would be a wise investment in this case, if you have a little spare income, which you do, because you are frugal (neat, eh?). (Frugals always like to think in terms of “investment” rather than “expense”. It makes parting with the green for a worthy cause a little easier).

It’s very easy to find used exercise machines in good condition for reasonable prices (think Craigslist, thrift stores, yard sales, second-hand sports equipment stores like Play it Again Sports. Don’t forget library exercise videos.). Also, gyms can be fairly reasonable, too (think YMCA’s or municipal gyms - we have TWO great ones in my-not-so huge hometown, with very reasonable membership fees for residents and non-residents (the fees are a little higher, but still very cheap compared to Bally’s). Both have huge swimming pools.) But if Bally’s is your only option, and you’re lucky enough to have employee-sponsored health insurance, you might find that they will pick up a part of the tab for membership. I was surprised to find that husband’s health insurance offers this perk (in our case, it’s not a huge amount but it’s something). Some health insurance companies know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If I still haven’t convinced you to perhaps put on those sneakers or to pry open that wallet in the interests of your health, look at it this way: true Frugals always like a good return on their investments, and this is probably the closest you’ll ever get to a sure thing. Just do It!