Emily Block | Blogger

Americans spend more than 60 billon dollars annually on health and fitness related products and services. I love exercising and eating healthy, but as a college student I can’t always afford the extra amenities. The great thing is, there are so many resources you can use for anything from workout ideas to healthy recipes! Here are a few of my favorite fitness freebies:

1.The Nike Training Club App (Android and Apple):
(screenshots property Nike Training Club)

This is hands down my favorite fitness app. The NTC provides you with over 100 individual workouts that range anywhere from five minutes to an hour. The workouts are also categorized by fitness level and goals, so it’s easy to select a program that fits your needs. You can even create an individualized training program based on your long-term goals (lose weight, tone up, or get stronger). Each workout is available in live play mode, so there’s no need for a stopwatch or counting reps. Additionally, if you’re unsure about a particular exercise, you can access the demonstration video right from the workout screen. Circuit training is a great choice if you have a limited amount of time for exercise, and with the variety of workouts that NTC offers, you’ll never get bored.

2.Pinterest
(screenshot property of Pinterest)

It may seem obvious, but Pinterest is a great place to find recipes that suit your taste and dietary preferences. Additionally, creating boards “fitness,” “yoga,” or “recipes” will help you keep good resources easily accessible. I always find myself looking at my recipe board when I’m debating what to make for supper. I’m a visual learner, so I love that photos create a quick reference guide. Plus, pins will often lead you to some really great blogs that will provide you with additional recipes and/or fitness tips!

3. Outdoor Cardio
(screenshot property of Map My Run)

Going for a walk, run, or bike ride outside is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep in shape, and fall is pretty much the best time of year to be outdoors. Cardiovascular exercise is super important to maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of future heart and metabolic diseases. In addition, it can be a great way to elevate your mood and relieve stress. You can use even apps like “map my run” or “runkeeper” (both found on the apple and android stores) to track your route, mileage, and pace.

4. (Not) an Alarm Clock
(screenshot property of Apple)

The one aspect of fitness that is commonly overlooked is SLEEP! As college students, our daily schedules can get crazy and our sleep schedules even more so. It is so important to get enough sleep as it gives your body time to recover from physical and mental stress. The amount of sleep you need varies from person to person. To figure out how much sleep you need, I would recommend going to bed as early as possible and setting your alarm for the latest possible minute. Alarm clocks can actually trigger your “fight or flight” response, which leads to the release of cortisol- your “fat storing” hormone (No, thank you!). Once you can gauge how much sleep your body needs on a regular basis, work your schedule to accommodate the necessary time.

5. Bring a Buddy
(my sister, my twin, and my elected yoga partner)

One of the best ways to hold yourself accountable to working out and eating healthy is to ask (or force) a friend to do it with you! This not only makes you more likely to stay on track with your goals, but it makes the process a lot more fun. Plus, everyone likes a little friendly competition

Despite common belief, maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are hundreds of free and simple resources that make working out and meal planning a breeze. Now that cost isn’t an excuse, all you have to do is commit