In honor of my monthly challenge to exercise 30 minutes daily, this is health and finance month on Frugal in the Fruitlands.

I have a shameful confession to make. It’s April 21st, and I’ve only exercised 15 out of 20 of the days this month. Last week was especially bad, because I’d been feeling sick and run-down. This all culminated on Thursday on what I think was a migraine. Oy… what a perfect month to devote to health, hm?

But, as promised, some fabulous frugal fitness links. (Yeah, I totally said that just for the alliteration).

RealAge.com. The “real age” quiz - which is quite comprehensive - is the namesake of the site, but the site is much more than that. Basically, it’s the web hub for Doctors Roizen and Oz, the doctors behind the YOU series of books (You: On a Diet; You: Staying Young, etc), which I consider to be the most sensible diet and fitness books out there. I’d especially recommend the Workout Center, where you can view videos of different workouts from their books (some with basic gym equipment, some without). This is good for uncoordinated people like me who spend entirely too much time frowning over text descriptions of exercises. Note: if you opt to view one of the workouts; it will take you to a log-in page, but you can skip signing up for the website if it bothers you - just click on the links to the left to get where you want to go.

I mentioned Cool Running’s Couch to 5K running program before, and I’d like to mention it again. To quote the article in question, “The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in just two months.” The authors admit it is more of a “walking-and-jogging” program, as you build up your endurance, than it is training for any kind of foot race. In my continuing effort to Bike Up The Big Ass Hill, I may be starting this myself next month. The only equipment you need here is a good pair of running shoes.

Some geeks prefer the Lifetime Fitness Ladder of the Hacker’s Diet as a way to improve their fitness. Each rung on the ladder is composed of a series of basic calisthenics - for example, bend, sit-up, leg lift - which you may remember them from gym class. As you climb the ladder, you simply do more of each. The benefit of this program is that it’s short (10-15 minutes each) and that you can easily track your progress as you ascend the ladder. Like the YOU workouts, there’s no equipment needed, but keep in mind - no doctors were involved in authoring this program (though it is based on the Royal Canadian Air Force’s “5BX” program).

Spending 40 hours a week at work, it’s hard to find time to exercise. I make sure to take a 30-minute walk over my lunch, but I also value the simple exercises mentioned in Exercise on the Job. I’m not sure I’d necessarily crunch abs in my office chair, but I have done some of the wall work while in the bathroom, or leg work under my desk.

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