The next time you are thinking about buying a new piece of exercise equipment (or joining a gym), try to think about how you are going to fit that new equipment/membership into your life. If you think you will use it after work, then before you spend any money, try to go for a walk (or a run, or do some other sort of exercise that doesn’t require you to buy any new equipment) after work ten times in one month before you let yourself buy it.

If you easily pass the ten-times test, then go ahead and buy it because you have already set yourself up for success by putting yourself in the habit of exercising at that time.

If you don’t pass the test, ask yourself why. Was it because you don’t really have time after work? If so, then do another ten-times feasibility study in another part of the day so you can determine the best time to introduce this new piece of equipment into your life. No sense having it if you don’t have time to use it. Or do you have the time, but not the motivation? In that case, how much motivation will the new piece of equipment buy you? Be honest with yourself — and take points off for every other piece of equipment that you have ever bought and not used more than 10 times.

Giving yourself a rational basis for the decision-making process when it comes to buying exercise equipment can save you a whole lot of money in the long run, if you tend to buy stuff and then not use it. Try to notice this sort of behaviour and do not give in to your urge to buy until you have proven to yourself that, not only do you really NEED this fabulous new piece of equipment, but that you have actually collected evidence that you will be able to fit it into your life.

So, if you are anything like me, gyms are not a frugal way to exercise or lose weight, even if you get a fabulous deal on the membership fees. They are, on the contrary, one of the most expensive and least effective ways to accomplish either goal. (Again, I am talking about “people like me”. If you are “people like some other person who can’t understand why everyone isn’t in love with their gym and exercising there all the time”, then stop reading and go to your gym, for heaven’s sakes. Don’t let me discourage you!)

Here is one way to exercise without spending any money at all (as long as you already have a portable mp3 player and some running shoes): download a free exercise podcast and just do whatever the podcaster tells you to do. I can personally recommend the Couch to 5k Podcast by Robert Ullrey and the Podrunner Intervals Podcasts by Steve Boyett. I used these two podcasts to get myself ready to run my first 5k race last April and I have just started using them again to train for another 5k race in January.

The beauty of using these podcasts — besides the fact that they are free — is that they do all the thinking for you. I like to exercise in the morning, but I am naturally a night person, so my brain is not really functioning first thing in the morning. I like to train on a regular schedule — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays — so on the nights before my runs, I set out all of my running clothes beside my bed, make sure my iPod and earphones are near the door to my house, and then I set my alarm to wake me up early enough to do my run. When I wake up, I don’t need to think about anything at all. I can just wake up, put the clothes on that are sitting right beside my bed, wander downstairs, plug myself in, put on some shoes (and, these days, some mittens) and just do whatever Robert or Steve tells me to do. No brain required! This is especially good for someone like me (like you?) who lacks the motivation to exercise and who would much rather stay in my nice, warm bed (you, however, are going to have to find your own nice, warm bed to stay in).

Here is how I deal with the “go for run” vs. “stay in nice, warm bed” debate: I avoid the debate entirely. I have a little talk with myself at night (when I am at my brainy best, for whatever that is worth) and tell myself that the person I am in the morning is not allowed to make the decisions. The night person inside me makes good decisions (“I should eat better and exercise more.”) and the morning person makes bad decisions (“I should stay in bed all day where it is nice and warm and nevermind about exercise or my job.”). So, the night person sets the alarm and does all the work to make sure that the morning person isn’t given a chance to make any decisions at all. I have a standard route that I use (mapped out using another free utility: Gmaps Pedometer) so I don’t even need to decide whether to turn right or left even once. I get up in the morning and live the life that the night person told me to live. By the time I figure out that the night person has tricked me out of bed and onto the streets, I am already half-way through my run and there is no point turning back then. Foiled again!

Both of these podcasts are ideal for training for a 5k race. However, while they certainly can get you from the couch to your first 5k race (I am living proof that it works and if I can do it, anybody who doesn’t have a legitimate health claim to the contrary can do it), you don’t have to use the podcasts for running. You can use them to built up your strength and endurance in any kind of activity. The podcasts are both designed to have you walk sometimes and run other times, with the amount of running getting gradually longer and the amount of walking getting gradually shorter. You could do anything during the “running times”, though — dancercize, sit-ups/push-ups, yoga stretches, weight lifting — and just pair your activity with something that is less strenuous to do during the “walking times”.

I hope that this information helps you reach your exercise goals without breaking the bank!

I am not a professional heath expert, so please consult your relevant oracles (doctors, friends, Oprah, etc.) before you start an exercise program!

As you stare longingly at the underused elementary school pool in your neighborhood, you might be happy to know that there are some *splashing* water parks near Tokyo. Here I’ll introduce two that might not cost an arm and leg, plus one tip for getting even cheaper pool tickets.

The ‘Seaside Pool’ at the Funenokagakukan (Museum of Marine Science) is a lovely, 200m-round seaside pool, plus additional pools. Located at the Yurikamome Line Fune-no-Kagakukan station. Usually Y1,800 for adults and Y900 for children, but only Y1,600 per adult and Y800 per child if you print out a special coupon. Go to this page and click on プール (pool) and then scroll to the bottom of the resulting popup page and click on the square at the bottom where it says シーサイドプール優待券 (seaside pool special ticket). Print out the resulting popup window. One coupon can be used for up to five people.

The Rainbow Pool at Showa Kinen Park has a 360m-round pool, plus 8 other pools, and is open July 17 through September 12. Only a 3-minute walk from JR Ome Line Nishi-tachikawa station. Cost is Y2,250 for adults, Y1200 ages 6-15, and Y300 for children under 3, however pre-sold tickets carry a roughly Y400 discount, and the “Sunset” (after 2 PM) tickets are Y1,100, Y600, and Y150 respectively.

My final tip: Check your local kinken shop for discounted tickets to local suburban amusement parks and attractions. I’ve bought Tobu Zoo tickets for Y500 a piece (usually Y1700), and see Toshimaen Pool tickets (usually Y3,800) for Y1,800. These tickets are not very “liquid” (i.e., they don’t change hands much), so the shops discount them a fair amount.

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.