Last updated : Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Print | |

 

20 Ways to Get Healthier for Free

Celebrate the New Year with a new you - by dipping into our smart batch of strategies to keep you happy and healthy (at no cost!) all year long.

1. Borrow (don’t buy) your next fitness DVD
Join the local library - for the workout DVDs. Most libraries have a big selection, the perfect antidote to a boring (and pricey) gym routine. And because the key to sticking with exercise is to keep it interesting, you can switch it up (cheaply) as often as you want.

2. Get a free skin checkup
The Skin Cancer Foundation will provide free skin screenings during its Road to Healthy Skin Tour from April to September 2010. Check SkinCancer.org this spring for availability in your area.

3. Get a free radon test
Radon, an odorless natural gas present in many homes, is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers. January is National Radon Action Month, so visit EPA.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html to check the availability of free or low-cost test kits in your state.

4. Strike a pose
Try your Downward Dog for free—or pretty cheap—thanks to the Internet. Every week, Yoga Today streams a free, one-hour class. (Downloads cost $3.99.) Also, mark January 23 on your calendar: it’s Yoga Day USA, when yoga centers around the country will offer free classes. (Check YogaDayUSA.org for availability in your area.) Why yoga? It hikes flexibility and strength, provides help for relieving stress and controlling weight, and lowers risks of heart disease and sleep problems. For a great yoga routine you can do in your own home click here. 

5. Bargain hard
Many health clubs and gyms are willing to cut you deals or give you free passes to try their facilities. Bally Total Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and 24 Hour Fitness offer free seven-day trials. Remember: everything is negotiable. And once you're a member, train with a buddy to cut trainer costs in half, or sign up for 30-minute training sessions instead of hour-long ones. Bonus: Besides being cheaper, the shorter workout may move faster and be more intense.

6. Do a smoke checkup
Some local fire departments offer smoke alarms (a potential lifesaver, considering up to 20 percent of the alarms installed in people's homes don't even work) for free or at discounted prices. Speaking of smoke: if you're trying to stop smoking, call 800-784-8669 to find a coach who'll help you kick the nasty habit for free. Quitting will not only save you money but also lower your risks for heart disease and cancer.

7. Create a medical family tree
Start planning a healthier future today by asking relatives about their health conditions and those of your ancestors. Then visit FamilyHistory.hhs.gov to create a free Family Health Portrait that reveals your risks. Raising health awareness this way can help lower your risk of major diseases.

8. Snag free health apps
There are about 3,000 iTunes applications designed to boost your health and fitness—and many are free. Swine Flu Tracker Map pinpoints where people in your area are sick with the H1N1 virus. MyNet Diary has 91,000 foods in its database to help you plan healthy meals, and its community forum is reviewed by a registered dietitian. Free Menstrual Calendar helps you predict your periods and fertile days. Fitness Keeper uses GPS tracking for runners who want to keep tabs on their distance, speed and calories burned. And one of our personal favorites: Vibrating Massager literally turns your iPhone into a feel-good massager. (Yep, there's an app for that)

9. Boost your immunity
To help keep winter colds at bay, get free samples of Emergen-C powdered multivitamin packs at EmergenC.com. Each packet contains 1,000 milligrams of vita-min C—more than 10 times your daily requirement—plus other antioxidants and energy-boosting B vitamins.

10. Try a new sport
You’ve always wanted to try cross-country skiing, right? As part of its anniversary sale, WinterTrails.org will help you try it for free at a location near you.

For ten more ways you can get healthier for free click here. Need more health advice? Visit iMag's Wellness Page. 

More From Health.com:

Laid Off? The 8 Healthiest Ways to Spend Your Time

7 Health Insurance Horror Stories

15 Ways to Boost Your Memory at Any Age

 

Print | |