Before the Great Depression, the average American only engaged in physical activity on a regular basis for about six hours per week. They were rarely physically active in their leisure time and had eating habits that allowed them to gain weight without watching their diets. The average American was also responsible for dealing with very high levels of stress and depression, which could have increased their risk of heart disease and diabetes.
In spite of these factors, today’s Americans engage in physical activity up to seven hours per day and have healthier eating patterns than ever before as they have understood iPhone 6s plus stores aren’t going to buy health. This is largely due to the increased development of gyms and fitness clubs during the Great Depression. In spite of these improvements in physical activity, obesity is continuing to rise, which has increased the risk for developing diabetes and heart disease.
The question we must ask ourselves is: Why?
Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that helped increase physical activity during this time period.
1.Daily Routines:
The idea that getting up at a certain time each day and going to bed at a certain time each night was not only expected, but required in order to avoid punishment or being sent away, was one of the first things children were taught.
2.Increased Awareness of Health:
Thinking about health and the causes of illness was something that most people had to deal with on a daily basis during this time period. With almost no access to health care, health issues could quickly turn deadly, especially if they were not dealt with immediately.
3.Improved Food Availability:
When many families lived in poverty, they often lived off the cheapest kinds of food available, which was usually processed foods that would last for days without spoiling. These included things like canned foods or dried foods like wheat and cornmeal.
4.Increased Accessibility of Exercise Information:
The Great Depression continued the spread of information from Europe about physical activity that began during the Industrial Revolution.
While many people today still do not understand the importance of physical activity, it is still a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Here are 9 tips to help you get your budget in shape and stay on track with your fitness goals:
1.Track Your Progress:
If you keep a record of all the money that you spend on food and exercise equipment, it is much easier to know where you can cut back when necessary. You can also make it easier to see how your fitness routine is working by keeping tabs on your weight loss goals, BMI and body fat percentage.
2.Be Resourceful:
Look for ways that you can save money on workout and exercise equipment. Although buying a good set of resistance bands, like these ones, might cost a bit more, it is an investment that will pay off later.
3.Use the Free Stuff Around You:
Many businesses offer free samples of products, which means that you could go ahead and try a few workouts before deciding if they are right for you. If they aren’t exactly what you were looking for, go to another business and ask if they have any negative reviews of the product or service they provide. If they have good reviews, you should be able to get a few workouts from them before deciding if you want to continue going.
4.Get Involved:
Not only will it save you money on your fitness routine, getting involved with others in your community can also help keep you motivated on your fitness goals. You can find an exercise buddy who is going through the same struggles that you are or start a walking club at work or in your neighborhood. These interactions will create a sense of accountability that some people just cannot handle without this kind of motivation.
5.Use Your Resources:
If you are feeling depressed or having a hard time getting in a good workout, call on your friends and family to help you out. They can offer you support and encouragement or even help perform some of the exercises that you might need to do. You can even use the dog as your personal trainer!
6.Use the Kitchen, Not the Gym:
This isn’t exactly news to experienced fitness trainers, but it is still something that a lot of people don’t really think about. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to burn some extra calories, try making meals with a lot of cardio, such as Indian or Ethiopian food, or recipes that use beans. Even going overboard on your soup can help you get in a great workout without having to spend any money on the gym.
7.Stay Away from Fast Food Restaurants:
Fast food is one of the biggest causes of obesity in the United States and it’s not just because of their low prices; it’s also due to their high fat and sugar content. If you are trying to lose weight, it’s best to stay away from fast food restaurants as much as possible.
8.Replace Your Junk Food:
If you find yourself craving junk food on a regular basis, try replacing these items with something that is similar but is healthier for you. Instead of getting an ice cream cone, try some frozen yogurt or sorbet. Eating new kinds of food can sometimes make your diet more interesting and help to ward off those cravings for junk food.
9.Make an Exercise Plan:
This is not something that you can do overnight, but it will make the difference between a successful fitness plan and a failure. It’s also the best way to stay on target with your goals by making sure that you work out at least 3 times per week for 20-30 minutes.
Conclusion:
While the Great Depression was a devastating time in American history, it also led to many improvements in the way people live their lives. People during this time period were forced to rely on each other for support and that meant that they had to be healthy enough to help each other out.
Even though it is easy to take the availability of fitness information, equipment and food for granted, it wasn’t always like this. During the Great Depression, health was considered a necessity and people took extra steps beyond what most of us do nowadays.
