If you live in a city, like me, you should seriously consider buying a bicycle. How many of us actually take our car to drive to work? An average American citizen lives only 6.5 miles away from his/her workplace. It’s a 15-20 minutes ride if you drive a bike instead of using your car or the bus!

Even if you live far away from your workplace and a bike trip may take you over 40 minutes, you still shall consider the benefits this lifestyle could bring. Sure, you may have to get up 20 minutes earlier, but even then bicycle provides the necessary exercise that could significantly improve your sleep. Your sleep may become more deep and relaxing and you would feel far more energized in the morning than with 20 minutes of extra sleep.

Further benefits include:

• Cardio exercise improves your general health
• Never worry again about your weight
• Your muscles and figure in general becomes more toned and slim
• You don’t spend money for gas or public transportation
• A bicycle is far cheaper than a car
• Your 2 cents to save the environment
• Be different, be cool!

You could use your bike to go anywhere! It’s not only about your work. You could go to your grocery store, visit your aunt in a nearby city during the weekend or even take a road trip to Canada on your next vacations.

Cheap and healthy lifestyle: a bicycle fits perfectly a bodytweaker’s non-consumer approach to life. You’ll have to invest a few hundred $$, but it’s still a far more beneficial investment than a car.

Note: A bicycle is a bodytweaker’s second pair of legs
Cost: You could get a bike from 120$, but look for quality not just for the cheapest price.

Personally I prefer to jog by myself, although I have to admit that group jogging can be more fun. A recent “research” by Professor Elizabeth Gould shows that solo jogging may actually be “bad” for your health.

For some reason, Professor Gould has linked the benefits of jogging to production of new brain cells. The experiment has been conducted on 2 groups during a 12 days period. It turned out that the participants that were jogging together produced twice as much new brain cells as the solo-joggers. Usually a reduced number of new brain cells is linked to high stress levels. Does that mean that social interaction during workouts may actually reduce stress?

I guess group workouts are fun and people tend to forget their life issues while having fun together. Therefore it’s a logical conclusion that having some quality time with your friends reduces stress. You don’t really need a research for that. Good job, Professor.
On the other hand the statement “solo jogging is bad for your health” is just incorrect. It may be less beneficial due to the lack of a social factor, but it’s certainly not “bad” for your health. On the contrary, it doesn’t matter who you are jogging with, the important part is that you are jogging.

Note: A real bodytweaker runs no matter if there is a society at all
Cost: 0$ to run with a buddy

Running shoes are more important than any other fitness equipment you have. If you only had 50$ to spend on fitness equipment chose running shoes. Everything else can be replaced in some way, but you need a high-quality, durable footwear that will let you run for miles and stay uninjured.

Why running shoes

You need them for running/jogging. No other cardio equipment is ever needed. In fact, it is way better to go for a run on a real road than on a treadmill. Treadmill doesn’t build as much strength in your muscles. If you have trained on a treadmill before, you will know the difference. You will also burn way more calories going for a real run (Because you have to push your weight forward. On a treadmill you’re just swinging your legs, kind of). By regularly running you will:

• Drop weight
• Build stronger, defined legs
• Lower blood tension and heart rate
• Endurance
• Health
• Longer living
• still not convinced?

What running shoes

You will save thousands on those treadmills, stationary bikes and gym memberships. So don’t go cheap on running shoes. You need good, quality shoes that will make running easier and safer. But also remember that the price doesn’t mean quality. My friends reportedly critisized shoes like “Nike” and “Adidas” of being uncomfortable and less safer for running than cheaper, less known models. I tried lots of running shoes in my fitness life and I know how over-rated the “big brands” are.

A model that gets good feedback even from professional runners is ASICS. They offer

• Good cushioning that adapts to your foot
• Durability way better than my last running shoes (lasted for only 8 months)
• Very lightweight, you barely notice them
• Sole form: makes your running much easier and prevents injuries
• Good heel and forefoot shock absorption

This is not the only best choice. There are other great running shoes out there. But you have to keep in mind the points above when looking for other models. And never, NEVER go for the cheapest shoe just because of the price. You will avoid many problems and surprises afterwards.

I am an absolute fanatic of running shoes. If you have any questions, let me know and I will see to answer you ASAP!