5 Ways to Be Heart Healthy On a Budget

Cost-Saving Tip 1: Exercise Is the Cheapest Drug

The stress of a job loss or mounting bills can lead you to fall into unhealthy habits. You may be tempted to start smoking again, eat unhealthful "comfort" foods, and skip your regular exercise. This can lead to a vicious cycle.

Look for new low- or no-cost ways to stay fit:
-Walk outside and when it rains, find a school or shopping center that welcomes walkers.
-Form a walking group to support one another.
-Rent exercise DVDs or borrow from the library. Share them with members of your cardiac rehab group to avoid boredom.
-Form your own "exercise class" and share workout ideas and instruction as a group.
-Don't have a treadmill or stationary bike? Maybe a friend would be willing to let you come over and use hers several times a week. Home exercise machines are rarely overused!

Tip: The American Heart Association encourages heart patients to walk because it's the most accessible form of physical activity and it has the lowest dropout rate among Americans.