We’re in a time where we all have to start thinking ahead to keep our spending or consumption in check. With energy, we have to become more efficient, starting with the little things that are easy to do. With our health, we have to look at the real cost of not exercising regularly.
When I was an elementary school teacher (and not exercising much), I developed some upper and lower back pain that wouldn’t go away. I started getting headaches all the time, to the point where prescription pain killers weren’t helping. I was referred to a chiropractor, and my insurance covered 16 visits with $20 copays that I used up in about 2 months. Once that benefit ran out, I was faced with the choice of paying out of pocket, or getting in shape.
My monthly bill for dealing with my back problems were somewhere around $200 ($160 – chiropractor, $20 – pain relievers, and $20 or more in beer!). That’s $2400 a year!
I knew I needed to make a change, but wasn’t sure what to do, and I didn’t want to make things worse. I knew I needed to grow up and stop acting like a 20 year old kid who could heal from anything.
After joining a gym and successfully completing a 12 week program involving weightlifting, cardio, and nutrition guidance, my neck and back pains were mostly gone, as were the knee pains that had been plaguing me for a couple years.
There’s more to the story, but the bottom line is, joining a gym and working with a personal trainer can save you a lot of money. Yes, you have to pay for it up front, but it is an excellent hedge against paying a lot more down the road.
