(ARA) — With the cost of everything so high these days, people are looking for ways to trim their budgets. Among the most obvious places to cut back, eliminating that morning cup of coffee, bringing a lunch from home instead of dining out and canceling those services you can really do without — like cable TV and that gym membership you don’t really use much anyway.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t stay active, however. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), regular exercise helps people maintain a healthy weight and delay or prevent the onset of diabetes and heart problems.

Regular activity is so important, in fact, that the Federal Government recommends American adults get at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to head down to the gym, which can be more of a chore than a fun activity, not to mention expensive.

Here are some ideas for getting that 30 minute workout anytime, anyplace:

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It’s such a common occurrence, it’s become a cliche: you spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, on a treadmill, exercise bike or an elliptical machine, only to see it gather enough dust to make your mother weep when she visits — or worse yet, you can’t even see the darn thing because it’s a rather expensive clothes hanger. Out of sight, out of mind seems to be your motto.

When I bought my elliptical machine, I was determined to get my money’s worth. Who wants to spend that much money on an overgrown door stopper? So, if you can’t even remember what your exercise equipment looks like, I’ve got 4 tips to help you dust it off and start using it again.

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If you take a good look at kids today, you can see a very disturbing trend. Childhood obesity is becoming a huge problem in many countries, with a lot of children actually being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This used to be a disease that was only seen in older, overweight adults. It’s our responsibility as parents to watch our children’s weight, and encourage them to maintain a healthy body weight. It’s important to encourage them to exercise often, to not only help them lose the weight, but to be healthier overall as well.

Follow these tips to get your child up and exercising:

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Okay, so winter has hit, but you’re determined to keep fit and remain faithful to exercising. That’s great, but what if you can’t actually afford a gym membership, or all of the fancy, expensive home gym equipment? Should you just say, “Well, forget it! At least I was willing to try!”? I guess you could, but it really isn’t necessary. There are some great options out there that are available to those who want to keep exercising during the winter months, without having to take out a second mortgage on their homes.

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As if it isn’t enough that we need to exercise to stay healthy, did you know that exercising at home can actually be dangerous if not done properly? You won’t have a trainer watching and guiding you, and you’re on your own to figure out any equipment you may be using. Well, it doesn’t have to be dangerous, as long as you can follow some basic, simple rules which will allow you to have a safe, even enjoyable, exercise program in your own home.

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to afford all of that fancy equipment used in the gyms? Well, as nice as it sounds, it just isn’t an option for most people. And since exercise is so important, you need to find exercises that are effective and don’t require any equipment at all.

Now you have no more excuses! Here are 10 great exercises that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment:

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Everyone has started out on an exercise program full of excitement and determination, only to find the excitement start to fade after a few days. What started as something you were sure was going to change your life, has began to make your life a nightmare, trying to keep the enthusiasm at a high enough level to continue exercising. In order to stick to an exercise program, and make it work for you, you need to find a way to keep that original motivation. Here are some tips to help get you motivated, and encourage you to stay that way.

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