In an attempt to catch the eye of health conscious shoppers, many breakfast cereals manufacturers have changed their marketing tactics to include words like “reduced sugar” and “whole grain” on cereal boxes. While some consumers have the time and discipline to carefully read and understand the information on these containers, many more are short on time or distracted, making it pretty easy to grab a box of cereal thinking it is a healthy choice.

According to experts, much of the information available to consumers is simply a play on words. In fact in most cases the new and improved version of an old cereal is often not very new or improved in terms of health benefits. If you look carefully at the nutrition labels on each box of cereal you might be shocked to discover manufacturers can legally make these claims by replacing sugar with other forms of refined carbohydrates. The end result, the exact same calorie content as before.

Starting your day with a good healthy breakfast is a great way to stick to your resolution to lose weight. Avoid cereals loaded with sugar or other calorie packing ingredients in favor of a healthy alternate. Do this by learning what to look for on the nutrition labels and trying new ways to sweeten a healthier cereal. Select cereals with less than 5 grams of sugar and at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Healthy cereals also list whole wheat or wheat bran at the top of the list of ingredients. You can add fruit or even mix half a bowl of “good” cereal with half a bowl of sweetened cereal. This can reduce the caloric intact without forfeiting taste. Start the new year right by knowing what not to buy at the grocery store.

Beware Of Misleading Marketing In The Cereal Aisle was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1) If you really must use a gym for motivation or lack of space to work out at home; the time to join is RIGHT NOW.  Gyms are pretty smart, they know that January marks the time of year when people are declaring their goals for losing weight.  To help encourage people, gyms offer specials for joining in January.  If you’re going to join a gym, look for one offering a New Year special and save big.  Sometimes if you pay a year’s membership in advance, you can save even more – just be sure you aren’t going to be among the 80% of people who give up on their resolutions within 30 days of making them!

2) Set up an inexpensive and small scale home gym.  Gone are the days when you need a full basement or extra room to house bulky exercise equipment and racks of dumbells just to get your workout done at home.  There are a number of gadgets on the market that get your strength training done without breaking the bank or using half your home.   The Gravity Bar secures in a door way and for less than $100, you can strength train with some fancy gravity based moves, like push-ups, pull-ups, bicep curls, lunges, dips and more.  If you remember to go for a walk, jog or ride your bike, you’ll have a complete cardio and strength training work out available right from home.

3) Join organized activities for good causes.  There are Walks-for-cures, runs and triatholons for all different illnesses and diseases, used as fundraising events all over the country.  Joining organized events like these will motivate you to train for the event and keep focused on the goal.   You’ll probably have to raise money as part of the requirements, but people like to know they’re supporting worthwhile causes like cancer, autism, or MS to name a few, and you can feel good about improving your own health and helping other people with theirs, too.

4) Check your local schools, YMCA and your employer for organized sports you could participate in.  Many offer adult teams that allow you to participate in the sport of your choice for fun, light competition and exercise.  The fees for being part of the teams vary, and if you’re lucky enough to have an employer-sponsored sports team, chances are you won’t have to pay anything at all to join.

5) Incorporate more activity into your daily routine.  If you live close enough to work or school, walk or ride a bike instead of driving or catching a ride.  Sure, you’ll have to leave a little earlier and it will take longer to get home, but this burst of daily activity will go a long way to helping you get or stay in shape and save money on transportation costs.  Other ways to incorporate more activity into a daily routine include:

• using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator
• parking further away from your destination and walking the distance
• pacing or walking around when talking on the phone
• tightening stomach muscles while sitting at work at your desk
• stretching and doing floor exercises during commercials of your favorite television shows
• doing lunges as you walk from one room to another in your home

It is possible to keep your New Year’s resolutions to both save money and stay in shape – you just have to think outside the box a little… and remember you’ll need more than willpower to keep your new year’s resolution.

5 Ways to Save Money and Stay in Shape was created by and is property of American Consumer News.