Improving your knowledge of fitness and nutrition can help you decrease your risks for diseases and conditions, boost your athletic performance, reduce your weight and improve cardiovascular and muscular strength. You can find many sources of information on health and nutrition without spending any money. Start with specific questions to help you find the books, websites and experts who can help you increase your knowledge base.
Step 1
Write a list of health and fitness questions or topics about which you'd like to learn. Create main categories, then sub-categories. For example, under the heading "Nutrition," create sub-headings for weight loss, cholesterol, high-blood pressure, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, proteins vs. carbohydrates and calories. Under "Fitness," put muscle-building, weight loss, aerobic exercise, equipment, warming up and cooling down and stretching.
Step 2
Visit your doctor to learn about any conditions you may have or for which you may be at risk. Get the correct spelling of any unfamiliar conditions, such as atherosclerosis, which is a hardening of the arteries that comes from too much cholesterol. Ask your doctor for diet and exercise recommendations to help reduce your risk for any problems you discuss.
Ask her to recommend websites or books that might help you or supply any free pamphlets or other materials. If your doctor charges for this type of visit, search for free health screenings in your area. Your doctor may at least recommend books and websites at no charge to you. If you are collecting information for your child, set up a free visit with the school nurse.
Step 3
Call your health insurance provider for free advice and materials and any references to other sources of information. Your insurance provider may have many preventive articles at its website. Talk to the human resources department at your workplace. Many companies have wellness programs or materials to help decrease employee illnesses, absenteeism and other problems.
Step 4
Visit your local library and meet with a librarian to discuss your project. He may be able to assist you with quickly locating materials, including DVDs, CDs and videos. Many libraries also provide free Internet connections so you can research online sources of information.
Step 5
Search the Internet using the words on the list your wrote at the beginning of your project. Look for credible websites such as the American Council on Exercise, American Dietetics Association, American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Type ".edu," ".gov" and "university" when you put keywords and phrases into a search engine to help narrow your results to more credible websites. Always click on the "About Us" button or whatever link tells you who owns the websites and provides the material.
Step 6
Write notes as you watch and read materials you have collected or websites you have found. Find experts you may know in specific areas of nutrition and fitness if you have questions about anything you've found.
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