I don't know what the prices of gas and food are looking like in your neck of the woods, but I'm paying $3.91 a gallon at the pump and close to four bucks for a loaf of whole wheat bread. Whether the feds care to officially label what we're facing a recession or not, a decision on semantics will do nothing to help keep our necessary living expenses under control. With that being the case, and with there being no end to the rising prices in sight, spending money on nutritional supplements may seem a bit wasteful. Maybe it is maybe it isn't. That's for you and your accountant to decide. However, in a time when saving a little here and there really makes a difference, it's good to know that you can also use this approach should you still opt to purchase supplements.

The post-workout meal is among the most important you'll eat all day. It's long been known that upon completion of a strenuous workout -- particularly, a resistance training workout -- it's vital that you replenish your body with a good amount of protein. The good news is that we may not need as much protein at that point as we previously thought we did.

According to Canadian researchers, half a scoop of whey protein powder (o about 10 grams of protein) is enough to replenish and help build muscle. So, if you're used to drinking 20 or more grams of protein in your post-workout shake, make that bucket o' protein go a little further by only using half as much. It may only seem like placing a Band-Aid on a bazooka wound, but over time the savings will add up. And best of all, as the study suggests, it won't come at the expense of your fitness.