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Getting in Shape With No Money Needed |
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By: Pam Grundy
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 Gym memberships are expensive, and these days, who can afford them? With a little ingenuity and thought, you can cancel that gym membership and still be in the best shape of your entire life. Get fit from home and workout for free with the following tips and tricks. Some of these will even help the environment and save you money on gasoline too. So what are you waiting for? Pick two or three and get moving! |
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Free Exercise Routines
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to workout at home. If you have a TV set and a DVD player, all you need is a library card and a free half-hour to 45-minutes a day. Most municipal libraries have a good selection of workout videos, and if you have cable television, you can probably access on demand workout programs at no charge. Lots of websites offer free workout routines too, such as:
You can also visit the website of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness for a list of free workout programs and materials, or visit the site HealthierUS for free government materials and advice on physical fitness and healthy living. |
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Learn Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Indian physical fitness discipline comprised of a series of poses that stretch the muscles in the body, combined with deep breathing and progressive relaxation and meditation. You can download a free basic yoga routine for beginners, or visit YogaClass for a free daily yoga class. Yoga is safe, gentle, relaxing, and produces lasting results. |
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Bike to Work Twice a Week
Maybe you can’t imagine riding a bike to work every single day, but commit to even twice a week and you will save yourself money on gas while building stamina and burning calories. You will also notice that you feel more alert and awake on the days you ride. Don’t be surprised if your occasional bike ride turns into a permanent habit. |
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Walk Your Dog
It’s amazing how many people own dogs but never walk them. Walking a dog takes some practice: At first the dog will pull on the leash and be all over the place while you teach it to heel and walk beside you (or at least calm down enough to settle into a walking routine). The beauty of dog walking is that once you do it every day with your dog for a week or so, your dog will never let you forget to do it ever again. Your dog will bug you and bug you until your exercise with him. That’s a good thing. For both of you. |
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Plant a Garden
Gardening is real work, but it’s also practical and enjoyable. When you work out at a gym you get stronger muscles and aerobic benefits, but when you work out in your garden you get flowers and vegetables. Gardening can become addictive, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started. In fact, once you are out working in your yard on a regular basis, you’ll most likely meet neighbors who will happily exchanges starts of plants and trees for no cost whatsoever. |
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Park at the Back of the Lot
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This may seem like a small thing, but if you do it every single time you go to work or go to the store it adds up fast. For instance, park five minutes away from your desk at work and then do the same when you stop at the store at the end of your day, and you’ve already added 20 minutes of moderate exercise where before you had zip.
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Take Weights to Work
If you work in an office or a cubicle, take a set of two pound weights, or two medium-sized bottles filled with sand and do arm curls while talking on the phone. Even adding ten minutes a day will yield results within a month or so. You can also do stomach exercises right at your desk, by contracting and holding in your stomach muscles, then releasing them at regular intervals throughout the day. |
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Take the Stairs
Another way for getting in shape with no money, is to never take an elevator when you can take the stairs. It all adds up. Take ten minutes off of your lunch period to climb stairs, just for the exercise. It’s free and it’s an intensive and effective free workout. |
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Explore Nature Preserves and Parks
Walking is one of the best exercises available and all it requires is the will to get up and do it, as well as a good pair of supportive shoes and a good pair of socks. Explore the parks and nature preserves in your local area instead of heading to the mall or to the movies. Aim for at least one longer walk of at least an hour or more each weekend. Take some water and a light lunch and make an afternoon of it. |
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When the Weather Gets Bad, go Mall Walking
It may look corny, but mall walking is good exercise, and if the local mall includes stairs, all the better. Even when the weather is bad you can head for the mall and do a few laps. |
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Finally
Getting fit doesn’t have to cost anything. In fact, the more you move your body as part of your daily routine, the more you’ll want to move and the better you’ll feel. The key is to find ways to work more activity into your ordinary day, even in small increments. Once you get in the habit, you won’t even need a gym. You’ll save money, save gas, and look and feel great, for free! |
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