Just because money’s tight doesn’t mean you have to eliminate work-outs from your life altogether. There are tons of things you can do to stay toned that are free - or practically free – and many of them are literally at your fingertips. We've come up with 15 great ways to work out for less. So now, there are no excuses. Read up and get moving!
Ditch the Gym This might seem obvious, but lots of people with gym memberships worry that they’re “locked in” to their contract and can’t get out – even when they’re broke. This might not be true. Check to see if you can put your membership on hold at a reduced fee. Even if it’s not usually in your gym’s policy, they might go for it because they'd rather have your reduced fee than lose a member. If you’ve been a member for a long time, there might not be a cancellation fee. If there is one, it still might be cheaper than paying for a whole year of gym membership. You’ll have to do the math.
TV Workout Work out while watching your favorite TV show and you’ll drop pounds without even knowing it. Here’s how to make it work best: During the show, do low-impact, low effort exercises like leg lifts and squats so you won’t miss anything important on the show. During the commercial breaks, that’s when you do crunches, push-ups and other exercises that require more exertion and focus.
Low-Cost Must-Haves If you want to get a serious workout without joining a gym or spending a ton of money, there are two pieces of “equipment” you need to own: a resistance band and a jump rope. Resistance bands are available in a range of colors that relate to their stiffness or resistance and literally one band can strengthen your entire body. You can find exercises for resistance on the internet, or by asking the sales person where you purchase the band. A jump rope can be one of the cheapest ways to add cardio without leaving the house or getting on a treadmill. Again, the internet is filled with tips on how to maximize a cardio workout. So get jumping!
Use Your Community You’d be surprised how many ways there are to do group exercises classes- for free! Many yoga studios offer a community class at least once a month that’s free or dirt cheap; adult education programs often and some other great resources for free exercise are hospitals and other health care facilities.
Try Everything Once You canceled your gym membership because you’re on a budget. Now you need to find another one. Well, at least one that you can try out for free! Almost every gym offers a free trial period to potential members. Max out on trial passes to gyms in your area – and you won’t be maxing out your wallet. This is a great tool for winter exercisers who need some indoor respite from the cold weather. All you need is a few weeks here and there, and you can head back outside when the weather’s ready to co-operate again.
Play a Sport You might not be in high school or even college anymore, but many communities have local adult sports programs – softball teams, hockey teams (even for women!) and in-line skating clubs and programs, to name a few. Go online and search for the kind of team sport or group exercise activity that appeals to you and see if it’s available in your community.
Beg, Borrow (But Don’t Steal) You don’t need to own your own home gym to get a great workout. Chances are, you know someone with at least one piece of exercise equipment lying around that’s not being used right now. Ask if you can borrow it. They’ll be happy to know someone’s putting their dumbbells to good use!
Houseworkout 30 Minutes of vacuuming burns 75-125 calories; washing dishes burns around 77 calories; window washing burns 105 calories and mopping the floors will sweat off 112 calories per half hour. Makes you want to put on your apron and get scrubbing, doesn’t it?
Can It Think you don’t have any exercise equipment? Think again. Inside your cabinet are cans, dried goods and other “weights” that you can use in a pinch to buff up biceps and tone thighs. Hold cans like free weights for bicep curls and use bags of rice or beans, or even frozen vegetables as a leg weight while doing leg lifts.
Gym On Demand If you hate to work out alone but can’t afford classes, don’t sweat it. Most “On Demand” cable tv features include an exercise section. Check it out! And if you’ve watched your old Jane Fonda dvd so many times you know each word by heart, it's time for a new one - for free at the library! Every town and city has one, and there’s no time like budget-time to start using yours.
Leave The Car At Home Even just once or twice a week, riding your bike to work or using public transportation that involves a little bit of walking, can do a world of good. Some hard-core free workout junkies actually run to and from work! We don’t know if everyone’s ready for that, but leaving the car at home is good for the environment - and good for you!
Personal Stairmaster Somewhere in your house, there is a set of stairs. Even a small one, we're sure. If you have a full staircase, use it and “do the stairs” like they do in Hollywood. Literally, walk, then run, up and down your stairs as a cardio additoin to your indoor workout. You can also use any small set of stairs to stretch out your calves and shins before and after a workout.
Take a Hike Most of us live near (within 100 miles of) some kind of mountain range, canyon or at least a relatively high hill. Find that piece of nature and take advantage of it with an invigorating weekend hike. Start with something manageable like 5 miles (2.5 out and 2.5 back) and work up to more challenging hikes. Never hike alone though, and if you want to get even more into hiking, consider joining your local Sierra Club. Dues only cost $25 annually and most areas have tons of fun hikes that you can join, with experienced members and trail leaders.
Walk on the Beach Walks (or runs) on the beach are fantastic at almost any time of the year (with the right clothing) are a great way to strengthen your ankles and burn even more calories than walking on paved roads or even dirt trails. Plus, nothing beats that fresh sea air!
Get Frisky According to some studies, you can burn up to 300 calories per hour of vigorous love making, so next time you and your partner are looking for a great way to work out together, head for the bedroom and get physical!
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