Gym memberships, personal trainers, overpriced yoga passes, and pricey equipment. The expenses go on and on when it comes to staying in shape. It’s ironic isn’t it? That we live in a society that is constantly informing us about the different health related issues that come with not staying in shape, however, the expenses to keep our bodies healthy are astronomical and it can be hard to figure out how to budget those expenses in on top of everything else.
Yes, there are people that are overweight and unhealthy because they’re making excuses for their poor eating habits and working out, but there are also lots of people who just can’t afford the price tag that comes with the monthly expenses of some of the things listed above. The good news is that there are several inexpensive, and even free, options for keeping in shape. Here are some ideas to do just that…
Workout at home
The gym or a studio isn’t the only place you can workout, there are so many different forms of exercise you can do for free right out of your own home. With the internet being such a great source for everything you could possibly be looking for, there’s no surprise that there are thousands of resources available for you to use for free or inexpensively right at home. Consider some of the following:
- Exercise videos
There are tons of different types of exercise videos available on YouTube, figure out what kind of workout you’re looking for and look some up! - Workout outdoors
There’s nothing better than being outside when the weather is nice, so why not workout outdoors too. Many cities and towns have outdoor workout equipment at local parks, or alternatively running or walking is always a good, free option. If you live in a place with inclement weather, hit up your local mall to get some walking in! - Get creative in your home
There are so many things in your home that you probably never considered to be good workout accessories. Your stairs for example are awesome for cardio. Find some heavy jugs or cans to use as weights, and get creative with other household items!
Use free exercise resources
Shockingly there are so many awesome free resources for working out. Head to your local library and take out some books, or even many libraries have online resources you can access these days. As mentioned, take a scan on the internet and YouTube for free information and resources, or do a search in your town to see what they have to offer.
There are often inexpensive or free options in every city. For example, in Toronto, Lululemon hosts free running groups and some of their stores offer weekly yoga classes. Plenty of yoga studios do community classes on a weekly basis which is usually pay-what-you-can, and there are even a bunch of Facebook groups in some cities of personal trainers and fitness instructors who offer different free events, and classes. You might be surprised at what you find!
Be smart about your fitness gear
Buying fitness equipment and gear can be pricey, so to save some cash be smart about the things you are purchasing. There are a ton of inexpensive pieces of equipment that can be incredibly helpful in working out. For example:
- Resistance bands
- Dumbbells
- Jump ropes
- Pedometers
Also take a look at where you can buy second hand equipment in your town or area. There’s also Facebook’s Marketplace and Kijiji but stores like Play It Again Sports also offers inexpensive equipment.
Look for intro memberships
A lot of gyms and fitness studios offer and introductory membership deal for new students. This can save you a significant amount of money. For example, some yoga studios will offer their unlimited classes membership which can cost upwards of $150 CAD a month for only $40. What’s great about this is that if you live in a city that has tons of different studios to go to, you can hop around each month and try a new studio for their introductory rate. Plus, trying new studios can keep you motivated and excited because it’ll be a change of pace!
Change your diet
This is a huge component to living an active, healthy lifestyle. You can workout all you want, but often times you aren’t going to see results unless you also are eating a healthy diet. A simple change in your diet alone can make a huge difference to your health. Try tracking your eating habits through an app like My Fitness Pal to better understand what you’re putting in your body. You’ll learn pretty quickly that sometimes things you thought were healthy aren’t that great for you and it’ll help you identify where you need to focus more on and make changes. Plus, this can be such an inexpensive change. You’re already spending money on food anyways, this will only help to ensure you’re spending money on the right food!
Make changes in your everyday life
One of the biggest things you can do to help get you moving more is to make simple changes in your everyday life and routine. Start taking the stairs more at work, at home, or wherever you visit. Try walking to more places instead of hopping in your car. Make plans with your friends or family that don’t revolve around eating or drinking, for example, instead of going out for dinner and drinks, go for a hike, or a walk in the park. Find exercises you can do while doing things you do every day like brushing your teeth.
There are so many simple changes you can make that can make such a huge difference on your health and fitness, plus, don’t necessarily require you to go out of your way or spend hundreds of dollars. It just takes motivation and determination to make some simple changes in your life and formulate healthy habits and routine.
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