23 Jan

Written by Kathryn Vercillo on January 23, 2009

Dear Kathryn: I recently took a look at my budget and saw that I am spending a lot of money on trying to stay in shape. Between the gym membership, the additional services from my personal trainer and the money I spend on advice from the nutritionist, I’m spending a fortune on getting fit. I know that I need to cut back on these expenses if I want to save money but I’m afraid that this means I’ll get fat and lazy. How can I spend less on exercise but not lose the benefits I get from working out?

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What a great question – and one that I’ve definitely been dealing with myself this year! Like many people, I made some new resolutions a few weeks ago about getting better at getting fit during this new year. Living frugally is a way of life for me so naturally I’ve had to think up ways to get fit that don’t cost me a lot of money. And, like you, I’ve discovered that this can be really difficult. The good news is that there are a lot of things that you can do to reduce what you spend on exercise while still getting in to shape. It’s possible to gain money and lose weight at the same time. And the best news is that the hard part about exercising for less is just the part about getting started; once you’ve done that, you’re going to find that it gets easier and easier.

I’ve run in to three problems when trying to figure out how to get fit without spending a lot of money:

1. I wasn’t sure how what to do to exercise without going to a gym or buying expensive equipment.
2. I had trouble getting motivated to exercise when I wasn’t on a gym regimen.
3. I end up spending a lot of money on the right foods even when I’m cutting back on gym costs.

This article will address all of those issues so that you can learn how to exercise properly without spending a lot of money on gyms, personal trainers, nutritionists and other things that you don’t really need to have i order to get in shape.

How To Exercise Without Spending So Much Money

The first thing that we want to consider is what specifically you need to do to exercise if you aren’t going to the gym. Many people get into such a routine of working out with the machines available to them at the gym that they really don’t know what to do to stay in shape without that fancy equipment. Luckily, there are lots of things that you can do at home that will help you to save some money.

Get off the couch. One of the first things that you can do to make sure that you don’t get lazy after giving up the gym membership is to make sure that you don’t let yourself slack off at home. Don’t just sit in front of the TV every time that you’re home. Instead, do things around the house that require you to move – clean the house, pace around while talking on the phone, make sure you move.
Invest in home gym equipment. Of course, just being slightly active at home won’t keep you fit when you stop going to the gym. You’ll want to invest in some home gym equipment. However, you can skip all of the expensive stuff. You can work out all of your muscles and get your cardio done with just the basics: dumbbell weights, a yoga ball and a jumprope are great starter items that won’t cost you a lot of money but will definitely get you in shape.
Learn about exercises that don’t require equipment. You don’t actually need a lot of equipment to build up your muscles. Basic yoga, sit-ups, push-ups, squats and other exercises are all beneficial to you and can provide you with the same muscle-building experience that you were getting at the gym. Adding in weights and using walls, floors and chairs for resistance will add to the effect of getting fit without adding much cost to the exercise. Put together a thirty-minute non-machine workout that you can do every other day to keep up the muscle-building that you were paying to do at the gym. One specific type of exercise that athletic folks might want to look into is pliometrics, a method of calorie-burning that is absolutely affordable.
Get excited about being outside. Walking is one of the best fat-burning exercises out there. Running is the best cardio that you’re going to get. You don’t need to spend money on treadmills when you can get outdoors and do these things for free. Try to walk for half an hour each day at least five days per week. Plan to go for twenty or thirty minute runs on a regular basis. Consider this a break from the work day and try to enjoy the exercise!
Get interested in an inexpensive sport. There are sports that you can play on the local courts in the parks and rec centers near your home and the only cost you’ll have is the cost of the equipment. Start shooting hoops or hitting around the tennis ball on a regular basis to keep yourself active on these public courts.

How to Get Motivated to Get Fit When You Don’t Go to the Gym

All of these at-home and around-the-neighborhood exercises are fine and dandy but they don’t do much for you if you can’t motivate yourself to stick to your fitness goals. The good news is that it’s no harder to get into the routine of working out at home than it was to get yourself to go to the gym those first few times.

Here are some tips that will help you to get motivated and stay motivated while working out at home:

Get a workout buddy. Many people hire a personal trainer to assist them in working out. This is great because it gives you someone that holds you accountable for getting exercise. However, it’s expensive. Instead, stop paying a personal trainer and start getting in shape with a friend instead. The two of you can motivate each other to stick to a schedule and you can help each other learn new exercise techniques. And it won’t cost a thing!
Play with people. In addition to having workout buddies, you can get i the habit of just playing with people. Set up games of tag with the neighborhood kids. Put together weekend potlucks at the park that include Frisbee and bean bag toss activities. You’ll get your exercise without even realizing that you’re working out!
Purchase some workout DVDs. Some people just need that voice telling them what to do. Workout DVDs can provide that to you at a much lower cost than personal trainers and exercise class teachers.
Change your routine so that it naturally includes more exercise. Start leaving the house half an hour early so that you can walk to work instead of driving. Or walk to the grocery store and carry those groceries home with you. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do little things throughout your daily routine that add to your exercise.
Barter some time at the local gym. If you really find that you need at least one or two days per week at the gym to stay motivated, maybe you can find a way to trade your time instead of your money to get gym access. Offer to work at the front desk, do landscaping or help with promotion in exchange for waived gym fees. This works best at small gyms and places like yoga studios and martial arts studios but it may be possible at any gym if you talk to the right people.

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Saving Money on Food while Getting Fit

In addition to saving money on exercise itself by giving up that gym membership and firing your personal trainer, you’ll want to consider what else you do for your health that costs money. A key expense for many people is the cost of food, nutritional supplements and advice from the nutritionist. Some things that you’ll want to do to save in this area include:

Get nutritional books from the library. You don’t need to hire a nutritionist to tell you what to eat. Educate yourself in healthy workout foods by reading books for free at the local library.
Replace workout supplements with inexpensive substitutes. The main thing that you’re getting from nutritional supplements and energy bars is protein. Protein is in a lot of other foods that aren’t nearly expensive – egg whites, low-fat yogurt, soy, and nuts are a few examples. Carbs are something else that you need; learn about those foods that provide what you need without coming in a fancy bottle.
Pay attention to when you eat. I often find that I end up spending excess money on food when I’m working out regularly. This is due in part, of course, to burning more calories and therefore requiring more food. But it’s also something that happens because I don’t eat close enough before or soon enough after working out. Basically, I starve myself and then I over-eat to make up for it which costs me more money and defeats the purpose of the exercise. I’m trying to get in the habit of eating small meals throughout the day and paying attention to when I eat in relation to when I exercise.

So, hopefully that answers your question or at least gets you started on your way to creating the answer for yourself. By reducing what you spend on the gym and on fitness nutrition, you can save yourself some money. By making sure that you do it in a way that’s smart and maintains your exercise routine, you don’t have to lose out on your healthy body as you save. Good luck!

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