Exercising On The Cheap
You have a lot of choices when it comes to exercising on the cheap. Why spend 40 to 100 dollars at the gym each month when you can get just as good of a workout for practically nothing? Save the 1000 dollars or more a year and still get into or stay in shape. Here are some of the best choices.
1. Start Walking Or Running
The original form of exercise. Before treadmills, people actually did this in the wild. Walking or running is free and you can do it anywhere. Take a run or walk around your neighborhood or, even better, go to a local park and get a view as well. If the weather gets bad, you can even go to a local shopping mall and get your exercise indoors. Yes, mall-walking is still a real thing.
If you plan on taking up running and have not done so before or it has been a while, take it slow. It is very easy to over stress your legs by trying to build up your distance too quickly. Start with short runs and build up at a slow pace, you will get there.
2. Watch Exercise Videos
If you like a bit of structure, there are a lot of great exercise routines on video that you can watch. They allow you to get a great workout and help to motivate you. Do not underestimate the motivation that a well trained instructor can give you.
The great thing about exercise videos is that you can get them for free these days. Many are available online and you can even check them out for free at your local library. Did you know that most libraries allow you to borrow videos? It is true and exercise videos are usually part of their inventory. Borrow a disc for free and then switch to a new one when it gets boring.
3. Get Into Cycling
If you already have a bike at home, start putting it to use to get some free exercise. Don’t have one? Pick one up for cheap at a local pawnshop or on Craigslist. For less than the price of one month of a gym membership, you can have a bike and start getting your workout in on the cheap.
Cycling whether it be on a mountain bike, touring bike or just a cruiser is one of the best exercises that you can do. Get a great cardiovascular workout without the stress that other exercises can put on your joints.
You can also use that bike to actually save you more each month than a gym membership. If you live within biking distance to work, take it instead of your car. Save on gas and vehicle wear and tear while getting your workout in. You could easily save 400 dollars or more in a year by riding your bike to work.
4. Do Body Weight Exercises
If you want to maintain and tone your muscle mass, you do not need a weight bench to do it. There are plenty of body weight exercises that you can use to strengthen and tone.
Pushups are the first thing that come to mind, but you also have pull ups, lunges, squats, etc. Just do a little searching online and you can literally find dozens of easy to do body weight exercises.
But what if you want to add a bit of muscle instead of just toning it? Easy, pick up some cheap weights used for pennies a pound. They are all over Craigslist.
5. Take up A Hobby
Many people love exercise but some, absolutely hate it. If you fall into the second category, consider taking up a hobby to get your exercise. If you are doing something that you enjoy, it is not exercise.
There are a lot of hobbies that constitute exercise. Hiking, fishing, gardening and of course sports. Pick something that you have always been interested in or something completely new to you. As long as you get moving, that is all that matters.
