By Roman McCalep

With the economy in bad shape and money being tight all around, it’s easy to see how hard it is to pay for a gym membership along with other expenses.  As a result, many people choose to cut back on purchasing gym memberships and personal training sessions, and many may assume that they won’t be able to stay fit if they don’t have enough money.  The good news is that there are numerous ways to get a good workout and stay physically fit without needing expensive gym memberships and pricey exercise equipment.  If you follow these few simple tips, you’ll have the tools to make your body look great on a budget. 

Work out at home:  When you are watching TV at home, get off the couch during the commercials and do a few sets of push ups.  Try other calisthenics exercises that use your own body weight as a resistance like jumping jacks, squats, and sit-ups; or focus on stretching while you watch your favorite shows.

Look for free exercise classes:  You can find plenty of free or low-cost fitness classes in your neighborhood at many community centers, churches, schools, or local clubs.  Look online for some of these programs and keep an eye out for opportunities to join sports teams, dance groups, running clubs, or even charity walks in your community.

Get outdoors:  You can get in great shape by doing some light jogging or even just running multiple laps around your neighborhood before or after work.  Play some basketball or tennis at a local court or go bike riding or hiking around some of the many trails in the area.

Use what you have around the house:  You don’t need expensive home gyms or tons of bulky fitness equipment to get into shape:  there are all kinds of workouts a person can do using materials found around their house.  You can take a couple of heavy cans from the pantry and do some biceps curls.  If you need more weight, try filling up some empty milk gallon jugs with sand or water.  Use a sturdy chair or table to do some dips for your triceps.  You can even tie some garbage bags filled with water to each side of a broom to use as a makeshift barbell.  If you do purchase equipment, make sure it is versatile.  For example, a simple elastic resistance band, an exercise ball, or a dumbbell with adjustable weights all can be used for a variety of exercises that work almost every muscle in your body.

Find a workout partner:  Having someone to work out and train with is motivational, fun, and doesn’t cost anything.  When you get lazy, your partner can provide encouragement and support to keep you on track. 

Use the internet:  There is a wealth of fitness advice and exercise suggestions available online.  Many of these resources include detailed descriptions of exercises accompanied by videos of the correct form.  Take the time to learn how to put together a workout program and research how to do the exercises safely and effectively. 

Roman McCalep is a student in the Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT) program at Highline.