In fact, whether economic times are good or bad, you can get fit without spending a fortune or shelling out for monthly gym memberships. A workout at home or outdoors can be equally productive as that in the best gym in the country.
These shoes are made for running
The only major purchase you should have to make to stay fit is a good pair of running shoes. Still, you would need good shoes whether you are working out at home or at the gym, so this purchase should be considered essential. Good running shoes can cost a lot of money but there are ways to save. Try on several pairs of shoes at a top quality store that has expert staff who will outfit you with a pair of shoes specific to your foot needs. Once you have a pair of shoes you love, go to eBay or other online sites and you may be surprised to find the same pair for much, much less.
Now that you have your footwear, the remainder of your costs is minimal. In fact, the cardio portion of your workout can be virtually free. The most important part of cardiovascular health is to get going. You can walk, jog, cycle or skip rope. The possibilities are endless. As long as you are elevating your heart-rate and breaking a sweat, you are getting a good cardiovascular workout and burning calories.
Strength training requires a little bit more creativity and, to be honest, a little bit of money, but most of the equipment you’ll be buying will last you a very long time and should still cost less than a few months at the gym.
I'm with the band
The main purchase you will need to work out at home is a set of exercise bands. These are cheaper than free weights (usually less than $30) but do the same job. You should also buy a door attachment for your bands so you can expand your workout repertoire. Most bands also come with books of exercises or DVDs but if yours doesn’t, you can find plenty of websites that will show you different band exercises for all your muscles or you can sign out books or DVDs for free from your local library.
So, with a pair of good running shoes and a set of exercise bands, you can get a great workout anytime, anywhere.
If you are looking to expand your “home gym” there are other pieces of equipment that can come in handy without breaking the bank. You can do ab crunches on a towel on your carpet but if you have hardwood floors, you might want to buy a good yoga mat so that you have a more comfortable surface for all your floor exercises and stretches. Stability or ballast balls are also great for doing ab exercises or for working your core. Use the ball in place of a bench or chair when you are working out.
With these minimal purchases, you really can cancel your gym membership and feel good about it. Just remember that people often find they are less motivated to work out at home so set yourself a schedule and stick to it. You’ll forget why you joined the gym in the first place!
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