Low Cost Workout and Exercise Tips

This is a great activity to do as a family, or with a friend. Health experts recommend exercising with a buddy to keep yourself accountable and motivated. Walking is an ideal group activity, and it's free.

Run

If walking just isn't intense enough for you, pick up the pace even more and go for a run. A good pair of running shoes is important to protect your feet and knees, but any other equipment is optional. Even a combination of walking and running can be a great low cost cardio workout. If you'd like more advice about how to make the transition from walking to running, check out my profile for an article I wrote on that very subject.

Visit the Library

When you think exercise, the library probably isn't the first thing to pop into your mind, but it can be a wonderful resource for free fitness information. Most public libraries have an extensive collection of DVDs. Browse the selection at your local branch for aerobics, circuit training, strength training, yoga, pilates, or any other fitness program you'd like to experiment with.

When it's time to turn a DVD back in, that's a great chance to try something else new to keep your fitness routine fresh. Using the library's DVD collection to preview programs that you're interested in before you buy them can be a great money saver as well.

While I prefer the ease of following video instructions, let's not forget about books. Expert fitness trainers love to write books, and you can learn new exercises or routines by checking out titles by your favorite fitness gurus for no cost, as long as you avoid running up overdue fines.

Use What You Already Have

Canned goods, or bottles of water can work as low cost substitutes for hand weights, as can any other slightly heavy object you may have around the house that will fit comfortably in your hand.

Many people have a bike, roller-skates, a jump rope, or other fitness equipment collecting dust in some dark corner of their garage. Think about what treasures you may have forgotten that you already own. Or better yet, dive in to your basement or garage and clean it out. Online exercise calculators say that heavy cleaning can burn over 300 calories an hour.

Surf the Fitness Web

It seems like there isn't anything you can't get online nowadays. This is true for low cost fitness too. Exercise instructions, and even instructional workout videos are available for free all over the web.

My personal favorite site for workout videos is SparkPeople.com because I've been a member there for over a year now, and I know I can trust the trainers and advice they provide. It's free to join, but you don't even have to join to watch the exercise video clips or read the instructions.

Join a Team

If there's a sport that you loved to play when you were younger, or that you've always wanted to try, search your local community to find a team to join. Like walking with a friend, joining a team keeps your exercise on a schedule that you're forced to be faithful to. Team sports can also be a lot more fun than other forms of exercise.

Local community centers or sports clubs can be a good starting point for finding a team to join. Even if you aren't a member of a gym, see if they have a bulletin board you can browse for posting from teams seeking more players. If there aren't any, consider posting your own, and getting one started. Putting a team together from a group of co-workers is another popular option.

If all else fails, try driving around to the local baseball diamonds, or soccer fields, etc. on the weekend and see what groups are there and talk to them about your interest.

Buy Used Equipment

If you absolutely need some equipment for the type of exercise you want to do, buy it used. There are great used sporting goods shops around that sell lower cost equipment that is still in great shape.

People buy exercise and sport equipment all the time that they end up barley using. A gently used tennis racket, or set of dumbbells will work just as well as a new one in most cases, and for a much lower cost. Even home gyms and cardio machines can be found for a bargain at garage sales and craigslist ads.

Play With the Kids

Head for the local playgrounds, but this time, instead of sitting on a bench and watching, get out there and play! Start a game of tag. Run, climb, slide and swing. See if you can keep up with your kids. They'll love the attention. Teach them the games you played when you were little.

Bring a ball with you and kick it, or start a game of catch. Children's games are fun, active and almost always very low cost.

Plan Ahead

Sometime we just don't know what kinds of activities we may fall in love with until we try them. But sometimes, from experience, we know what works and what doesn't for us. If you hate to run or walk, don't shell out money for a treadmill, even if it's a good deal.

If you're not sure what you like, try to borrow any equipment necessary while you give it a test run. If you find a new exercise that looks wonderful for you, consider if any equipment is necessary at all. When I began doing yoga, I thought a special yoga strap, mat, and the perfect foam blocks were essential. Only after I'd done it awhile did I learn that I don't need a matt because I do my yoga at home on my carpet, a belt works fine for a strap, and I don't use my foam bricks at all.

Jumping from one unsatisfying workout routine to another, especially if you're collecting props or equipment to go along with each one is a waste of money. Before you go out and leap on the latest fitness bandwagon, think about the types of activities you really enjoy, and are likely to stick with.

It's the job of the fitness industry to make us believe we need to buy a bunch of stuff. In many cases that simply isn't true. When you start a new exercise, try it with out any off the extras, and see how you do. If, after some time, you really think you need to buy something, then you'll be a more informed consumer, and have the peace of mind that comes with that.