Small Budget, Big Workout: Getting Fit Without Breaking Your Budgets

Is your small financial budget - or budgeted home space preventing you from getting into shape?
Sure those TV commercials and magazine ads lead you to think you need a small fortune to lose weight or get fit. But is it all true? Can you get a shapely body without paying for expensive equipment or throwing down hundreds of dollars on a gym membership? Is there really a way to get fit for under $150? Under $50?

There's an old saying..."where there's a will, there's a way"... and this does apply to getting in shape. Who says you have to have fancy, high-end equipment? Just because we live in a high-tech world doesn't mean "old school" isn't effective. Just because you don't tout a membership to some exclusive fitness center doesn't mean exercise goals fly out the window.

Don't let a little thing like small monetary resources or restricted space get in the way of a healthier you. With a little creativity and a strong determination it is possible...

SMALL FINANCIAL BUDGET
Okay, so money is tight. Welcome to reality! With prices rising all the time, it's hard to make that paycheck stretch. But skipping that Friday night take-out habit just twice, or passing at dinner and drinks at the local pub just once, you could have enough money to be on your way to a fitter, more toned you!

Think about it. What's the most important item you need to purchase to get started on a fitness program? Your shoes. That's right, a good pair of workout sneakers is essential to avoid injuries, accidents and pain.

Unfortunately, proper footwear is the most expensive requirement. Fortunately, with discounted and wholesale stores or department store sales, it is possible to get a quality sneaker for $35.00 or less. They don't have to be a name-brand, and since everyone's foot is different, they don't necessarily have to be specific to the activity. As long as they are comfortable, fit well with sufficient toe room and snug heel, provide heel and arch support, and are made with a firm inside material to prevent collapse, the best shoe is whatever works for you.
Okay, $35 spent, - $15 to go...
If your budget is only $50 and you are serious about getting fit, an exercise ball would be the logical next purchase. For around $10 an exercise ball can do wonders - from stretching to strengthening to increasing balance, it can jump-start your routine while keeping it interesting and fun!
SMALL BUDGET ADD-ONS
If your budget is a bit larger, treat yourself to some inexpensive things to expand your workout routine. And if your budget is strained but you need diversity, give up one fast food meal per week and indulge in a different workout tool...
From between $10 - $20 you can add:
A jump rope (great cardio workout!)
A pull-up bar (great for upper body, abs and stretching!)
Workout tapes (great for cardio, strengthening and toning!)
Resistance bands or hand weights (great strengthening!)
Hoola hoop (cardio and waistline workout!)

FREEBIES
There are many free ways to bump up that fitness routine:
A chair (assists with strengthening exercises)
The local park (a great place for a good cardio workout - some even have free strengthening stations
Canned veggies; milk containers filled with water or sand (great to add some resistance for strength training)
Checking out a workout video at your local library
Duct-taped phone book (for step aerobics)
The floor (for some good old-fashioned calisthenics - remember middle school P.E.?)
A couch cushion (to elevate you off the floor like a bench press for a good chest workout)
A farther parking spot or taking the steps instead of the elevator (a sneaky way to get in your cardio)

BUDGETED SPACE
The best part about this "cheap, old-school" method of working out? It takes up virtually no space. And it's all portable! So if there is simply no room in your home to grab some floor space, you can take it outside. And that weekend trip doesn't have to mean curtailing your good efforts. Just save enough room in your overnight bag for your sneakers and a jump rope. Then improvise!

BUDGETED TIME
In today's world, the biggest excuse for not exercising is time. Between work, family and all the obligations in between, 24 hours just isn't enough, right? Wrong! Just because you can't dedicate a solid chunk of time to exercise doesn't mean you should skip it altogether. After all, exercise is not some indulgence - it is essential for that busy life to be a healthy, less stressful one.
I'm sure we've all been told "just get up 30 minutes earlier" - but for some of us, that's simply not an option. Let's face it, with our busy lives comes more sleep-deprived individuals than ever before. Thirty minutes may not seem like a huge sacrifice, but to some, it very well may be.
Studies show that getting 10 minutes of exercise three times per day is just as healthy as one thirty minute session. So, go ahead, hit that snooze a few times - just be ready to make up for it throughout the day...
Exercise in the shower - a few lunges and squats and finish off with a few standing push-ups against the shower wall.
Exercise while brushing your teeth or working in the kitchen - a few leg lifts and curls won't slow you down. You can even do triceps work with a little counter space.
Park further away or go to the next bus stop, and use steps whenever possible.
Stuck at the desk? The small investment of exercise bands come in real handy here. Tie them to the armrest for some biceps and triceps work, or on the chair's legs for some leg extensions. Then tie it around your thighs, just above your knees to get those hard-to-tone inner thighs and hips. If you have a high-back chair, tie them to the back, around shoulder height and bend at the waist for some abdominal work.
Take a 60 second break and do some jumping jacks.
Do the housework with some zip - add a little music to help you get in the groove. See how fast you can vacuum and dust.
At every traffic light tighten your leg or abdominal muscles and hold it
When standing on line, stand on one foot - just make sure you repeat it on the opposite side
Do some sort of exercise during the entire commercial break of your favorite television show
Cut ten minutes of your lunch break to take a brisk walk
Wall sit or pace while using the phone

Be creative. Set small goals and stick to them. A healthier lifestyle doesn't have to cramp your day or put you in debt!