Low cost ways to get fit

by Jessica Laurence (Subscribe to Jessica Laurence's posts)
Mar 4th 2010

Categories: Fitness

At the beginning of the year, did you sign up at that amazing gym near your work with the fabulous pool, sparkling equipment and luxurious changing rooms? You may have started by going every other day, determined to get the most out of your membership. Now we're heading towards Spring, how often are you visiting the gym?

A survey by Sainsbury's showed that £200 million is squandered every year on health club memberships that don't get used. Most people last around 18 months before they cancel their membership plan, with many of those months costing them money when they're sitting at home watching television.

So if you've recently called time on that expensive gym or want to find out ways to shape up without spending loads, listen up.

The first point to remember is that you can use your own body weight to enhance your workout routine. Brilliant exercises such as sit-ups, push-ups and the plank can be performed without the use of expensive weights.

Two bottles of water or some unopened food cans make good impromptu weights if you're exercising at home. You can also purchase a set of dumbells from between £5-£20.

Buy a skipping rope with weighted handles (you can pick one up for under £10) and you'll be exercising your arms and legs at the same time. How do you reckon boxers get so lean - with plenty of skipping!

If you're starting out with exercise, consider hiring a personal trainer for one session, so they can help you devise a good workout for your shape and give you some goals to aim towards.

Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

haggster 10-3-2010

Yep I'm one of the £200million people...could have been to Oz and back on the money I spent on Gym memberships. Mind you isn't it about time someone looked at these contracts that bind you so you have to pay for the full 12 months even if you stop using for whatever reason?

Marty 10-3-2010

Skipping is brilliant & taking off in a great way. Stuff the Gyms, boring,useless,full of egotistical wasters. You don't have to be a boxer to skip. Chose rope wisely, get a book, and lots of patience, practise, determination. It will not bore you & time fly's. I started in Oct 09. Overtrained initially. Had a stress fracture in my left foot metatarsal, caused by over training. This happened in January took 5 weeks to heal, but continued to practise hoping on right foot, careful not to overtrain & for past 2 weeks have returned to two foot skipping along with many other jump combinations. It is the best exercise I've done and I'm a qualified, swimming teacher, fitness instructor. Skipping is better than anything i've done before. Try it - don't give in you shirkers!

Kathy 10-3-2010

Now that all sounds great...........except for the broken foot,lol. However if i ever get fit enough to try ill give it a try. I bought a treadmill and stuck it in the livingroom so i can watch tv to pass the time. Ideal as i have M.E and can only do little and often, not worth joining the gym to do 5- 10 mins of walking at a time. Id feel silly next to people running anyway. I have bought a tin to save the money it would have cost to go to the gym to cover the cost of the treadmill. Who knows i might even be able to run one day?

laney 11-3-2010

ive never gave skipping serious thought, i got a v-fit skipping rope as part of a fitness set i got but have to admit to using a mini trampette to jog on i jog for about an hour at a time between 2 and 4 days a week as well as walking so far i dont feel like ive lost any weight but i was suprised to find i had gone down a jean size and ive had so many compliments that my previously low confidence has been boosted inspiring me to continue and i also noticed that i dont eat as much junk food as i used to. to shake things up a bit im going to give the skipping a try

Bernard 10-3-2010

Could not agree more about the waste of time and money in joining a gym.
No one has mentioned swimming. The perfect keep fit exercise. My local pool is open seven days a week 7am until 10pm. and whats more - wait for it - if you are under 17 or 60 and over - its free!
This is a countrywide scheme to encourage everyone to take exercise.
I swim everyday for half an hour or so and have been doing so for six months and feel completely different (for the better)
If you do not fall into the age catagory it is only three or four pounds for a swim and if you only went once a week it is not going to break the bank. And if it is not for you - walk away.

kc 11-3-2010

I exercise in the park, sure it gets cold in winter but there are so many things to do. I gave up my overpriced, oversubscribed gym membership in favour of jogging recently. having done some boxing training I've seen first hand that exercises such as toe tapping on benches, squat thrusts, push ups and burpees are indeed free!