Staying Trim Without The Gym

Posted by Deborah Read on Monday 6 February 2012 in Health and Beauty

We’ve all paid for gym memberships that we’ve then not used and felt guilty for not going. People spend on average between £800- £1,000 a year on gym memberships, which is a lot of money if you don’t go. Here are some tips for getting into shape without having to pay excessive gym costs.

Pay As You Go
Some gyms have created a pay as you go scheme which works like a top up for your mobile phone. You ‘top up’ so much onto your membership and pay for the sessions you use. A gym which does this is payasUgym.

Buy Exercise Equipment
If there’s one machine at the gym that you liked and you have the space to store it, buy it. If you look online you can usually get a good deal and go for the none branded products as these will work just as well. Items like a mini trampoline and treadmill are great for cardio exercise which improves overall fitness.

Fitness DVDs
There’s so much choice but don’t just go for your favourite celeb here, do your research and find which ones give you a proper work out and help you get fit. Perhaps buy a couple so you can mix it up and do these a few times a week in the comfort of your own home.

Go For A Run
Get your trainers on and go for a run around the block. To add some incentive, try running 5 or 10K for Race For Life or even the marathon. If you enjoy it, join running clubs. You can also use the RunKeeper pro app which keeps track of how long you’re running for.

Walking
Go for a long walk on a Sunday, or try to walk to places you would usually drive to. This will improve your fitness and it’s also quite enjoyable. Get on the bus one stop later and off one stop earlier. This is an easy way to fit walking into your routine without taking on too much. Standing up on public transport also burns more calories.

Cycling
Try cycling to work and back, or just cycle on a weekend. There are off road routes (http://www.cycle-route.com/) which make it more enjoyable and it’s really good for you.

Ice/Roller Skating
These are really good exercise and help with balance. They’re also really fun to do, although you may get more bruises!

Go Dancing
Get your dancing shoes on as dancing burns calories, whether it’s salsa dancing, ballet or street. It’s also a lot more fun than the gym, you meet new people and it’s cheaper too.

Play Football
Running around a pitch for 90 minutes will do wonders for your health! Join a local team or get one together and play regularly. Places like Goals let you hire areas to play, so check it out.

Exercise With Friends
Whatever exercise you decide to do, do it with friends. They will motivate you when you’re not feeling up to exercise and make it more fun.

Use Your House
Exercising is really easy around the house.  Using the stairs you can step up and down again a few times to burn calories. Items in your cupboards also make excellent items to exercise with. Instead of lifting weights, lift juice bottles, baked beans and even children for a work out. While waiting for food to cook, try doing squats or just sit ups and push ups.

Do Housework
Believe it or not but housework burns calories. You can work out how many with this calorie calculator. Both men and women will feel the results and you create a spotless home too.

If that isn’t enough, use the FatSecret calorie counter which allows you to count the calories you’re eating, the nutritional value of products and it keeps a food diary for you. All to enable you to make healthier choices.