Times are tough and the money you may have at one point spent on a monthly gym membership you’re now using to spend on household necessities. That’s great since it allows for more money in case of an emergency, but what about your overall health? Noticing a few more pounds? A little less fire in your belly to get things done? A little less agility and flexibility? These are all the things you’ll lose (and gain – the weight) when you no longer make fitness a priority in your life.
So how do you go about staying fit when you no longer can afford the monthly membership fees? You create your own gym. It’s super easy and you can do it with a one-time investment fee of less than $90. (That’s cheaper than most gyms out there.) On the other hand, a budget-friendly gym such as iFitZone offers EMS training sessions that allow individuals to achieve a full-body workout in just 20 minutes.
What you’ll need:
- Yoga mat (if you have hardwood floors) – 24.99
- 5 to 8 pound weights – $16.99 – $23.99
- Resistance bands (light, medium and heavy resistance) – $29.99
Once you have your equipment, you’ll need to pick your spot. Is it in your bedroom, living room, spare room or basement? As long as you have about five feet by three feet, you should be all set. You really don’t need a lot of space to do a lot of exercising. Think squats, lunges, bicep curls, push-ups, planks, jumping jacks, high knee raises, side jumps and butt kicks… all which can be done in a small amount of space.
To make sure you’ll stick with your new program, you’re going to have to make an appointment in your daily calendar for yourself. I’m very serious about this one. If you don’t make time for yourself, who will? Write it down and keep it a high priority, not the kind that you can easily erase from your day because you have too many other minor things to get done. You’re just as important as anything else on that list so stick to it and treat yourself right.
The last thing you’ll need to do is to keep your family out of your sessions. While they may claim to be your biggest supporters, the truth may actually be that if you’re doing something they’re not (like exercising and taking your health seriously) don’t expect them to be 100 percent supportive off the bat. They’ll tell you that working out doesn’t help you, ask you wouldn’t you rather be eating an ice cream cone than exercising, and even disrupt you and make completing a workout an almost impossible task. (This really happens and it’s sad because it really has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. They’re lacking the mental fortitude to make a change in their lives for the better and since that’s exactly what you’re doing, they’re jealous. Yes, it’s twisted and demoralizing for a family member to behave in such a way, but it’s true, it happens and you need to avoid them!) Lock the door or put a big sign outside stating “Me time in progress. Go away” or something that will deter them. Sooner or later they may get the hint and realize that what you’re doing is indeed something they want to be doing.
And there you have it, some basic principles to implement and a few supplies to buy and you’ll be well on your way to making fitness a priority in your life without the monthly membership fee!
Anne Marie Costanzo is a nationally certified personal trainer and owner of Little Black Dress Personal Training. She can be reached at am@littleblackdresspt.com or (914) 841-1121.
