Thinking of hitting the gym and getting fit? Membership fees can be expensive, but so can getting equipment for your home. If you want to lose some pounds without spending too many, check out our tips for getting fit on a budget.
1. Use a free trial
Some gyms do special offers for free trials, so you can see if it’s for you before getting locked into an expensive contract.
Anytime Fitness offer a 3-day trial, and have gyms up and down the country.
Fitness First give you a free workout in their gyms too.
2. Avoid contracts
Contracts are the biggest money-drainers when it comes to going to the gym. It’s easy to sign up, but cancelling your membership can be a bit of a trial. And it’s easy to go a couple of times then forget to cancel your contract.
Pure Gym offer a rolling monthly membership that you can cancel at any time, and they have 24h gyms all over the country.
The Gym also has a pay-as-you-go rolling contract from around £11 a month.
3. Visit your local park
Apart from being somewhere to enjoy a walk or jog, your local park may be part of the ParkLives free outdoor activities scheme. You can sign up for free, and there are lots of different events available to take part in.
You can also find outdoor gym equipment in many parks around the country, ideal for working out for free (when the weather is good, of course).
4. Do bodyweight exercises
If you don’t fancy the idea of going to a gym, you can work out at home without having to pay out for expensive equipment. You can get fitter and tone up, and even build muscle, just using your own body as a gym. Here are some guides to give you some routines and tips:
5. Play a game
If you have a smartphone you can find lots of fitness and exercise apps to download, many for free or a just a few pounds. Such as:
Nike+ Training Club (iPhone / Android)
7 Minute Workout (Android)
7 Minutes Workout Challenge (iPhone)
