Save a few bucks with cheaper alternatives to your fitness expenses

Staying in shape
with the help of personal trainers, luxe gyms, and endless supplements tends to break the bank more often than not. But what if we told you that reaching your health and fitness goals doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg? Say farewell to ridiculously expensive gym costs and supps, because with a little effort, you’ll easily be able to stay fit and healthy for far less moolah. Still skeptical? Here are a few simple ways to grow your savings and your fitness levels all at once.

Walk The Walk
Giving up on the gym to save money means you probably won’t have access to a treadmill, but that’s not the end of the world. After all, what’s better than getting in some fresh air while working out, and doing it at absolutely no cost? Something as simple as walking or running are some of the best ways to increase your cardiovascular fitness. Grab your bottle of water and head out to take a 30-minute stroll or jog around the neighbourhood or at a nearby park that you’re certain is safe. If you are not confident enough or don’t feel safe to go on your own, take a willing friend or neighbour along. The more the merrier!

Move More
If most of your day is occupied with work and other duties, you might find yourself sitting in the same position for hours on end, which is not good for your health, body or fitness. Regular movement also benefits your mental health, as it affects hormone activity and boosts the mood. So go for brisk walks during your breaks, even if it’s just to the kitchen and back. You can also incorporate some exercises while busy with other tasks. For example, while you’re hanging the laundry, do some calf raises. Or do some squats as you wait for the water to boil. And turn the music on and dance your heart out every once in a while. It’s a fun way to get the blood pumping. You might feel a little silly, but you’ll feel so good.

Use What You Have
The gym is usually packed with various equipment that you could use to get in shape. For many of us, that’s not the case at home. And purchasing equipment for your own use could be a bit pricey. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your fitness goals. The trick is to use what you have. This includes weighted objects such as filled water bottles or canned food as substitutes for dumb-bells. Or, even easier than that, use your own body. Yes, you heard right. Body-weight training is just as effective in keeping you fit, and it increases endurance and joint health. Some options are variations of squats, lunges, glute bridges, bicycle crunches and mountain climbers.

Guidance At Your Fingertips
Everything is done digitally these days, which makes it so much easier to get access to what you need to achieve your goals, even your fitness ones. If you, like many others, have absolutely no idea where to start, use technology to your own benefit. Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest have many fitness demonstration videos, live sessions or images that are created by some pretty fit influencers. And it’s all for free. Use them as a guide to take you through your workout. It’s almost as if you have your own virtual fitness trainer. What makes this option so great is that you can choose the video that’s more suited to your own fitness level. 

Two Is Better Than One
You don’t need a fitness trainer to help you reach fitness goals. All you need is someone who can hold you accountable and push you to give it your absolute all in every workout session. That’s why getting a workout partner isn’t such a bad idea. Just make sure you’re more or less on the same fitness level as your partner, or else you’ll be holding each other back. Nowadays, you don’t even have to be in the same room to train together. Video calls are a convenient option if you and your partner can’t get together.

Get Fit Outdoors
Giving up gym doesn’t mean you have to seclude yourself to your home when you do your workouts. The world is your oyster. Make your training sessions fun by doing something that involves the outdoors. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, or even anything for that matter. Perhaps you could go for a hike at a trail that has beautiful views of the mountains and greeneries. Or if you have your own bicycle, you could go for a ride, whether in your hood or somewhere more scenic. You can also switch out your usual walking route for a walk or jog along the beach. Enjoying the view while breaking a sweat makes any workout so much more bearable. And making your workouts enjoyable is the best way to motivate you to keep going.

Shakes & Supps
What is a fitness junkie without their protein shakes and supplements? But, the truth is these products could make a big difference to your savings if you cut them from your expenses. Of course, something such as protein is a must, not only for fitness fanatics, but even those who don’t work out. Hence the popularity of protein supplements. Well, what if we told you that you can get an adequate amount of protein in by adjusting your diet? It’s indeed true that you can replace those expensive shakes with something we all enjoy: food. A balanced diet goes a long way when it comes to your health. Something such as hard-boiled eggs, nuts, tuna and double-cream yoghurt are good replacements for protein shakes. Fruit and veggies that are high in protein include spinach, sweet potato, avocado and guava. Make your own smoothies with these ingredients or others that are rich in proteins. The key is to keep it balanced and to be aware of what your body needs. 

Words by Bianca Muller
Photo by Tomasz Woźniak on Unsplash