Money Saving Workout Routines for a Fit Recession-ista

Do you want personal trainer rewards without the steep price? Do you want gym effects without the pricey membership fee? Don’t worry. Just because your wallet may be tight, doesn’t means your abs can’t be either.

With today’s trendiest fitness offerings, it’s easy to be deterred from working out altogether because of the dollars and cents.

Here are some money saving workout routines for the fit recession-ista on a budget. Now that makes “cents”.

Climbing to Fit

Look outside. Look down the street. Look everywhere. You will see them. Stairs are everywhere and guess what, it offers the perfect workout. Start with a warm up with five minutes of stair climbing at an easy pace. Then pick up the pace. Add a set of 5 to 10 pound weights for the ultimate workout. Try to find a set of stairs with at least 16 steps. Having trouble finding stairs? Often local school facilities have a plethora of steps, just enough for you to climb to your fitness goal. Also, next time skip the escalator and elevator. Take the stairs.

Fit Buddy

Everyone needs an extra push now and then to strap those sneakers on. Most turn to a personal trainer for inspiration and a reason to hit the gym. There’s good news. If you don’t have hundreds of dollars, but friends instead, you are in luck. Ask a friend to work out with you. That way if you know someone else is waiting on you to hit up a yoga class or a jog around the neighborhood, you are more likely to feel inspired.

Community Core Work

[quads id=1]If you look closely enough, you’ll find complimentary community workout classes everywhere. For example, Lululemon frequently offers yoga classes on Saturday or Sunday mornings with their brand ambassadors. If you are lucky, you’ll find area businesses that offer a variety of fitness offerings. There’s a bar in my neighborhood that has a running group that gathers to run around a local park and socialize afterwards. Check your local newspaper for fitness happenings in the fitness section.

Fitness Networking

In today’s world of social media, from Facebook to Twitter, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it to your advantage in the world of fitness. There are various networks, including my favorites MapMyRun.com and MapMyRide.com. These programs allow you to track your workouts and even rate how each workout went, so you can view your progress each week. They also allow you to set a fitness goal. You can also connect with your friends and give each other motivation.

There’s an App for that..

Just as social media helps, there’s an app for basically anything you can dream of, especially in terms of fitness. MyFitnessPal.com is a great resource, since it not only allows for you to track your fitness activity. It allows you to track your caloric intake and progress to reach your ultimate goal. The best part is it is a free app. For those who don’t particularly care for their smart phones, try going the route of a journal and pen to track your calorie intake.

Fit Discounts Galore

With resources like Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com, Schwaggle.com and more, there’s a great way to try out a variety of fitness classes and gyms at a discounted price. From fitness pole dancing, Bikram yoga to trapeze workouts, each site has it all.

Get to Cleaning

Just walking into a gym doesn’t make you fit, it takes work. Hit two birds with one stone. You can get fit just around your house and make it spic and span. Do you know how many calories you burn while deep cleaning your home? Burn 73 calories alone while doing laundry. Get rid of those dust bunnies for 80 calories. Mop those floors for 153 calories. Break out the Windex and wash the windows for 105 calories.

Samantha Bryant is a Denver Public Relations Consultant at Samantha Bryant PR. In her free time she enjoys writing for UrbanGirlFitness.com, snowboarding, biking and playing with her St. Bernard, Charlie.

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