GET FIT FOR FREE

1. Walking and running – As long as you have a decent pair of shoes, you’re ready to go.  Walking is especially suitable for just about anyone of any age.  You can always start with a short distance and work your way up to longer treks and faster strides.

2. Library – Try your local library for an amazing selection of fitness DVD’s, tapes and books to keep your workouts varied.

3. Online – You can find some excellent, free and full-length streaming workout videos online at the Exercise TV site.
Try everything from boot camp to dance to Pilates, with the same well-known instructors who appear on for-sale DVD’s.

4. Podcasts – First make sure you have iTunes.  Install iTunes and then enjoy their numerous free podcasts.  You can search on keywords such as “fitness” or “workout”.  I found a nice workout podcast from Prevention Magazine.  The beauty of podcasts is that you can subscribe to them, which means they’ll get automatically downloaded whenever there is a new episode.

5. Playground – Who says the monkey bars are just for kids?  Go back to your childhood and enjoy some fun with your workout.

6. Park – Enjoy the green grass, the trees and the scenery while you walk, run or hike.  Depending where you live, there might be some added attractions, such as a lake, woods or mountains in some local parks.  Or maybe even learn some history, as I do when I go for walks at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

7. Stairs – Skip the elevator and get a workout at your office building, or at home if you live on more than one level.

8. Dancing – It doesn’t cost a thing to throw on some music, dance around your house, and burn some calories.  You might also be able to find local dance clubs that don’t charge a cover (but of course you’ll have to pay for drinks if you buy any).

9.  Meetup groups – Check out Meetup.com and search for fitness/sports/workout interest groups to join.  You’ll make new friends while getting fit.

10. On TV – Fit TV is a channel devoted to fitness and workout programs, everything from toning to dance to kickboxin g and a lot more.  Check your local schedules here: Discovery.com You’re already paying for cable, so you might as well get the most use out of it.  Also check your cable provider’s free, on-demand videos for any fitness-related ones.

GET FIT FOR CHEAP

11. Garage sales – Think of all those people who bought treadmills and never used them.  And there are many others who need to sell weight sets, videos and other things that are gathering dust in their homes.  Check your local newspaper classifies for garage sale listings, and also just cruise around your neighborhood looking for garage sale signs.

12. Craigslist – Craigslist is a great marketplace and it’s also another way to find those garage sales.   Simply search the “for sale” category by keyword.  Just like a garage sale, bring your cash and be prepared to haul it away.  You’ll save on everything from home gyms to yoga mats.  Craigslist.org