By: Shereena Sakhrani

Everyone wants that rockin’ sexy body; and with summer on the way, more people are spending big bucks for their workout. Whether it’s trying to be healthy or just wanting to look good and feel great about yourself, people who are on a budget should not have to pay a fortune to workout. Due to cost, people wanting to exercise may not be able to, simply because they don’t have the budget. It is understandable that some people cannot afford to pay monthly membership, hire a personal trainer, or buy their personal gym equipments because they do add up and cost a lot of money. Working out may seem a bit pricey. However, there are solutions for a more affordable fitness. Whether you like exercising at home, in the gym or outdoors, there are ways for you to workout no matter where your price range is. The fact is that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars a month for a more active lifestyle.

Buying machines such as home gyms, treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes etc. may be more convenient if you like working out in the comfort of your own home. Buying this equipment will actually save you more money in the long run simply because you won’t have to keep paying for gym membership. Buying machines can cost thousands of dollars but who said you have you spend a fortune to build your home gym? You don’t necessarily have to buy brand new equipment, purchasing used equipment cost much less. Purchasing machines at wholesale warehouses or even buying equipment online can save you some cash. There are fitness warehouses where you can even rent equipment. Also, do some research and check out review if the equipment you’re interested in is effective and are even worth purchasing. Sometimes, having the fanciest or the most high tech equipment may not drastically make your workout much more effective. Using the simplest machines can be just as effective and wouldn’t hurt your wallet as much.

For some people, their workout in the gym is much more effective than their workout at home. The gym is a very good environment for a good workout, although they can be a bit pricey. Depending on the gym, membership can cost hundreds of dollars and if you want to work with a personal trainer, you’re going to have to spend some extra bucks. Some gym memberships can be very expensive because they provide services such as spas, hot tubs, and juice bars. Having the luxury of a spa may sound great, but by eliminating luxury for simplicity, you can even save hundreds of dollars at the gym. By doing your research, you can find affordable membership around your area. There are even gyms out there that offer memberships that cost under $50 a month.

It is also a good idea to spend on monthly or weekly membership instead of an annual. You may decide to go on vacation, transfer to a different gym, or you just don’t feel like going to gym at all. Whatever your reason is, if you spend a fortune on your annual membership and not take full advantage of it, and then there goes your money down the drain. If you cannot commit to an annual membership, just sign up for monthly or weekly and you’ll end up saving more money.

If you’re living in a condominium, you have the convenience of having fitness amenities right in your building. Some have dance and yoga studios, indoor pools, tennis and basketball courts, etc. If you’re paying maintenance fee, take advantage of it and use the fitness center in your building.

For students, schools offer cheap or even free gym memberships. Not only do they offer gym memberships but they also have tons of activities for you to get physically involve. Students have a wide variety of sports to choose from. You can even have the choice of taking Physical Education or dance class as part of your electives. And if sports isn’t your thing, some schools offer after school activities like yoga class, pilates, boxing, cheerleading, gymnastics and dance classes just to name a few. Cost for certain activities may depend on the instructor and the class you’re taking but the prices should be lower for students already attending the school.

Now lets talk about trainers. Working with a trainer would be very helpful when you’re at the gym because they teach you proper techniques, educate you, and also motivate and guide you towards your goal. Although they are very helpful, they can be very pricey. If you really want to work with a trainer, a good option is to split the cost with a friend. Another way to save is to hire a personal trainer for a session or two and ask him or her to teach you how to do the proper workout and how to use the equipment properly. Ask your trainer to develop a plan for you. By doing that, you will know what to do for the most effective workout, know the proper techniques and develop healthy eating plan you can commit to for your fitness lifestyle. A few sessions should be enough to learn the basics so you’ll be able to workout on your own and not have to pay a fortune for a trainer every time you hit the gym.

If gym membership is still a bit too much for your budget or if you prefer working out at home and find gym equipment too expensive, there are alternatives. You can still get that effective workout and not have to pay a fortune just by purchasing simple equipments. You can buy equipments such as resistance bands, dumbbells, stability balls, yoga mats, wrist and ankle weight, and jump ropes. Even working with own body weight such as doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats etc. are very effective and free.

Another good option for people who prefer working out at home are fitness videos. Fitness videos are great because they are inexpensive and there are so many different varieties to choose. There are different workout types such as yoga videos, dance, pilates, cardio, aerobics, boxing, muscle toning, boot camp, and many more. You can choose the level that’s right for you, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. You can buy fitness videos online or at any video stores. You can also rent them or even borrow them from the library. Some cable companies offer on demand fitness where you can purchase videos instantly through your television without leaving your home. Some cable companies even offer channels where you could have access to tons of fitness videos depending on your cable plan. If you need help trying to figure out which videos are good to buy for yourself, you can check out accurate reviews on fitness videos by going to www.collagevideo.com . This website provides information for videos such as fitness level, toning emphasis, trainer, fan reviews, video clips and many more. When picking out a video, make sure it’s the workout that’s right for you and just have fun with it.

Now here’s a fun way for you to workout, playing video games. We’ve been hearing a lot that video games are responsible for making us less active. Although majority of video games keeps us sitting on the couch in front of the television all day, there are games you can play with that are meant to make you move around and keep you physically fit and active. If you have a video game system, play with games that keep you moving such as “Dance Dance Revolution” (DDR)where you’re dancing to the steps on a dance pad. The Nintendo Wii has many games that will keep moving and burning calories. Not only are these video games fun to play with, but they are also good for exercising and a lot enjoyable!

Also, you don’t have to stay indoors all the time to exercise. Outdoor activities are just as effective and are also a lot of fun. If the weather outside is good, you can take a walk, go for a jog or ride your bicycle. You can even go to the park and play with your friends or family. During the winter, you can go skating, snowboarding and skiing just to name a few activities. Outdoor activities are great because they are mostly free and there are just so many different things to do that you can enjoy with your friends and family.

With so many options to choose from, exercising doesn’t have to be so expensive. You can still live a healthier lifestyle, and look and feel great about yourself and your body. By doing your research and figuring out which equipment to invest in, which gyms offer affordable prices, and by picking out activities that’s fun and right for your lifestyle, you’ll still be able to workout without spending so much money.

Remember, our body is sacred. Make peace with it and so as with your pocket!