I want to start working out. I just don’t really have any money and I’m worried that training will cost a fortune. Between a gym membership, new workout gear, transportation, supplements, meals, and time, how could I possibly afford to work out?
Is that you? Are you worried about how you’ll possibly ever finance your fitness plans? Is money holding you back from working out? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions, I have great news for you: You don’t need a lot of money to get started with fitness!
I wanted to show you how you can start working out right now without spending lots of money:
Get back to the basics.
I’ve been training for many years now and I wouldn’t say that I have any official training gear. I go to the gym in what I find to be convenient. As a beginner you don’t have to worry about buying a new pair of $200 shoes. You don’t need any fancy sporting gear. It’s all about sticking to the fundamentals. When your income situation improves you can then look into buying some higher end products. For now it should be all about the basics.
Find a low-cost gym.
You don’t have to go to the gym that all the local celebrities hit up. If you’re a college student you can check out the gym that your school offers. These are usually free or really cheap. If you hold a full-time job, perhaps you can look into any gym programs sponsored by your work. If none of those options are available to you, then you can check out the small gym in town. The rates are usually lower and you can still get the same type of workout in. As a last resort you can always work out from home. I’ve trained from home many times and would highly recommend it to everyone. If you start looking into the high end gyms right off the bat, you’ll get very discouraged by the high rates. Your goal as a beginner with little money should be to find a low-cost gym option close to home.
No need for supplements.
Supplements will cost you a fortune. This is why you’re going to have to look past them. If you start getting into supplements right off the bat, you won’t be able to obtain the maximum results from your body naturally and you’ll spend more money than you need to by any means. Most supplements are grossly over-priced and guilty of the placebo effect. These supplements will make your pockets feel lonely. Stay away from them and focus on eating well.
Consider low cost food options.
Sure protein shakes can go for over $5 a piece. You don’t need to consume protein shakes to get your intake of protein. You can actually eat really healthy food at a low price. How’s this possible? Go to your local grocery store and check out all of the high-protein food that’s pretty inexpensive. Some of my favorites include: tuna, egg whites, beans, sardines, and chicken. It’s not the most visually appealing menu, but this food will help you reach both your fitness and budget goals.
An empty pocket shouldn’t hold you back from working towards getting serious about your personal fitness. Just because you’re tight on cash I don’t want you to use this as an excuse for not working out.
(photo credit: ilovememphis)
I personally think that NOT working out will cost a fortune.
If you’re not healthy and physically fit, you’ll have more health issues in life, and that costs money. Money for doctors, insurance, medicine etc.
Thanks for stopping by John. You brought up a point that I didn’t even think about (sounds like a good post idea!). You’re 100% right because if you take care of yourself now you can prevent lots of issues down the road.
Thanks for commenting!
I echo MD’s thoughts regarding your thoughts. People fail to realize the health repercussions of a sedentary lifestyle. Sure you might have the money to blow on a nice ride, 5 bedroom home, trips every 2 months but you won’t devote the money and time to workout and stay healthy? Something’s gotta give
Call me old-fashioned, but does one really *need* a gym membership in order to work out? Looks like those marketing geniuses finally won – most people I know think it’s impossible to exercise and get in shape without being a gym member… Unless you live in a 3′x3′ cage, you can exercise by using your own body weight, or just by jogging or riding a bicycle.
Thanks for the comment and excellent point!
Most people are only aware of the traditional form of working out, that is using dumbbells and barbells because perhaps, as you say, this is what the marketers push since it makes money. There are other ways of working out such as using your body weight, resistance bands which we are more frequently seeing on infomercials. No question, gym memberships aren’t a necessity to working out and staying fit, but for those starting off this is all that they know initially. The choice to use a gym can be considered a preference but at the same time, people need to consider the ultimate goals for their bodies: are they simply trying to remain fit, or are they looking to be the shark amongst fish. Definitely a topic for a future post on this site!
I think the best value for your workout dollar is a kettlebell. One 16kg kettlebell and an instructional video will cost you less than the cost of all but the cheapest no-frills gym membership, and will last a lifetime.
If cost was truly a limiting factor, that kettlebell and ones own bodyweight would be enough for a lot of quality working out.
Thanks for stopping by Shaun. I’ve heard plenty of positive things about the kettlebell. I’m actually planning on purchasing one in the near future. Do you have any recommended workouts?
It might be cheaper to set yourself up at home, depending on your personality…and, of course, on your home. Freeweights. A simple bench. A chin-up bar in a doorway. Yes, that should do it.
If you are not into building muscles (the heavy ones), summer is around the corner except perhaps in the Northeast and it’s a good time to go out walking. I lost 20 lbs by walking 3-4 times a week.
Walking is an amazing way to get away from everything as well. Sometimes I just grab my iPod and go for a 2 mile run to forget about everything. The hidden benefit is that as you mentioned, you can lose a few pounds in the process.