Gym memberships can be expensive. Not only do you have to purchase a membership to work out there, you also have to drive to get there.
And with gas prices at an all time high, the money you spend to get in shape can really add up. Additionally, traveling to the gym can take up a considerable amount of your valuable time.
All these factors that go into working out can be burdensome with a busy life. However, there are other ways to get in a great work out.
You do not need a fancy gym membership or a personal trainer to get a great workout in. With just a few simple strategies you can easily get a great work out at little to no cost.
You may be surprised, but you have everything you already need, you just need to put it to work. Do not let the lack of a gym membership deter you from taking care of yourself.
Your health is the most important thing you have in life. Make sure you maximize it by continuing to train even if you don’t have a gym membership.
Here are some creative ways you can work out without a gym membership.
1. Master the Bodyweight Movements
Remember back in gym class when you would do push-ups, sit ups, and pull ups? These simple yet effective exercises are great at making you stronger and require no special equipment.
Additionally, they are actually difficult exercises to do. One of the best workouts you can possibly do for your upper body it is push-ups and pull-ups. Master these two exercises and you will be way ahead of most people.
Furthermore, when you master these basic exercises, you can switch things up with endless bodyweight variations without having a gym membership. You can do handstand push-ups, chin ups, muscle ups, diamond push-ups, and many more!
These core exercises will build your muscles and have you feeling strong and healthy. However, do you not forget about the lower body.
Do air squats, lunges, box jumps, Nordic hamstring curls, step ups, and lateral lunges. These exercises will build your legs and strengthen your muscles.
Do not underestimate how difficult these exercises can be. However, you will likely need to use higher reps than what you were used to if you had a gym membership.
Do 10 sets of 10 reps, sets to failure, or the deck of card method to ramp up the intensity. These techniques allow you to still get a good workout in without needing that expensive gym membership.
Take advantage of the body you have and keep it healthy by doing free bodyweight exercises. Do not allow the lack of a membership to stop you from accomplishing your goals.
2. No Gym Membership? Run!
If you do not have a gym membership, a great alternative to keeping your health strong is to take up running. Running is a phenomenal way to keep your heart healthy and to build up your leg strength.
If you currently cannot run for more than five minutes, start with walking. Walk for 20 to 30 minutes a day for a few weeks and then slowly start to add in a little running.
Then for the next 3 to 4 weeks, walk for 4 minutes, then jog for one minute. Alternate this for a few rounds and slowly increase the amount of time you are jogging.
You do not need a gym membership to go running. Simply throw on a pair of shoes and head outside.
If it is raining, put on a rain jacket. If it is snowing, bundle up. Without a gym membership you will need to make a few sacrifices, but it will make you stronger along the way.
Running is extremely good for the heart and will drastically improve your cardiovascular endurance. Pair this with the body weight exercises above and you will be on your way to a great health regimen.
Additionally, it will have you feeling revitalized. Although there will be days that you don’t feel like going out to run, the increased energy you will have from cardio will drastically improve your overall energy levels.
So instead of purchasing that gym membership, get out there and start running!
3. Weights vs. Gym Membership?
If you want to save some money, but want to still use weights, dumbbells are a great option.
At almost every garage sale somebody will be selling dumbbells that you can pick up. Depending on your level of strength, buy the weights that work for you.
This could be five, 10, 15 or 40 pound dumbbells. Typically one lighter set and one heavier set should do the job.
It is best to purchase dumbbells that you can do smaller exercises with, as well as ones that you can use for harder exercises.
You can do all the same exercises you do in the gym with just a few dumbbells. Chest press, lateral raises, lunges, deadlifts, and just about any other exercise can be performed with dumbbells.
However, even if you don’t have dumbbells, you can still work out with weights with common household items. Think outside of the box and use what you have in your pantry or closets.
On the lighter side of things, use canned goods. Each can of food will weight about a pound.
If you are ready for a little more weight, use full laundry detergent bottles. Or simply save your gallon milk jugs and fill them with water, sand or rocks.
Without a gym membership you can still get a good workout when you get creative. Find those dumbbells at a garage sale or use items that you already have on hand to get a great workout in.
The Simple Solution
Do not let the lack of a gym membership stop you from exercising. Push yourself to work out in different ways and you will be surprised with the results.
Since you will not have heavy weights or aerobic machines, you will need to challenge the muscles in another way. But do not let this deter you!
You can get in a great workout with your bodyweight, by running, or by purchasing a cheap set of dumbbells or using household items as weight. Push yourself hard and you will get great results and keep cash in your pocket!
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