Exercising on a Budget

✓ Utilize the space you have and transform your garage or spare room into a small workout area. ✓ Buy multi-use equipment if your budget allows: o Resistance Bands o Dumbbells o Jump Rope o Step o Exercise Ball ✓ Shop second-hand stores or local online postings to find lightly used fitness equipment at a fraction of the cost. ✓ Incorporate body weight exercises that do not require special equipment to perform such as squats, lunges, pushups, and planks. ✓ Find workout videos that can be done at home and don’t require any special equipment or large amounts of space. ✓ Search for social media posts containing inspirational at-home workouts. ✓ Go outside! The outdoors are an incredible resource due to the unlimited possibilities for aerobic activity and bodyweight strength exercises. ✓ Get creative! Grab household items such as milk jugs, soup cans, or even your children to use as weights. ✓ Sign up for a fun sports league with some friends in your area; for example - volleyball, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, etc. ✓ Find some stairs outdoors and do laps up and down. ✓ Bike for transportation to save money on gas and get some exercise in! Family Activities for FREE! ✓ Engaging your family in physical activity is a great benefit to your health journey. ✓ Go on bike rides in your neighborhood or local trails. ✓ Walk to your local park and maybe perform a few pull ups on the monkey bars. ✓ Play tag in the backyard; whoever loses has to do 10 sit ups. ✓ If you live near a public beach, spend a day swimming and jumping over waves. ✓ Go on walks around the block to get some steps in. If the weather is poor, head to a local supermarket or mall to do some laps. What to Do Next There are a lot of cheap and free options to increase your activity levels. Be creative. Start today!! Source: Jesse Wirges, 10/26/22.