Ready to smash those fitness goals? How do I get fit for cheap? You don’t have to break the bank to get healthy! Here are eleven simple ways to get fit on a budget!
For years I was that girl that would make exercise conditional.
“If I just had those shoes, I would run more.”
“Maybe if I just had a personal trainer, I wouldn’t be so fat.”
“If I just had a meal replacement, I’d eat less.”
Basically, I’d make it so that I was setting myself up for failure.
My attitude and perceptions held me back. I’d wait until conditions were *perfect* (or what I thought they should be) before working out or eating right.
I was ALWAYS blaming my health problems on others or factors in my life.
(P.S. I’m Chantal. Nice to meet you! If you want to learn more about me, click here.)
How can I get fit on my own?
But at one point, I realized that I was never going to stop wanting to be healthy.
It needed to happen. I was letting depression ruin my life and I was letting my emotions and mind control me.
I had to stop waiting for life to happen to me and start making life happen for me.
Click here to read about all the ways to have the BEST year ever.
This meant that I had to take control of everything. I had to make myself accountable.
I had to set new priorities, and that included making the time.
It also meant making investments in myself.
First, I hired my own personal trainer.
Yeah, it was expensive.
But if I’d only known where it would take me (here!) I would have done it a long time ago.
There are so many benefits to hiring a personal trainer.
Next, I went to school to become a personal trainer myself.
Fast forward a few years and I am mentally stronger than ever, and on my way to my healthiest self, ever.
However, I spent a lot of time and effort on those things because I knew it was going to be my career.
There were a lot of things I could have done differently, and I could have spent less money.
But those were things I needed to do for myself.
You probably aren’t going to have a major career change like me, but you can get fit on a budget!
Psst! Need help with nutrition? Check out my self-paced nutrition course for weight loss!
Fitness On A Budget
Once you realize that you are making investments in yourself, it’s a little easier to spend money on fitness-related stuff.
Plus, once you add up the money you spend on going out to eat or buying the best makeup, you’ll realize that maybe you do have the money you need – you just need to fix your priorities.
Psst! I recently created an online nutrition course jam-packed with information on food mindset, exercise science, and nutrition education so that I could pass that knowledge on to you. Check it out!
I gave up a lot of things to be a stay-at-home mom, but I never compromise on my fitness stuff.
It makes me a better mom & human in general to take care of myself.
Anyway, I’d encourage you to think about your priorities before you read this post.
Chances are that you’re spending time and money on things you don’t need or that will help you be the opposite of healthy.
Okay. Let’s get to it. Here are my fave, totally justifiable ways to get fit on a budget.
11 Simple Ways to Get Fit On A Budget
1. Pick up running.
Walking and running are two of the cheapest, best ways to get fit on a budget.
That’s because they are 100% free!
You don’t have to have anything but your body.
And unless you are going to get all marathon-y on me, you don’t have to have any special gear.
Except maybe a good sports bra if your ta-tas are on the bigger side. LOL.
Related Reading:Get a Free Printable Weekly Weight Loss Tracker
2. Buy in bulk.
You already know that your diet is SUPER important.
You’ve heard it: weight loss is “80% diet, 20% exercise.”
It’s true!
So if you’re going to get serious about getting fit, buy those healthy items in bulk and learn about how being frugal can help you lose weight.
You’ll want lean meat like ground turkey and chicken, plus lots and lots of veggies! Costco has a ton of organic choices.
Pro tip: Fresh is best but frozen is second best! If you buy a lot of fresh stuff, stick half of it in the freezer when you get home to make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
Related Reading: Easy Ground Turkey Meal Prep + Brown Rice
3.Try home workouts.
Figuring out how to get fit at home doesn’t have to be expensive or hard.
I created an affordable home workout called Restore The Core, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to seriously strengthen their core.
This program can be done in about 20 minutes per day and will gear you up for a more rigorous workout routine.
If you’re interested in yoga, here’s an intro to yoga for stay at home moms.
Also – there’s always YouTube!
YouTube is FULL of free home workouts.
4. Start with some cheap home gym basics.
I would recommend some dumbbells and a great yoga mat at the very least.
You can do so much with just these two things, and you’ll often find them at Goodwill or other resale shops!
If you’re looking for other cheap things to add to your home gym, here’s a post I wrote about the only home gym essentials you really need.
5. Try some workouts from Pinterest.
Pinterest is full of fun workouts to try.
There are lots of random ones you can Pin to a board and save for later.
I created this bodyweight booty killer and it’s doing really well on Pinterest.
However, not every workout you’ll find there is from a trainer who knows what they’re doing, so be careful!
Also remember that while anything that gets you up and moving is great, sometimes it’s best to have a long-term workout plan.
Related Reading: 50 Different Types of Fitness Goals To Work On
6. Invest in some supplements.
I know this sounds unnecessary, but if you are known to fly by the seat of your pants when it comes to nutrition, this could be a lifesaver.
It may actually save you money.
I remember thinking that my favorite meal replacement was expensive, but then I looked at how much I was spending on going out to eat each month.
(Yikes.)
Now I use Ascent Complete Protein Shake as a meal replacement blended with just ice & water and it’s cheaper than a meal at any restaurant.
If you need a good protein shake recipe to try out, this peanut butter banana one is super yummy!
7. Wait until a promotion is running to join your local gym.
There are typically sign-up fees associated with gym memberships.
Wait until there is a promotion that waives that fee (or any other special).
My gym almost always runs a New Year’s Resolution special, so now is the perfect time to watch out for things like that!
While you wait, check out these awesome tips for joining a new gym with confidence.
8. Replace sugary drinks with water.
Cut the Starbucks! Skip the soda! Remember that meal replacement we talked about?
The one full of superfoods and the perfect amount of fat, carbs, and protein?
You could have that every day for the price of your fancy coffee drink!
Or, at the very least, increase your water intake (here’s how to do it) and start choosing these healthier Starby’s orders!
Need extra help with nutrition and emotional eating? Check out my online course designed to help you reframe your mindset when it comes to food!
9. Download a fitness app.
If you’re serious about exercising on a budget, try an app!
There are a lot of free fitness apps out there, and some paid ones that are totally worth the money.
My favorite ones are 7 Minute Workout, the Couch to 5k running app, and MyFitnessPal.
If you’re not into apps, just get some fitness printables so that you can set goals and keep track of your progress!
10. Check your local library for old exercise videos.
This could be hit-and-miss, but I still love old exercise videos. Some of those from the 80s and 90s are just so fun!
You can also find DVDs from people like Jillian Michaels and the Stott Pilates group.
This can be a super fun way to switch things up, but if you still need ideas, here are 7 Easy Ways to Revamp Your Exercise Routine.
11. Try the Wildcard Workout game.
I created a free workout game that’s kind of like a card game. You can get it on my freebie page. Print it, cut it out, then sweat!
All moves are bodyweight moves so you don’t have to have any special equipment.
The best part is that you never know which card you are going to draw, making it so that your workout is different every time.
So, still don’t think you can get fit on a budget?
(No more excuses!)
Now that you have plenty of ideas on how to get fit without a lot of money, you have no reason not to go get started.
Or, do you have other ideas for people looking to get fit on a budget? Tell me below!
-Chantal
Looking for more? Here are a few other posts you might like:
- 8 Easy Ways to Make Time For Yourself As a Busy Mom
- 10 Easy Ways To Get Better Sleep
- How To Lose Weight Without Exercising
