Exercises for fitness

Exercises That Keep You Financially Fit

•  Use your TV time.

Find a show you like. Engage in at-home exercises that are easy to master in your own living room, such as crunches, pushups, planks, mountain climbers or leg lifts. If you prefer using equipment, try dumbbells or resistance bands, which won’t cost you a fortune.

•  Revamp your home.

Taking the time to declutter and organize doesn’t just make your home sparkle — it also forces you to exert a lot of energy, burning calories and working up a sweat, especially if you have a lot to clean. If you mop the floors, vacuum each room, wash the windows, and scrub the tub, you’ll probably feel it the next day. 

•  Go for a family bike ride or walk.

Gather your partner and kids and get outside. Go for a walk or bike ride together. It’s completely free, and it lets you spend some quality time with the ones you love. 

•  Play a game of ball or tag.

Shoot some hoops, kick the soccer ball around, or play catch. An hour-long basketball game without officials can burn more than 400 calories. And even just playing around with the kids could burn up to 300!

•  Walk the mall.

Mall walking and jogging has grown over the last few years, so much so, in fact, that malls actually have programs dedicated to the cause. Malls with walking programs often open their doors early — before the stores are open — just to accommodate those who want to get an early-morning walk or jog in before they start the day.

•  Take a staycation.

A staycation is taking a vacation right in your own town. The benefits are endless. You’re getting to know your city a little better, you can do it on the cheap, and you’re moving the whole time. Going to museums, amusement parks and walking tours are exhausting, but fun! because you’re exercising all day, so take advantage!

•  Mow the lawn.

Mowing the lawn with a push mower can burn up to 200 calories, depending on your weight and how long you’re mowing the lawn. So next time you’re planning to hire someone for yard work, consider doing it yourself!

•  Find a running or walking buddy.

Working out with a friend or co-worker can help motivate you to get those running shoes on and get yourself out the door. When you feel like someone else is counting on you to be there, you’re a lot more likely to show up. 

•  Make a commitment.

Commit yourself on the calendar with a NEW challenge, suggests Erin Kreitz Shirey, Manilla.com health & fitness expert and CEO/Master Trainer of Power Fitness PDX & DigDeepPlayHard. Sign up for an adventure race, 10K, triathlon, a mud run, or a trail race. In this case, the minimal cost is worth the investment. When you make the financial commitment with a tangible goal to do something new, says Shirey, you are more inclined to exercise because you have to stick with the training plan in order to enjoy the challenge and victory at the end.

•  Create your own Fit Game Jar, refilling every month.

Shirey suggests filling a jar with 15 to 20 different workouts you have created or that you’ve found on various fitness websites and magazines. “They can range from swim workouts to group exercise classes to the latest workout trend or specific strength workouts,” Shirey said. “Pull different Fit Games daily, and the jar must be emptied by the last day of the month.”

•  Create a DIY boot camp.

Grab your best friends and create strength challenges incorporating intense combination moves, says Shirey. “Do 100 Club workouts of Kettlebell swings, Medicine Ball Wall Slams, burpees with Mountain Climbers, 500MRow with 20 dips, and Russian Twists, ending with Bicycle Crunches,” Shirey said. “End with doing your own one-minute-max fitness testing.

•  Find free or cheap fitness classes.

Daily deals sites, such as Groupon, LivingSocial and Yipit, offer heavily discounted gym classes and memberships, letting you take advantage of quality facilities at a fraction of the cost. Also, most fitness centers offer a free bring-your-friend day, so tag along with friends who have regular memberships.

•  Exercise at work.

When you exercise at work, you’re not only saving money, you’re making money, too! There are tons of exercises you can do without leaving your desk. For example, to work your lower abs, sit straight up in your desk chair, extend your right leg, and lift it until your thigh is no longer touching the chair. Repeat six times on each leg. You can also swap your desk chair for a stability ball, which will have your core working all day long.