Whenever I hear anything about the economy, my eyeballs fall out of my head. It's an unavoidable topic, so I just gather them up, pop them back in and get back to clipping coupons. When the economy takes a nosedive, what's the first thing to go in your household? I asked one of my clients this question and she said, without hesitation, "The kids. That's absolutely the first thing to go when I run out of money."
I'm pretty sure she was kidding, but I'll check the bedrooms the next time I'm there, just to be sure.
Aside from kicking out family members, a lot of us cut things like eating out, haircuts, shopping and $4.00 coffee drinks. Some people have to take it further and get rid of all extra expenses, including those related to exercise. Some of my friends and clients have cut down on personal training, canceled gym memberships or even sold some of their exercise equipment.
There are ways to exercise on a budget and save money on equipment and, of course you don't need any equipment to get a great workout, but I'm wondering how the economy is affecting your workouts. Are you spending less on exercise? If so, how are you saving money and is it making your workouts better or worse? Or have you stopped exercising completely? Vote in this week's poll and tell us how you're spending less on exercise.
There is no better investment than your health?
I’m dumping my LA Fitness membership. The facility I go to is falling into disrepair, the equipment breaks and takes months to get fixed, and the locker room is a wetland swamp. Also going “private” on my personal training – it will save me half of what I’m forking over to LA Fitness now. I’ve been enjoying the new 24Hr Fitness that just opened in town and it’s clean and full of state-of-the-art equipment that’s not broken.
good article: yes you can stretch and exercise anywhere and anytime… give it a try! makes you feel heaps better!
exercisetv on cable tv has lots of workout videos that I use daily. we walk eveyday. selling your exercise equipment makes no sense because you can’t use it at all if you don’t have it.
I shifted from personal training in my gym to a private trainer. He has the same certs but can charge less and give me more time. 10 fifty minute sessions at my gym are $629. With my private trainer 10 ninety minute sessions are only $350. This is a good savings and a better plan for me. He is also much more focused on my personal goals than the gym trainers are. Less cookie cutter work-outs
I bought a nice treadmill 10 years ago that’s still going and found an eliptical at a garage sale for really cheap. Have had free weights and a bench for many years. I just use all the things I have and then add the outdoors once in awhile. Really cheap!
I dropped you gym years ago.. I been exercising at home for years.I have a tred mill. and some wieghts. I’m thinking of adding a pilaties machine in the spring. I do that a yoga class. It’s better than a yoga tape.
Found gym called Planet Fitness, only $10 per month. Open 24 hrs a day on weekdays. Has everything!
I have a really nice bench press apparattus by Body Solid. in my garage. 350 lbs. olympic weights. Had it since 1995. I also have a Body Solid devise that works my back and shoulders. With a few dumbells and a curl bar, I can do just about all I need to do. If I tend to reach a plateau, and I do, I go down to the neighborhood clubhouse where there are various treadmills and cycling machines, but most importantly a Universal Gym. Haven’t spent a penny for the last 14 yrs. It’s wonderful.
Nice to see most are maintaining their fitness spending. It is one of your health investments. As a certified personal fitness trainer who works independantly of any gym, I’ve heard many people talk of cutting back training sessions as well as stories about gyms falling into disrepair. Surprisingly, training rates in my coverage area (economically flat all the time) have remained level (?!), I decreased my rates to assist folks in keeping up with fitness. It’s worked. Best, DrDavidRobinson4Health.com.
I’m 60 years old!! I moved out of state and was depressed so I ate and ate! Fortunately, I was able to buy a condo in my hometown and go back to the gym where I use to work out regular. I gained 60 lbs in a very short period of time during this move. Add hormone changes to the equation…oie! Then I knew it was time to get my act together, so I started back at my gym where I attend 4x a week when I live there approximately 6 months out of the year, but in my new location, there are no “women only” gyms, so I do a full body video tape 3x a week and it keeps me motivated until I can get home to my old gym. It works for me and I save money on a gym membership that is “pay per month of use”. I can afford and still keep my weight under control. It took some effort to plan this, but I decided it was time to put me first again!
I use the residence fitness center in my apt complex early mornings or evenings depending on my schedule, it’s open 24 hours and most times I’m the only one in there. I walk during lunch and sometimes in the evening around the block, weather permitting. I workout at home doing some of videos on OnDemand in the evening…Jillian Michaels has one that will make you sweat and get the heart pumping.