Save Money With No-Equipment Exercises

I have tried several times suscribing to a gym, with no more than 2 months each time. You workout 1 hour for each 3 hours spent in preparations, and transport. A couple of years ago I started a small home workout routine (just something I came up with) and started with 5 pushups and some dumbbells (4 kilos, 2 times, 20 times each). I just had those dumbbells at hand. I did that every morning (monday - Saturday), daily, just after waking up (even when sick or traveling). I kept it simple, just hard enough and achievable. I started adding weight, repetitions and some more exercises. Now I make 100 pushups and some other quick stretching and lifting every morning (about 10 different exercides, that take me only 1 hour every morning before going to the shower), and the only equipment I have are my 36 Kilos each dumbbell (45 repetitions for each of the 4 exercises with them). It's been two years and I think I'm in my best shape ever for a 33 year old man. I don't think you need anything else, but perseverance, a plan and some creativity. I Hope this helps.

sescobar

@Maulleigh: a fanny pack? do you wear it like a bustle?

all kidding aside, a small tight fitting backpack if better, the pressure of fanny packs have been proven to be bad for your hips and running/walking posture

The doctor told my grandmother she needed to walk 2 miles a day. The was 9 months ago and we have no idea where she's at now..

kl0an

@typoink: when it comes to cookware, you pretty much get what you pay for, unless you know exactly what to look for.

i'd love to have a le creusset dutch oven because of it's longevity, but i can't afford it right now. you can scrub those with just about anything and not affect it. but i gotta say that my syscoware skillets that i paid 60$ each for are 100 times better than the cheaper ones that i got at target.

and really for good cookware you can't beat tuesday morning, marshalls or places like that. i got a hard anodized kitchenaid saucier that works as a dutch oven for 25$ and it's lasted me 15 years and will last longer than than to come. original price 90$

Grab a PDF reader, and this is all you need: [stevespages.com]

LafinJack

@joe.glass: Exactly!

FrancesTheMute

play fallout 3, it will take up so much time you won't have to pay for other things to entertain you. I still love the game 90 hours later. Unfortunately it will not supply exercise, o well it is still awesome.

jslizzle

@urbanturban666: do hbms tell you how far youve ran? or average speed? or average incline?

No but google maps and a watch does :P

@Stefanie Faith Gray: I once heard it put "Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake with a cigarette lighter." Sure, you might get there eventually, with enough patience - but who wants to wait that long?

@freddyfly: I thought it looks like it was from inside a closet throught a keyhole, the angle gives it away!!!

madjack1987

@kerry: Wow. Perhaps you were wearing the wrong size/not lacing them properly? I had to change my lacing to another kind on the New Balance site to stop my "heel slip". I will say the most recent pair has started to wear out around the heel, and I have been meaning to contact them about it.

The only thing worse than buying something you didn't need is buying something TWICE because you decided to go cheap the first time around.

DurwinDer

When my son was young he decided he wanted to pump iron and asked me to buy a home gym. I told him I would in 30 days if he started doing push-ups and sit-ups every day first.

No home gym.

Although as he grew older he studied martial arts and after a couple of years asked for a kicking thingy, dunno what it's called. No problem there, he got it pretty much right away. He's a black belt now.

The article's advice is wise, start small and if you find yourself sticking to it then by all means buy the fancy stuff. But don't buy the stuff first.

Jake712

@KarateMedia: Entirely true. Consumer priced Acoustic guitars are really no more or less expensive than a consumer priced electric guitars. And if you're learning an instrument it does not make a shred of sense to spend anywhere near $3,000 ... What beginner buys a $3,000 guitar? Heck, what beginning spends more than $500 on their first guitar unless they're trying to make some status image.

MichaelBrazell

As for men, the minimalist approach won't work.

I cannot survive without:

- Dumbells ($40)
- Resistance Bands for pull up-type exercises ($60)
- Hand Grippers ($60)
- Yoga Mat ($20)

Seriously, there is a point where it gets easy to work against your body, some people want to build muscle, others "staying healthy" is simple enough.

And going around the block for 15 minutes daily? What am i, 80 years old?

Walk instead of run? That seems kind of silly. The calories burned while running are much higher for running unless you're walking for a very, very long time. You'll still need some comfortable shoes either way, so it's not exactly a no expenditure scenario.

toolverine

@orlo: Several years ago I had high blood pressure. I started walking just 2 miles a day and my blood pressure went waaaaaay down, so did my cholesterol (which was also high). More recently I moved up to about 5 miles a day, sometimes as much as 8, and lost about 15 pounds. Honestly, just a couple hours of walking a day makes a huge difference in fitness. I learned the hard way, though, that heavy walking causes some wicked nasty overuse injuries in hips and knees, so having some kind of strength/flexibility program in there is a must.

Unused exercise equipment can be very lucrative because the people that have it are tired of looking at it and the owners practically give it away.

A couple of weeks ago on Cragslist, someone was listing a Schwinn Airdyne Airgometer exercise bike and an older model Lifecycle recumbent bike for $20 each!!!

Of course I didn't buy them to use them... Sold them on eBay and got about $200 each!!! 'CAUSE THAT'S HOW I DO IT!!!

@Auto-Erotic_GitEmSteveDave-ation: I was hooked on new balance walking shoes for years, but got sick of having to replace them every 3 months. There was a really hard line between broken in and just broken. One day they'd feel great and the next I'd have shin splints. I've had better luck with saucony and keen since then, can usually get 4-6 months out of a pair. It helps to have two or three pairs and rotate.

Glad I'm going against the grain/herd on this one. I bought an elliptical and a Bowflex 5 years ago. Been using both every day since I got them.

krispykrink

I'm partial to yoga and walking for cheap fitness. Walking is easy to incorporate since I have a dog, and we can take longer hikes in the mountains for a real workout. For yoga I go to a non-profit yoga center where classes are $8 each (instead of the typical $15) and mats and blocks are provided.
To make it really cheap yourself, just take a couple classes to understand the rhythm and correct placement for poses, then use any of the many yoga websites for guidance at home. No need for a mat, use the bare floor or an area rug, if you need some padding.

@freddyfly: That or the beginning of a Brinks Home Security commercial...

Sbudda

@ZalmanFeardie:
While this may be true while doing he activity, the difference comes once the activity has stopped. If you simply walk a mile then you will only burn calories (above resting rate) while walking. If you run or sprint for a mile, the caloric burn rate will last for a much longer period of time post workout. It will also increase your MaxO2 levels much faster since it is closer to an anerobic activity.

clint07

@typoink: Considering the price and quantity of cooking equipment that some people put on their wedding registries and the like I'd say that there are plenty of people that could get away with a lot cheaper equipment than what they buy. Not to mention that many of those sets are full of things that people don't need. Although cookware sets probably aren't as bad as knife sets.

driggity

@ZalmanFeardie: Unless you're walking 12 hours/day, I doubt your going to see much change in fitness, unless you've been on bed-rest.

orlo

@Maulleigh: My only disagreement is the fanny pack. I use a Gerber "Camelbak" like backpack to store both anything I need when walking (Emergency money, If found note, list of my meds and medical conditions, knife for mad dogs or crazed deer), water, and it also makes a nice point to mount lights and reflectors.

@dsh:
hate the indoors...

hate staring at the same wall or tv or magazine for an hour...
but tv is so entertaining! and i dont have to ruin any headphones listening to tunes

hate the stale air...
i doubt that the air in city streets is any better...

hate all the distractions of phone calls or emails or texts...
i only answer numbers that may be important like for jobs and whatnot...id take my phone with me but itll get ruined by the humid enviroment in my clothes

hate the monotony...
i say staying indoors is worth putting up with that

love getting out and actually going somewhere...
ill save that for when im actually going somewhere

love running through neighborhoods, through the woods, on the roads...
just tape a picture of all that on the wall you hate so much... :P

love the variety, the constantly changing inclines and surfaces...depends on where you live...my area sucks

love not being able to quit at the first sign of being tired...
you can quit on the road and walk back...

love the fresh air...
it aint fresh in the city

love having digital stats from my HBM, easier to tell how much you've improves...
do hbms tell you how far youve ran? or average speed? or average incline?

urbanturban666

@urbanturban666: I would never jog on a treadmill. Luckily I have decent access to running trails.

hate the indoors...
hate staring at the same wall or tv or magazine for an hour...
hate the stale air...
hate all the distractions of phone calls or emails or texts...
hate the monotony...

love getting out and actually going somewhere...
love running through neighborhoods, through the woods, on the roads...
love the variety, the constantly changing inclines and surfaces...
love not being able to quit at the first sign of being tired...
love the fresh air...
love having digital stats from my HBM, easier to tell how much you've improves...

Treadmill jogging is for suckers.

Um...anyone else think that picture looks like some stalker took it??

freddyfly

I did this when I wanted to start running. I went to Wal*Mart and bought $20 Dr. Scholl sneakers, $15 workout pants and a $5 fanny pack.

And it stuck. I continued to run but got higher quality stuff.

Surprisingly, my cheap-o Dr. Scholl's are my favorites!

@Stefanie Faith Gray:
running one mile and walking one mile burn the same calories. So it may take longer in terms of workout length, but not in terms of number of days.

ZalmanFeardie

@ddouthitt: I've gotten several iPods that were "broken" on eBay for next to nothing. They're almost always insanely easy to fix. I see I might have to go buy another 4th gen pod because mine's acting up, but first I'll check and see if the drive cable worked loose again.

I've always felt that it's best to wait at least a year, preferably more, after any new gizmo comes out before even thinking about buying one. By the time you've waited, you can either buy the first edition for peanuts from the lemmings who have to have the new version Right Now This Minute, or you can buy the next edition with more features for a lower price.

Don't go buy a treadmill or new running shoes. Instead, go outside and walk every day for fifteen minutes - go around the block three times or so.

Correct, don't buy new running shoes. Buy WALKING shoes. New Balance make some damn nice walking shoes that can be had under $60. Yes, that may seem like a lot, but how much is not being in pain worth to you? I am VERY cheap, but the year or so I get out of some shoes walking nearly 5 miles every weeknight is worth it. Also make sure they are walking shoes for the terrain you will be traversing. I would also, lastly, suggest investing in a simple LED bike taillight and headlight. Makes you visible from a mile off.

@urbanturban666: Street jogging is for the brave!

But I live in the country so I don't think I'd ever run in the city.

kimirike

At least the hardware was $3000 once upon a time....

I should add that using old hardware means that you get $3000 hardware for near free.

To be fair, running for 15 minutes does a lot more for you than walking, though I don't want to say that the latter is necessarily bad. It's just that there's a big difference between the times it takes to lose weight and improve cardiovascular health via walking versus jogging or running. Therefore, having to wait much longer for results may discourage further ventures into the world of fitness. (Of course, if you don't feel your body is quite ready to take up running, you should definitely prep yourself with powerwalks beforehand!)

What this has to do with the Consumerist is that a good set of running shoes is a great investment, and they shouldn't be considered frivolous altogether. They'll encourage you to finally take up the challenge of running, and with good arch support, etc., keep your legs and back from sustaining injuries as you improve your health -- regardless of if you're on a treadmill or at the park.

However, you don't have to drop $200 on a pair of Nikes to get a good pair. Shoe megastores such as DSW often have stellar deals on brands such as New Balance; just check the clearance section, and don't be afraid to jog around the store to test them out. I'm not an authority on running shoe brands so I can't really say much more on the matter, but if you'd like to run and avoid shin splints and such, definitely get yourself a good pair of kicks.

Stefanie Faith Gray

I'm this way with computing hardware: I get a lot of my hardware from the trashbin (literally!) and fix it up to work. There's also good finds at all of the second hand stores.

As a system administrator, if you can make your 10 year old machine work well, what do you think you'd be able to do with 100x the speed and 10x the memory?

The mere challenge of it makes one a better system administrator - and better programmer, too.

@KarateMedia: I believe the advice still stands, does it not? Don't buy expensive versions of otherwise inexpensive things under the notion that the expensive version will somehow help make you better at something than the inexpensive version might.

Sounds exactly right to me.

Sean Masters

@hockeybrad: A guy in my dorm had a two grand Martian acoustic, thing got destroyed over the year. Some people do buy crazy stuff.

Super_Moose

i would never jog without a treadmill, luckily my building provides free access to one...

hate the outdoors...
hate car drivers trying to run me over making left turns...
hate having to hover at lights...
hate having to get back home after tiring myself out...
love having a place to hold my water and phone...
love having a timer and constant incline...
love having digital stats, easier to tell how much youve improved...

street jogging is for suckers...

urbanturban666

I see exercise equipment all the time on the Craigslist Free pages. People just stop using them, and get tired of feeling guilty every time they see it in their spare room or basement or whatever.

I've seen working treadmills, elliptical trainers, stair masters, you name it. Maybe you won't use it any more than the previous owner, but it's better to find out for free instead of unloading a bunch of cash on a new one.

akulavolk

It may be unpopular to say it here, but there are really good exercise programs like P90X that use almost no equipment at all and really work.

$3000 guitars? I own a $400 acoustic and a $400 electric. I've played for about 6 years and have never felt the need to have more. I'll let you know if I start touring and change my mind. :)

hockeybrad

@Nogard13: because she already has a treadmill you can use?

@KarateMedia: Agreed on the guitars -- that advice is obviously not written by somebody in the know. Accoustics aren't really cheaper. Sure, amps can be expensive, but amps can also be cheap.

On the pans issue, though, yeah, you can definitely spend a lot of money on cookware. A full kitchen worth of copper or enameled iron cookware could easily hit $1000. But it's stupid to say, "just buy a cheap pot and pan" since the people who WOULD be buying a $1000 set of tools obviously isn't somebody who's going to be satisfied with cheap tools.

Yeah, well, if we all knew the girl in the picture then we wouldn't need exercise machines, either. Gigiddy!

Nogard13

A while back Lifehacker posted about Shovelgloving, and chances are if you're a homeowner, you already have a sledge lying around ;-)

[lifehacker.com]

I like having a pedometer. More so now that I have found one that will work on my phone. Walk Mate came preloaded on the Sony Ericsson W902, but doing a bit of searching I was able to download it onto my K850.

I know I'm showing off my fanboy side, but meh. Its in the name of fitness!

YatimaMeiji

I've played guitar for years, have owned 3 electrics, 2 acoustics, and even a Casio digital guitar, and not one of them even cost $1000, much less $3000. Although I've definitely seen some expensive guitars that I would love to own, it's not like you have to buy some ex-frat boy's beat up acoustic in order to get a good, sub-$3K guitar.

And someone paying $1000 for pans? Is that possible? I think the sort of person who might be motivated to make purchases like these needs more than a blog entry to make them see the light...