Excercise is free! (or really cheap)

It is amazing that we have all been raised with the notion that to be able to get into shape we have to join a gym. This means shelling out real dough every month. I too have fallen for this notion and spent hundreds of dollars on a gym. Here are some great and mostly free alternatives to the gym.

Go for a run! Running is free and a fantastically healthy way to get your heart rate going and build lean muscle. I find that running in the morning is the best way to insure I stick to a routing. All you need is 30 minutes four to five days a week and you will be in fantastic shape and you won't have spent a penny (unless you need new running shoes of course). You will also save lots of time by not having to drive to and from the gym. Additionally, getting out in nature or at least outside can be much more refreshing than staring at a bunch of TVs, while running in place and trying to ignore the person next to you.

  

Hiking!  If you live anywhere with open space or large parks then a  super fun way to get some excercise is to grab a friend and go for a hike. This can also be a an opportunity to catch up with a friend and as you work on your gams. Time can fly while gabbing with a girlfriend and you will find you have just spent over an hour exercising!

Bike Ride!  This can be a great way to stay in shape on the cheap and a bonus is that you will also save money on gas. You can buy a decent bike off of craigslist or at a local garage sale for under the price of just one month at the gym. I recommend attaching a basket so that you can get your weekly exercise while running small errands such as picking up milk, going to the post office, meeting friends for brunch. etc. Riding a bike is such a fun way to get in shape and make even small outings an adventure!

*If weather doesn't permit outside activities because it's either blazing hot or super frigid then you can by a health magazine such as "In Shape" or go online and find a strength training routine. Or you can splurge and for $20 or so dollars you can get a great strength training DVD such as Pilates. Amazon has them used for even less.