Exercising At No Cost

2moretrees · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2004, 07:52 AM

Due to a change in my financial situation I am changing some of my current habits. I just quit the health club I've belonged to for a number of years and am looking for good ways to exercise that don't cost anything. I've started to dance to commericals, but I am looking for some other ways people get exercise that doesn't cost much.

DivaJen · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2004, 01:31 PM

Walk! Other than a comfortable pair of shoes, it's free.

I got my DD a dance video - ballet, tap and jazz - and I do that with her (and sometimes by myself).

Tree0164 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 01:50 AM

I try to walk as much as I can. I get the twins in the stroller and my oldest on his bike and we go through the neighborhood.

I also have a treadmill in my house as well. And I do have numerous video tapes too.

I have a few pounds to lose so the exercise does me well.

midnight · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 05:10 AM

Housework. I wanted to get a gym membership to "slim down" and my mother said she could give me plenty of exercise at no cost: and boy was she right! She just gave me a list of household chores that needed to be done. It actually works really well for me today even though I'm not at home anymore. I hate chores, but if you have the mind set that vaccuuming, cleaning windows, dusting, laundry, dishes etc is your exercise and not daily chores, it is much easier to get them done. At least for me it is.

2moretrees · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004, 09:47 AM

Thank you for the comments. I have found a friend that has agreed to take evening walks with me 3 days a week. I hope that goes well. I don't know if I can make the mental change to look at housework as exercise, but it would be wonderful if I could. I will give it a try.

Tree0164 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004, 04:55 PM

Housework... hate it no matter what. I couldn't do www.flylady.com she was totally stressing me out.

emily1067 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-21-2004, 11:19 AM

Here's a good thigh burner that sounds a little strange but works! Evertime you're getting ready to sit on the toilet...hover above it for a minute, squeeze your butt and count to 15. If you drink a lot of water you'll have those legs in shape in no time!

BeckyD_214 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 01:28 PM

Another tip is to tighten your abs every time you come to a red light.

If you have any steps in or outside of your house, you can do the original version of step arobics, too.

Stairs other places, too. I can't climb several flights of steps, but I do OK getting off the elevator one or two floors from my destination.

(I agree about flylady. I wouldn't mind if she wanted to come visit me, though.)

2moretrees · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Just to let everyone know I have dropped about 7 lbs and I'm feeling good about exercising outside the gym. I found that I can do the housework as exercise, but the strange thing is that in order to make it work for me, I have to change into my workout clothes. If I just try to do it it doesn't work. But if I change into workout clothes, something clicks in my brain that makes it much easier to do. My house is also a lot cleaner these days.

I need to work my abs more....I will have to remember the red light and toilet suggestions and try to make those into habits. Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

DivaJen · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2004, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2moretrees

Thanks for the additional suggestions. Just to let everyone know I have dropped about 7 lbs and I'm feeling good about exercising outside the gym.

That is super! Keep up the good work!

2moretrees · #11 (**permalink**) 07-15-2004, 08:28 AM

Thank you. I still need to lose more, but I am feeling much healthier that I had been. I just got into one of those slumps where I had no motivation for anything and the pounds started piling on. As the pounds start to come off, I feel I have more energy which helps me in all the areas I want to improve.

britbunny · #12 (**permalink**) 07-19-2004, 06:49 AM

[
(I agree about flylady. I wouldn't mind if she wanted to come visit me, though.)[/quote]

I visited flylady but from what others have said I'm glad I never signed up. I just made a few notes from the front few pages and didn't get too deep into it. I really dislike housework but I did take on board three things:

keeping my sink clean (I don't shine it!!!)

never getting more stuff out than I can put back in 30 minutes

leaving rooms "never to return til later" (so if a stranger had to come into my house and use any of the rooms I wouldn't be ashamed!)

I always do a little bit of exercise in the kitchen by using cans of food or bottles of water as dumbells. I must look crazy but it's stuff I have already and I can do it whilst I'm waiting for my food to cook!