In today’s rough economy, every expense can be a burden.  It can be tough choosing which expenses to cut.  One of the toughest expenses to decide on can be your gym membership.  Staying in shape is good for your health, and that can make your gym membership feel like a necessity.  However, in actuality, your membership is really a luxury because there are countless ways to work out without ever going to a gym.

When it comes to staying fit, money should never be an issue.

On that note, I’ve come up with 7 ways to stay in shape and save that monthly gym membership fee.  Not only that, but mixing all 7 ways into your workout routine will actually be 100x better for your body than a continued routine at the gym.  Now, some of my suggestions cost some minor money, but it is nothing compared with a monthly membership.  For example, you can’t do a kettle bell routine without kettle bells.  Therefore, I’ve also broken it down by cost.

Free

1. Run, Run, Run - Everyone knows this one, or at least thinks they do.  But you see, I am not talking about just running around the block.  I am talking about mixing it up with jogging, sprinting, high-knee runs, and walking, as well as mixing up distances and surfaces (street, sand, dirt, tracks).  Sprint a 40 yard dash one day, then sprint a block on another.  Jog a mile one day, then jog three miles another day.  You get the idea.  This will help lower the wear & tear on the body while keeping you in excellent shape.  I would say running 2-3 times per week is a nice start, and all you will ever really need to do.

2.  Go to a local park - Local parks can be the most fun to workout at.  I like to do crossfit training there.  This means you come up with a series of exercises you will do one after the other, than rest for 45 seconds, and do the entire set again.  An example would be doing 30 second intervals of pull-ups on the monkey bars, than push-ups in the sand, then box jumps on a bench, then sit-ups on a decline bench or slide, and finish with body squats.  Doing a mix like this builds up your stamina and wind.  It also helps the body get a complete workout.

3. Push-ups, Sit-ups, Dips - These three exercises are all you will need to stay in shape besides your cardio.  I remember when I was younger my Father had a Bike store in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.  It was a very Russian neighborhood at the time, and still is.  My Father hired a mammoth Russian man to help him clean the store.  This guy lifted three racks of Bikes with his legs and back, as well as bear-hugging a Soda Machine and moving it.  I have never seen such brute power before.  The guy told my Father all he did was 1,000 push-ups, sit-ups and dips every day.

A Little Pocket Change

4.  Exercise Videos - Some exercise videos are great to use, especially for women.  My wife loves Amy Dixon’s videos.  The benefit to these videos is they are cheap, fun, fast, and easy to use.  You can do them on your own time schedule, and they are filled with aerobic movements that really build up your core. Not all videos are good, so do your research, but they are definitely a great way to mix up your weekly workouts.  Cost: $10 - $15 each video.

5.  Exercise Ball - Have you ever seen the big rubber, air filled balls at the local gym?  These are exercise balls.  You can do all sorts of exercises with them.  They can completely replace a flat bench on most exercises.  Plus, they add all sorts of balancing to the exercise, making it more beneficial.  You can buy these balls online, or in a local store.  Some even come with a video of exercises you can do with just the ball!  Cost: $30

Small Investment

6. Kettle Bells - You may have heard of these as they are the new rage these days.  Kettle bells are weights shaped like a kettle bell (hence the name I believe).  I have a guy who comes by my Jiu Jitsu school every Wednesday night to give a seminar on them.  They are excellent for getting your entire body in shape.  They are used a little differently than normal dumbbells, as you utilize your entire body during the routines.  This is an excellent way to stay in tip top shape by just having two kettle bells in your house.  Cost: About $70 - $80 for two.

7. Play a sport - The cost on this can vary from nothing to however much equipment you need.  However, playing any sport that keeps your body active will have a wonderful effect on your condtioning.  The thing about Sports is they are fun.  So it is a great way to have a good time and still stay in shape.  The competition among your peers also pushes you to push yourself.  Playing any sport is good for the body.  Even Golf is, as long as you stay off the cart!  Cost:  Obviously, it depends on the sport.

These 7 ways are just the beginning.  To keep this list going though, I am going to need your help.  Please comment on any other ways that you stay in shape without going to a gym.  I’m sure we could all use some fresh ideas!