Getting in shape doesn’t mean spending all of your hard-earned cash to do so. Forget expensive exercise equipment, personal trainers and over-priced gym memberships; there are plenty of ways you can burn fat and build muscle without going broke.

{Personal trainers can be expensive…and annoying. Find a cheaper way to get in shape!}

Whether your goal is to save money or simply find creative ways to get a regular workout, keep reading to find out the many free ways you can get fit and lose fat!

Running

One of the most effective and cheapest ways to burn calories is running. If you’ve already got a pair of effective running shoes, then this is one exercise you can do anywhere at anytime for no money at all.

What’s more is that running provides you with fresh air and constantly changing scenery so you never get bored with your workout. You can always choose to run different routes in different parts of the city so you can explore your surrounding while getting in incredible shape!

So the next time you think about what you can do to workout without spending money, lace up your shoes and starting pounding that pavement!

Freebies

Another great way to get fit for free is gym freebies. When a new gym opens (or when business is slow) many gym facilities will offer free sessions with a personal trainer, free exercises classes or free access to the gym for a limited number of visits.

Of course this can’t last forever, but taking advantage of these free ways to get fit and lose fat can help you lose weight without spending all of your money. Besides these gym freebies are a great way for you to see if any of these services is something for which you wouldn’t mind paying.

{A free week of rock climbing will burn calories and be a great experience!}

If you feel exhilarated after a session with a personal trainer, maybe you’ll find a way to pay for it. The same is true for that new hip hop-salsa class that’s free all this week or that rock climbing wall. Take advantage of these free offers as different ways to get fit and avoid exercise boredom.

Library

If you’re like me, you probably swore off buying exercise videos after you spend an insane amount of money on the Tae Bo series. While effective, these exercise videos often lose their luster after a few months. The exercises become easier, which means your workouts become less effective over time and your weight loss hits that dreaded plateau.

Instead of buying every new exercise video that hits the market (P90X), hit up your local library and check out their copies. This gives you an opportunity to try out the newest exercise craze without taking part in another expensive fad.

The only thing it’ll cost you at the library is the time it takes to sign up for a library card!

Bodyweight Exercises

It’s not surprising that most people don’t want to splurge on high-priced weights and exercise equipment. This is especially true if you struggle to get physical activity on a regular basis. But who says you need all that fancy equipment to get in shape?

There are plenty of exercises you can do to get fit and lose fat that require no equipment at all, especially bodyweight exercises like push ups and pull ups. Exercises like these allow you to use the weight of your body to provide resistance and build up muscle. Combine this with running and you can get a full body workout without spending any money!

Here are just a few bodyweight exercises you should try if you’re looking for free ways to get fit & lose fat;

• Crunches
• Plank
• Dips
• Calf raises
• Squats
• Oblique sit-ups

These are just a few, but you can get a full body workout for free by doing bodyweight exercises.

Public Parks

Public parks have gotten on the fitness bandwagon, providing a wide range of activities to help the community stay active and fit. Besides running, many public parks have exercise equipment right in the park for you to use at your convenience. In fact one study found that those who live closer to public parks are more likely to get more physical activity.

{Fresh air and exercise for free? Imagine the money you can save for a new wardrobe…}

If you think your park doesn’t provide these facilities, contact your local recreation center to get more information.

Get Competitive

Dust off your football, basketball, tennis racquets or soccer ball and gather a group of friends of a friendly game. Assembling your pals in the park for a competitive game is a great (and free) way to make sure you get regular exercise.

There must be a reason you hang on to all the old sporting equipment from your youth; now you have a reason to dust them off and put them to good use. Sports are a great and free way to stay in shape without really feeling like exercise.

In addition to that, sports provide a great way to burn calories. Just look at the calories burned playing these competitive sports for one hour;

• Basketball – 745 calories
• Football – 838 calories
• Flag/Touch Football – 745 calories
• Soccer – 931 calories
• Singles tennis – 745 calories
• Doubles tennis – 558 calories
• Ultimate Frisbee – 654 calories

Next time you’re bored on a Sunday afternoon, gather your friends for a friendly game of…whatever!

Use Your Computer

The beauty of having a computer right at home is that you can always find a way to exercise. Some of you may argue that it isn’t free because you have to pay for the internet, but you have to pay for it whether you exercise or not!

So, use your fingertips to help you find an exercise routine that fits your weight loss goals. The internet gives you access to a wealth of free exercise information in the form of videos, photos and step-by-step instruction.

By making an effort to become more physically active each day, you can worry less about spending money on traditional methods of exercise like hitting the gym or using a personal trainer. An overall more active lifestyle will make these free ways to get fit and lose fat, a natural part of life.

Regular exercise is only half of the weight loss equation. Read our Eat Stop Eat review to see how you can use intermittent fasting to break your poor eating habits.