Many of us are still on a health kick as we try to keep up with our new year’s resolutions. Some of the most popular being to lose weight, exercise more, or eat healthier. Being healthy is a great goal to have, however, sometimes these things can be expensive. Gym memberships, fitness classes, and meal plans can all get quite costly. We have a few tips on how you can stick to your fitness goals, without breaking the bank!
Gym Costs.
Gym memberships usually cost between $40 and $70 per month, but the price of premium gyms can be higher. Location, amenities, and membership benefits can affect the price. And, if you are anything like me, you wouldn’t really know what to do at the gym in order to reach your goals, that is where a personal trainer comes in. Throughout the nation, the average rate of an in-person personal trainer is $65 per hour. That means that if you work out with them just once a week, you’re easily spending $260 a month and barely making a dent in your fitness goals.
So, what can you do to cut these costs?
Gym Alternative #1
YouTube.
You heard me right; YouTube is full of FREE fitness videos and tutorials.
My mom lost 20lbs doing a walking video every morning. Here is her favorite channel to follow when she is trying to work on her fitness goals.
Here you can find a 30-minute full body work out that you can do in your apartment or home. This requires no equipment and no jumping!
Gym Alternative #2
This one won’t work for everyone, but if you happen to have a Nintendo Wii (I know, they are old, but we have a lot of fun with it, so we held on to ours over the years) or a Nintendo Switch, the “Just Dance” games are a ton of fun and a GREAT work out. Now if you don’t already own this, yes it would be a one-time expense. But this is a really fun way to get your cardio in, and kids seem to love it, so it can be a family activity!
The Wii also has sports and fitness games, and I have found used Wii games at Half Price Books for very inexpensive.
Meal Plan Alternatives
While some meal plans can be somewhat reasonably priced, I have found that I end up spending more money, because I still have to carry staples in my home, as well as groceries for my daughter’s snack and meals (as she is picky and won’t always like the food from the meal plans).
So, here are some cheap and healthy alternatives.
Cauliflower Rice
Cauliflower rice makes a great base for any meal. It is extremely low in calories and very inexpensive when you make it yourself. Buy 2 heads of cauliflower, cut into smaller pieces and pop them into the food processer or the blender and pulse for a few seconds. Store in gallon size zip lock bags and you can make meals like:
- Chicken fried rice (cauliflower rice, pulled chicken, frozen peas/carrots, egg, soy sauce)
- Shrimp fajita rice bowl (cauliflower rice, onion, bell pepper, shrimp, fajita seasoning)
- Burrito bowls (cauliflower rice, turkey taco meat, black beans, tomatoes, cheese)
Eggs
Eggs are very inexpensive and full of protein. Great for someone on a fitness journey. And so versatile! Making eggs your main protein source in a few meals a week, can save you a ton of money. I personally love making egg bites on Sundays, then I can just heat them up for a snack or a meal throughout the week. Try different ways to eat eggs, like:
Final Thoughts
Here are just some ways you can stick to your fitness goals without breaking the bank. With just a little bit of research, I bet you could find a lot more. True, you could pay $100’s on meal plans and gym memberships, and you may get your results faster than those of us doing it at home. But the key to getting results is not in the money you spend, but in the determination you have. If you are disciplined, determined and consistent, I guarantee you will see the same results and your wallet will be a little fuller. After all, my other new year resolution was to save more money this year!
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