How to actually lose weight when you can't afford a gym?

jenmarie72011

I can't afford to get to a gym at this time in my life, but I'm so tired of being over weight and unhealthy, what're some at home exercises that would help me get into shape?

sherbear702

Walking on your lunch break, long walks on the weekends, exercise DVD's in your living room...oh and burn more calories than you eat. You don't have to exercise to lose weight. It's helpful and beneficial, but not necessary. Did you put your stats into MFP? Eat as many calories as MFP suggests and you'll start dropping weight in no time.

malibu927

The good thing is you don't need a gym, or to work out at all. The only thing required to lose weight is a calorie deficit.

But since working out is still a great thing, you can walk or run around the neighborhood or a local park, buy some DVDs, watch some YouTube videos, or download some apps on your phone to find the best workout for you.

lishie_rebooted

Weight loss is through a calorie deficit.
You can do it without exercise, just diet alone.

That said, I suggest walking and the NerdFitness beginner bodyweight routine.
I walking and the bodyweight routine is a great beginner program to some strength trainer and it's pretty easy to modify to make easier or harder

PeachyPlum

You don't need to exercise to lose weight. You just need a caloric deficit. But exercise is really good for your health, and will help you burn some calories so you can eat more

Walking, running, biking, jumping rope, bodyweight workouts, pogo sticking, dancing, at-home exercise DVD's, Pilates, yoga, carrying heavy stuff are all good at-home exercises. No gym required.

TimothyFish

You don't have to exercise to lose weight, but it helps. Running and walking are among the cheapest exercises that burn a significant amount of calories. Cycling is more fun (in my opinion) but it can get expensive.

jemhh

You don't need to exercise at all in order to lose weight. The key to weight loss is eating fewer calories than you burn. So if you set up your MFP profile, telling it that you want to lose .5-2 pounds per week, you are going to get a goal that will allow you to lose weight without any exercise.

That being said, exercise is great for your overall health and there are a ton of options that can be done without setting foot in a gym--walking, running, bodyweight exercises (You Are Your Own Gym is one, startbodyweight.com is another), videos (Youtube, fitnessblender.com), etc.

ndj1979

calorie deficit is all you need and MFP is still free.

you can always add in some walking and or running, or you tube/look up the "you are your own gym" work outs...

SezxyStef

wow it's been said 6 times in 6 posts so I guess no need for further postings...

/thread

beemerphile1

The major issue is to eat less. You can also walk almost anywhere, anytime, for free, and no extra equipment is needed.

streamgirl

Walking or running. Bodyweight exercises. I bought a nice weight set on craigslist for about $100. Youtube videos or get a copy of Jillian Michaels or other exercise.

DirrtyH

Weight loss is mostly about what you eat. You have to eat less than you burn.

But to answer your question, I lost a lot of weight a few years ago doing workout videos at home. I particularly enjoyed Pilates (anything by Ellen Barrett), and then I got really into The Firm. You just need an open space and some light handweights.
Or you can run outside, or bike. Or walk, Or hike. There's a lot of good free workouts on YouTube.
You can look up "You Are Your Own Gym" and do those workouts either at home or at a park or wherever.

Tons of options.

DirrtyH

Ha ha, there were no replies when I started mine. Got distracted by a quick conversation and now I'm way at the bottom. (Just FYI, this rambling nonsense is to cover up an accidental duplicate post.)

martinel2099

I've taken a break from my main gym (wanna save some money) so I've started the beginners program "dumbell stopgap. Just need a variety of dumbells and both my small office gym and apartment have those, so easy peasy.

If you haven't already I would spend the $15-20 on a kitchen food scale at least, otherwise there's lots of stuff you can do and for free.

tesha_chandler

Watch and do YouTube videos! I promise you will still get a work out! haha

jessicahill530

Youtube has some great free workouts. You can also checkout workout DVDs from your local library. Good luck, you can do it!

triciab79

Calorie deficit is cheaper than calorie excess, its a win/win. Seriously though I lost 100lbs without stepping foot in a gym or buying a single weight loss item (other than a $5 food scale). You don't need anything fancy. Just count everything you put in your mouth and be active. That means no more sitting at your computer or watching TV all day. You have to get up and move, lift heavy things (like children) and swing them around and put them back down. Don't eat it if it doesn't fit in your calorie goals and keep yourself busy and the weight will melt.

LovebugHiraeth

Go to fitnessblender.com/ and take your pick from all of their free workout videos and do them. I've been doing their workouts for over 2 years and I've lost loads of weight and never paid out a dime for a gym membership.

kshama2001

During most of the year, I garden and walk outside. We had an ungodly amount of snow this winter and I got a gym membership for just a month in March. I've also had a week free trial at all the gyms in my area. I don't love any of them enough to join full time, but will go back to one of them next winter.

But for 8 or 9 months out of the year, I can get plenty of exercise outside. (People also walk inside malls, which doesn't interest me, but it is an option.)

Oh, and my neighbor is having a yard sale this weekend which has inspired me to go through my stuff. Decluttering is more active than you would think and you feel so good afterwards!

dubird

As stated above, you don't need exercise to lose weight, just drop your calories consumed. Pretty much all of my weight loss occurred before I started walking in January, and none of it was due to exercise.

With that being said, exercise will help you in other ways. Main reason I started was to help my asthma, which it has been doing. Best way I know of is to start with something simple like walking. A couple days a week, go outside, pick a direction, and walk for 10 minutes. Turn around, walk back. That's a 20 minute walk. Requires no special equipment, gym membership, or fancy clothes. All you need are comfortable shoes. Once you're used to that, push it to 15 minutes out and back. That's basically how I started walking. I knew if I pushed too hard and was constantly feeling miserable, I'd give up. But you gotta start somewhere, and starting with short walks that I knew I could do helped me get moving. There are also many exercise videos on Youtube for free that you might want to check out if you're looking for stuff to do inside. The important point of this is that if you are going to exercise, don't be afraid to start small. That you're starting at all is good, and you will eventually get in better shape from it.

Jaxxie1181

I used to do Zumba at home watching YouTube videos. It was a lot of fun. There are also some great workout programs on Xfinity OnDemand and for the Roku. And, if those aren't an option, walking. I love going walking. I don't go to the gym either, but I do own a Total Gym XLS (made payments on it over the course of six months). It was worth every penny, but I only use it for toning and strengthening my body. You don't need home workout equipment or a gym.

SergeantSausage

Gym is abdolutely, 100%, positively UNNECESSARY for weight loss.

EmmaFitzwilliam

I haven't been to the gym in the nearly a year since I started using MFP, and I've lost 70 pounds so far.

When I first started, I (of necessity) walked the 1/3 mile (each way) from the nearest transit stop to the office where I work. Now, I choose a farther stop, and walk a bit over a mile from that stop to the office where I work, though I still use the closer stop at night.

I also walk at lunch (about a mile), sometimes. I am able to eat at my desk while I work, and my lunch break isn't long enough to be actually productive at anything else, so I get out of the office and walk. Your opportunities and mileage may vary.

I have done the occasional weights workout at home; for that, I recommend investing in the occasional session with a personal trainer to make certain your form is on target.

And as others have said, YouTube, DVDs, just dance to the radio, WiiFit Dance, etc. There are a ton of options.

Another possibility - if it works for you! - is to build accountability/rewards with a friend. My friend wants to walk every evening, but needs an incentive to push through to doing so. We have a deal. If she walks for a cumulative 15 minutes a day, she reports having done so to me. When she has done so 10 times, I buy a $5 starbucks card for her. That sort of arrangement may work for you; it may not.

joshuapowell1989

I lost around 12lb before i joined a gym.
I would walk before work and on lunchbreaks. Occasionally walk home from work (5mi) all in conjunction with a calorie deficit.

amusedmonkey

I've lost more than 90 pounds and I have never set foot in the gym during my weight loss. I also have chronic issues so exercise in general is not a regular thing. It can be done, trust me. When I can exercise I mostly walk or run, do some bodyweight exercises, lots of youtube, Wii games, fitnessblender, some darebee.com, hasfit.com, free dailyburn workout plans and so on and so forth. Lots of free exercise options.

JahanLindy

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itsMcKay

malibu927 wrote: »

The good thing is you don't need a gym, or to work out at all. The only thing required to lose weight is a calorie deficit.

But since working out is still a great thing, you can walk or run around the neighborhood or a local park, buy some DVDs, watch some YouTube videos, or download some apps on your phone to find the best workout for you.

YUP! I lost 80 lbs. without ever lifting a weight or running a step. Just netted 1200/day. But you should net what MFP tells you to. I just happen to be short and female so the 1200 is good. But if I work out for an hour a day, that means I eat 1700 total. I just hopped on my bike once or twice a week and rode a few miles. Nothin' to it!

Luckily, this time around, I found a gym that charges just $20/mo. for both me and my bf. It's super close, too. But guess what I do there? RIDE THE BIKE! haha ;p

eileensofianmushinfine

there are plenty of things that you can do without joining a gym -- although a gym membership might be cheaper than you think (mine is $25 per month. You can certainly lose weight without exercise, but exercise -- cardio and strength training -- will help to tighten everything as you go. That's my $0.02.

Sarasmaintaining

jenmarie72011 wrote: »

I can't afford to get to a gym at this time in my life, but I'm so tired of being over weight and unhealthy, what're some at home exercises that would help me get into shape?

I've never stepped foot inside a gym and I've been maintaining an almost 60lbs loss for 2 years now, as well as have greatly improved my health in the process.

Weight loss is about calories, math and eating at a calorie deficit. Simple as that.

Unknown

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sk1nnyf0rm3

jenmarie72011 wrote: »

I can't afford to get to a gym at this time in my life, but I'm so tired of being over weight and unhealthy, what're some at home exercises that would help me get into shape?

Honestly, I've been through the same phase of wanting to lose weight. I've currently lost almost 25 lbs without ever having a gym membership. The key is in your diet and then adding in exercise where you didn't have it before. Examples include: parking further away from the store you wanna go to (little but it all adds up), taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking the slightly longer way to class in college (again, little but it all adds up), getting off the bus one stop earlier to fit in a little walk, walking to the store if you can instead of taking the car. Also try incorporating more activities such as swimming and hiking (both of which you can turn into a family/friends thing by inviting a group of people). Especially with the weather warming up there are many more options that are outside. Also, you could look at your local parks/recreation magazine (they often offer low-cost or free activities that can be really fun while also getting you out and about)