Summer is upon us, and we know what that means! It’s swimsuit season. If you’re looking for free ways to get your butt in shape quickly or how to stay in shape while on a budget, then this post is for you. Read on to find 10 free ways to stay fit this summer!
From simple home workouts to affordable healthy eating options, these tips will help you look and feel great without breaking the bank. Whether it’s utilizing local park amenities or subscribing to online fitness classes that don’t cost a fortune, we’ve got the scoop on how to get the most out of your summer fitness regime. Stay tuned for practical fitness tips that you can apply right away to start seeing results.
1. Inspiring Workout Videos
Who doesn’t love a good workout video? They’re easy to follow along with, fit any time-frame, and the internet is full of thousands of free videos of all different kinds of workouts. Whether you’re in the mood to dance your ass off or hit some intense calisthenics, you can be sure to find something that will get your endorphins pumping. Pamela Reif on YouTube is my personal favorite and she has a great collection of workout videos that will get you fit and toned with persistence.
2. Wake Up Early
The mornings are the coolest part of the day, and for this reason, you should aim to get your activity early in the morning before the sun has had time to bring the temps to boil. An added bonus to being active in the morning is that you can get your workout out of the way early, and you will likely be more energized throughout the rest of the day. What’s more, exercising in the morning is proven to establish a more consistent exercise routine, which in turn helps with healthy weight management1. Working out in the morning is a great, free way to stay fit this summer.
3. Get Outside for Free
If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, use that to your advantage! One of my favorite apps to use is called AllTrails, and with it you can see information about all the trails in your area, including how long it is, maps of the trails, what most people use the trails for (hiking, running, walking, biking, etc.), reviews, and even pictures! How cool is that? It’s a must have app on my phone, and I’ve found some really beautiful trails near where I live that I otherwise would never have known about.
AllTrails is a must have free app that helps you stay active.
*I am not sponsored or affiliated with AllTrails, I just really love this app.
4. Run or Jog for Free
Running is a fantastic way to stay healthy and fit. If you are new to running or jogging, I highly suggest starting with a program like Couch to 5k. There’s apps on the app store that you can download to help time you on your runs, or you can see the official program here. I have done the C25k program before and had success with it, running my first 5k in around 32 minutes.
If you would rather free style, you can just run and walk when you feel like it. I have also done this method to get my cardio and stamina built up, and had great results with it. I went from running a minute or so at a time with a few minute walks in-between to being able to run 7 miles straight within a few months doing this method (I also went from having a belly pooch to having a line down my stomach in this time frame!)
5. Do Yoga to Stay Fit for Free
Another free way to stay fit is by doing yoga. There are plenty of free sources to follow along with. Screw paying hundreds of dollars a month for a yoga membership! Of course, having an instructor to correct your form is great, but if you are in tune with your body and watch your form, you should be fine. I recommend taking videos of yourself or practicing with a mirror so you can see your form and make corrections.
Yoga with Adrienne is a great channel to follow along with on YouTube. I also really enjoy to follow along with the yoga on the apple fitness app, but of course this isn’t a free option, but a small expense that I find worth it if you’re looking for a paid option on the cheap. It comes with all kinds of different classes from the yoga to HIIT.
6. Do Calisthenics to Get Fit for Free
Calisthenics are another great option for people looking to stay or get fit on a budget because the equipment – you already have! Calisthenics are exercises that use your own bodyweight as the resistance, making them extremely effective and practical for resistance training. If you’re worried that they won’t be as effective as weight training, studies done have shown that there’s actually no significant difference between calisthenics and weight training for muscle growth2.
Different callisthenic exercises you can do include pushups, pullups, crunches, sit ups, lunges, squats, and more! For an added bonus, Pamela Reif’s videos rely entirely on calisthenics.
7. Stair-climbing
Climbing stairs is a fantastic way to get fit on the cheap. Find a set of stairs in your house, apartment complex, or somewhere outside and run up and down them. If you’re worried about the impact on your knees, then you can run up the stairs and walk back down them, or simply walk the stairs. If you have a high school nearby, you can see if you can use their stadium bleachers.
Running or walking up stairs is a fantastic way to build your leg, glute, and core muscles while also burning fat and boosting your cardio health. Be sure to bring plenty of water with you and be prepared to get sweaty!
8. Stay Fit for Free with Community Walking and Running Clubs
Another great way to stay fit on a budget if you are the type of person that likes to have company is to find walking and running clubs in your community. This way you can have company while you get out on the pavement, and have accountability. To find these clubs you could check Facebook groups, community activity centers, local gyms, and nextdoor.
Sources
- Schumacher, Leah M., et al. “Consistent Morning Exercise May Be Beneficial for Individuals with Obesity.” Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, vol. 48, no. 4, 10 July 2020, pp. 201–208, journals.lww.com/acsm-essr/Fulltext/2020/10000/Consistent_Morning_Exercise_May_Be_Beneficial_for.7.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=2, https://doi.org/10.1249/JES.0000000000000226.
- Kotarsky, et al. “Effect of Progressive Calisthenic Push-up Training on Muscle Strength and Thickness.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 32, no. 3, Nov. 2017, p. 1, https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002345.
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