Fitness On a Budget #3

Appetizer
One of the best ways to work out on a budget is to exercise at home because it's FREE.

Main Course
Invest in a few pieces of inexpensive exercise equipment that will allow you to get a total body workout at home.

- Dumbbells. Dumbbells are small, hand-held weights that you can use to strengthen your upper body. They're available in many sizes, but most women only need 3lb, 5lb and 8lb to start out with.
- Resistance bands. These stretchy tubes offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them. Choose from varying degrees of resistance, depending on your fitness level.
- Jump-ropes. Skipping rope can be a great cardiovascular workout, and you can get these for just a couple of dollars.

Buy used equipment. Check out listings for used exercise equipment on local online ad boards like craigslist.com. Online auction sites like eBay are also a good option, but make sure the shipping costs won't put the item out of your budget.

Turn your home into a private aerobics class with a good selection of exercise videos. Borrow videos from your library or a friend, or rent them from the video store before you buy them to see if you like the routines. Another great option is signing up for Netflix or another mail delivery program that will allow you to keep fresh titles coming each week. Be sure to pick videos that match your current fitness level so that you don't get discouraged by exercises that are too hard or too easy. Some small equipment may be required, depending on the activity you select.

Dessert
My personal fave of all of these ideas, is getting a great set of exercise DVDs. The music, exercises and instructors make me feel like I'm actually part of a real class rather than just doing bicep curls in my living room. My clients also love the fact that they can get all of the variety of a fancy fitness center (maybe even more) in the most convenient location - their own home.

About Cafe Physique: The mission of Café Physique is to help clients reach and exceed their personal fitness and nutrition goals. If you’re in need of an a nutritionist in Atlanta or an Atlanta personal trainer – Café Physique is the perfect solution. We offer Atlanta yoga instruction, Atlanta prenatal workouts, and Atlanta personal training. We also have private sessions of pilates that Atlanta residents are raving about. We invite you to let a member of our Atlanta registered dietitian staff or personal training team develop and implement a realistic and healthy lifestyle plan to meet your personal goals.