Get Fit For Less

The sheer expense of fitness means that if you’re on a budget, exercise options are zero – especially in the dark winter months.

If the price of fitness is turning you off then read on… we’ve been busy finding seven great ways to work out and still be able to afford your daily latte - click here for value for money and motivational ideas that mean you can look good for less…

Perfect your Dance Moves

Watch just one series of Strictly Come Dancing and you’ll see how regular dance classes will change your body shape in no time. Both Rachel Stevens and Jodie Kidd dropped a dress size and toned up, dancing their way from a size 12 to a slimline size 8-10 during the last series – inspiration to us all. “Being in Strictly has done wonders for my figure and general fitness. I'm in better shape than ever and it's so much more fun than going to the gym” said Rachel Stevens. Signing up to dance classes is cheap and social - look out for fast paced dance classes like Ceroc and Salsa which are both popular choices. Classes are often split into beginner, intermediate and advanced so you can work up the scale as you improve. Classes are generally pay as you go so there’s no big cash outlay.
Check out these dance websites to find a class in your area -
www.danceweb.co.uk

ceroc.com
www.dancesport.uk.com

Get Moving

Forget stairmasters and power plates, walking is still one of the best forms of exercise you can do. If you’re strapped for time and cash then it’s the perfect way to get in shape as you will combine exercise with travel time and can do it every day. Stash your heels in your slouchy tote and walk to work either the whole way or even part of will do. A 20 minute brisk walk burns around 100 calories – do this every day on the way to the office and you will burn 500 calories per week (double that if you walk home too). A large 100g bar of Milk Chocolate Green & Blacks is 523 calories so you can swap this for your 5 walks per week.
Investing in a pedometer (Amazon, £10 ) which will let you know how many steps you have taken each day, this way you can keep track of how much you have walked and whether you need to walk more to achieve your goal. And at weekends check out Time Out and the AA’s walking guide books for inspiration in your local area.

Train to be a Fitness Instructor

Take exercise to a whole new level and make your self 100% employable too by training to be a fitness instructor or personal trainer - for free!
The Lifetime’s Fitness instructor programme is an entry level course which includes gym instructing, first aid, customer service, sports hall set up and interview skills. While the Personal Training Programme is more advanced, teaching health screening, nutrition, weight management, business skills and even behavioural psychology. All government funded and endorsed by the big leisure centre and gym chains – you can also complete the course in flexi time.
Both courses take four to five weeks and are completely free.

Click here for more information.

Shop Around

Price comparing is not just for your utility bills. Start shopping around before your gym membership is up for renewal and in particular look for non contract deals, it will be well worth the effort.

JJB Sports shops have just opened up value gyms for £9.95 per month with no contract. And don’t assume that these gyms aren’t cutting edge, they have plenty of cardio and resistance machines, plus once you become a member you will receive an electronic key which not only gains you access to the gym but stores all your workout data so you can track your progress.
Fit Space Gyms offer membership for £15-17 per month with no contract. They boast up-to-the-minute Spin Bikes complete with virtual trainers who take you through each class.
Gym-Membership offers deals with the bigger gyms such as LA Fitness, Virgin Active and Cannons if you sign up for health insurance with Pru Health. The idea is that your gym membership becomes cheaper the more you use the gym, each time you visit you gain ‘vitality points’ which accumulate taking you from Bronze up to Platinum membership. So by year two you could be spending as little as £5 on both your Insurance and Membership combined. This isn’t ideal if you want to make savings straightaway but is a great long term plan and the perfect incentive to make you a more frequent visitor
Look for independent run gyms in your local area as these are often cheaper. Your nearest leisure centre may have a gym and your local council may run one too. If you’re happy to swap luxury details like fluffy towels and hair dryers for cash money saved then this is the option for you

Get a Great Playlist

Keep your tempo up with a great playlist that will spur you on and boost your energy levels. To help you get the L.A body you’ve always wanted we’ve compiled a Hollywood hit list made up of song recommendations from your favourite celebrities. Here’s what they listen to to keep them going:
• Rihanna – Wall to Wall by Chris Brown
• Jessica Biel – Get Rich or Die Trying by 50 Cent
• Jennifer Aniston – Speed of Sound by Coldplay
• Reese Witherspoon – Buttons by The Pussycat Dolls
• Eva Longoria – Heartbeat City by The Cars
• Jennifer Garner – Crazy in Love by Beyonce
• Madonna – Blackout album by Britney Spears
• Drew Barrymore – The skin of my yellow country teeth by Clap your hands say yeah.

Get a Running Partner

We all love the feeling you get after a run but working up the motivation to actually do it is a different story. Jogging is one of the most effective forms of exercise (burning calories and keeping the heart healthy) for relatively little effort, but the hardest part is often just getting your trainers on and getting started. In addition, it isn’t safe to run alone in winter because of dark mornings and evenings - so finding a running partner is the obvious answer. Not only is it much safer to run in a pair but you will also be able to motivate each other to get started, run for longer and keep up the pace. Just don’t chat your way round the circuit - you’re meant to be working out not socialising!
You could also consider joining a running club, there are plenty around the country. And you don’t need to be training for a marathon to join - most clubs accommodate different levels of fitness so even the slow coaches can join in.
Click here to find club near you .
Finally having a goal will help you to get motivated and there are plenty of running events throughout the year that will help you shed those Christmas pounds and give a little to charity too, so sign up now.
These include the 10K Valentine’s Run in Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle – 14 February; Race for Life 5K , nationwide from May to July to raise money for Cancer Research UK; the Sony Ericsson Run to the Beat half marathon in London – 27 September, which has 16 live music acts along the course to help keep you going; or try the Puma Hellrunner in Cheshire and Hampshire – November, which is off track and includes rugged terrain, wet roads and the odd river crossing – great for anyone looking for a challenge.

Get a Personal Trainer

Online personal trainers are a cheaper alternative to the real thing and just as effective if you’re the motivated kind. Programmes will be tailor made to suit your height, weight and gender and include how-to-videos for effective instruction, a calendar so you can keep track of you work-out schedule, plus an analysis of your fitness levels.

MyTrainer , £15 per month, is the brainchild of celebrity personal trainer Matt Roberts who is responsible for the bodies of Tom Ford, Naomi Campbell and John Galliano among others. After you have carried out the at-home fitness assessment you are given a programme to suit your needs and abilities. All programmes are personalised and last two weeks, after that time new programmes are available so you never get bored. Choose from bespoke programmes including Weight Loss, Beach Body and Workouts for Your Body Shade (apple, pear, hourglass).
Pocket PT , from £10 per month, allows you to sign up for gym, home gym or park training programmes and has three, six or 12 month membership options. In addition this fee includes food and nutrition information making it great value for money.
Get Fit , from £6.25 per month, creates bespoke exercise programmes to completely fit with your lifestyle, fitness levels and available time. You don’t necessarily need access to a gym either - so no excuses.
Virtual-Fitness , the cheapest at just £3.75 per month, has three levels of membership – Bronze, Silver and Gold. The cheapest level Bronze includes over 1000 exercise demos, access to an online personal trainer, (this is limited but allows you to ask them questions), a workout log to keep you motivated, BMI and Heart Rate charts, plus access to fitness articles and information. Sign up now – at £3.75 - you’ve got nothing to lose!