Years ago, before kids, I was a gym rat. Pretty much every day of the week you would find me taking a step class or lifting weights or doing yoga. Then my free time got filled up with parental duties, and going to the gym fell out of favor with my way of life.
A few years ago, when I first joined Weight Watchers, I started going to the gym again to help with my weight loss. However, the only class that really caught my attention was a 6:00 (as in a.m.) step class, and I just couldn’t sustain that early rising for very long. So we invested in a treadmill, and I started relying on walking on it–and walking the dog–as my aerobic exercise.
Now six years later I’m looking to switch things up but without making the mistake of rejoining the gym. I say “mistake” because it would be a mistake for me. I am just not a gym person anymore. Plus, with our frugal ways, I just can’t justify spending money on a gym membership.
About the time I was looking to add something new to my workout, a friend of mine, who has been looking extremely fit lately, told me that she’d been doing “The Biggest Loser” workouts. OK, well I’d heard of the show, but they had exercise programs, too?
Well, it turns out that I can get two different “The Biggest Loser” workouts–a cardio max with trainer Bob Harper and a power sculpt with trainer Jillian Michaels, both from the show– for free from my cable provider. They are available via Exercise TV On Demand, one of Comcast’s offerings. Granted, the program I get this way is only 20 minutes long and does not include the full power sculpt workout that you would get from buying the DVD. But, man, do these workouts kick my butt. No wonder people lose so much weight on the show. (I’ll admit that I’ve actually started watching the show, too.)
The best part about Exercise TV is that I get to exercise when I want to, not based on a gym schedule, and I’m not spending any extra money to do so. Plus, not going to the gym means not driving somewhere on a regular basis–definitely good for my carbon footprint.
Understand that Exercise TV doesn’t just have these two “The Biggest Loser” workouts on it. There are at least a dozen different workout categories available, and then at least two different exercise programs within each category. With Exercise TV, you never have to join a gym–and they’re not paying me to say that. I’m just a satisfied customer.
That’s why this week I’m giving the Suddenly Frugal Seal of Approval to Exercise TV. If you’re looking to get in shape or supplement your already frugal workout schedule (such as walking, which is free to do), I would recommend you check out Exercise TV.
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Drat! I recently convinced my husband to take back our Comcast boxes, claiming that they weren’t worth the extra price we paid on our bill each month. I never even considered the workouts…now I’m stuck with PBS Yoga at 5:30 a.m.!
Lisa, I’m so sorry to hear about the timing of this. Good luck with that 5:30 a.m. yoga!
I used to live at the gym before my son! I haven’t been inside a gym since I found out I was pregnant (almost 4 years ago). I maintained running 3 hours a day until birth, then resumed at 6 weeks. I kept this up till 3 months ago when I got bit by the lazy bug. Maybe this will help! Thanks!!!
this weekend we tackled our garage as I told my DH that I wanted to use our treadmill again. After hours of decluttering we are able to use the equipment again! YAY! We got a high end treadmill off craigslist last year for just $100, a free eliptical off craigslist and got a home gym on sale a while back. I got a reebok step from a curbside, and love step. Plus good for doing free-weights
There are many options for free exercise, going outside and walking/running, and if anyone has done serious landscaping they know how much work that is! Check out freecycle or craigslist, check out yard sales.
Di:
These are all wonderful suggestions. Thanks so much. Our youngest daughter is interested in our getting an elliptical machine, but I don’t want to pay the $600 for one. I wouldn’t think you could find them for free on Craigslist. Obviously, I’m wrong and now I’m going to start trolling Craigslist for them. Thanks again for posting.
Leah
Yes, we also recently got an elliptical off of craigslist.
I have to say that normally I vote for the frugal (or better yet, free) option for pretty much everything. But paying for the gym membership was the only thing that got me there. I thought, “I’m paying for this, so I better use it!” I’m not sure if I would have been so dedicated had I gotten it for free. Just a thought.
Also, libraries frequently have a selection of exercise DVDs to check out for free. I just discovered Belly Dancing Workout at ours!
This is a really interesting post. I tried going without a gym this summer but realized that I wasn’t working out because it was too hot outside, so it’s worth it for me to join up.
But I don’t buy a year membership. I buy three months in the summer and three in the dead of winter because I run outside in the spring and fall. Works for me!
[...] your TV for workout inspiration. You can find free exercise programs on Exercise TV (I love the Biggest Loser ones) or free workout DVDs at your local [...]