Creating and keeping a workout routine can be a difficult resolution to maintain, especially when gym memberships and fitness classes can put a serious dent in your bank account. Don’t let a tight budget deter you from your desired look for swimsuit season! Set yourself up at home with these budget-friendly essentials.
The key to starting a new at-home workout schedule is to avoid buying anything that will collect dust under your bed. As a beginner, think about what will motivate you to stay in shape at home and won’t cost a fortune.
Yoga is great for building strength throughout your entire body, and it is also a stress-reliever. TheYoga for Beginners Boxed Set ($21.89, Amazon.com) features three different tapes: Yoga for Stress Relief, AM-PM Yoga for Beginners and Essential Yoga for Inflexible People, and can be catered to the amount of time your schedule permits. Focusing on 40 different yoga routines, you can spend any where from 15 minutes a day up to 60 minutes practicing yoga, depending on your needs and time constraints. Each of the yoga DVDs brings in all of the elements of a full-body workout – for both body and mind.
Of course, you can’t do yoga on your rug, so opt for one of the YogaAccessories Extra Thick Deluxe Yoga Mats ($20.45, Amazon.com). Choose from a rainbow of uplifting colors—these deluxe yoga mats are high-quality, comfortable and will last longer than your average mat.
As you’ve been told over and over again by fitness experts, core strength is essential as we get older and will help avoid a lot of conditions, including back problems and poor posture. The Body Solid BSTAB1 Ab Wheel ($12.99, Sears) is an inexpensive way to spend five to 10 minutes a day creating rock hard abs, while at the same time toning your back and upper body. The Body-Solid Tools Ab Wheel isolates the muscle groups so that your few minutes a day are concentrated and result in a more efficient workout.
Take it one step further and burn off those Girl Scout cookies with the NordicTrack Toning Band Kit ($5.85, Sears). Featuring three different toning bands – light, medium and heavy – your thighs will burn within minutes, but your bikini will thank you in a few months.
The last piece of the fitness puzzle is fueling your body with nutrients that it needs. Before or after your workout, blend together a super-veggie juice using the Black & Decker 400 Watt Juice Extractor ($34.99, Target). Drop by your favorite farmer’s market to stock up on kale, spinach, oranges, bananas and berries and simply combine for a healthy snack. This Black & Decker Juice Extractor won’t look like a complete eye-sore on your countertop or can easily be stored in a cabinet. In addition, your kitchen will stay spotless the pulp-catcher can be washed safely in the dishwasher.
Don’t let a tight budget deter you from your desired look for swimsuit season! Set yourself up at home with these budget-friendly essentials.
