Ditch the gym and get fit for free!

Don't bother to join a gym this year. Get fit for free instead!

It’s that time of the year again. All over the country, people are making New Year’s Resolutions to go to the gym more often or even worse, to join one.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m in favour of a nation of fatties where we all sit on our backsides all day, I’m just saying: it’s a rip-off!

Not because you can’t get value for money out of a gym membership. Of course you can. That’s what makes it so tempting. If you go five times a week, it’s probably worth paying £40 or £50 a month, and you’ll get all fit and svelte and healthy too.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is, most of us don’t end up going five times a week. In fact, some of us end up going about five times a year. Last summer here at lovemoney.com HQ, a colleague came back from a lunchtime swim and realised it had cost him over £300. He hadn’t been to his gym for six months – but that didn’t stop the direct debit from coming out of his account every month, did it? That’s got to be one the most expensive swim he's ever had, and I don’t even think he got a lane to himself.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that a new fitness company has realised that there are lots of people who have been burned by gym memberships in the past, and are wary of signing up for another one. A new website, PayAsUGym.com, is launching on the 21st January which will allow Londoners and those living in the South East to purchase e-passes for a range of gyms.

The cost of each visit will vary from £5 to £35 depending on the individual gym and the services it offers, as well as the time of visit and whether it is off-peak. The idea is that, by opting for a ‘pay as you go’ method, you can sidestep the monthly membership charge and pay only for the gym time you use.

Should you do it?

I think it could be a good way to try out your New Year’s Resolution for size and see if you do actually end up going for the gym often enough to be worth paying for membership. The trouble is, even this ‘pay as you go’ method could still up costing you a pretty penny - £35 a visit isn’t cheap is it? And if you do manage to go regularly, you’ll wish you had forked out for a traditional membership. Either that or, without that monthly drain on your bank balance, you may find yourself less motivated to go – making that New Year’s Resolution even harder to keep.

There are lots of cheaper ways to get fit, but as lovemoney.com is a money site we think the best way forward is, of course, to try to get fit for free. Here are some of the easiest ways to do this:

1. Get walking

Try to incorporate lots of brisk walking into your everyday routine. Take the stairs rather than the lift, get off the bus a stop early, or take a walk during your lunch hour.

For longer jaunts, use the Walking for Health website to find some of the best walks in your part of the country. If you register on the Get Walking website you should receive a free starter pack, including a walking plan, logbook and step counter.

And if you don’t fancy walking alone, join your local rambling group instead. You can find a group in your area using the Rambling Clubs website.

2. Cycle to work

Swap your tube or train ticket for your bicycle and cycle to and from work. If you’re not quite ready to do this every day, start with one trip a week and work your way up as your fitness levels increase. You may be able to save money on the cost of a bike through the Government’s Cycle to Work initiative.

If you live in London, you can download maps of safe cycle routes via the Transport for London journey planner. (Under 'advanced options' un-tick every option except 'Cycle'.) There is similar help available in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cambridge and Leeds. Indeed, most local council websites seem to have a cycling section. Just google 'cycling' and the name of your town to see what's on offer.

3. Get free sports equipment

Check community freebie sites like Freegle, Freecycle and SnaffleUp and put out ‘wanted’ emails for sports equipment. People often give away exercise bikes and fitness gear when the novelty has worn off, so search regularly and you might be in luck.

Alternatively, swap a DVD you no longer want for a free fitness DVD using websites like SwapShop and Swapz.

4. Make the most of your time

Offer your time instead of your money and get fit that way. For example, you could volunteer to work in the great outdoors. The Wildlife Trusts always need people to help with conservation work - everything from pond and woodland maintenance to acting as a wildlife guide.

Alternatively, take a dog for a walk! If you don’t have a dog of your own, see if you can borrow one from a friend or neighbour. This dog play website highlights lots of games and activities to keep both you and your mutt fit and focused.

And don’t forget, gardening and hoovering are both excellent ways to keep fit. Even washing up or cleaning the windows will burn a good few calories!

Research suggests that doing regular weekly housework could burn off over 50,000 calories a year. You can find the best chores for a workout here.

For more tips, read How to get fit for less.

5. Go to a gym for free

As you can see, fitness doesn’t need to be about the gym. However, if you do want to give it a go, take advantage of the free one-day gym passes many chains offer.

For example:

• Fitness First is offering a free 1-day guest membership
• Virgin Active is offering a free 1-day guest pass
• Esporta is offering a free 1-day pass
• Harpers Fitness is offering a free 1-day pass
• Women-only gym Curves is offering a free 1-day pass
• LA Fitness is offering a free 3-day pass
• Nuffield Health is offering a free 3-day pass
• British Military Fitness is offering a free taster class

Just be aware that the gym will probably put pressure on you to sign up for paid membership afterwards; so be prepared to say a firm ‘no thanks’!

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