How to get fit and save money

I never ever thought I would say this, but being fit and healthy ranks pretty high on my list of life priorities. Having spent most of my twenties drinking and eating far too much, the only exercise I ever got was chucking shapes on the dancefloor in a questionable club.

While that was all excellent fun, years of indulgence gave me a gut I didn’t care too much for and the fitness levels of a sloth. So when I hit 30 I decided to do something about it, and since then I have been eating healthily (most of the time), and hitting it hard in the gym or the dance studio.

However, it can be expensive – whether it’s a gym membership, a weekly class or a new pair of trainers, it can all add up. Along with so many others, I’ve fallen foul of extortionate gym memberships and lengthy contracts. So this time round I wanted to get fit without rinsing my money – here’s how I did it for less.

• Go for a no contract gym. If you’re looking for a gym but you don’t want to break the bank, don’t bother with the big chains. There memberships are notoriously expensive, and you can end up spending silly amounts over the year. Instead go for one of the many no-contract gyms that are out there, such as Easygym, The Gym Group, and Pure Gym. You usually pay a low payment each month and you can cancel anytime.

I use Easygym, and I love it. I pay £17 per month for unlimited use and classes. They don’t have fluffy towels or a café, but the gyms are brand spanking new with all the latest equipment. I don’t know why it’s so cheap, but there is zero catch.

• Get fit at home. Ditch the gym and go it alone. All you need is some basic equipment. If I can’t be bothered to go to the gym, I’ve got a yoga mat and a few weights at home to see me through. And I can watch TV at the same time. There are some great fitness channels from Youtubers, which are genuinely effective. I like Blogilates for surprisingly hard mat workouts, Pop Sugar, and Fitness Blendr.

• Run! I am not a runner, but several of my fellow Mouthy Money bloggers are avid runners.  You can read their adventures here. The fitness and personal rewards are huge, plus training is pretty much free.

• Eat cheap. Eating well is really important, and I’ve been harping on about how you can eat cheaply for less for a while, so check out my other blog posts here! In a nutshell, go to the discount supermarkets, plan your meals in advance, and cook in bulk.

I’m no fitness expert and I regularly have days where I am both unfit and unhealthy, but it’s a start!