GUEST POST: Fun Activities To Get Fit Without A Gym Membership

If you are one of those people who seem to be in a constant cycle of signing-up to gyms or health clubs before leaving a few months later, then you may be relieved to find out that you are not alone.

It goes without saying that joining a gym is an excellent way to reach and maintain your fitness due to the fact that you have a wealth of equipment and personal trainers at your disposal. However, some people find that working out in the gym environment is not for them, they find the environment claustrophobic and restrictive. It is estimated that UK consumers squander nearly £500 a year on unused gym memberships.

If you are one of these people then do not despair, there are a wealth of activities that you can do that not only boost your fitness, but that are actually a lot of fun.

Take to the Hills

Walking is an excellent way of increasing and maintaining your fitness while offering you the chance to spend some quality time with your friends and loved ones. It goes without saying that walking down the same street every day can be an incredibly uninspiring and mundane event; walking in the great outdoors and breathing in plenty of fresh air will leave you feeling healthy and invigorated. Oh, and best of all, it’s completely free!

There are plenty of places just waiting to be discovered right on your doorstep that will provide you with hours and hours of exercise while offering you the opportunity to take in some stunning scenery and landscapes.

You will also be surprised at just how quickly time passes when you are out walking. It is also an ideal opportunity to hone your cooking skills and knock together something delicious; if you are in need of ideas then we have plenty of healthy recipes to inspire you!

Martial Arts

Even though this activity involves joining a local club, it is a lot of fun and you will surprise yourself at just how much you enjoy yourself. Martial Arts are an ideal way of increasing your cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone and confidence.

Whether it is Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Thai Boxing or Karate, you can be assured that you will find something that will inspire you in the long-run, before you know it you will be as fit as a fiddle without even realising it.

Change your Habits

This one may require a little bit of persuasion on your part, but can also prove to be both fun and rewarding. When a friend of yours suggests meeting for a beer or a glass of wine, why not suggest doing something active instead?

This doesn’t have to be something overly challenging, it can be something as simple as kicking a football, playing a game of catch, or even trying a new sport together.

Pass on your Skills

I am sure that we can all agree that every individual has a talent that is unique to them and that they can pass onto others. If yours is of sporting nature, then this can be a perfect way of improving your fitness and doing something incredibly rewarding.

It goes without saying that for many of us, time is somewhat limited, however, setting some time aside each week to pass on your knowledge to others will prove to be an incredibly rewarding move that will pay dividends.

If you are lucky enough to be a student, or currently considering taking a gap year, then participating in a summer camp in America or Europe, will not only help bolster your CV, but it will also ensure that you are active, while providing you with a lot of fun! It will also provide you with a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people who will offer you numerous options for free accommodation when travelling in the future!

Connect With Your Inner Child

If you have children then there are plenty of opportunities for both of you to have fun together while helping you get fit and shed a few kilos. If you don’t have any children yourself then this could be the perfect time for you to get in touch with friends or family who do and offering to do a spot babysitting.

Your first port of call should be to your local playground where there are plenty of opportunities to improve your fitness. Find your inner child and grab hold of the monkey bars or a tree trunk and give your upper-body a workout. This will be just as effective as using a chin-up bar but will be a lot more rewarding as you will hear the little one’s giggles; you will also be lifting your body weight, giving you a full bicep and back workout.

Remember that wide grip pull-ups (palms facing away from you) will work your back more, while a narrower grip (palms facing towards you) will work your biceps more.

Will Chivers