Getting in shape is one of the most daunting tasks on the planet. Not only do you have to cut out your junk food but you also have to make time to go to the gym. Or do you? We do not think that you do but this is just an opinion. However, we will give you one good reason that you don’t have to make time to go to the gym. Because you don’t need it! You can get in just as good shape at home as you could in the gym with some affordable equipment that won’t cost you an arm or a leg. Scroll down and see what we recommend.

Shoes

The first thing that we recommend to anyone that wants alternatives to going to the gym is a good pair of shoes. We don’t have any recommendations other than going out to a shoe store or two and seeing what feels comfortable. Now, you can walk at home or around your neighborhood which means you don’t need to go to the gym and get on a treadmill all day.

Jump Rope

A good jump rope is one of the best cardiovascular exercises on the planet and it also works on your hand-eye coordination. Best of all, you can buy a jump rope for around $5 which is about 1/5 of what a gym membership would cost you for one month at the very cheapest. Where can you buy a jump rope at? At pretty much any retail store out there.

Dumbbells

While these can get pretty expensive ($1 a pound in most cases), they are definitely good to have. You can do curls, presses, lunges, squats, tricep extensions, and numerous other exercises. We recommend getting a pair that you can handle and get a good workout with for a long time. For most females, that number is anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds. For males, that number is usually anywhere from 15 to 35 pounds. And it’s one heck of a workout!

Bicycle

Finally, we recommend getting a bicycle just to mix things up a little bit. What if you’re too sore to walk or jump rope one day? Hop on your bike and go for a ride. You won’t even think of it as exercise and you could literally probably cycle all day long unless you had a lot of hills to deal with. Either way, getting a bike is detrimental to working out at home.

So, we think that you’re ready to skip the gym and start working out at home. It will take a little mental motivation and you will have to make yourself do it for a while (until it turns into a habit) but it will definitely pay off. You don’t have to get in the gym to get a great body but it does make things easier. If you can afford a membership, get one. If you can’t afford a gym membership, gather the items on this list and workout from your own home.