Cheap At-Home Fitness Tips {For Keeping My Budget & My Backside Tight}

Most mornings at 6am I roll back the covers, stumble to the bathroom, and change into appropriate attire for a very important meeting by throwing on a sports bra under my pajama shirt and pairing it with the leggings I slept in. And that, my friends, is part of the beauty of at-home fitness. You see, this meeting is a quality 20-30 minute sweat fest with various trainers. I walk away with an imaginary high five and shared bottle of water right before it’s time to wake the kids for school. And my workout? It’s done! At the budget-friendly cost of setting my alarm a tiny bit earlier each day. 

Let me start by saying that I’m not a certified trainer or life coach or dietitian. I’m a mom who enjoys staying in shape and spending my extra cash at Target, not on a gym membership. And this is my way of doing just that.

I wasn’t always sold that at-home fitness would be a fit for me. I love the gym. I do. It’s a mini vacation from the world. To-do lists disappear; social media gets pushed aside. It’s me, a little DMX, some weights to move around, and a treadmill to own. But after my first son was born, I had trouble finding, or making, the time for it.  I wasn’t ready to commit our time to a daily gym visit to justify the membership fees. 

Add two more kids to the mix, and I still wasn’t down for spending money or time at the gym. And yet I thrive on getting a good sweat in most days. I need it. So my solution? Use the tools at hand. A bit of research here and there, and I found out that the tools I need for what I want from a fitness program are at my fingertips and practically free! I found just what I needed from our friends at YouTube, and I’m here today to tell you why it works for me…

Time Well Spent

That time for me is before our kids wake up. I don’t feel like I’m taking part of their day, and yet I’ve given myself a great gift. Exercise impacts my mood for the rest of the day. I know that I’m a more patient, tolerant, peaceful mom if I trade in a few ZZZs for lifting a few lbs. I make healthier choices and feel more ready to tackle growing to-do lists. 

And with an at-home workout plan, I don’t have to plan my day around attending a particular class that I like, nor do I have to wait on available treadmills, benches, dumbbells, or machines. 

Gear

I don’t have to leave my house. Heck, sometimes I barely have to leave my pajamas. I’ve been known to change from jammie pants to yoga pants, throw on a sports bra, and put that jammie shirt right back on top. {Saving money on gym clothes!} At home, you can work out in ANYTHING and save your money for “athleisure” meant for … leisure. 

Variety

I’m not one for gym classes. Maybe it’s the introvert in me because I’d rather do my own thing. Working out is my time, and I separate that from social time. I’ve found a few favorites on YouTube that give me the gym class feel without the class. I’ve got plenty of videos to choose from that vary in type of exercise, intensity, and time. So whether I feel like a quick HIIT workout, dancing it up for a little cardio, or really want to step up my strength game, I can do what works for me that day. Below are just a few of my faves ::

I love that these at-home workouts are always there. I can finish a workout later in the day if my morning got interrupted, or mix and match a 10-minute video from one channel and a 15-minute video from another to beat boredom. 

Happy Medium

I’ve got three boys. I’ve come to terms with the fact that my workouts aren’t to have the perfect bikini body, build major muscle mass, or win 5K races here or there {although that would be some fun, wouldn’t it?}. Rather, I want my boys to see a woman strong enough to lift them when they need it {and make them question which parent could win a pushup contest!}, fast enough to make a game of tag challenging for them, and self-assured enough to carve out that time for herself, knowing it helps mold her into her best self. I hope they’ll see that I created time to stay fit and that they will develop a healthy appreciation for exercise and health. 

Staying active and challenging my body helps keep me confident in who I am. And during my current family stage, at-home and cheap is the way to go! Do you have any other fitness-on-the-cheap tips for busy moms? Please share them in the comments below!!

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Jenn L
Jenn is an English teacher turned stay at home mom to boys Wyatt {2010}, John {2013}, and Abram {2014}. South Louisiana born and raised, North Louisiana educated, and Texas “polished,” she has found Houston to be home with her husband for the past ten years. After infertility struggles, in 2010 she traded in A Tale of Two Cities for Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and has since been busy discovering ways to learn while playing, maintaining a semi-scheduled family life, and integrating both Texas and Louisiana culture into her family. Besides making memories with her boys full time, she enjoys reading, running, crafting, cooking, and football. Y’all stop by When In Doubt, Add More Salt to read more about family adventures with the boys and Jenn’s thoughts on hot summers and Pinterest pin attempts, and her love/hate relationship with March Madness brackets.

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