Comments on: Getting in shape without paying a dime

By: New Year’s Resolution 2011 – I want to pay less tax « Simple Living in Suffolk

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:58:39 +0000

[...] Jacob including a house, and living in a motorhome is not totally my idea of good living, and the harsh exercise regimen is also not to my taste, I’d rather not prolong life by hating a lot of it… Each to [...]

By: dmitry

dmitry — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:33:54 +0000

Great post, Jacob! Thanks for the ideas.
I am still a cube inhabitant, which, coupled with a commute, leaves little time to myself. For that reason, I haven’t been able to exercise consistently – but now I just take a little break at work (10 min or so), go the bathroom that’s individual/locked from inside and do my set of one-leg squats and one-arm push-ups, plus some stretching/yoga . Feels great, boosts brain power, and helps me put up with cube life for a while. (Although I’m working on getting out of here).

Again, thank you!

By: John

John — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:32:15 +0000

I like the no gym approach for building muscle and power, however I still prefer the gym for cardio unless I am running outside.

By: Barb Friedberg

Barb Friedberg — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:58:19 +0000

Jacob, I’ve worked out my entire adult life and gone from gyms to classes and back. Right now-NO GYM-No cost exercising. Yoga, Tae Bo, Walking is all I need. A couple of dvd’s or “on demand” on tv give me endless work outs! And I’m as fit as I need to be!

By: Krisine

Krisine — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:36:10 +0000

Good Post. My brother in law works out using only his body weight, and the good thing about that is that he can do his workouts whenever wherever he wants.

Working out to the same old video or routine at the gym can get boring. It’s nice to really be able to design the workout and you can get great results from it.

By: veganprimate

veganprimate — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:27:10 +0000

I’m currently doing wall pushups, b/c even the girlie pushups are too much for me. Those burpees look seriously intense. Years ago I was running regularly, and I happened to take an Irish step dancing class. That dancing kicked my ass. I was sweaty and lightheaded!

By: Daniele

Daniele — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:33:59 +0000

Hey Jacob,
I think Yoga is a good example too… with nothing you can do great exercise of many kind!!
(not to mention the spiritual side of it)

By: Britz

Britz — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:17:48 +0000

Good post! (I like those handstand pushups and used to do 15 at a time but have forgotten all about them for years and guess I’d suck at them now… I also laughed at the “prison or grad school” bit )

A good website for getting loads of good ideas and motivation for free, simple exercises is
http://www.bodyrock.tv/category/daily-workouts/

I’m not a fitness freak (or even fit) but I get tempted to get serious about it when I watch these videos…

By: Photoguy

Photoguy — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:48:59 +0000

I think for many people paying for a gym membership is all about (1) the social aspect or (2) motivation to exercise. If you don’t care about 1 and have the discipline for 2 then you can stay in shape easily with hiking, walking, running, cycling, calisthentics, home strength exercises easily.

The one exception I might make are people with certain injuries who need to exercise by swimming in a pool, etc.

By: Mrs. Money

Mrs. Money — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:46:44 +0000

I can’t believe all the people that pay for a gym membership. That’s one thing I don’t think I could pay. I’m a cheapo though!

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:36:59 +0000

Jacob seems to be on a fitness kick doesn’t he?

I enjoy articles about being strong without expensive specialized equipment. There is a layer of abstractedness about modern fitness which doesn’t translate into functionality. Being muscular from doing barbell fly’s and machine leg presses is as useless as being obese. You end up with muscle that requires excessive food to maintain and is only for doing more useless machine supported maneuvers.

Gimme a farmer or lumberjack any day. Strong and efficient, with a body built for the task.

By: Concojones

Concojones — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:25:30 +0000

Interesting article, Jacob!

I have just taken up strength training to bulk up (in combination with more meals). One day I’ll reach my goals and switch from ‘bulk up’ to ‘maintain’ scenario.

That day I’d love to switch to a no-gym routine like you’re describing here. I don’t know whether it’ll do, but it’d be awesome if it did!

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:56:55 +0000

Am including this article in tomorrow’s post! Thanks for the reminder!:)

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:34:25 +0000

ha ha ha…. “an institution with no way out such as prison or grad school” – and I was liking your card shuffle idea! there could be a connection.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:07:57 +0000

Glad you like! I think body weight exercises are underrated because many of them are boring. One good routine for those who find themselves in an institution with no immediate way out such as prison or grad school is the deck of cards routine. Shuffle a deck of cards.
The value of the card gives the amount of reps. The suit gives the type of exercise.
hearts = sit ups,
diamonds = push ups,
spades = burpees,
clubs = squats.
So 4 of clubs means 4 squats. Go through the entire deck. Or half a deck. Aces can mean either 1 or 14.

By: Amanda @ Me vs Debt

Amanda @ Me vs Debt — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:48:47 +0000

Great post here. People really underestimate the ability to stay in shape using nothing but the resistance of your own body. I was thinking about starting a ‘frugal fitness’ series with short workouts that require no equipment. My ideas are geared a little more towards beginners — I’ve not yet mastered the art of the one-handed push up Maybe you could post an advanced routine to compliment my beginner’s routine, either way I’ll definitely link back to this post.