Tomorrow is the last day I will have a gym membership.
That’s a lie because my apartment in DC has a small gym, and George Washington University has a pretty nice one that I get to use with my student ID.
But it’s still a strange feeling.
I’ve been an active member at 24 Hour Fitness since February 1. It’s been an integral part of my life.
I actually enjoy being at the gym, not for the eye candy (though they are an added, welcomed bonus), but mostly because it allows me to demonstrate to myself that I am stronger, faster and better each and every day.
Now that I’m losing (not paying for) my gym membership and I’ve still got a week left at home, I want to remain active.
I’ve been one to stress that you don’t need a gym to strength train or stay moving, but I’ve never had to put my thoughts into practice.
So I’m posing a few questions for you today. Help me learn!
How do you stay active without a gym membership?
What are some strength training exercises you can do at home?
What are some cardio options you can do without a gym?
I want to hear your ideas and thoughts!
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
Bike bike bike.
It’s a lot of fun =) I promise.
Running is good too =)
Since you’re out in cali, you should try going for hikes/exploring different parks.
Gyms are overrated. They make you get used to the same temperature and same conditions. Working out outside — biking, running, walking — helps tremendously. You can buy dumbbells pretty cheaply, or better yet, use your own body weight for exercises. Try the 100 push-ups program!
I never go to the gym during the summer, except to shower after my outdoor workouts! Running is my cardio of choice, but I change it up – sometimes an easy 3 mile run; other times I do sprints or run hills. For strength work, there are a ton of body weight exercise you can do – triceps dips, push ups, squats, lunges, core work, planks, and yoga poses. Bands might be a good, portable, cheap addition to your non-gym workout repertoire, too, because sometimes body weight just isn’t challenging enough. Have fun with it! Oh, and if you’re close enough to go to the beach, get some swimming in before you leave!
SeattleRunnerGirl´s latest post: Awesome in August
I’ve been rollerblading to work and roller skating around the neighbourhood for fun (yes, I have a pair of each), and they are awesome ways to get outside and burn some energy. Trying to rollerblade up a hill really works your butt! Also, I find having a dog gets me out walking at least once a day, which isn’t hard cardio, but it usually turns me around on days that I want to be fully lazy.
My university had a great gym, an olympic sized pool and a slew of classes/intramural sports, so I don’t think you will be at a loss for activities if you want them.
Mallory´s latest post: 22 Visit a Vineyard
DUDE, maybe I should invest in a pair of rollerblades. I used to love rollerblading as a kid, and I would go SO fast down hills. As a little kid, I was so reckless haha.
I haven’t had a gym membership in ages. But I don’t really do strength training, other than lifting my son. He’s getting uncomfortably close to 50 lbs, but I still don’t think 8 reps in a day counts as strength training. The only cardio I ever do in a gym is the stationary bike, but I’d much rather be running outside.
Go running through a neighborhood, join a team in the fall, like softball or kickball. If you have a bike, go for a bike ride.
Before I had a gym membership and before I even started running, I would do a different workout video on exercise tv on demand. I’m pretty sure most digital cable providers have it. If you don’t get it, they have a lot of full length videos for free on their website, exercisetv.tv. And there’s always running
There are no gyms close to where I live here in the middle of nowhere. I do exercise DVDs with handweights and run run run.
I do already run outside, and hm, maybe I should give exercise DVDs a shot. Any recommendations (or hand-me-downs?!)
You can use my gym
Also, check out the CF Endurance website. They have pretty good WOD’s for running
Honesty, running and body weight exercises are the easiest for me. Yoga is good, too.
maria @ Chasing the Now´s latest post: Avoiding jetlag
While I have a gym membership I do most of my workouts at home. I have s setup with floor mats, hand weights, bands, and a collection of DVDs (mostly circuit training) that have helped me to lose a ton of weight. Without the DVDs I can honesty say I would be bored …. Check out some Jillian Michaels ones or if you ace the $ check out P90X.
Hail to the buff
hail to the blue
hail to the buff and blue
all our lives we’ll be proud to say
we hail from GWU
Oh by George we’re happy we can say
we’re GW and we’re here to show the way
so raise high to the buff
raise high to the blue
loyal to GW
you bet we’re loyal to GW….
FIGHT!
I chase young boys around campus. That’s good cardio.
Robby´s latest post: The Gorilla in the Room
You’ll have to sing this for me sometime. Since GWU doesn’t have a football team (sad) I don’t know the fight song.
I do know all the UCLA ones though. Ahhh. GO BRUINS!
Workout DVDs (especially Jillian Michaels 30-day shred)! When I quit my gym membership, I got a workout mat, a few hand weights and an exercise ball. Its amazing what you can do with just a few of those things. Also, I paid more attention to the strength routines in fitness magazines. I rip them out and keep them in a binder to reference when I am doing strength training. I do miss the gym, though. Its a mental thing. I feel like it is harder to motivate myself to work out when I’m at home. You just have to be diligent!
I’ve never belonged to a gym. I have a treadmill at home that is great whenever the weather is bad. I like to supplement with DVDs or Wii fitness games (EA Sports Active). I have resistance bands, weights and an exercise ball. Who needs a gym?
Hopefully the gym in your new apartment building will be sufficient. If it is, having it right there where you live is SO CONVENIENT. I have one in my building and I love it.
I just read your blog for the first time today (I found it from a link on Roni’s Weigh). I’ve lived in the DC area for four years and I read that you’ll be moving here yourself in a few days, so….welcome!
I blogged for over 7 years (and I wrote for BlogHer.com for over 3 years), but as of late I’ve been focusing on other things. However, I’m currently en route to the BlogHer conference in NYC to see my friends and hang out with a bunch of fabulous ladies, so there’s that!