We all want to get in shape and stay fit and one of the ways we try to do this is with a gym membership. It gives you access to equipment that you might not be able to afford or have room for. But what happens when you can’t afford the membership. Here are some helpful tips for getting in shape when money is tight.

When doing resistance training for fitness, choose a good weight that challenges you. The right weight will allow you to perform about ten to twelve repetitions of the exercise motion before you become too fatigued to do it again. Too heavy and you risk injury, too light and you won’t gain maximum benefit from your workout.

If you are a woman and uncomfortable working out in front of men, check out the many new chains of female-only gyms. Many women are self-conscious of their image, especially those who may be just beginning to take fitness seriously. It can be intimidating to go to a gym filled with the opposite sex. By keeping groups small and female-only, many of these new gyms are perfectly suited for a woman starting out on her fitness journey.

Take time to stretch in between sets of weightlifting. Research has shown that people who stretch while waiting to start their next set of lifting weights have stronger muscles than those who just sit and wait between sets. Stretching is a little thing you can do to strengthen yourself while you’re resting.

Having a routine, limits the stimulation of the brain. Studies have shown that changing or breaking a routine, will promote stimulation and in turn, staves off dementia. Instead of driving the same route to the grocery store, change the route and drive a different way. These small steps will improve your brain’s stimulation and reduce the chance of getting dementia.

Running may possibly be the best way to lose weight. Running uses a lot of the muscles in your body as well as your heart. Your body needs energy to keep on running and will take energy from the fat stored in your body to keep on running.

In order to achieve your fitness goals you should add resistance exercises to your workout regime. Types of resistance training include free weights, the exercise ball, exercise bands and workout machines. These types of exercises benefit your bones, boost your metabolism and increase fat loss. No fitness program is complete without resistance exercises.

Putting exercise in a written schedule can make it easier to stop procrastinating. Plan the number of days, the times of days and the types of activity that you will participate in. If you end up missing your workout for whatever reason, make it a priority to reschedule it at a later date.

Whether you’re walking with friends, investing in some hand weights or getting tips online, there are a variety of ways to loose weight without spending a lot of money. A new routine or a change in habits can not only help you loose weight, but can add some pennies to your piggy bank.