So many people feel like they have to pay for a gym membership, or super expensive fitness equipment in order to get a good workout, but you don’t! You can do a great amount of exercise using just your own body! Cardio exercises are easy… Run/Walk in place, jumping jacks, and lots of other exercises that get your heart rate up. Strength exercises are easy to do using just your own body weight! Pushups, squats, lunges, all work with or without additional fitness equipment.

Walmart gave me a gift card to buy a few things to help make my home gym feel a little more complete. I was pleasantly surprised to find a large selection of weights, and other fitness equipment at really reasonable prices at Walmart, so I was able to make my money stretch pretty far!

Here are the items I got.

– Gold’s Gym 3 in 1 jump rope. It’s a speed rope, with weighted handles. Loved it! $14.77

– Gold’s Gym 8lb Soft Weight Ball – I’ve already graduated from the lighter options. Love these for seated torso twists. $9.77

– Gold’s Gym 75cm Anti-Burst Stayball. Tons of great exercises with this ball, and when I’m not exercising with it, I can sit on it at my desk, and STILL work on my core! $19

– Jillian Michaels Ultimate Vinyl Kettlebell Set (with storage tray) This came with an instructional DVD & Exercise Chart. I’ve learned so many exercises that can be done with Kettlebells, that I’m not going to get bored any time soon. $44.77

I also have an Everlast heavy bag stand and C3 Foam 100lb heavy bag on the way. Walmart allowed me to use $50 of my gift card towards this set, provided I pay for the rest. I can’t wait to add this to my workout room to help me and my girls practice our techniques for TaeKwonDo!

I do have a treadmill, that I got my hubby to agree to purchasing last year… and that’s my most expensive piece of equipment… Otherwise, you can outfit your workout area for around $100 and get some great accessories to get you moving in the new year! The exercises are easy, and can be fun! It’s an inexpensive alternative to paying for a costly gym membership, and honestly, there isn’t much more you can do at the gym that you can’t do at home!

I will have to show you my workout room once it’s all set up! I can’t wait!

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program.  Join me and my fellow Walmart Moms, and read about all of our New Year’s goals, and how we’re all making a Fresh Start in 2011! Walmart provided me with a gift card to purchase the equipment mentioned in this post. Walmart has provided me with compensation for my time on this post.  Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.