Free/Cheap Workout Ideas

[Cheri__1]

Hi, I am a graduate student therefore barely enough money for food. I have no equipment, and very little space in my rented out bedroom. I am starting from pretty much scratch. I already use the 7 minutes fitter app with some modifications as I cannot do pushups yet, let alone the pushups with a twist, or the side plank. But I am wondering if anyone else has things, or favourite youtube workouts that they like to do.

Moderator edit: title to fit post

[emili]

Hi Cheri and welcome. I have found tons of good workouts on pinterest. Just type in what body part you want to work and it gives you lots of options to choose from. you have to weed through some nonsense but I think that's true for anything. Also if you youtube Jillian Michaels, she has a few really good workout routines out there. again, you have to get past her annoying way, but she has good stuff. you may want to invest is some dumbbells- not too late to put on your holiday wish list....

[Bo-Ra]

Hi Cheri,

First of all, congratulations 🙂

Limited space reminds me prison and from there I can suggest "Convict Conditioning" by Paul Wade. He has a step by step approach for calisthenics. For example he starts with wall push ups and if you follow his plan you end up doing single handed push ups. If you ask if I can, the answer is a big NO 😞 because I didn't have the patience so far. Hope you can do better 🙂

[josephz2va · Accepted solution]

You can also try Fitstar and perform a few modifications.

• Jumping Jacks - step outs and ins.
• Pushups - Knee position push ups.
• Lunges - Only as far as you can go.
• Side Planks - One leg bent on the floor, One leg straight out.

[fitmissjen]

Hi @Cheri__1 and welcome to the community!

There are tonnes of body weight exercises you can do which will still help you achieve results. You can even use items from around the house as weights when you are ready. A backpack filled with magazines, tins of peaches as little dumbbells. 

• Air Squats
• Lunges
• Sit Ups / Bicycle crunches
• Scaled Pressups (on your knees)
• Planks

I hope this helps 🙂

v

[betpchem]

All those are good exercises. Can you jump rope or will that bother the neighbors? I have a balance board that I like to use that wouldn't take up much space.

I'm fond of this plank challenge I found on Pinterest: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Plank-Challenge-33037843#photo-33037843

Remember, any activity works. I just cleaned my house and ended up with 8,000 steps and 15 floors. 🙂

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Oh_Pamela]

Strong second for youtubing workout videos. Also, check your local thrift store (or Walmart) for some cheap dumbbells ($4-15). I got a pair for about $7.  Here's a super quick dumbbell workout: http://www.buzzfeed.com/sallytamarkin/dumbbell-arms-workout#.ugPoBz9NW .

[Tave]

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@Cheri__1 wrote:

Hi, I am a graduate student therefore barely enough money for food. I have no equipment, and very little space in my rented out bedroom. I am starting from pretty much scratch. I already use the 7 minutes fitter app with some modifications as I cannot do pushups yet, let alone the pushups with a twist, or the side plank. But I am wondering if anyone else has things, or favourite youtube workouts that they like to do.

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Congrats Cheri on getting started.  Some good suggestions have already been posted.  I can give you a few more things I did from when I was a grad student.

Cardio.  Stairs - lots of them.  If you live in a building or have access to a building with a lot of floors, try making a workout of going up to the top several times.

Strength training.  Fill two gallon jugs or half gallon jugs with water (at a resistance you can handle) and lift to condition your arms.  Empty dresser drawers also work.  You can try some of these workouts: http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/top-10/index.html.

[Melissa356]

what an awesome post thanks for sharing.

[Melissa356]

what an awesome post thanks for sharing and thanks Cheri1 for asking the question!!

[DominicJ]

"I have no equipment, and very little space in my rented out bedroom."

Of course you do, you just have to get creative

5kg weight

https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://theorganicshed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/N5L_5L.j...

500g weight

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=274622305

Burpees are a great bodyweight exercise that hits everything, but if you cant be a pressup yet they will have to come later.

[Zentiny]

I just found this some how. I think this is great. I  am new to fitbit and I am not real sur if I can get back to it

[Melissa356]

It should send the thread to your email I kept it from there.

Sent from my iPhone

[lemoore]

Buy a skipping rope a deck of cards.  Get creative.  Killer workout.

blacks do something on the rope

reds do something on the floor

for example:  

king of spades - 10 double unders on the rope

7 of hearts - 7 pushups.

joker - 10 burpees

as i say, get creative !

Oh, you have no room for a rope.  well, squats then!

so, black = lower body and red = upper body

[Ryboflavin]

Take a look at TRX.  You can hang from your door with the door anchor adapter.  There are a ton of youtube videos, online resources, pay for resources for it. Its really good for home pilates too.

[alphasid]

Download from torrent: Les Mills combat or...UFC fit . If you do all of theyr program you should get in a good shape, and only need 2 meters f space

[Lotus99]

I like the Nike Training Club app (for Android or iPhone) for a guided set of movements. Some of the workouts are more challenging than others, but it's nice to have a set of movements to do. There's tons to choose from, many of them need no equipment.

[aysha241]

Check out jessicasmithtv on youtube. Her workouts are amazing!