Working Towards Fitness Goals on a Budget
When did fitness and the idea of becoming a healthier version of yourself become so expensive? Between the stacks of supplements, endless wardrobe of gym clothes, only eating “healthy” products, gym memberships and class fees that require a small loan to be taken out to afford, the cost of living a healthy lifestyle seems far out of reach for the average person. This, however, is not the only way to reach your fitness goals.
At Power Legion, we believe fitness is for everyone. Financial and systemic barriers should not be in place preventing people from living an active and healthy lifestyle, so we’ve gathered some ideas to help make fitness achievable for everyone.
Find an Affordable Gym
Despite what you may see, not all gym memberships cost over $100 a month. Places such as community centres often offer lower cost memberships with access to weight rooms, pools, and fitness classes. If you’re located in the Greater Victoria area, the City of Victoria also offers help to low income individuals and families by providing them with rec centre passes and other benefits through the LIFE program (see links below).
Another great program offered throughout BC is through the non-profit Empower-2-Lift. The organization is dedicated to making powerlifting a more inclusive sport by working to break down barriers to entry that athletes and coaches who live with disabilities and/or are low income may face. They offer funding, mentorship, and inclusive support programs.
Additionally, look for places offering student and senior discounts, government employee rates, as well as family memberships if those apply to you. Many gyms also offer referral rates, so ask your friends who go if they have one they can share with you!
Fitness Class Alternatives
Maybe you’re not an avid gym goer and prefer having an instructor take you through different kinds of workouts, like yoga, spin, bootcamp style classes, or whatever else is on the fitness market. However, these studio classes can quickly add up in drop in fees, and unlimited memberships tend to be on the pricier side (even upwards of $300 a month!). A few ways you can still enjoy group classes and save a bit are listed here:
Swap a few classes a month for at home, Youtube video led workouts.
Utilize community classes. Fitness studios in the Westshore area such as The Lab and Spinco offer monthly, sometimes weekly, community classes at a much less expensive drop in rate (bonus: these funds support a local charity as well). Check their monthly schedules and book a spot early.
Look out for new instructor led classes. Many places offer half-priced classes for the first few months their new instructors are teaching. Usually they will announce these on their social media platforms with the dates and times for these classes, so if there’s a new place you want to check out this is a great option as well.
Consider a subscription service such as ClassPass that allows you to pay a monthly fee and gives you access to a wide variety of fitness classes in your area.
Join your local community centre. Usually a monthly pass gives you access to not only the weight room, but to all of the fitness classes taught there as well, for all ages and most accessibility levels.
Join a rec league for a sport you love or one you want to try. Usually these are a one time, typically inexpensive fee for a few months of playing time. Great for getting active and creating community as well. Search for Facebook groups dedicated to team sports, or organizations such as Urban Rec in your area. Sportability and Oneability are also great BC organizations that have accessible sport leagues for people living with disabilities.
Check out our Power Legion classes! We offer a safe, supportive, inclusive space for all ages and accessibility levels, with hands-on coaches and individual feedback to help you get the most out of the class environment. We provide a sliding scale for individuals of low-income households to help further remove financial barriers.
Revamp your Supplement Routine
Supplements are exactly what they say they are -supplements. They are there to help support where your diet may be lacking, or if you have specific requirements based on your own personal health needs. However, not all supplements are entirely necessary, and can usually be quite costly. Working with a medical professional to see what you specifically may need is beneficial-otherwise save your money on the greens powders, pre-workouts, and whatever the newest product is that claims to change your life.
Get More Outside Movement
Utilize the outdoor spaces in your area to get some extra movement in. Bring a buddy or two to encourage others to do the same for an accountability system. Some great outdoor activities include:
Walking (extra steps during the day can make a huge difference over time)
Hiking
Biking
Swimming
Paddle boarding
Running
Kayaking
Jump roping
Roller skating
Equipment required for these activities can usually be found for reduced rates on resale sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or even at garage sales in your neighborhood.
Meal Plan and Prep
Making a monthly, or weekly, meal plan is a great tool to cut down on food costs. It helps prevent overbuying when you go into the store with a plan, and discourages weekly takeout that add up in price and may make it more challenging to reach your fitness goals. Creating a meal plan for the week or month with food that supports your goals will help keep you on track nutritionally and financially. Utilize cost-friendly options such as frozen and canned produce and meats as well-they still taste great when cooked and help reduce food waste.
Additionally, when you plan it’s helpful to look for sales on foods that fit your goals, like different types of produce and protein. Most grocery stores also offer a weekly or monthly flyer, as well as app or member specific perks. This not only helps save some money, but will also keep meals interesting. Check out the app/website Flipp for a full-breakdown of flyers in your area to keep up to date with sales.
Hopefully these tips help you in creating a sustainable, and affordable fitness routine that you will be able to fit into your life seamlessly.
Quick Links
LIFE Program: Assists low income individuals and families with rec centre passes and other subsidized recreation programs in Victoria.
https://www.victoria.ca/parks-recreation/recreation/accessibility-inclusion/life-program
Empower-2-Lift: Non-profit dedicated to reducing financial and systemic barriers for athletes and coaches who live with disabilities and/or are low-income.
ClassPass: Subscription based service that allows users to buy one monthly pass and use it for drop-ins at participating fitness studios.
Flipp: Shows weekly grocery store flyers in your area.
Urban Rec: Adult rec leagues offering various sport teams throughout the year.
Sportability: Accessible sports leagues around BC for various age and skill levels.
OneAbility: Network that works with local non-profits for adapted sport and physical activities. Full calendar of events to various adapted sport activities in Victoria.