Fitness on a dime starts with a walk

LITTLE ROCK — With so many options for staying fit, getting a great workout doesn’t have to mean spending a ton of money.

For instance, home gyms are more popular than ever, with convenience as the biggest reason people decide to work out at home.

There’s privacy. And you don’t lose sleep getting up extra early so you’ll have the time to drive to the gym. There’s no worrying about what to wear, no packing or unpacking a gym bag, no waiting for equipment.

You choose the room temperature, ventilation, music and lighting.

Without distractions found in most gyms, workouts have the potential to become more focused and productive. But ...

Equipment can take up considerable space.

Decide where you plan on setting up your gym and make note of square feet and height of the ceilings. Regardless of how much room is available, even if it is just one small corner of a room, it is still possible to get a great workout.

There are dozens of options available when it comes to exercise equipment. For aerobic conditioning, treadmills, stairsteppers and stationary bikes are good choices, allowing you to exercise year-round regardless of the weather.

Gear and equipment cost money.

My advice is to start with inexpensive basics until you are certain you are going to stick to your exercise program. Wait until you have at least six to eight weeks of consistent training under your belt before you decide to expand your gym to include more expensive items.

If you find that the things you want are way over your budget, consider buying them used. More often than not, with a little patience, you can find exactly what you are looking for at garage sales, in newspapers, buy/sell magazines or simply by asking friends, neighbors or co-workers.

You need to be healthy to workout safely.

Developing a proper training program depends on personal goals, physical limitations, as well as level of fitness.

Before you begin any exercise program, check with your doctor. If you have pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, recent injuries or joint problems (bad knees, arthritis, etc.), you will want to make sure your exercise program and choice of equipment are appropriate for your needs.

To achieve overall fitness,it is best to include aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Your program should be enjoyable enough that you look forward to the next session, yet challenging enough to see results.

Walking is a great aerobic activity that doesn’t cost a cent and requires no special equipment. It is one of the best ways to burn body fat, strengthen leg muscles and improve heart health.

If you have your heart set on getting your aerobic activity indoors, there still are many options available. Step benches are inexpensive, lightweight and save space. Exercise videos can be used with or without a step bench for learning all sorts of different of activities.

Using a jump rope is also a great way to get a cardiovascular workout, although I would not recommend this for beginners or anyone with joint problems.