Five Ways to Get Fit for Free

Burn Calories, Not Money Want to have a skinny beach-ready body without spending a dime? Here's how to trim fat without lifting your wallet.

Count Your Calories Every recipe for weight-loss success contains one key component: consume less calories. There are many free and easy to use online sites and apps such as MyCalorieCounter.com and myfitnesspal that help you track your calories and provide nutritional value to help meet or maintain your weight loss goals. (Reuters)

Sneak in Cardio Experts suggest at least 20 minutes of some form of cardio every day, and that doesn’t have to be on a treadmill at a costly gym. Take long walks around your neighborhood, and choose to take the stairs to your office—all free activities to increase your heart rate. Jumping rope is also cost-effective (even though the rope may set you back a few bucks) and can burn up to 780 calories per hour. Simple actions like parking away from the entrance can help, remember: it all adds up. (Reuters)

Go to the park Playgrounds aren’t just for kids—they are full of hidden workout gems. Try doing chin-ups on the monkey bars, work on your core by walking across the balance beam, use a bench to do push-ups or use the slide to do sit-ups. (Reuters)

Organize a Team  Enlist friends and families to get together and play a group game of  softball, kickball, basketball or even just a jogging group. Time will fly when you are fun. (Reuters)

Ramp up boring chores Everyone has to do it: unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, make the bed. After all, your house won't clean itself. Get creative while doing these mundane tasks and pump up the music to get motivated and really move when you are vacuuming and dusting. If you find yourself standing in front of the sink doing dishes, add in some squats or toe raises. Move furniture, mow or rake the lawn, even gardening burns calories. (Reuters)