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It is pointless choosing something you hate or you will not follow through or continue with it.
Before you start any exercise make sure that you get a check up with your Doctor or Physician, especially if you have any underlying health problems, are very overweight, smoke or if you have not exercised for quite some time.
If you are on a budget If you are on a budget then gymnasium fees may be prohibitively expensive for you so if using gym equipment is your thing, then think about adapting some of the exercises for home use, such as floor exercises on a mat, lifting small weights and perhaps invest in some small home gym equipment such as exercise bike or rowing machine and a blow up exercise ball.
You can probably pick a lot of these up quite reasonably from eBay or Amazon but make sure that if you get any second hand equipment it is checked out thoroughly and that it is completely safe to use before starting your exercise programme.
Walking or Jogging You could also think about other forms of exercise if you are really struggling due to the economic crisis.
You can walk or jog for free but make sure that the route you take is safe especially if you are a lone female.
You will need to make a small investment in a good pair of running or walking shoes.
Walking is especially good for most levels of fitness and even if you are massively overweight as long as your Doctor agrees then you can start with a few steps and gradually build up the distance that you walk.
If you are already very fit then you can always start power walking or hill walking to increase the levels at which you are exercising.
Perhaps you can find a friend to be a jogging partner or walking buddy, which will make the exercising more enjoyable and sociable and help to motivate you.
The time will also pass quickly if you are talking as you walk and it is much harder to give in and not bother if you know that someone is waiting for you to join them.
You can do some exercises at home using a can of beans in each hand as cheap weights to start with and if you get a strong piece of thick elastic you can sew it into a loop and use this in your exercises too, but be careful that it doesn't break.
Dancing If you love music and enjoy dancing then find a room in your home where you won't be disturbed and play your favourite music whilst dancing along and if you are worried about the neighbours seeing you then close the drapes.
If you are more confident then you can join a club and take up a new form of dancing such as tap, belly dancing, pole dancing or ballroom and salsa.
Skipping or Jump Rope This is a cheap way to exercise and a very good aerobic workout but may not be suitable if you have any joint problems, high blood pressure or any breathing or heart problems as it is rather strenuous.
Start with a few jumps and build up to 10, 20, 30 and so on.
Swimming If you live near a public swimming pool or have generous friends who are happy to let you use their pool then swimming is an excellent exercise especially if you are obese or extremely overweight as the water will help to support you and your joints.
You may even be lucky enough to find somewhere that offers Aqua Aerobics too, which is a great way to get into shape without pounding your joints too hard.
Have a look in your local area and see if there is somewhere that you can swim for a reasonable fee.
Golf Although Golf is thought of as an expensive sport there are some local golf courses and facilities that offer a per play option that can work out a lot cheaper than course fees.
Look for a course that also offers golf club hire so that you can try golf out first before going to any expense of buying equipment and then realising that you do not enjoy it.
If golf is completely un-attainable financially then perhaps you could look into becoming a caddie for someone you know or ask at your local course if there are any weekend or evening jobs that involve walking around the course and if they offer use of the facilities as a perk of employment then that would be even better.
There are many sports and exercises that you take up so if you don't like one find another that you do like.
No matter which exercise you choose make sure that you start gently and don't overdo it.
You need to begin at a low level of intensity and if it hurts then stop.
Gradually build up day by day so that you improve your level of fitness and increase the length of time as well as repetitions.
How Hard Should You Push Yourself You want to aim to push your self each time just past your comfort zone and improve on your previous performance.
If you go into a programme full on and push yourself too hard you will not sustain the programme and will most likely give up or cause yourself a nasty injury.
Remember if you get an injury then you will be unable to exercise for the time it takes to heal so take it gently and look after your body.
Also whichever exercise you choose you will need to warm up and cool down before and after each session and even if you are dancing around your own room make sure that you start with a slow song and end with a slow song and try to do some stretching exercises to protect your muscles.
Ideally you want to work up to at least 30 minutes 3 times a week but if you are really unfit and in bad shape then you must start slowly by maybe walking for 10 minutes each day and then increase this by 5 minutes more every couple of weeks.
If you are serious about getting fit then start slowly, working at your own pace, gradually build up your levels and most of all keep going long term as this is better than short bursts of excessive exercise followed by long periods of inactivity.
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