Your body is your temple. Sometimes, you want your outer appearance to give you confidence. As a man, you also want to show off your masculine build. Depending on your current body and finances, this may not seem like it’s in the cards for you.

Luckily, you have options to get results. Now, you may be discouraged by the hefty price of exercise equipment, but you don’t be. Fortunately for you, there are many ways you can get the body you’ve always wanted at an affordable price.

Find an affordable gym

Rather than investing all of your money into a home gym, you should find a local gym with reasonable membership prices. If you can, take some time to effectively research the fitness centers around you. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find one offering a gym free trial for a set number of days.

Even with full membership, there may be days when you can’t make it to the gym. In these instances, use some household items to your advantage. For instance, you may have cases of bottled water you can use instead of weights. You can also bench press your pet’s food if you don’t have equipment. 

Stream your workouts from home

Can’t afford a membership right now? You can find videos online and work out for free. Most phones come with apps like YouTube, which offers countless fitness channels of all levels. Don’t have any equipment? You can still find a fitness professional with workouts.

Use apps to make your goals a reality

There are plenty of applications that offer fitness goals and routines from health gurus at little to no cost. This is an affordable alternative to hiring a personal trainer. Having a fitness application tracking your progress helps you hold yourself accountable and attain your dream body.

Seek medical advice before working out

Of course, you’ll want to speak to a doctor before taking on a full fitness regimen. You’ll want to make sure you’re healthy enough to make large fitness goals to avoid serious injuries. A consultation before beginning a rigorous body transformation can be the difference between good health and expensive hospital bills.

Utilize your lunch break

Do you take time for lunch? Something as simple as taking a walk during this time can make a world of difference. If the weather is not great for getting outdoors, do some laps on your stairs instead.

Plan your meals

How many times have you found yourself ordering takeout after a workout? Planning your meals ahead of time can help you in a few ways. For one, it’s readily available for you post-workout. Secondly, you can make a cost-effective list for your grocery store visit. Finally, you can accurately count your calorie intake, which is essential in fitness training.

Take care of the equipment you have

Whether you found them on sale or paid full price, one of the best ways to get more bang for your fitness bus is to handle your workout equipment with care. Inexpensive options like resistance bands and weights can work wonders for your body, especially if you properly maintain them. Replacing damaged items is always more expensive than taking proper maintenance precautions.

Find someone to workout with

Want to get the most out of your gym membership? Find someone who will go with you. If you have a buddy that also wants to get in shape, you can schedule visits to the gym together. Not only will it be harder for you to justify not going, but you also have someone there to motivate you.

You should never choose between achieving your dream body and financially maintaining your quality of life. With a bit of research and planning, you’ll be on track to meeting your fitness goals. Simple tasks like finding an affordable gym and maintaining your at-home equipment will leave a surplus of funds in your account every month.

Even if you don’t have a budget for workout equipment, you can always use everyday household items. Before jumping into a routine, make sure you seek medical advice. Doing so helps determine if you’re healthy enough to embark on a new fitness journey. Otherwise, you’re vulnerable to injuries and even high hospital costs.