6 Ways to Lose Weight Without a Gym Membership

For some reason a lot of people feel that in order to lose weight they need to join a gym. That’s not always the case. You can lose weight without a gym by just making a few simple changes to your diet or your routine. Here I will go over 6 ways to lose weight without a gym membership.

Why a Gym Membership Isn’t Necessary

You can lose weight without a gym membership. There are of course numerous benefits to getting a gym membership, and the fact that it helps you burn fat and lose weight is just another one of them. However, it isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape. You can still get great results without it.

A gym helps motivate you to work out when you’re there and provides you with equipment to do so. However, the principles of weight loss can be applied both inside and outside of the gym, especially when your diet is probably 80% of the equation which has nothing to do with the gym.

Gym memberships can also be expensive and hard to schedule around your busy life. You have to pay a monthly subscription along with other fees. Plus you then have to change your clothes and drive there and back each day. This can make it nearly impossible as well for a stay-at-home mother of young kids unless she pays more for child care as well. It is not always possible. 

So let’s talk about some ways to lose weight without a gym membership.

6 Ways To Lose Weight Without A Gym Membership

1. Use phone apps: There are plenty of free fitness apps out there that you can use not only for home workout routines but also for controlling your diet. MyFitnessPal is a popular meal tracking app that you can use to set your daily goals that will aid in your weight loss.

2. Take a daily walk: If you’re not a big fan of running, taking a walk can be just as effective. Walks actually burn primarily fat as fuel because it is slower burning and less efficient than carbohydrates so it’s reserved for low intensity activities. A good goal is 10,000 steps a day if you can track it either with your smartphone or smartwatch. Otherwise try to get in 30-60 min of walking on top of your daily activities. A few hundred calories a day can add up over time.

3. Build a home gym: If you want to invest a little money, you could also start to slowly build your own home gym so you have the equipment with no monthly fees. Depending on what you buy this can get expensive so here is an article for you to start your gym for under $75.00.

4. Reduce your stress: Stress can make you gain weight as well. Prolonged stress increases your cortisol levels which is a stress hormone that can cause higher belly fat and cravings for sugary foods. So reducing your stress can counteract that. Try meditating, eating frequently to maintain steady blood sugar levels, and sleeping enough for starters.

5. Eat better: Of course, it’s not just about exercising, but also eating right. A healthy diet is way more important than the amount of exercise you do. Maybe your routine will burn the calories that you ate in one slice of pizza but that’s about it. So if you are consuming way more calories than you burn, no exercise can solve that. To lose weight you need to be in a slight caloric deficit and using a tracking app like MyFitnessPal is crucial to maintaining that. You don’t want to go on a “diet”. You just want to eat natural, healthy, and balanced meals. A good tip is to focus on getting high amounts of protein in each meal and generally your other macronutrients will fall into place as well.

6. Play sports: Playing sports is a fun way to both perform cardio as well as reduce stress. You may push yourself a lot harder in a sport than if you are simply jogging on your own because you have a competitive goal. It also doesn’t really feel like exercise because you are having fun but being active at the same time.

Gym memberships aren’t always affordable or accessible. This is a reminder that the principles of losing weight have always been eating a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle. Though a gym offers a convenient way to exercise, with a little effort and creativity you can easily lose weight without a gym membership.