Cheap or Free Exercise

I just received my latest email with coupons from BJ’s and in it were several coupons to save money on exercise equipment. The prices on the 4 pieces of equipment range from $179.99 to $649.99 (after your coupon is subtracted). Wow! Such a deal! Exercise equipment is frequently advertised for sale or for free on the Cecil Freecycle or Cecil Yard Sale list serves. I also see equipment for sale at garage sales. How many people out there have some expensive piece of equipment gathering dust in their home?
What are some of our options besides buying equipment or joining a gym?
First is exercise at home with some weights and a mat. I have a yoga mat and two weights that I bought for a total of $16. I have a routine that I do several times a week that I took from various web sites but mostly from the Self magazine website. I joined the 2008 SELF Challenge and took some exercises from the monthly videos there. I also get emails every week and incorporate some of these exercises into my routine. Right now the 2009 challenge is going on. This is cheap. The big plus is I don’t have to go anywhere to do it and I didn’t have to buy any cute exercise clothes.
I also joined Exercise Friends since I love to hike and walk. I did find a walking buddy a few years ago but my work schedule changed and we don’t walk together anymore. We used to walk at the New Castle County Park in Glasgow. They have a great walking/riding/jogging trail that is 2.5 miles long. It is located on Rt. 40 across from the new YMCA. It also has a great playground!
Elkton’s Meadow Park, located on Delaware Ave., is also a great place to walk. Last Fall the town put down a paved path. The trail is 3/4ths of a mile long. The only drawback is you need to be careful of the cars that share the road.
I have read about the Women Who Walk in the Perryville area but cannot find anything on it on the web. I don’t have the Cecil Whig online subscription where I know they reported on it. Does anyone have information on it?
Let’s not forget our two State Parks – Elk Neck and Fair Hill. They are both beautiful places to take a walk or a hike. My husband and I frequently go to Fair Hill since it is near our home. For $3 in-state and $4 out-of-state, it is a cheap way to exercise. Does anyone know of walking trails in the southern part of the county?
As the weather gets warmer, the free, and almost free, options for exercise increase. Winter won’t last forever even if it sometimes feels like it.