How to stay fit during the school semester.

Students love to come up with excuses for not working out, but the big one is usually how much it costs to join a gym. Listen: It’s not about which gym you go to or which clothes or shoes you get, it’s all about your motivation, your goals and how much you care about your health.

It’s not about the outside, it’s about the inside. And to prove that to you, let’s see how we can very inexpensively set up your own gym.

Location Location Location

It’s important that your workout space is a refuge from all the hectic distractions of your home or college. Make a dedicated space, roll out the yoga mat, blast your favorite workout music and follow the next few tips depending on what exercises you want to focus on.

Dumbbells

A set of dumbbells should be part of every home gym because you can train all your body muscles using them. At the very least get three weights you’ll use the most, like the 5, 10 and 15 lb ones, but I recommend just getting a full set of good quality dumbbells.

Resistance Bands

What I love about resistance bands is that they are inexpensive and versatile, useful for beginners or experts. They come in a variety of resistances, including light, medium and heavy, and you can even use multiple bands at once to increase the challenge. Strap it to a door, table or bench, and you’ve got yourself a cheaper universal machine with the same results! You can do pull-downs, standing chest presses, squats and shoulder-related exercises.

Stability Ball

Stability balls are light and more than just fun to bounce on, they’re a great way to target your lower body, upper body, abs and core. YouTube has a ton of easy to learn exercises that utilize stability balls, so check there for a good routine.

Don’t Skip the Cardio

Make sure to develop a cardio circuit where you move from skipping to jumping jacks to aerobic steppers when you exercise. On a daily basis, you can use the hallways in your college or work to walk, and make sure to always use the stairs. Move more and keep that heart rate up!

Healthy Exercise Habits Deserve Healthy Eating Habits

• Vary your meals and try to minimize scarfing down the same favorite foods at the cafeteria. Change up your diet from day to day.
• Remember to eat breakfast. Starting your day off right with a good meal when you get up helps you stay focused, full and energized.
• Keep healthy snacks around. It’s easier to avoid chips and chocolates if you maintain a stock of fruits and healthy snacks in your backpack.
• Drink water a lot! It helps boost your concentration as well as keep you from overeating.
• Limit junk food. Junk food is fast and easy and many students end up eating a lot of it while they’re on the run to class or to work. Try to incorporate healthier options as much as possible.