How Much Does Fitness Actually Cost?
Almost everyone who sticks to their workout regimen has found the type of fitness they like. This could mean doing CrossFit a few times a week, jogging every morning, or hiring a personal trainer to guide them through a one-to-one workout. However, everything comes at a price.
So let’s talk about what you will be spending in various scenarios, from the cost of each type of gym, to the upgrades you are likely to make, to the comparative cost of home alternatives.
No-frills gym visit
First things first: The main cost here is the membership itself. Budget networked gyms can run anywhere from $ 10 to $ 20 a month, with slightly nicer locations ranging from $ 50 or more. However, please note the additional fees written in the small print.
On the first day, you will need athletic shoes, clothing, and a duffel bag with some essentials such as a water bottle. The cost varies, but you probably already have these items at home.
Potential Improvements: A good personal trainer guides you through your workout, reducing your uncertainties about what to do, while ensuring that you adhere to a program that will lead you to your goals, whatever they may be. Lessons cost a one-hour session with a trainer on average between $ 35 and $ 120 depending on how trendy your gym is.
If you are not working with a coach, you can plan your workouts yourself and strive to achieve your goals. Free or paid training programs or online trainers can fill this gap; prices vary greatly from those.
Do It At Home: There is no way to completely recreate the gym at home as the whole reason to go to the gym is because they have everything they need . But you can get by with a set of dumbbells or resistance bands, a weighted barbell if you can, and possibly a cardio machine or running shoes. The price of this investment varies greatly depending on how much gear you want to save up.
Crossfit
What you need to start boxing to CrossFit (as they call them) – one of the most expensive gyms. A typical US membership costs $ 156 per month, according to Rounds for Time , but this is on average an unlimited membership (often around $ 200) and more limited (say, $ 100 per access once or twice a week). Just like a regular gym, you’ll need basic sportswear and equipment to get started.
Potential Improvements: CrossFit enthusiasts often end up stockpiling special items like multiple types of shoes, rope climbing socks, and more. Since this sport combines the components of lifting, gymnastics and cardio, you may need more equipment than in the gym, where you do just a few of the same things all the time. If you’re serious about sports, you can also pay extra for extra time at the gym or for exercising.
Do it at home: As with a commercial gym, getting the equipment you need can be very expensive and very fast. But many CrossFit workouts can be done with little or no equipment: think burpees and running. You can take advantage of free workout ideas on Google or sign up for an online service like Street Parking , which offers workouts at home for $ 19 a month.
Indoor cycling
Getting Started : Classrooms in a swanky studio usually run from $ 20-40 each, and packages and memberships bring the cost down a bit. My local CycleBar offers a 10-class package for $ 169 or unlimited rides for $ 149 a month; in the same area, SoulCycle charges $ 280 for a 10-class package.
Commercial gyms and community fitness centers sometimes include cycling lessons as part of a membership or as an add-on package for considerably smaller than trendy studios.
Potential improvements: If you do this long enough, you’ll need your own shoes, which cost around $ 100.
Do it at home: Peloton is the classic here, and there are other companies out there who will sell you a similar smart bike. The standard Peloton package is $ 2,000 for the bike and accessories, with a membership for another $ 39 per month.
You can also use the cheaper Peloton app (or another app like Apple Fitness +) with a home bike you already own, or you can put your bike on a home trainer for a complete homemade experience.
Run
What you need to start: shoes to start. If you have old sneakers that won’t hurt your feet, you should be fine, but pretty soon you’ll probably be buying a pair of real sneakers for around $ 100.
And if you have breasts, a quality sports bra is a must. Depending on how much support you need, you are looking at between $ 20 and $ 50 or more. (Wash it by hand after every run, and you may be able to do without one or two.)
Potential Updates: If you’re serious about running, chances are you’ll need a watch that tracks your pace and other metrics like your heart rate. (Garmin is loved by serious runners; Fitbits or the Apple Watch will be fine for most of us regular people.)
And then there are the races. The entry fee for a local 5K can be around $ 25, but marathons and halves easily get around $ 100 and up. A big marathon ticket can cost $ 300 if you can even get into it, and sometimes runners plan their vacation around their dream race. This is a sport that can cost as much or less as you want.