Our top tips for exercising without costly gyms and classes — plus find out how to win £5,000 with Sun Savers
THE cost of gym memberships and exercise classes means our wallets feel like they’re losing more weight than us.
Here busy mum and health and fitness guru Pollyanna Hale shares her tips on how to keep fit for less, from using free or low-cost apps to creating your own exercise classes with friends:
- Free apps: Apps are great for people who love using their phones and most offer a free version, with paid upgrades for premium features. WatchFit has tons of free articles as well as relatively cheap plans you can buy.
- Gym classes aren't necessary: Home workouts can be really effective if you can motivate yourself. YouTube has lots of free workout videos to follow too.
- Make it up: Make up your own workout using bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, sit-ups, burpees, press-ups and sprints on the spot. Interval training is great if you’re short on time. Or if you prefer getting outdoors then running, cycling or a long walk are all free.
- Household chores: Play some lively music, put some effort in and work quickly — you’ll get the jobs done twice as fast and have a tidy house by the end. If gardening, ensure you work up a sweat for it to be effective.
- Keep moving: Take every opportunity to move more, like using a standing desk and pacing up and down while taking phone calls. All movement helps boost circulation and prevents stiff muscles and an achy back.
- Playing with the kids: If you have children then playing with them is certainly better than sitting on the sofa or park bench. In fact playgrounds are fantastic for an all-over workout, with a good mix of climbing, pulling yourself up, holding your core tight to support yourself and chasing after your kids.
- Get creative: Most workout classes will ask for a small fee but if there’s nothing suitable for you why not create your own class with a few friends? Keep each other accountable by committing to meeting in the park or in someone’s living room or garden if there’s space.
- Go online: Numerous online support groups are popping up where you can get support and ask advice from people with similar goals. Facebook groups in particular can be a good way to meet other budding fitness fans. Weight Loss and Fitness for Mums is my group aimed at sharing tips on how to get fit and eat healthier.
FITNESS FACT BOX
- We shell out an average of £362 a year on gym memberships, according to
- Last year a staggering £558million a year was spent on gym memberships that aren’t used, says a poll by gym clothing brand Banana Moon.
- One in seven of us are members of a gym, according to a leisure industry report.
Win £5,000 cash
WITH winter just around the corner and the autumn chill forcing us to put the heating on, now is the time of year our household bills start to increase.
But The Sun is here to help as we’re giving you the chance to win £5,000 to put toward your bills for a year.
TEN lucky winners will get £5,000 cash each.
To enter, simply join Sun Savers today. Then collect ten Sun Savers codes before Tuesday, October 31.
Today’s code and how to join Sun Savers is on further down. Once you have your ten codes, you will be prompted to enter.
Make sure you enter by Monday, November 13.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Collect TEN Sun Savers codes from the 18 printed in The Sun between today, Saturday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Last chance to join in is Sunday, October 22. Competition closes at 23:59 on Monday, November 13. Over-18s, residents of the UK only. One entry per person.
Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. There will be TEN winners of £5,000 only. Allow 28 days from entry closing for the draw to take place. Winners will be notified within seven days. No cash alternative to prize in whole or in part. Prize is non-transferable. Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition. Promoter is News Group Newspapers Ltd.
Not open to staff of the Promoter and promotional partner or their families. The winners will be required to participate in reasonable publicity relating to this competition. The Editor’s decision is final.
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club, which launched this week, will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
Simply collect 28 codes and we'll give you £5 for FREE
In fact, it is completely up to you how much you save.
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at .
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.
All we’ll ask of you is your name, your date of birth and an email address to get you on the way to your first crisp fiver.
You can choose to save or cash out straight to your bank account or instantly with Paypal.
Don’t delay — join Sun Savers now!
Two free tickets to Madame Tussauds worth £70
GO ape with Kong: Skull Island star Tom Hiddleston with two free tickets to Madame Tussauds London, worth £70!
To claim your tickets, download the Sun Savers app or register at and collect NINE Sun Savers codes by November 14.
You can also get tickets for the Coca-Cola London Eye for just £9.50 per person when booking Madame Tussauds London tickets.
- T&Cs apply. Subject to availability.
