Introduction
To get fit and healthy is not only considered to be a motivational issue, the economical part could itself be a major obstacle for people not being able to get in better shape. Depending on the living cost and a person's annual salary it may cause some restrictions on what people can afford therefore all fitness options are not available for everyone. I've decided to share my experience and knowledge on the subject what is the most cost-efficient way to train the body.
The cost
On the subject of cost, some of the examples of price can fluctuate depending on local price. The average gym membership cost 40$ monthly in the US 1. That is an annual cost of 480$ and what does it give you? In broad terms from a typical commercial gym offers the customer weightlifting machines, treadmills, free weights and perhaps classes e.g spinning, dancing etc. In an overall sense, you have a wide repertoire of ways to get into shape. The downside is obviously the cost which might be expensive but it is still the cheaper option than installing your own gym in the garage. For the case of running and mixing it with calisthenic workouts, it will cost around 75 $ 2 for a decent pair of running shoes. A calisthenic workout is based mostly on a bodyweight routine and working on different pull-up variations on the bar. If you don't have any public outdoor gym you will need to purchase a pullup-bar(20$) or gymnastic rings (28$). The gym equipment and shoes will land you on a total of approx. 123 $.
Enter the kettlebell
The kettlebell, in my opinion, the most versatile and cost-efficient training equipment. The reason for it, when you are training with a kettlebell you can design a tailored routine for your specific goal. You can train both strength and the cardiovascular system with one tool. Excercise with the kettlebell also promote what people in the fitness industry call "functional" movement that you can translate to everyday life. For instance, the kettlebell swing trains your core, shoulders, gluteus, hamstrings, pecs, in other words, it activates a chain of muscles which mimic everyday activities. If we take a traditional exercise let say the bench press, you are going to in the opposite direction of "functional". Don't get me wrong the bench press is not a bad exercise but how often are you going to be in that position in everyday life?
To train with kettlebells is a low-cost and it ranges around 44 $ for a 35 lb which is a good start weight for men. For women, there are 26lb kettlebells for 33 $. Obviously heavier kettlebell = cost more. Other than the kettlebell you don't need much, by searching on the internet you can find good sources on proper technique and specific kettlebell routines. If you have a bit more money to spend it's recommended to hire a personal trainer with experience with kettlebells, this can help you to dial the correct movements to avoid improper techniques and unnecessary injuries.
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