PILE on the pounds over Christmas? Wallet taken a battering along the way?

There are ways to shape up without splashing serious cash. Today, Mr Money runs you through the best affordable options.

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If gyms arent your thing, save hundreds of pounds by working out at home instead.

Turn on your smart TV to find thousands of YouTube fitness videos, which have taken the place of workout DVDs. Popular channels include the Fitness Marshall, Popsugar Fitness, Blogilates and FitnessBlender.

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Kathryn Wright, chief exec of discountvouchers.co.uk, said: You can find some great workouts on YouTube for free. Or to follow a set programme for targeted workouts with a desired result, why not try a yoga course from the Udemy site? Its just 10.99.

Remember, you dont have to splurge on kit to see great results.

Poundland is launching a new home fitness range including floor roller wheels (5), yoga mats (4) and skipping ropes (2), plus water bottles for 1.

Want a personal trainer? Save hundreds more a year by getting your phone to do it for you.

The NHSs Couch To 5k plan is designed to get beginners off the sofa and running 5km within nine weeks.

Podcasts offering guidance and reminders can be downloaded via iTunes or you can install an app on your phone.

All you need is a pair of headphones and your running gear. Then you are ready to go.

Other free apps include My Training and Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer.

The latter is a great way to start if you are new to working out. It lets you pick which area of the body you would like to focus on during your 30-minute session.

HERE are three of the best apps for getting you started. All are free, but with in-app purchases, on iPhone and Android.

Nike Training Club THIS app is sensational. It has lots of workouts of different challenge levels and timings, including some that focus on using your body weight instead of using gym weights.

Seven 7min Workout HIGH-Impact Interval Training (HIIT) is about short, sharp workouts to get your heart rate into a training zone. Even the busiest among us can find seven minutes a day, surely?

Strava THIS running app is hugely popular and when you try it, you will see why. It shows your run (or cycle ride, or swim) on a map. You can aim to beat your own best times or get involved in challenges with your mates.

If you are dead-set on joining a gym, make sure get the most suitable deal for your lifestyle.

Money.co.uks Salman Haqqi said: Gyms can be worth the money if you use them regularly and have a strict routine and fitness goal.

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But they can be expensive if you dont make a commitment to go every week. You would need to work out three times a week to make a 50-a-month contract pay.

There are plenty of cheaper options. PureGym, the Gym Group and Better Health & Fitness all run deals for under 16 a month.

Shop around to find a contract with no joining fee and no fixed term. Watch out for those pricey cancellation fees, too.

You can often get a better rate if you turn up in person and haggle and sign up at the end of a month, as sales staff at some gyms have monthly sales targets they need to hit so they are more open to negotiating.

Or if you dont feel ready to commit to membership, why not buy pay-as-you-go passes? Hussle.com offers bundles of five-day, ten-day and unlimited monthly+ passes that will get you access to more than 1,200 gyms around the country.

Lacking motivation? Set up a running group with some pals to spur each other on.

Also, look out for events taking place in your community.

Salman says: Its worth joining your local Parkrun. These are free, weekly 5k runs organised in many towns and cities across the UK. The runs are timed, so you can track your performance to gauge whether youre improving.

Finally, why not combine achieving your fitness goals with doing your bit for charity?

Sign up for free and raise vital cash for the MS Society by biking across Britain at biketheukforms.org.

See the article here:
From cut-price gyms to training apps, here are affordable ways to get fit in January - The Sun