The fitness industry has sold you a lie. It said the expensive gym membership would give you beautifully toned abdominals. It told you your metabolic woes could be solved by taking a little green pill each morning. It even promised to meet your body’s daily nutritional needs with a convenient bottle of Orwellian sludge … all at a price.
The reality is that getting fit is alarmingly simple: move more, be consistent and repeat. Here are the tips and affordable kit that have helped real people – our readers – get fitter, including everything from a trampoline to a dog.
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Easy fitness tips and tricks
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Adjustable weights
I stay active by doing yoga and pilates at home. I wanted to incorporate resistance training to build muscle, too, but I live in a small flat and don’t have room for racks of dumbbells. So I bought an adjustable set instead. They’re stored on the bookshelf in my home office when I’m not using them. TJ
Corength 20kg dumbbell kit
£39.99 at Decathlon £42.98 at DebenhamsNordicTrack 25kg Select-A-Weight adjustable dumbbell set
£349 at John Lewis £349 at Boots***
Easy-sip water bottle
I found that having a CamelBak water bottle with a bite valve and straw has really improved my water intake. Not having to remove a cap or even tip the bottle made taking regular sips an almost unconscious action, massively boosting my hydration. Nick
CamelBak Eddy water bottle, 750ml
£20 at Argos £15.05 at Amazon***
Rebounder
Aching joints and persistent plantar fasciitis have forced me to hang up my running shoes. Instead, I’ve dusted off my cheap folding rebounder – a mini trampoline – and I’m loving it. I pop it in front of the TV and run on the spot to 180bpm tunes. Sometimes, I even put a virtual run video on YouTube (Singapore, NY, Tasmania – take your pick). If I want to dial up the intensity, I add weights on my ankles and wrists. It definitely gets the heart racing. Not sure I’ll ever go back to running. It’s saving me a fortune on expensive trainers. Jo S
Domyos Fit Trampo 100 cardio fitness trampoline
£34.99 at Decathlon £39.99 at AsdaDomyos 2kg adjustable wrist/ankle weights, pack of two
£19.99 at Decathlon £22.98 at Debenhams***
Running club
The best money I’ve ever spent on fitness is joining my local running club. The annual membership gets me weekly coached sessions, weights/core sessions during winter months, trail-running groups, monthly races against other local running clubs and lots more. It’s also been invaluable for making new friends and connections in the area. Since joining, I’ve run my first half-marathon in seven years and knocked five minutes off my 5k PB. Not bad for £45 a year. Andy Carne
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Running shoes
I recently completed the Couch to 5k running programme. Investing in a pair of good trainers that suited my personal running form gave me the motivation to keep going. As it turns out, trainers are technical things, and it’s not a one-style-suits-all approach. Who knew! I took a free gait assessment at a local running shop, and they recommended a shoe style for my natural forefoot strike (the Saucony Guide 18). The difference in comfort is incredible. Rachel
Saucony Guide 18 trainers
From £87 at Saucony £129.50 at M&S***
A dog
I was 68 and diagnosed with severe emphysema when I adopted my dog. Getting up the stairs was hard enough. I had to stop and catch my breath to stop feeling dizzy. Four years on, and I’m walking about 90 to 100 miles a month; my emphysema is now classed as mild. Overall, I’m fitter than I was 15 years ago. She’s been my personal trainer and my beautiful companion. Dave Garroch
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Calorie-tracking app
Many people don’t understand how many calories are in a handful of nuts or a few biscuits. Understanding how much energy is in common foods can be quite an eye-opener for people.
My younger brother, who’s not a fitness person at all, started using an app to see how many calories are in the foods he eats and was horrified to learn how quickly he hits his daily sugar allowance by having a chocolate bar and a can of Coke. Matt Kollat
MyFitnessPal app
Free (or premium for £19.99/mth) at MyFitnessPal***
Bodyweight exercises
I do pilates and calisthenics at home. Bodyweight workouts allow you to do so much with so little. I use kitchen worktops for dips and a set of basic wooden bars that cost about £30 to do all my pressing movements, such as push-ups. Pretty low cost and highly effective. I ride a bike for cardio, too. Graeme Gaughan
Wooden parallettes bars
£26.99 at Amazon***
Parkrun
As a new runner, I found parkrun made me accountable. It makes you get up and actually go. I think when you have to be there on a certain date and time, you’re less inclined to just sack it off. I can go at my own pace, and it’s busy with runners of all abilities, so I don’t feel self-conscious about how fast I’m going or what I’m wearing. I find I go faster in a group too, so it helps me to improve from week to week. Katie Crosby
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Hi-vis belt
I’ve always liked the idea of commuting to and from work, but I found riding a bike in the city intimidating. I got a hi-vis belt for next to nothing, and it has boosted my confidence. I now ride to the office every day, and I’ve lost weight doing so. It just goes over whatever you’re wearing and folds up small enough to fit into a backpack pocket when not in use. Sarah
Proviz Flexi viz cycling/running belt
£14.99 at Proviz £16.50 at Decathlon***
Always walk
The biggest shift in my fitness came when I changed my mentality around movement. I decided to never take the easy option. If it’s a choice between escalators and stairs, I’ll take the stairs. Toss up between hopping in the car and a 30-minute walk? I’m walking. I’ve applied this to everything I do, and it has worked wonders. I also make sure to do at least 10,000 steps every day, non-negotiable. If I haven’t hit it by the time I’m home from work, I get out and make up the numbers! So simple, but so effective for keeping the weight off, not to mention better for the planet. Christoph
Has something made you fitter and healthier? Let us know by emailing thefilter@theguardian.com
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Paddy Maddison is a consumer journalist, outerwear enthusiast and exercise addict. If he’s not hiking in the hills, he’s grinding up them on his bike, hurtling down them on his snowboard, or lacing up his running shoes and hitting the pavements. As a result, he gets plenty of time to put all the latest gear through the wringer for the Filter
