If gym membership fees seem a little too steep or bad weather is keeping you indoors, there are still plenty of ways to start a fitness regimen without cleaning out your wallet.
You can get fitness equipment that doesn't require a ton of space and won't clean out your bank account. Here are four exercise gadgets that cost under $100, require little or no setup and take up less space than your average ottoman. All can be found on the Web or in most sporting-goods stores.
Jump rope: Not just for boxers and little girls Jump ropes are made from a variety of materials, including vinyl, plastic beads and leather. The more user-friendly models have padded foam handles and ball bearings between the handles and rope so they swivel more smoothly. When you buy a rope, make sure you choose the proper length: Stand on the center of the rope with one foot, and pull the rope straight up along the side of your body. It's a perfect fit if the handles reach to your armpit. Prices range from $5 to $25. Some brands we love: All Pro, Lifeline, Licorice Speed and Speed Rope.
Step: Simple device, serious results So what if it's a glorified milk crate? Stepping up and down on a step bench burns almost as many calories as running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace, with about half the impact. Because step intensity is easily adjustable -- you can raise the height, vary your speed or add more complex movements -- this piece of equipment is a must-have for any at-home exerciser. Steps cost $20 to $100; add another $20 or so for each of the latest step aerobic tapes available at Collage Video.
Exercise ball: Bounce your way to fitness Remember the hippity-hop ball you used to bounce around on when you were in kindergarten? Even if you never had the pleasure of playing on one of those oversized colored plastic balls, you'll love its grown-up cousin, the exercise ball. Exercise balls are effective for stretching and developing balance and coordination; you can even substitute one for your weight bench to take your weight training to a whole new level. Exercise balls also go by the names Physioballs, Swiss balls, gymnastic balls and Resist-a-balls. They come in a wide range of colors and sizes and typically sell for $15 to $50.
Exercise Bands: Pump rubber for serious results Rubber can be just as effective as weights for toning and strengthening your muscles. Special exercise bands and tubes come in a variety of lengths and tensions; you can do literally hundreds of exercises with them that do a pretty good job of mimicking weight-machine and free-weight moves. When not in use, they tuck into a drawer, your pocket or your purse. Atlus, Theraband, Spri and Challenge P.R.O. are some band brands we love. The bands cost as little as $10 for a set of three.
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