For the first year or so of my fitness journey, I spent $0 on the endeavor.
I watched free YouTube fitness videos, read free blogs, and borrowed books from the library. While housesitting and traveling, I used whatever was on hand. If nothing was on hand, I did body weight exercises. My legs carried me at least four miles every day and they happily did it for free.
And I was in great shape. You’ve seen the pictures.
About a year into my fitness crusade, I rented an apartment and settled down a bit and slowly started acquiring stuff to aid in the crusade.
From my parents’ house, I took a yoga mat, Pilates balls, and three pound weights.
The equipment is so colorful and happy. It makes me want to work out.
After about six months of using the three pound weights and looking the same, (good) I decided I wanted something heavier.
First, I bought these adjustable weights for $20 off Facebook marketplace.
I used them for about a month and decided I hated them. It took a stupid long time to set up the different weights. You have to unscrew each side. Very annoying.
I lusted over the Powerblock brand of adjustable weights, and after about a month of scouring Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, I snagged a pair for $95. 5-45 pound weights, adjustable in five pound increments.
Oh, I rather love them. Just looking at them makes me happy. They’re so colorful and beckoning. Use me!
I sold the first set of adjustable weights for $30 and hummed happy hymns and used my new powerblocks every day, for another six plus months. I looked good, I think.
Then, after months of looking, I found the dream, these adjustable weights for $120. You just have to be patient.
4-32 pound weights adjustable to just about any increment.
I quickly bought them and have been using them daily for a couple of months. I love them more than I thought possible.
And then I sold the 5-45 lbs weight set for $210 about 24 hours after I posted them online for $225.
If you’re keeping track at home, ladies and gentlemen, that means I’ve spent $0 on my weight equipment.
What else have I bought for fitness sake?
I bought a program on fitnessblender.com for $20. My heart rate monitor cost me $35. I went to a goat yoga class once for $32.
Less than $100 spent over the last two and a half years on fitness specifically. And I think I’m in pretty darn fine shape health-wise.
That’s how I’m retired. Get it?
Of course, you do. And you do you because I’m not saying that holding onto your dollars is the right way to go about this either. I still don’t have a six-pack. Maybe a trainer or a gym membership or team sports dues would be a better way to get in shape. I could spend money on a photographer who knows lighting so my pictures aren’t as terrible. I don’t know.
I’m just telling you.
Hi,
You made a typo in the link to your instagram. You wrote a “/” instead of a “.”.
Thanks! I fixed it.
Still broken for me. You are in better shape and hotter than 99% of the human population – keep up the good work!
That’s nice of you to say!
I also love fitness blender and my power block weights, so I know exactly what you’re talking about! My sisters are the ones who introduced me to both of these; twice a year when our family gets together, my sisters work me into the ground with fitness blender videos, and I kind of love how exhausted it makes me.
Just looking at my powerblocks makes me happy. 🙂
Hello
You are doing a great job 👍🏽
You might consider living in a retirement community.
The choices of and amenities is endless and included in the fees.
Stay Blessed always 🙏🏽
I think retirement communities have age restrictions. Like you have to be 55+.
So, have you thought of lacing up your running shoes and training for a 5k? It’s sort of addicting. I ran my first race at 63 and just a few months later my wife & I had enough finisher’s medals to trim our Christmas tree.
Paying money to get up early to go running sounds like the opposite of something I’d do. 🙂 But good on you for starting so late! Maybe I’ll try it when I’m older, too. 🙂
I feel the same about paying money to wake up early and run 🙂
No, thanks. Lol.
Your bought the first pair for of 4-45lb for $95 and sold it for $210? Or was it a typo!
$210 is more than the retail price.
You must be a great sales person.
They retail for $300
It also took me months to find them for $95. They sell for $200+ regularly on Craigslist, etc.
Have you tried indoor rock climbing? It sounds like you could have a nice side hustle just by using your marketing skills to re-sell second-hand items!
Haha, I don’t have anywhere to put the things to resell.
And no, never tried indoor rock climbing.
You should give rock climbing a try sometime. It’s the best body weight training out there! It combines balance, strength, flexibility, and problem solving in a way that makes it much more interesting than lifting weights.
Okay. But lifting weights is pretty interesting in my opinion.
Abraham Lincoln, you know the President, would be proud of you. He was the original FIRE starter. He never attended law school; he borrowed books and treatises. Then he practiced for 17 years. Imagine how much more dinero you would have.
My uncle offered to pay for my law school. I did not let him, but I do wonder how I’d be doing if I accepted. Maybe I needed to pay down that debt?
Between biking and backpacking I had a lot of gear, well to me it was a lot of gear, and I made a no spend rule for myself – and basically was cost neutral for a few years as I replaced worn out or not quite perfect stuff and bought new stuff using Craigslist and the like. I was pretty proud of myself.
I love getting a good deal. It sends the endorphins out. 🙂
What brand is the last set of dumbbells? Link please?
Thank you!
They’re powerblock dumbbells. I love them! Here is the link. They’re out of stock right now! Crazy times.
Love this. Set alerts for Powerblocks in my area but right now home fitness equipment is going for a premium over list.
Which fitnessblender program did you buy? Do recommend? Tried any others after that one? I saw quite a few are on sale for $4.50! Thanks!
Oh nice! There are a few on sale for that cheap. Thanks for the heads up! I bought the FB Fit – Round 2 – 8 week fat loss program to lose weight, build lean muscle and tone up. It’s an average of 51 min/day. I love it and have done it 2.5 times now.
Yeah, I’ve noticed that home fitness equipment is in high demand right now! I wonder why. 😉