9 Gym Alternatives That Will Help You Get Fit In 2024

9 Gym Alternatives That Will Help You Get Fit In 2024

If you find yourself among the many who join a gym in January due to New Year, New You messaging but end up not using it by February, that's perfectly fine. Don't be too hard on yourself. With numerous external pressures, it's common to deviate from strict exercise plans aimed at immediate results.

Consider exploring alternative workout options that suit you better. These activities may not feel like traditional exercise yet still offer calorie burning, muscle strengthening, and mental relief. Whether incorporated into a gym routine or done separately, here are some unconventional alternatives to stay fit this year.

Running Clubs

Running clubs have become ubiquitous in cities on weeknights, offering a popular way to exercise in a group setting. The appeal lies in the safety of numbers and the gentle accountability it provides.

Joining a casual weekly running club is an excellent way to ease into running. Typically held after work hours, these runs feature manageable distances and comfortable pacing, allowing for social interaction while running.

Look out for running clubs associated with bars or breweries in your area; some even offer complimentary drinks afterward. If evenings don't suit you, there's always the well-established Saturday morning parkrun, a popular fitness activity enjoyed by many.

Trail Running

Many runners find trail running to be gentler on their legs compared to running on hard surfaces. A 10km run on pavement can feel significantly different from the same distance on uneven trails, which may involve walking up steep hills, navigating rough terrain, and jumping over obstacles. Trail running engages different leg muscles and provides an interesting challenge for your feet.

In addition to its physical benefits, trail running offers advantages due to its outdoor setting. Breathing in cleaner air while running in forests or countryside can enhance your overall experience. Engaging in exercise amidst nature has been shown to positively impact mental health and well-being.

Rucking

Rucking, derived from military training, involves walking with a weighted rucksack. This low-impact exercise strengthens muscles, burns more calories than regular walking, and progressively enhances cardiovascular fitness and oxygen intake. It's also linked to improved balance.

Unlike some activities, rucking doesn't require fancy equipment. Comfortable footwear and a suitable backpack are all you need, and the weight can be anything from dumbbells to cans of beans.

Climbing

For a thrilling challenge this year, consider visiting your local climbing wall and scheduling an induction. Climbing and bouldering, while initially intimidating, can become addictive activities.

The health benefits are numerous. Climbing provides a comprehensive full-body workout, engaging muscles in both the upper and lower body, as well as requiring finger strength for gripping and scaling. 

In addition to physical benefits, climbing offers mental advantages. It enhances mental agility, problem-solving skills, and serves as a stress-relieving activity. Visiting your local climbing wall can be a rewarding experience for both body and mind.

Combat Sports

Summoning the courage to step into your local spit-and-sawdust boxing gym for one of their standard £5 boxing fitness sessions on a January weeknight is quite an accomplishment. While boxing gyms can be intimidating at first, once you're inside, you'll likely find it hard to beat the satisfaction and reward of the workout.

Combat sports extend beyond boxing. Anthony Bourdain, the renowned chef and presenter, credited the practice of jiu-jitsu with transforming his life. Kickboxing, MMA, and traditional martial arts are other options worth exploring.

Participating in combat sports doesn't necessarily mean putting yourself in harm's way, but the discipline and the experience of stepping out of your comfort zone are unmatched. And that's not even mentioning the fitness and strength benefits they offer.

Padel

2024 is shaping up to be the year of padel. While there were murmurs about the sport in 2023, this year, padel courts are expected to spring up everywhere. Originating in Mexico, padel has experienced explosive growth across Europe, particularly in Spain and Scandinavia, where it has become a popular second-sport.

Many enthusiasts find padel addictive, and it's easy to understand why. The sport is essentially a more accessible version of tennis, featuring longer rallies facilitated by underarm serves and the use of fiberglass walls for the ball to bounce off. Unlike tennis, where serving ability often determines gameplay, you can grasp the basics of padel in just five minutes.

Padel is super fun, accessible, and thanks to its frenetic rallies, it offers a great calorie-burning workout.

Cold Water Swimming

Swimming is well-known for its health benefits, offering calorie burning and fitness improvement with minimal joint impact, especially when done in a local pool.

For additional benefits, consider cold water swimming. Immersing yourself in cold water during outdoor swims is believed to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve mood and mental well-being.

As with any water activity, it's important to follow water safety guidelines and preferably swim under supervision with a lifeguard present.

Fitness Apps

Workout apps aren't a magic solution for achieving a six-pack overnight, but they offer valuable tools for tracking activity and progress. Similar to how progress photos can aid weight loss and body transformation by providing visual records, tracking runs and jotting down workout sets can help visualize progress and maintain motivation.

Popular apps like Strava, Yoga Studio: Mind & Body, Stronglifts 5×5, and Nike Training Club are great starting points for tracking workouts and staying motivated. Additionally, apps like Footy Addicts allow you to join local team sports games hassle-free, without the need to organize them yourself.

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