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comment by _refugee_
_refugee_  ·  3045 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Why It Was Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s

Yeah, the comment about the fitness center membership threw me a little. I didn't quite understand the point.

I think getting into exercise can be free or almost entirely free. From a clothing standpoint, if you have literally no exercise gear, there might be an initial investment. I'd hope that most people had a ratty t-shirt and exercise shorts of some sort, at least a pair, in the back of their closets somewhere, and a sports bra for girls. If you have those things, and sneakers, you can start for free. But staying in it - keeping up the exercise - I think there is more of a cost investment than $50/year. Maybe it depends on what you are doing, but for instance, I had several pairs of running shorts and tops, but nothing in long sleeves or long pants. That wasn't a problem in the fall but running outside now has started to get very chilly, so I've had to invest in a few pairs of pants - besides new shoes, and so on. However, all in all I think you can do exercise really cheaply. Walking can be absolutely free besides sneakers/clothes, and bodyweight exercises are the way to go.