by Carly Pizzani

How many times have you admired a celebrity who looks perfect three months after baby and been bitter? Maybe if I had a personal trainer, personal chef, and private gym, I could look like that, too!

Most of us don’t have the money to spend on those luxuries. But that doesn’t make it impossible.

The fact is, Working out doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Check out these money-saving tips that will help you get fit like a star without breaking your “real person” bank.

How to Save Money AND Get Fit

1.) If you can’t afford a gym: Check smaller gyms you might have overlooked. They may have lower membership rates. If it’s really out of your budget, then it’s time to get creative. In the warm weather, it’s easy to get your workout for free outside, but when you’re stuck inside, you can still exercise as long as you have room for a yoga mat.

Check out fitness channels on YouTube — it’s a surprising source of full-length, totally free workouts you can do anywhere you have an internet connection. You can also find free, or inexpensive fitness apps for workouts on your phone.

2.) If you CAN afford a gym membership, but lack time, or motivation: Try a little financial incentive. New apps like GymPact make you pay (literally) if you skip a workout. If you DO make it to the gym every time you had scheduled, you actually earn money. Bonus!

3.) If you think you can’t afford a personal trainer: Ask about different pricing options. Many trainers at your gym may offer small group personal training, usually for two or three people at a time. While the cost per session is higher than a one-on-one session, because you’re splitting it, it ends up being MUCH cheaper, with little difference in terms of personal attention.

Don’t be afraid to look for an independent trainer outside your gym, either. Their rates may be lower (because the gym isn’t taking a cut), and they may offer pricing plans and small group training too. Many trainers will offer online packages, where they email a personalized program to follow, with an option of Skype sessions as well.

4.) When you can’t afford a private chef (isn’t that most of us?), use a registered dietitian or nutritionist for just two or three sessions to get on track. If you have no idea where you’re going wrong or right with your eating, it can be incredibly helpful to have a one-on-one session with a professional. Again, don’t be afraid to google dietitians who offer online sessions, which can be a lot more affordable than in-person.

If seeing a nutritionist or dietitian is still out of your price range, there are always free or low-price options for tracking your food intake. From MyFitnessPal and SparkPeople to subscription-based online journals, it’s not difficult to find an inexpensive way to track your eating habits — and make the healthy changes you need.

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Read more in The Stir

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.