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Fitness Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive. How 3 Real People Stay Fit for Free

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Fitness Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive. How 3 Real People Stay Fit for Free

Forget the excuse that it costs too much to exercise. These three people, all members of the Start TODAY community, stay active without being locked into pricey gym memberships, paying for app subscriptions or buying fancy home equipment.

They’re lacing up their walking shoes and heading out the door, searching YouTube for video workouts, dancing with their grandchildren and even digging out years-old workout equipment.

Here, they share the low- and no-cost exercise routines that work for them.

Movement can and should be fun. Dancing with her grandson is a staple in Carol Wells’ workout routine!

Carol Wells

Workout routine: Stretching, walking, workout videos, dancing with her grandchildren

Carol Wells, 62, watches her 2-year-old grandson twice a week. So, for part of her exercise routine, the two of them dance together. “I found Bee Gees videos — I grew up with the Bee Gees — and he absolutely loves them. I love the fact that he likes it, too. And it makes it so much easier for me to get my exercise in,” she says.

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Moving to music, with her grandson or with videos, is a key part of making exercise fun for Wells, especially when the winter weather near her Effingham, Ill., home keeps her indoors.

She has a routine she follows as often as she can, where she mixes bursts of activity in throughout her day. “I try to get in three workouts a day, and I definitely get in at least two,” she says.

Here’s how Wells fits in movement without spending a lot of money:

  • Stretching: She starts her days with 10 minutes of stretching, following a YouTube video.
carol wells start today member youtube workout
  • Morning walk or workout: After stretching, she’s out the door for a one- to two-mile walk if the weather cooperates. In winter, more often than not, she needs to exercise indoors, so she puts on a walking video from eitherYes2Next or Leslie Sansone to get some steps in. “I do 15 to 30 minutes at a time, and I really enjoy that,” she says.
  • Afternoon walk or workout: She aims for another activity session in the afternoon. That could be dancing with her grandson or working out to another video, possibly one that includes some low-impact, bodyweight strength training. She doesn’t lift weights because of arthritis in her shoulders and elbows. If the weather is nice, she walks in her neighborhood or in a nearby park, “Walking is my favorite thing. It’s the best kind of exercise for me. I love nature, and I’m an amateur photographer, so I love taking pictures of birds, flowers and the sky,” she says. She aims to get in four to five miles a day.
  • Evening workout: After dinner, she exercises again. She’ll search online for workout topics, such as “Zumba to ABBA,” or workouts with Fleetwood Mac music. She finds a lot of workouts she likes through Keep on Moving.
kathleen wilkins before and after
Wilkins in 2025 versus today, 40 pounds lighter thanks to a consistent walking routine.

Kathleen Wilkins

Workout routine: Walking, YouTube workout videos, using “vintage” equipment she’s had forever

Kathleen Wilkins, 66, likes to get her exercise in close to home. “I don’t want to get in the car and drive somewhere,” she says. She’s joined gyms in the past, but she always stopped going after a few visits, and then she was locked into the payments for months.

So, she’s built a routine around lots of walking, workout videos and simple home equipment.

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Wilkins has been retired for just over a year, so she can fit plenty of walking into her schedule. She walks the roads of her 55-plus mobile home community in Thousand Oaks, Calif., several times a day, covering about two miles each time, and five to six miles per day.

She walks after breakfast with a neighbor, and sometimes again before lunch. After lunch, she walks with another neighbor who uses a wheelchair, and she takes charge of that neighbor’s dog. “She’s a French-mix bulldog, so she gives me a resistance workout,” Wilkins says.

kathleen wilkins al walking challenge start today
Wilkins blew past the 30-mile goal in a recent Start TODAY walking challenge.

Wilkins can finish her two-mile walks in 30 to 35 minutes, though she sometimes slows her pace to match her walking partners’ or stops to chat with people she hasn’t seen in a while. She doesn’t mind taking her time: “A mile is a mile. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get there, or how fast you’re going.” Plus, she likes getting to know her neighbors and using her walks as a time to socialize.

To add strength training and more cardio to her routine, three mornings a week, Wilkins and a group of neighbors exercise together in their community clubhouse. They choose from different Paul Eugene YouTube workout videos that run 30 to 45 minutes.

Rounding out her fitness schedule, she recently dusted off two old pieces of workout equipment she’s had forever — an ab roller and a rotational disk. They help her build core strength and stability.

judy wentz start today before and after
Wentz in 2022 (left) when she joined the Start TODAY group and started her health journey and today (right), going strong with a 1,322-day walking streak!

Judy Wentz

Workout routine: Daily walks, workout videos, stationary biking, resistance bands, hand weights

Judy Wentz, 58, exercises to manage the pain she has from fibromyalgia, which forced her to retire about four years ago. “I’m working on my health now, more than anything. If I keep moving around, the pain doesn’t have time to catch up with me. When I go to bed at night, sometimes it hits me. But I work through it,” she says.

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Fibromyalgia means she needs to keep her workouts low impact. She usually begins her day with either a walking workout video or 20 to 30 minutes on her stationary bike. “If I’m having a really bad day, I’ll do chair exercises to start,” she says.

Wentz and her husband walk together every day, regardless of the weather. “Walking helps me mentally and physically,” she says. She likes to walk to a destination, like an Italian ice shop, a downtown restaurant for lunch or simply to her hometown post office in Bedford, Penn.

When she first started walking, she could only make it to the end of her driveway, or maybe half a block. Now, most days, she walks a total of five to seven miles. And she’s kept up a walking streak for 1,322 days in a row.

Judy wentz and Tammy Skov start today
Wentz with fellow Start TODAY member Tammy Carter Skov. She has found support and made real-life connections through the Facebook group.

Along with walking, she likes a range of home workouts. She’s tried Silver Sneakers at the gym and at a senior center, but she prefers more variety. “I get bored if I’m doing the same thing all the time,” she says. “I’m always trying to find something new and exciting.”

She does strength training at least twice a week and cardio two to three times a week, adding her favorite workouts to a calendar she’s set up for herself. “Each week is different,” she says.

Some of the free workouts she’s tried include:

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  • Metro Physical Therapy on YouTube: “I used to really struggle with that, but now I can breeze through it.”
  • Walking videos that include strength training
  • Tai Chi, which she admits wasn’t her favorite
  • Zumba
  • Yes to Next video workouts
  • Resistance band and dumbbell workouts. “Five-pound weights used to be so heavy, and now they’re like nothing,” she says.

She also attends a support group called Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS).

Her workouts and lifestyle changes have helped her lose weight, and she’s been off diabetes medication for two years: “I’ve never had this much energy in my life. I can’t even keep up with myself some days.”

To find support and connect with other like-minded people on their fitness journey, join the Start TODAY Facebook group!

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Fitness

Home Gym Supplies Squat Rack Cage Package Released to Market for Exercise Lovers by Strongway Gym Supplies

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Home Gym Supplies Squat Rack Cage Package Released to Market for Exercise Lovers by Strongway Gym Supplies

Coventry, UK – March 02, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Strongway Gym Supplies has released squat rack cage packages to the market for exercise enthusiasts across the United Kingdom. The packages combine squat cage frames with safety features suited to home-based strength training, now available through the company’s online platform.

The power cage design centres on four vertical posts connected by horizontal crossbeams. Adjustable safety bars mount between the posts at various heights, catching the barbell if a lift cannot be completed. This safety mechanism becomes relevant during heavy squats or bench presses performed without a training partner present to assist with failed attempts.

J-hooks secure the barbell at the proper beginning positions for various exercises by fastening to the posts at predetermined heights. Quick adjustments between squats, presses, and other barbell movements are made possible by the hooks’ ability to slide up or down the posts and lock into position using pin mechanisms. Depending on the exercise being done, pull-up bars that extend across the top of the frame provide grip positions that vary from wide to narrow.

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Mandip Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, said the cage addresses concerns people have about training alone at home. “Without someone there to spot, there’s always the question of what happens if the weight gets too heavy midway through a set,” he noted. “The safety bars remove that worry. Position them correctly and they’ll catch the bar before it pins someone. That makes a genuine difference in how hard someone can train when working solo, especially on exercises like squats where bail-out options are limited.”

Steel tubing forms the frame structure, with powder-coated finishes applied to resist corrosion in garage environments where humidity fluctuates. Bolt-together construction allows the cage to be disassembled if relocation becomes necessary, though the assembled weight often exceeds 100 kilograms once all components are secured together.

Weight storage pegs project from the rear posts on most models, keeping plates within reach whilst adding mass that stabilises the frame during use. The pegs typically accommodate enough plates to load a barbell for intermediate to advanced training sessions without running out of storage capacity.

The complete range of home fitness equipment, include squat racks, is available to be explored at: https://strongway.co.uk/collections/home-fitness.

The cages fit into garages, spare rooms, and basement areas commonly found in UK residential properties. Height clearance sits around 210 centimetres for most models, working under standard ceiling heights but potentially tight in older homes or loft conversions where ceilings run lower. Floor space requirements roughly match that of a small garden shed once the cage stands fully assembled.

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The width of the frame includes the length of the Olympic barbell and the space needed to safely enter and exit during exercises. If the dimensions are too narrow, the posts get in the way of natural movement patterns. If they are too wide, they take up too much floor space. Most manufacturers try to find a balance between these factors, but the exact measurements vary from model to model.

Band pegs feature on some cages, providing anchor points at floor level for resistance bands. This allows accommodating resistance during squats and presses, where band tension increases as the bar rises through the movement. The technique has found followers among strength training practitioners, though it remains less widespread than traditional plate loading.

Full details about the squat rack power cage can be viewed at: https://strongway.co.uk/products/strongway-multi-gym-squat-rack-power-cage.

Randeep Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, remarked that cage packages align with how people actually approach home training. “Training at home has proven effective for improving muscle strength, endurance, and power when maintained consistently,” he explained. “Frequency matters more than location. Training more than three times weekly produces better outcomes, and having a cage at home eliminates the travel time and scheduling constraints that often interrupt consistency. The cage becomes the foundation. Everything else—bench, bar, plates—gets arranged around it.”

Dispatch runs across mainland UK addresses with timelines confirmed during checkout. The cages arrive in multiple boxes given the size and weight of individual components. Instructions guide assembly, though managing the heavier frame sections works considerably better with two people rather than attempting solo construction.

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Packages can be purchased as cage-only units or complete setups that include benches, barbells, and weight plates. Pricing reflects the total equipment included, with buyers selecting options based on what they already own versus what needs acquiring.

The release tracks with patterns observed in the UK home fitness market where demand for core strength training equipment holds steady. Power cages appeal to users seeking barbell training capabilities with built-in safety features, particularly relevant for individuals training without supervision or access to spotters during heavier lifting sessions.

Those interested in exploring the range of exercise equipment available at Strongway Gym Supplies can visit: https://strongway.co.uk/.

###

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For more information about Strongway Gym Supplies, contact the company here:

Strongway Gym Supplies
Mandip Walia
+44-800-001-6093
sales@strongway.co.uk
Strongway Gym Supplies, 26 The Pavilion, Coventry CV3 1QP, United Kingdom

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media

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At 72, Oprah swears by this specific move for full-body strength – here’s why it’s so effective

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At 72, Oprah swears by this specific move for full-body strength – here’s why it’s so effective

Oprah Winfrey, 72, has been vocal about her weight loss journey in recent years, revealing that maintaining fitness, particularly through strength training, has been crucial while using GLP-1s. Such is her love for these newfound fitness habits that she even did a 72-minute workout to celebrate her 72nd birthday earlier this year.

Now, the talk show host has taken to Instagram to share with her followers a specific strength move that has quickly become a staple in her routine: kettlebell swings.

Why are kettlebell swings effective?

‘Kettlebell swings are one of the most efficient movements because they combine strength, power and cardiovascular conditioning in one exercise,’ says Alice Jordan, a women’s strength and hormone health coach. ‘They target the posterior chain – glutes, hamstrings and lower back – which is especially important for women as we age, helping to improve posture, reduce back pain and support metabolism.’

Jordan adds that kettlebell swings ‘also elevate the heart rate quickly, making them ideal for busy women who want maximum results in minimal time,’ and that when incorporated into your routine correctly, they ‘can improve fat loss, core stability and overall functional strength, which carries over into everyday movement and injury prevention.’

Another key benefit that makes kettlebell swings such an effective movement for women as they age? ‘They help build explosive strength and bone density – both crucial for women during and after menopause.’

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How to do kettlebell swings

It’s important to take the time to properly learn the right technique – as Oprah said she did. Alongside the video she posted on Instagram of her performing the exercise, Oprah wrote ‘I first saw other people doing kettlebell swings so skillfully that I didn’t attempt them for at least a year! Now Trainer Peter is always right by my side to course correct me so I’m doing them right – and I think I finally got the swing of them.’

Explaining how to do kettlebell swings, Jordan says that ‘the movement should come from the hips, not the lower back or shoulders. Think about pushing your hips back, keeping your spine neutral, and then powerfully driving the hips forward. This helps target the glutes and reduces the risk of injury.’

When it comes to ensuring that you choose the right weight, Jordan adds that a ‘good starting point for most women is a kettlebell between 6-10kg – but the key is that it should feel challenging enough to drive the hips forward without using the arms.’

‘If you can easily lift it with your shoulders, it’s usually too light. Many beginners actually benefit from going slightly heavier so they learn proper hip hinge mechanics,’ she flags.

How often to do kettlebell swings

So, how often should you do the move per week? ‘For beginners, I’d typically recommend starting with 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, focusing on good technique and plenty of rest between sets,’ says Jordan. ‘The priority early on is learning the hip hinge and building confidence with the movement, rather than pushing volume too quickly.’

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Doing this 2-3 times per week works well for most beginners, she adds, as it ‘allows enough time to recover while still building strength, power and cardiovascular fitness.’ When your technique and fitness improve, you ‘can gradually increase either the number of sets or include swings as part of full-body workouts.’

‘It’s also helpful for beginners to keep sessions relatively short and stop before fatigue affects form, as this reduces the risk of injury and helps reinforce good movement patterns.’

Common mistakes to avoid

Jordan says common mistakes to avoid include:

  • Turning the swing into a squat rather than a hinge
  • Lifting the kettlebell with the arms instead of letting momentum and hip power do the work
  • Rounding the back and going too heavy too quickly

It really is important to be patient and take some time to get your form exactly right – as it will mean you’ll get the most out of the exercise in the long run.


Headshot of Hannah Bradfield

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women’s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis.  She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner’s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity.  A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She’s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.

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The Workout Habit That Can Become Harm

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The Workout Habit That Can Become Harm

If your day begins with a HIIT class and ends with the saintly glow of “I’ve been good,” you’re not alone. Regular movement can lighten stress, settle anxiety, and generally make the world feel a little less like a group chat on deadline. But for a small group of gym-goers, exercise addiction isn’t a punchline or a humblebrag — it’s a real behavioural pattern that can quietly bulldoze daily life.

Researchers in Budapest have suggested that for around 0.3 to 0.5% of gym-goers, working out and the quest for ultimate wellness can tip into unhealthy obsession. And a separate study from Anglia Ruskin University found the risk rises sharply for people with a history of eating disorders — with researchers reporting you’re nearly four times more likely to experience exercise addiction if you’ve previously had anorexia or bulimia.

It’s an uncomfortable twist, because exercise is supposed to be the good bit. The socially approved coping mechanism. The one that gets likes, not concerned phone calls.

Why “Healthy” Can Be a Convenient Disguise

Wellness culture has a curious magic trick: it can make rigid rules look like discipline. Eight hours’ sleep becomes a badge of honour. “Clean eating” becomes a personality. And a workout missed can feel, for some, less like a rest day and more like a moral failure.

That’s what makes compulsive exercise hard to spot — especially during or after recovery from disordered eating. To friends and family, it can look like someone has “sorted themselves out.” Under the surface, the engine can be the same: fear, control, anxiety — just with different gym kit.

As Eating Disorders Awareness Week begins (March 2–8), we spoke to experts about wellness, disordered exercise, and the additional risks for those with a history of eating disorders.

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Can Eating Disorders Be Replaced by Exercise Addiction?

Kerrie Jones, a psychotherapist specialising in eating disorders and clinical director of treatment centre Orri, says eating disorders and exercise addiction often share the same roots — and the same function.

“Eating disorders, like exercise addiction, arise when we have lived through an experience – or lots of different experiences – that have taught us that we’re not safe in our day-to-day lives,” she says.

“Obsessing about food, weight or exercise is a behavioural mechanism that has developed as a means of keeping us feeling safe and in control when otherwise we’d feel overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.”

Jones explains that these behaviours can narrow a person’s focus to what feels measurable and manageable — calories, reps, weight, shape — while masking the deeper fear underneath.

“We call these ‘maladaptive’ coping mechanisms, as they develop through seemingly good intentions, but to the detriment of our longer-term physical and mental health.

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“Sometimes, when people reach a point in their recovery where they are stable and functioning, they may move from an obsessive relationship to food, to an obsessive relationship to exercise.”

And because exercise is widely applauded — and often actively encouraged — the behaviour can stick around far longer than people realise.

“It’s a much more socially accepted and idolised means of maintaining obsessive behavioural patterns,” says Jones, which means it can linger for years before someone seeks help.

What Drives Exercise Addiction Psychologically?

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There’s rarely one neat cause. It’s more often an overlap of biology, social pressure, past experiences, and psychology — with a particular role for trauma and learned patterns of control.

“There’s no one reason or cause why someone might develop an eating disorder or exercise addiction, however, it’s often a combination of social, genetic and psychological factors,” says Jones. “Commonly, we find a negative life experience or traumatic experience at the root.”

Chartered psychologist and Healthspan ambassador Dr Meg Aroll says more research is needed specifically on exercise addiction, but we already know a lot about how behavioural addictions operate — particularly the loop of compulsive thoughts and repeated behaviours.

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“We know that it’s important to change patterns of ruminative and compulsive thoughts in people with behavioural addictions, which is why treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy are likely to be of help.”

In plain terms: it’s not about willpower. It’s about patterns — and treating what’s driving them.

Signs to Watch For: When Training Turns Compulsive

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There’s no single template for exercise addiction. People don’t present in one uniform way, and “looking fit” tells you precisely nothing about what’s happening mentally.

But there are common warning signs, especially when exercise becomes less about wellbeing and more about relief, guilt, or control.

Jones says a person might:

  • Feel guilt and shame about missing exercise routines
  • Keep secrecy around how much they’re exercising
  • Continue to workout when ill, exhausted or injured
  • Prioritise exercise repeatedly over family, friends, work, and recovery

That last point matters. Training that regularly trumps relationships, rest, or basic health isn’t “dedication.” It’s a red flag waving in fluorescent gym lighting.

Does Social Media Make It Worse?

Social media can be supportive — community can be a lifeline — but it can also validate compulsive habits. A life organised entirely around workouts can look, online, like “motivation,” when the reality might be anxiety management dressed up as routine.

“For people who are predisposed to eating disorders or behavioural addictions, wellness culture can appear to support and condone this type of maladaptive behaviour,” says Aroll.

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“However, on its own, wellness and social media culture is not to blame – someone with such conditions will have a complex combination of factors in their life leading to their symptoms, which should be investigated fully and treated professionally.”

Jones adds that if you know you have an addictive personality, it’s worth curating your feed with intent — and unfollowing content that escalates guilt, restriction, body obsession, or punishment narratives.

What To Do If You’re Worried About Someone

The hardest part is saying something — and the most important part is saying it well. Jones recommends addressing it directly, but with care around timing, tone, and what you focus on.

“It’s important to broach the topic with them directly as their physical and mental health may be severely at risk,” says Jones. “Pick a time to talk when emotions aren’t running high, and where possible, try and avoid talking about exercise specifically or the more symptomatic aspects of exercise addiction or their eating disorder.

“Instead, focus your questions and concerns on how they’re feeling, underneath their day-to-day activities.

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“Keep in mind that there are specialists out there who can help and the charity Beat has numerous resources on how to have a difficult conversation with someone.”

In other words: aim beneath the behaviour, toward the emotion.

Do We Need a Broader Conversation About “Healthy”?

Here’s the tricky bit. Health professionals rightly champion exercise for physical and mental health. But for people recovering from eating disorders — or with a vulnerability to compulsive behaviours — messaging can land differently. “More is better” can become a permission slip for harm.

“I think there needs to be a broader conversation about what it means to be ‘healthy’ and to live a ‘healthy lifestyle’,” says Jones. “What works for some, may not work for others, particularly if they’ve suffered with an eating disorder in the past and would have trouble maintaining a normal relationship to exercise and food.”

Jones says clinicians assessing physical health need to consider personal history and the intention behind the behaviour.

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“If possible, we need to investigate the intention associated with exercise and unpick the feelings that arise before, during and after exercising.”

That’s the real measuring stick. Not calories burned, not streaks kept alive, not the smug serenity of a kale smoothie. If movement helps you live more freely, it’s doing its job. If it’s tightening the cage — especially in recovery — it’s time to call it what it may be: exercise addiction, and something that deserves proper support, not applause.

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