Fitness Friday #1- Getting Started

If you've been visiting my little slice of the blog world for very long, you may have noticed certain recurring themes. Vintage finds have become a regular part of my blog, and of course you can expect crafty happenings and tutorials from time to time. But I have been dreaming up a new idea for quite a while now, and I am finally ready to get this ball rollin'. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the very first installment of Fitness Friday here at Hollyrocks!

Over the years, I have established a personalized fitness routine through good old fashioned trial and error. I have experience with weight loss, exercise equipment, healthy eating, and gathering the motivation to make these things a permanent part of my life. By incorporating this new segment into my blog, I hope to share exercise moves, recipes, tips, product reviews and hopefully a little bit of enthusiasm and encouragement along the way!

I figured a good way to start off this new series would be to give you a tour of the basic items you can acquire to create an inexpensive home gym. If you have a gym membership, all of these things will still be available to you. But I don't believe have to go to a gym to get a great workout. In my opinion, this is everything you need to stay in shape.

• (1) Treadmill: $0 This used treadmill was given to us by my husband's coworker. Buying a brand new treadmill can be expensive, with lower-end models starting at around $300. But if you're just looking for a cheap way to get in a bit of cardio when the weather is not cooperating, a used machine might be a better option. Search local newspapers and online classifieds such as Craigslist if you're in the market for a used treadmill, elliptical machine, or exercise bike.
• (2) Free Weights: $4-$40 per set, depending on weight. I prefer neoprene dumbbells because they're easy to grasp and comfortable to use. I have a set of 10 lb, and set of 5 lb, and a set of 3 lb weights, which equals an investment of a little over $60. But when you compare this to the cost of a gym membership, it's not so bad. And if you know the right moves, you can tone pretty much every part of my body with just a few sets of weights.
• (3) Exercise Ball: $19 You can find these for as low as $6, or you can drop $100 for a crazy expensive one. But mine was fairly inexpensive, and I absolutely love it. You can find the exact ball I use right here.
• (4) Yoga Mat: $9 Again, you can spend much more on these if you are after a certain brand or material, but the cheap one works great for my purposes!

And just what exactly can you do with this equipment? Everything! Come back for my next Fitness Friday post, because I'll be showing you a set of pilates moves that do amazing things for your abs. Until then, here's a playlist I've put together with upbeat, energetic songs that are great for working out. There's quite a bit of variety, so hopefully you can find something that will get you moving!



I'm so excited about this new blog venture! If you have any suggestions or requests for upcoming Fitness Friday posts, feel free to leave a comment and let me know. Want skinny arms? I can help you with that. How about a workout that will seriously tone that cute butt of yours?  I've got you covered. And if you're always on the lookout for yummy treats that won't cost you a billion calories, I have a few tasty tricks up my sleeve. What health and fitness topics are important to you?