How to Stay Active in a Big City

Okay, so it’s a bit funny/ironic that I’m writing this post because I don’t think anyone would consider me the most active person (it’s something I’m working on haha!), but upping my fitness is definitely something I’ve tried to prioritize these past few months.

Since moving to Chicago, I must admit that the food scene has gotten to me a bit – but that’s why it’s important to figure out how to stay active in a big city in order to combat all of those foodie tendencies!

First up, WALK!

This is certainly my most important tip. Typically those in big cities don’t have their cars to rely on and must turn to Uber (myself included), but not only does it put a hole in your pocket, but it also takes away the opportunity to shed some calories for the day. During the warmer months, I try to avoid transportation and walk home after work and I’ve noticed that it makes a big difference. If that’s not in the cards for you, try heading out for a walk once you get home or on the weekends. I think that if you tell yourself throughout the day that you’re going to walk, it gives you something to look forward to and you’re more likely to actually accomplish that goal.

(Affordable) Exercise Classes

This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I just cannot fathom how people pay $150+ for class memberships such as Orange Theory, Pure Barre and whatever else. I think it’s a huge waste of money! While they’re definitely fun, there’s other alternatives that are more affordable. For instance, I joined Planet Fitness in the beginning of the year – which although is not the best gym – only cost me $10 per month and they had a variety of strength training classes throughout the week that focused on your core, abs, shoulders and more. I’ve since joined LA Fitness (I was a member in Cleveland) and it costs around $40 per month, which is still extremely reasonable compared to some of the other gyms around the City. Most gyms in that range will offer yoga, zumba, cycling and more. If you’re worried that staying active requires you to spend big bucks – it doesn’t.

Keep it at Home

Now this is definitely one of my favorite “hacks.” I recently purchased a 50-inch television, and it’s perfect for displaying workout videos, yoga videos and whatever else your heart desires! Honestly, YouTube is so underrated for this. I purchased a yoga mat a few weeks back and have been doing a 30-day yoga challenge – all cast from my television for free! I’ve also done more intense workouts which left me even more sweaty and out of breath than in an actual gym haha!

So, there you have it – my tips on how to stay active in a big city. There’s so many different things you can do to remain active – like downloading apps – but these are some of my favorite go-to’s!

How do you stay active?

Photos by Jill Green