Ah, the age-old resolution at the beginning of each new year: lose weight.  Ambitious to cut those holiday pounds, people aim to eat healthier and hit the gym more.  As more and more people pile into the gym, we wonder whether the membership fee is really worth it if you don’t get the access to the machines that you are paying for. Invest your time in some at-home exercises and cut the cost of a gym membership fee with this easy workout:

• Cardio:  A key element to every workout, you need to warm up your muscles and raise your heart rate to keep your metabolism active all day. Run in place for 3 minutes – just do a gentle jog in place to get your heart rate up!

• Tackle 25 Jumping Jacks – make sure to bend your knees when you land to lessen the impact!

• Do 20 Crunches – lay on your back with your knees bent, hands behind your ears and pull yourself up using your abdominal muscles – make sure to breathe consistently through these!

• Hip Bridge for 10 Seconds – In the same position, place your arms next to your body for support and thrust your hips into the air on an exhale. Hold this position for 10 seconds, using your gluteal (butt) muscles for support.  For added intensity, lift your toes off the ground so that only your heels are holding you.

• 15 Jump squats – start in a squat position and jump straight into the air, thrusting your arms overhead.  Bend your knees for a soft landing back into the squat position, and immediately jump again.

• Finish with 10 Pushups – Create a plank position with your body, legs hip-distance apart and palms pointing forward. For an easier execution, place knees on the ground and bend your legs upward – this will alleviate any strain on your back.

Repeat each step twice for an easy circuit workout in under 30 minutes.

With this routine, you can save yourself up to $80 per month on costly gym fees, and in the convenience of your own home – do it whenever you have the time!