Want to lose weight or increase your fitness without going to the gym, read on to discover five great gym alternatives.

If you are new to exercise or embarrassed to work out in front of strangers, the gym can be an intimidating place. For others the price of gym membership is costly. However there are plenty of alternatives, which are adventurous, fun, sociable, low cost and a great body workout.

Rock Climbing

Outside pursuits provide a great way to get trim and have fun. Whether you take part in solo activities or team up with mates, you can benefit from a first-class cardiovascular workout, which will help you burn fat and lose pounds.

Why not try rock climbing? The sport requires physical strength and endurance. The basic aim of the sport is to successfully climb up a mountain, hill, steep terrain, or artificial wall.

Although this can be a risky sport, the satisfaction from completing a climb are extremely rewarding, offering constant excitement and a huge adrenaline rush. There is also no need to begin on the most dangerous mountain. There are many places where you can climb artificial walls until your ready to explore new things.

Rock climbing is a great cardiovascular workout which will help you burn fat. Before embarking on a climb you will be required to take part in a pre-climb workout and activities to help build on your endurance and technique. Rock climbing is never boring and has a huge following.

Find your nearest climbing centre www.ukclimbing.com

Salsa

Whether solo or with a mate, salsa is an enjoyable way to get fit and learn some more impressive dance moves.

Salsa is an energetic exercise and no previous dancing experience is needed. Be prepared to lose yourself to the Latin rhythm and sway your hips to the beat.

According to Campaign for Learning, Salsa is a great way to build stamina, enhance co-ordination and improve flexibility. Dancing also improves the circulation and performance of the heart and lungs and releases endorphins giving a pleasant high.

Salsa is a great fat burner, too: you can burn up to 370 calories during a one hour salsa class.

There are stacks of salsa classes available nationwide and even clubs dedicated to salsa.

Find a class on: www.salsamap.com
Find an event: www.salsanation.co.uk

Cycle to Work

Cycling provides an effective aerobic workout, with great improvements to how your lungs and heart function.  

Other benefits include losing weight, developing Strength and major improvements to your coordination.

A report by NHS Direct found that cycling can improve your mood, reduce levels of depression and stress, raise self-esteem, and relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Not only will you save money on transport or petrol costs, lower carbon emissions but you’ll be able to fit in your daily exercise without taking too much out of your day.

Cycling is well known as a great total body workout and US studies carried out by the University of Illinois claim it can help raise your immunity, along with improving cardiovascular and muscular fitness

Sit Ups, Press Ups and Squats

Traditional circuit exercises are a great way to develop muscle fibres and get a super toned physique.

They are easier to practice at home and several repetitions on a regular basis will improve your core stability and fitness.

Sit ups, press ups and squats work a range of major muscles, including the glutens (bum), hamstrings, abdominals and lower-back muscles. They can help increase flexibility and burn a lot of calories.

Sex

Surprisingly, getting intimate can burn a decent amount of calories. Sexual activity can improve your overall fitness and performance in bed. Read more: Exercise Can Spice Up Your Sex Life

Just kissing for 15 minutes burns around 30 calories as does 30 minutes of foreplay and a whopping 60 calories can be burnt with just 20 minutes of sex.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center suggest that overweight adults who lose only 10 percent of their total body weight report significant improvements in their sexual quality of life.