Getting in shape isn't cheap. The average gym membership is about $50 a month, and often you're required to sign a yearly contract. If you change your mind, you're stuck for a while.
But you can get your workout fix for free at a dozen local parks.
There's nothing sweeter than getting something for nothing. That's what outdoor workout zones offer -- a chance to get in shape without paying a dime. They're springing up in city parks all over Atlanta. The goal is to make exercise and health something all of us can afford.
Blessing Heard, 16, found one in Atlanta's Coan Park, near her grandmother's house.
"It looked new and fun, so I wanted to see what it was," said Heard.
Think of it as a playground for grownups who want to get in shape. Each fitness zone -- Atlanta has 12 of them now -- is packed with circuit training equipment that allows you to use your body weight as resistance.
Atlanta City Parks Director Doug Voss says this is the new face of public parks.
"The machines have just gotten that much better, you used to have a chin up bar, now you have machines out here that work every part of your body. And they're actually pretty easy to use," said Voss.
They're also free. The City of Atlanta Parks Department worked with neighborhood groups to raise money to buy the equipment. Each zone is designed for the people who live around it.
Voss says the idea is to put fitness within everybody's reach.
"But also, the cost of a gym membership is expensive. Our parks are wonderful. You've got so many different opportunities. And a lot of times we've seen that parents will come out, they've got a child on the playground, as long as there's good supervision there, they can come over and workout at the same time, then they've got a perfect opportunity to come work out," Voss said.
The fitness zones are part of a national trend to build healthier communities. If you don't live in Atlanta, but you want to find resources like this in your community, click here for more information.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
