I’ll be the first to admit that sticking to a fitness routine is tough. My commitment to fitness tends to ebb and flow, but I have found that the key to staying motivated is keeping your workout options fresh. This fall, why not put the gym membership on hold (or just continue not having one, like me), and try these tips for staying on the fitness train?

YouTube Fitness FTW

If it’s getting too cold for you outside, YouTube is an excellent resource for pretty much any type of free indoor workout video you can think of. Yoga, kickboxing, total body workouts that don’t require any fancy equipment–it’s all there for you to access at no charge. All you really need is an internet connection, a laptop or a TV that connects to the internet, and a little space in your home and you’re set.

My favorite fitness videos incorporate dancing, and the cheesier the dancing, the better. Why not have a laugh while you work out? If your workout makes you smile, you’ll be more likely to do it again. Case in point: The Fitness Marshall’s Cardio Hip-Hop routine, which is not only a heart-pumping workout, but it also teaches you a sweet dance routine to what is arguably the best Britney Spears song of all time.

If you don’t like laughing (as if!) and want to get a little more serious, you can also check out YouTube fitness channels like BeFit, Fitness Blender, and Blogilates.

Fitness Podcasts 

Fitness podcasts are another free resource to help you stick to your workouts and keep them fresh. On iTunes, for example, you’ll find a ton of podcast options not only covering fitness, but healthy eating and nutrition too. I enjoy the Yoga Download podcasts, which are free 20-minute yoga routines designed to help you achieve different goals. Whether you want a routine to warm you up in the morning and help you get ready for your day, a quick and easy midday stretch, or an advanced handstand workshop, there’s a podcast for that!

Apple Picking

If you love the beautiful changing leaves and crisp fall air as much as I do, you probably wouldn’t mind heading outdoors to exercise. Fortunately, there’s plenty to see and do outside in the fall. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area close to apple orchards, why not go pick some apples? Many orchards offer pick-your-own-apple hours, with plenty of varieties to choose from. Spending a sunny autumn afternoon walking through the orchards, picking apples and carrying your haul home is a great way to get your blood flowing. And we’ve got a few suggestions for what to do with those bad boys once you get them home: 5 Tasty Things to Do With Apples and Savory Apple Recipes.

Pumpkin Carving

If you’ve ever carved a pumpkin you know it’s not exactly an easy breezy task and you definitely need to work your arms to create your pumpkin masterpiece. Take the family out to the pumpkin patch and spend the rest of the afternoon carving and it’s pretty much the same as an afternoon at the gym. Need ideas? Better Homes and Gardens has some creative and awesome pumpkin carving ideas. And don’t throw out the seeds! Check out our 6 Things to Do with Leftover Pumpkin Seeds. 

Raking Leaves 

Doing chores isn’t my number one choice for exercise options but raking fall leaves brings back a ton of happy childhood memories for me. I just loved raking up a huge pile of crunchy orange, yellow and red leaves and jumping into the middle of them. Raking leaves can burn about 150 calories per half hour. Add a few leaf pile jumps in there and that number grows even bigger!

Enjoying the Fall Foliage

If you’re not lucky enough to live near an apple orchard or pumpkin patch, you can simply step outside and go for a stroll among the beautiful fall colors. Bundle up and bring the whole family on a hike through a local park, go for a run or take a bike ride before it gets too frosty outside.

You have plenty of options for staying fit and having fun this fall. Which is your favorite? Share in the comments or over on twitter at @luvoinc.