Get in shape on the cheap

The weather is too miserable for running or walking, and money is too tight for a health-club membership. What to do?

With the right motivation and a few pieces of basic equipment, you can stay at home and stay in shape, fitness experts say. And there's no need to spend a lot of money.

"For under $100, you can get a good assortment of home fitness equipment that's going to be easy to use and take up a small amount of space," says Mark Roozen, certification director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association in Colorado Springs, Colo. "You'll get great gains and results."

Among the basic pieces to consider for a low-tech workout are dumbbells, resistance bands or tubes, a jump rope, a medicine ball, a stability ball, a hula hoop, exercise videos, and if you want to spend more, the latest version of the Wii Fit, Nintendo's fitness video game.