Joining a health club and buying home gym systems are both great ways to get in shape, but they aren’t the only ways.

At its most basic, an exercise regimen is about staying committed to yourself, not to payments on gym memberships or treadmills. By thinking creatively and making time to work out every day, you can turn your home into a fitness club without buying one piece of new equipment.

Monica Montes, R.D., is one of the new leading voices of the healthy lifestyle for the Latino community. As a registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, certified gerontology specialist, certified HIV dietitian and eligible certified diabetes educator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in blending nutrition, exercise and wellness principles. Here she offers ideas for working out and getting in shape at home:

• Try mini-routines.

You don’t need to set aside a whole hour to work out; you can build mini-routines into your schedule whenever you have the time. If you have 15 minutes you can do a couple of jumping jacks just to get your heart rate up. Then move on to your abdominal muscles with some sit-ups.

• Find new uses for your furniture.

For more information about exercise and fitness, check out the following Web sites or visit their organizations:¢ The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports¢ American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance¢ American Council on Exercise¢ Healthier US.gov¢ Running Network

If you don’t have the money or the space for specialized gym equipment, you can utilize the furniture in your home. You can do leg raises from your bed, arm dips from your chair, or pushups off of your drawer or even your sink.

• Exercise without equipment.

Some of the most effective and beneficial exercises require no equipment at all. You can march in place and do some high kicks. You can do some tumbling on your living room floor or keep a routine of stretching and yoga. All of these are great forms of exercising and resistance training.

• Choose motivating music.

Repetition is the key to getting in shape and staying fit, so make sure you don’t get bored. Playing energetic, upbeat or otherwise inspiring music is one great way to keep your routine from getting dull.

• Keep going for 15 to 20 minutes.

Make a music mix that’s between 15 and 20 minutes long (five to six songs). Press play, start exercising and don’t stop until the music is over.