Exercise Training: Do I really need a gym?

Here’s a thought. Do you really need a gym to get into shape? Think about it for a moment. Let it really sink in before you answer. I’ll answer it for you and here it is, “no”, you don’t really need a gym to get into shape. If you were like me a few years ago, I always thought I needed a gym to get into shape. I remember going onto Mapquest getting directions to gyms in towns and cities I was unfamiliar with, just to satisfy my urge to stay fit. If you don’t know what MapQuest is, its a website dedicated to giving you turn by turn directions to your destination. I can tell you Mapquest can be a good thing sometimes and other times it can be totally off the mark. I use to always think Mapquest was “spot on” until I ended up in someone’s “hood” in the middle of a known drug spot! Its an eye opener when people you don’t know swarm your car thinking you are looking to buy drugs. I am an intimidating figure at 6’7 and 200 something odd pounds, but the people who swarmed my car made me look as gentle as a lamb. After that experience, I knew it had to be a better way to get my workout “fix”.

If you had an experience like mine, you quickly come up with alternatives. One of those alternatives I found was bodyweight exercises. What are these? It’s just like the name sounds, you are using your bodyweight to create resistance and burn fat. I am sure you remember those push ups you did in your high school gym class, right? Well, push ups are one of the best exercises you can do for your chest and arms to build muscle. If you want to get a full body workout, trying adding some bodyweight squats and lunges into your routine. There are host of different exercises you can do with your bodyweight. See…you can get great results at home without the gym and it can be done right in your hotel room with no equipment.

I am still convinced some of you think you still need a gym to work out and that is ok… to each his own. I realize some people go to the gym to get fit and feel better, but some just go to socialize. I have had my choice words with the “socializers” when I was a member of the gym. It was these people who made a 30-45 minute workout turn into a hour and 30 minute workout by sitting on the machines talking when others are wanting to use them. I hated that! Oh… and while I am on my little soapbox talking about the “socializers”, how about the cell phone junkie? The cell phone junkie is the person who walks on the treadmill right beside you and for 30 minutes they talk on their phone for the whole damn 30 minutes about anything and everything. When I say everything, I do mean everything and nothing is left sacred during their conversation. I don’t miss those days at all. I feel much better and am getting better results working out at home. If you’re tired of the socializers, the cell phone junkie, or the high cost of gym memberships make the transition to “home fitness”. I can tell you it works! If you are working out at home now, I wanna here from you. See you on the lean side.

PS– Have you registered for the “Kick Start the Summer” Giveaway? You can win a free pair of Puma workout shoes! Click on the pic for the contest rules.

Kick Start the Summer Giveaway

Darren McDuffie
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Certified Nutrition and Weight Management Specialist
Certified Exercise Foundations Specialist
Certified Fitness Testing Specialist