Yesterday I participated in a wellness fair and listened as one of the fitness professionals at the booth addressed the weight concerns of a gentleman who stopped by. The trainer suggested, “…Hitting the gym 3 to 4 times per week, about an hour each time in order to shed extra pounds and body fat. Do you belong to a gym?” The man responded, “I belong to a gym, I just never go.” The trainer persisted – you have to get there 3 to 4 times a week to shed body fat.
Sensing this man’s resistance to the gym, I asked, “Do you like going to the gym?” He crinkled his nose and said, “Well, I used to but not so much anymore. I don’t know what to do when I get there. Plus I have young children and it’s hard to take the time.”
People need options.
“Have you heard of Exercise TV?” I asked him. He hadn’t. I explained that Exercise TV (www.Exercisetv.tv or available On Demand if you have cable) is a great fitness and wellness resource for busy people. With videos ranging from 2 to 60 minutes, you can get your strength training, yoga, cardio or ab workout in the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you. Many videos are available free while others are available for a small fee.
His eyes lit up, “I’ll check that out, that sounds good.”
Contrary to some beliefs, the gym is NOT the only (or necessarily the best) way to shed weight and firm up. If you like the gym by all means go for it! If you are paying for an unused membership, you may want to consider other options.
Fitting in exercise has become complicated, time consuming and expensive. Yet exercise is a key component to healthy living – for stress management, weight management and overall health and well-being.
If you struggle with fitting in or sticking with an exercise program consider the following:
- Your readiness to commit. You have to want it – no one else can do it for you. You may consider finding an accountability partner or group.
- Your options. The gym is one, but not the only one. Think about online resources, local parks and recreational facilities, or how you can set something up at home.
- Your lifestyle. Choose activities you enjoy and that fit your current lifestyle (ie, time, money, family) and you’ll be more likely to stick with whatever you choose.
- Small steps count. Avoid focusing on the big goal (losing XXlbs) and take small steps towards a healthier you. Patience is key. Remember, you’ll never get there if you never start.
I quit the gym about 6 years ago to save time and money. I purchased some free weights and set up a space in my home. I also use local parks and recreational facilities for hiking, biking and jogging. My activities vary daily and I engage in exercises I enjoy and that fit my schedule and my budget. As a result, I’m more likely to stick with them.
What about you? How do you maintain a regular exercise routine? Do you struggle with finding time and activities that fit your lifestyle?
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Hi Stacey
Awesome that you were able to share these options not only with this man, but with other people here. They are so helpful!
It is so true, the gym is not the only option. I mean let’s think about it, for the majority of humanity gyms didn’t exist and people were okay.
As a health and wellness counselor myself as well, there is so much else people can do, and I always also say – start with your diet. It is one thing to constantly “fight the fat” on our bodies and quite another to eliminate it from being a constant issue.
So as for me, I have tried a gym once, only cause I won a membership and never enjoyed it. I love being active naturally – ie. in nature. Now all this would be great if the climate allowed for it and of course in most of the Northern Hemisphere it doesn’t. So I do struggle in the winter months to be active, but not because I do not have time, and not because I do not have the opportunity, we we have a full home gym – but just because I never got in a routine of working out like that. For me nothing beats a long hike, swim, walk or bike ride.
I love all topics exercise-related! I quit the gym two years ago and decided to buy a gym-quality elliptical instead. I found a model I loved (the same type I used for years), and it was on sale. I figured that within 18 months it would pay for itself, since the gym I belonged to was rather expensive. Suddenly I went from exercising four or five days a week to six! I could get up at 4 a.m. and just hop onto the elliptical if I wanted, regardless of whether or not I brushed my teeth, my hair or anything else! I loved the freedom and flexibility.
Ten months later, I was blessed with a treadmill, and between those two things, free weights, and iTunes 20 Minute Yoga podcasts, I’m a happy, healthy gal.
I should mention that I gave away my couch to fit both pieces of equipment in my one-bedroom apartment (they’re now officially my living room furniture), but it was worth it. I’d rather have a functional living space, anyway, and I LOVE working out.
Megan… sorry did I just read 4am?!?!?
Wow – that is something else. I have to honestly say I cannot imagine that for me, but I am intrigued by it for sure
I have to say, I am so inspired by your story! I wish I felt like that about our home gym.
I do a combination of gym and at home workouts. I am at the gym 5-6 days a week but I like having the option to work out from home, the park, or the local high school track, too. Variety certainly helps me stick to a healthy lifestyle so I don’t burn myself out.
Stacey,
Oh, this is a post I can relate to! I tried the gym once – and just found that it wasn’t working for me (not that it might for some people though). And for me, working out at home allows me to do it when I want to. Flexibility is a key right now – and so sometimes that’s an early morning workout, and others times it’s in the evening.
And there’s also something about being outside, too, that is very refreshing. And that makes running and biking very enjoyable – when I can experience these in the outdoors.
My best shot at some sort of regularity is having options available that are convenient and enjoyable. It’s made all the difference!
Great job, too – on giving someone other options to consider in working out! You may well have just given this man a a re-invigorated look on health and wellness! And that’s way awesome!!
The gym didn’t work for me either. I didn’t know about exercise tv so thanks for the resource. I do some videos with hand weights for my bones. I also watch mizfit and her videos. I love to run, hike and walk. Those make my heart sing!
Because I’ve exercised since I was 27, I have never had to worry about my weight, never. I don’t know what motivates people to begin but once I do if they establish a routine it’s difficult to stop.
The ONLY reason the gym works for is because it’s at work and it’s $21 per month. I go to the gym 2-3x per week during lunch. I fit in an extra 30-45 minutes of cardio. I find the gym incredibly B.O.R.I.N.G.
What gets me going is Thai Kiciboxing. I belong to the martial arts studio in town (the school is one of the best in the country) I love martial arts. LOVE IT. I’m in class 3-4x per week. After 2 years and 7 months, I just got my recommended black belt and I’m a year away from testing for my first degree black belt – YAHOO!
And…I’m a certified yoga teacher…I teach in my basement one night a week and have a daily practice that requires no cost other than me and my mat (and my iPod)
Evita – Snowshoeing is a great winter workout! I used to “hibernate” in winter, then I was introduced to snowshoeing and I love it! Gets me out, works up a sweat and I feel great afterwards.
Megan – that’s a lesson in priorities, huh? Somplace to sit or someplace to workout! Just as long as you rest sometime, right?
and I agree, I’m up early, but 4am? You go girl!
Hi Joanna – thanks for stopping by. Variety is exactly why I love working out from home or outside. At the gym my tendency was to do the same thing over and over. The most important thing is for people to know they have options.
Lance – you hit the nail – convenient and enjoyable…often missing for most “workouts” – exercise CAN be fun and creative. I, too, like the flexibility. I’ll get a quick workout at home at 5:30, but tell me I have to go to the gym and I’ll skip for sure.
Tess – No problem, I love Exercise TV – if you try it let me know what you think. It’s about creating the habit…and that’s the challenge for most people.
I used to force myself to go to the gym too. I hated it. All the other guys were bigger and it made me feel weak. I know that it wasn’t true, but I knew I needed to make a change.
I like your method because you make exercise fit your needs instead of being a big bully to yourself. You are probably a lot more motivated to work out.
We just need to figure out what is best for us so we use internal motivation to stay in shape.
Awesome advice. Exercise TV is a pretty cool place to go for workouts that you can do from home. I especially like the Yoga workouts. I’m just starting out, so its great to learn from the comfort of my own living room.
Peggy – Convenience is often key – and if the gym is at work, well, sometimes it’s hard not to go. Thai kickboxing sounds great! like you I have a daily at home yoga practice…I can do it when I want and what I want, I love it!
Karl – Exactly – we need to figure out what works…so often we forget we have options!
Jim – I’m really enjoying the workouts on Exercise TV. I haven’t used the yoga ones – I practice on my own, but the cardio ones are great and fun! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Hi Stacey,
I totally agree with many of the ideas that have been presented here. I alternate between loving the gym and struggling to get there. It does have a lot to do with the proximity of the gym, parking availability, your schedule, personal motivation etc. Conveniently, I live two blocks from the YMCA in Boston and I find it easy to get in there to blow off steam after having been with the kids all day. I go in the morning before the kids are up or when my husband returns home in the evening. I also have discovered Core Fusion classes at Exhale and mix up my workout with the variety of Core classes they offer. On the beautiful mornings I powerwalk around the Charles River Esplanade which is also a great way to start the day.
Having so many options has been brilliant. I do the machines at the Y, spin classes, core workouts and Kick Boxing at the Y and then round it out with the Core Fusion classes at Exhale. I do have a few DVDs but find it hard to be in front of the TV or my computer to work out but will have to try out my new Core Fusion DVD one day soon. I will investigate the Exercise TV as well.
I am excited that I have found a routine that is serving me, my health, and fits in well with my family obligations.
Cheers, Andrea