Five reasons why the gym sucks.
Filed under: home gym, kettlebell exercises, kettlebell training
The gym has quickly integrated itself into society as a vital cog in the machine of life. Twenty years ago, it was unusual for a person to go the gym to work out. Nowadays, it’s the norm. Something changed. A revolution happened. Fitness became a priority in people’s lives. Smart business men around the globe saw an opportunity and took advantage of this. Nowadays, gyms are everywhere and memberships are at an all time high,
But, do we need the gym?
In my opinion, they suck and we’d all be better off without them.
Why?
First of all, travelling to the gym sucks.
Imagine this. You’ve just finished a gruelling workout. All you want to do is sit back on the sofa, relax a little and take a breather. You leave the gym, get in your car and head on your way home. Five minutes into your journey, you hit a traffic jam. Your ten minute drive home turns into thirty minutes. Yuck.
Secondly, most personal trainers don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.
I don’t want to tar all personal trainers out there with the same brush (there are many who do know what they’re talking about), but the majority of the ones I’ve dealt with have been clueless and out of shape. It’s an odd feeling to have a guy who needs to lose at least 30lbs himself giving you fitness advice that he read in a book.
Thirdly, going to the gym costs a huge amount of money!
Gym fees are getting out of control! The average cost of a gym is currently $60 per month and rising. And, have you ever tried to cancel a gym membership? Good luck with that! Many gyms have long term commitment clauses that are near impossible to get round.
Fourthly, going to the gym limits your training options.
The first thing I do after turning off my alarm clock is to grab my kettlebell and do a workout. Ever done a workout in your boxer shorts? It’s pretty fun!
Working out first thing the morning can boost your metabolism for the day (meaning you burn more calories) and put you into an alert and ready state that is more effective than any cup of coffee. If you were to go to the gym in the morning, you’d need to get dressed, head over there, sign in, put your clothes in a locker.. and so on and so forth.
You end up wasting time doing pointless tasks when your time could be spent doing more important things. Like getting a little bit of extra sleep before heading to work in the morning. 
Finally, there are loads of distractions at the gym.
When I used to go to the gym, I decided that I would spend as much time as I could working out. I’d get in as much exercise as I could.
Looking round, it seemed like the majority of people disagreed with my way of thinking. I’d see people standing around, sipping water while wistfully staring at the television screen (or members of the opposite sex!) or admiring themselves in the mirror instead of pushing themselves and making the most of their time. Working out home, you can minimise the distractions and focus on working out.
It’s been three years since I’ve given up the gym. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m more independent when it comes to my health; I spend more time working out and less time is wasted and I’m in much better shape than I was back in my gym days, not to mention I’ve saved a ton of money.
The time of the gym is over. The age of the home workout is drawing nearer. Jump on the bandwagon now - you won’t regret it!
Ps. If you want to find out how kettlebells can help you with working out at home, check out the “Introduction to Kettlebells” article here.
Pps. One of the main worries people have about giving up the gym is that they’ll lose the motivation to work out. I’ve written about this specific issue in my “Goal Setting” article here. Give it a read!
Kettlebell exercises: Basic drills
Video showing some simple and basic kettlebell exercises in action.
Always a good idea to brush up on the basics!
Duration : 0:1:12
Steve Cotter - Extreme Kettlebell Workout - Kettlebells DVD
This video features Steve Cotter showing off some of the exercises on his new dvd set. It looks like a pretty exhausting box set with four dvds worth of stuff. Will it be worthwhile stuff? Or lots of fluff?
I’ll keep an eye out for a review and post it as soon as possible.
If you’re curious yourself, you can pick up the DVD set on Steve’s site - Full Kontact. Make sure to drop me a line at kettlebellexercises@gmail.com and let me know how it is!
How To Burn More Fat
I came across this video and I thought it was pretty unique for one single reason.. It’s got a lady doing the swings!
Most of the kettlebell videos focus around guys with the simplistic idea that the fairer sex should be satisfied with pilates and the like and should avoid weights at all cost. What a joke!
Kettlebells are awesome for everyone. Male, female, young, old. It doesn’t matter. Hopefully this way incorrect way of thinking can be changed.. in time, anyway!
Duration : 0:1:34
Kettlebell exercises – Turkish Getup.
I love the ‘turkish getup’. I remember distinctly the first time I performed it - it was so different to anything I had done before while training with dumbells, barbells or resistance bands.
The turkish getup starts with you lying down on your back, kettlebell held up towards the sky with your elbow at full lock out. Gradually, you start standing up, kettlebell still held high, until you’re fully stood up with the kettlebell held directly above you. Next, you reverse the movement until you find yourself back on the floor gasping for breath.
Switch arms. Repeat.
Anthony DiLuglio from ‘Art of Strength’ has a brilliant video on YouTube with step-by-step instructions showing exactly how the turkish getup should be performed. You can check it out below.