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!