Why You Don't Need a Gym

smiling woman and man stretching on yoga mats

Lots of people want to get in shape, or want to get in better shape, or want to change something about their shape. But according to fitness experts, those people shouldn't go to the gym. If you want to improve your body, it's actually much more effective to do it outside of the gym.

Working Out

When it comes to exercising, the gym definitely has a ton of equipment that can help you work on any body part you want. Some gyms offer fitness classes where you can work out with a trainer in a group setting. But when you want to work out, you don't actually need any of that.

As far as cardio is concerned, fitness experts say that the best cardio workout is simply walking. You will burn as many or more calories while walking as you do with much more intense cardio workouts. It's also free. You can get out and walk anywhere. It's good for you, and it's more fun than standing on a treadmill and walking.

woman doing yoga and kissing happy dog

When it comes to building strength, your body is the only tool you really need. Bodyweight exercises are just as effective at building muscles as lifting weights and using machines.

The U.S. Army, for example, trains soldiers with bodyweight exercises only in boot camp. If anyone knows anything about getting in shape, it's the U.S. Army. Classic push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and squats are the building blocks of their workouts. You can do all that stuff in the gym, but you can do it at home just as easily.

Working at home allows you to really focus on form without worrying about how you look, faces you might be making, or any of the above. You don’t have to worry about making noise, for example, or care about how much you’re sweating.

You can also turn on the TV, stream music or a movie on your phone, and generally make yourself quite comfortable while you work out in ways you simply can’t have at the gym.

Why Avoid the Gym?

The gym can be a good way to socialize, and it can be a good way to target a specific area of the body. But much of what you get from the gym, you can get at home. if you want group classes or even a personalized trainer, there are numerous apps and even free YouTube videos that provide this experience.

smiling woman doing plank on yoga mat in front of laptop

The gym also has a lot of germs, it's expensive, and it can be super, super boring. You might be distracted or self-conscious in front of others. It can also be time-consuming.

Rather than just working out at home, you have to get your water bottle and your towel and get over to the gym and then come home and put your stuff up and...well, it can be time-consuming!

It’s also pretty easy to get confused about how to use those machines. It might take a couple of trips before you get familiar with the settings of one machine. Then you go back to the gym and someone is using that machine, so you have to try another and go through the whole process again.

You may not know the proper positioning, whether or not you need resistance. It can be difficult just figuring out how to adjust the machine so that it fits your body better.

When you rely on your own body weight and simple equipment, such as handheld resistance bands, you eliminate all this machine error from the equation and make it much easier on yourself to get the workout you want.

You don't need the gym to get the body you want and actually, you'll save money and protect your health by not going. So skip the gym and save the workouts for home. Otherwise, you can keep the gym membership to use for socializing.