I Don't Go to The Gym

In 2009 I worked out exactly one time. Terrible I know. Even worse, the only reason why I did it was because my mom dragged me to a Yoga class. I didn't work out again until around September of 2010. I started slowly with exercise videos at home. Still not very consistently though. It wasn't until Jan of 2011 that I actually started going back to the gym and working out regularly. We get so little of time to ourselves, especially during the week that I just didn't want to spend it at the gym. Once I accepted that working out might mean I only get a few measly hours at home to myself before bedtime it was all good and I just dealt with it.  For the2 1/2 years the gym had become a regular part of my life with the occasional home exercise DVD at home.  Then I started doing my own at home work out regime.  Doing  Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred changed everything.  I only went to the gym once in a month and a half during that time.  After I finished the shred I trotted back to the gym to get back into my old cardio ways.  It wasn't the same and I just couldn't motivate myself to keep going back.  I don't go to the gym much anymore and here's why.

1) No gym commute and rigamarole.  My gym is on the way home from work and it's a 10 minute drive from my house. It's not out of my way at all but I have to pack a few things the night before, carry the bag to the car, carry the bag into the gym, change, lock up the bag, work out, get the bag and drive home.  If I forget something essential I'm screwed.  Or should I say my work out is screwed because I'm not going back.  When I work out at home I don't have to bother with any of that.  I come home, undress and work out immediately.  Working out during the work week has always been a challenge for me but this makes it so much easier to fit it in.

2) I get to be sexy for my husband.  Sometimes you gotta shake things up a little.  Seeing his wife in her underwear and sports bra doing man push ups might be just the thing.  Mj says he loves it when I work out at home.  He doesn't sit there and watch me like a creepy stalker but he catches some peaks here and there and he likes it.  I also enjoy watching him work out in his undies.  It's win win for everyone. 

3) Less laundry.  When I work out at home I'm wearing only a sports bra and my undies.  If it's Yoga I'll add a towel on top of my yoga mat so I don't stick.  I just don't see the point of putting on gym clothes and creating more laundry when I'm in the comfort of my own home and nobody but my husband can see me.  As the weather gets cooler I may have to add bottoms.

4) More variety on my own time.  My gym is open 24/7 so I can go anytime I want to but if I want to do a class then I'm stuck with the schedule that is available.  I'm also stuck with what there is available for me to do at the gym.  Weights, Cardio or Classes.  When your home is your gym and a DVD is your instructor the possibilities are endless.  There are a million at home DVD's to choose from of varying lengths and types and all you have to do is pop in the video whenever you want.  The key is finding workouts that truly are a good work out.  I just bought 4 more DVD's and I'm already scoping out more.  They are relatively inexpensive and if you use them it's worth it.  I used to think I had to go to the gym to really get that good workout but now I know that I don't have to at all.

5) The only sweaty and possibly stinky person I have to deal with is me.  Have you ever been stuck next to a stinky person at the gym?  It sucks.  More then once I've been about 10 minutes into my 60 minute elliptical work out when some stinky person who is either deodorant resistant or forgot to put it on rolls up next to me.  I still have 50 minutes to work out and I don't want to switch machines because it will screw up my numbers.  I hope that he's doing a quick work out and then my heart sinks when I see him enter 45 minutes.  If something stinks it's me and if there is sweat on my mat I know it's mine.

6) No classic "gym smell."  My gym is huge, nice and very well ventilated but after not going there in a while and then going back the first thing I noticed was the smell.  It's not as bad as someone with BO working out next to you but it's just that gym smell.  Well, you don't have that at home.

I got my abs back, built up my biceps and got a lot of my flexibility back all with exercise videos a yoga mat and a few hand weights.  It is possible to get in shape without ever stepping foot in the gym.


It would be harder to mostly quit the gym if I felt like I was wasting money.  I've been on the same gym membership that my mom started for the family since I was in high school.  It's so dirt cheap that I don't even feel bad for letting my parents continue to cover it and I will definitely hold onto the membership.  It's nice to still have the option to go to change things up.  It would also be tough to do without it if I didn't have the space for it or AC when it's hot in the Summer.  I haven't been in 2 months but I'm planning to go back today because I kind of miss the elliptical.  Let's see if I still miss it when it's 5:00pm and I'm on my way there.  Or when I've been on for ONLY 45 minutes and want to die.  When I was going all the time seeing the same people every time and then they dropped off the face of the earth I always wondered what happened to them.  If they come back with obvious weight gain I assume they haven't been working out.  Hopefully, no one will be compelled to assume that about me.  In my case, I'm still working out.  Just not at the gym.

27 comments

  1. Yes I agree with all of this! We dropped our gym membership about a year ago and it was such a good decision. I love being able to work out at home, even if it's super quick or before work, I love that the option is there.

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  2. I used to be this person, but now the option and flexibility of the gym works for me. Its cooler and theres more space. However since i now run alot, I simply go to the gym for weight training.

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  3. I may need to try this as I hate the gym...hate it!

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  4. I don't have a gym membership anymore but I do a lot of workout classes, which I love. I do Hot Yoga, Barre, and OrangeTheory. I also workout during my lunch break at work--we have a tiny gym. I smiled that you wrote that you didn't like spending the only few hours in between work and sleep at the gym because it takes away from your "me" time. I consider a good yoga class definitely a "me" thing. To me, working out is "me" time. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to veg out and catch up on my DVR, but I mostly leave that for Friday nights, or Sunday afternoons. Occasionally, there will be a weeknight where I get to veg out too. Oh, and Eric and I go to Orange Theory classes together and I LOVE that. It definitely feels like a fun activity we get to do as a couple.

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  5. I enjoy going to the gym. I've tried several times to do it at home and I just don't have the motivation I do when I actually make it to the gym.

    But this is what I think, whatever helps you get your workout in is good.

    No one will think you haven't been exercising. You look great!

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  6. This is an awesome post! We enjoy being as active as possible, whether it be walking around the city, going to yoga, or hitting the gym to get in some treadmill action and kickboxing classes! It's definitely a challenge though, to stay motivated - it's all about not giving up!

    ox Davie and Erica

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  7. I prefer working out at home too. And yeah, seeing my man work out in undies is hot! The other thing that I like is that even on those days when I don't feel like working out, I can half ass it at home, which is better than not going to the gym at all!

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  8. Brian and I will sometimes go to the gym to work out and while I don't always enjoy it, I always feel healthier afterwards and am glad we went. We will probably start going more during the winter. Exercising from home is probably something I would enjoy more, but we don't have dvd's or anything like that to motivate us to do any workouts. Maybe we'll have to pick some up.

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  9. I also like working out at home but I do it best with my other half. We motivate and push each other. Committing to a gym is hard and I feel that would be money wasted especially when i'm feeling lazy and don't want to go.

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  10. I always find I lack motivation when I try to work out at home, but I'm pretty sure if I had a hubby there sneaking peeks I would be more enthused lol!!! whichever method you do, it is definitely working because you have the cutest shape!

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  11. I love this! Gives me some motivation to start working out at home. Zach and I both hate the gym.

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  12. yes, this is great!! I really like to work out from home vs the gym

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  13. I prefer to work out at home too over going to a gym. I'm not a fan of getting all sweaty and gross in front of other people!

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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  14. Ditto, ditto, ditto! I'm working out at home at least 3x a week, the other 2-3x is either in a group class or at the park. Great post!

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  15. I haven't been to the gym since I moved to NY. This is because I am constantly on the move with no car! It's the best when I can get exercise in without resorting to traditional methods.

    But winter is coming so I see a gym in my near future.

    You look fabulous! Obviously you have some great genes...no need to fret about the gym. :)

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  16. Yes!! I agree with all of this. I'd LIKE to have a gym around to go to for certain equipment (proper mats and bars) but for working out and yoga, my home does just fine.

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  17. These are great reasons not to join a gym! But... I'm going to be joining one again. There's just not enough space in my apartment to move around, and I can get a discounted membership to the gym on campus where I work. It wouldn't require any additional commute, just a little planning ahead.

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  18. I used to love working out at home and then I had a baby so the only time that works is when he is sleeping by which time I am too tired so now going to the gym is a necessity!! But I used to love doing tae Bo at home!!

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  19. Well, having a toddler and being pregnant doesn't give me much room to workout. That's not a great excuse because I didn't go the gym even when I wasn't pregnant with #2

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  20. Good for you for being able to motivate yourself at home! I have tried and tried and I just can't do it. Not that I am all that motivated to go to the gym either, but for some reason it helps me if I go to the gym. But yes, going and packing a bag and all of that is super annoying!

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  21. I love the 30 day shred! Best workout video ever. I hate the travel part too, especially when the weather starts getting cooler.

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  22. Amen to the home workouts! I'm all about that life.

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  23. I love going to the gym :) However at home workouts on my wii are my favorite!

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  24. I did the opposite. For a long time I hated working out at the gym for several reasons (I think there's an old post about it). I switched to home workout videos and got great results. After having my kiddo, working out at home was hard. First we moved into a house that has noisy floors that makes you feel like you're going to fall through them. Second, going to the gym is a way for me to get out the house. But I think I may go back to working out at home when we move again in a few months (hopefully in a less creaky house).

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  25. I love going to the gym, but for all of these reasons I mostly work out at home! Especially having less laundry!

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  26. love this - and all great reasons for skipping the gym for sure. i've been on kicks where i'll just workout at home or other times where i feel like i need the gym. my fave gym thing is the elliptical too so it's hard to give up sometimes. oh and have you checked out workouts on youtube? there are a lot of quick one on there too and for free!
    -- jackie @ jade and oak

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  27. I can't imagine not working out for a year! Good for you for finding motivation and sticking to it!

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