Goodbye to the GYM!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 07:45PM
I will do this someday. That's all there is to it.
Now- this post is NOT about badmouthing any GYM! Not at all....it's simply on my mind because I am actually cancelling my gym membership. Why? Not because I don't love the gym, but because I never drive over there. What do I love about the gym that I can't do at home? Steam Room. Treadmill. Lat Machine. That's about it.
I have so many great workout DVDs and such a great selection of equipment at home, why on earth would I waste an extra 40 minutes commuting here and there, plus spend the extra $75/month, when I don't need to? Frankly, I'm hoping to get a sweet killer treadmill (and yes, I will totally buy mine at SEARS hello!! Did I also mention that they are doing this Tweetathon where you can win a Sole F63 Treadmill??) eventually when I have room in my house. But until then, I have:
- Kettlebells
- Free weights from 3lbs to 25lbs
- Barbells with all kinds of plates
- Bosu Ball
- Yoga Mat, accessories
- Step- both for mini step and full long step
- Resistance bands
- TRX
- Medicine Ball
- UGI!
- Oh- I don't have this yet but I plan to get a sweeta** punching bag like THIS. And then I will paste a picture of someone's face on there and beat it to oblivion. WHAT? ;-)
Don't get me wrong, if I had a great gym 5 minutes from my house, I'd keep the membership. But for me, with the time/distance and cost plus the convenience of working out at home where I can also sweat like a maniac and make noises and not worry about the cute guy seeing me looking so messed up...that's also cool.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you a home gym person or a gym person, or both? What would be your ideal situation?
So, speaking of my home-gym workouts, today I figured, I have serious DOMS, so let's do a more 'cardio' workout with NO weights. I chose my old favorite, Ilaria's Bodystrikes 2. OMG. I say that every time.
She is so badass. When we do a FitFluential event in NYC, I must have her be a part of it. If you haven't tried her workouts, you can check out some reviews on CollageVideo.com. But take my word for it- SWEATFEST. And her personality is precious- she's a tough cookie with a cute cute personality.
I love it when she goes, "easy, no problem! 12 more!" hahaha #Isworealotinthisvideo
So, anyway, I did 45 minutes of Ilaria and burned 425 calories. That's a WOOT! in my book. I am really glad that I started this week off strong and switched my workouts to in the morning, no matter what. It is making all the difference in the world!!
I also shot this video this morning prior to my sweatfest- about "DIET" and "DETAILS". Because, as I'm learning, for weight-loss, it's all in the dang details!
Oh, here is another question- do you use a tool like I use FitDay.com to track calories/intake?
Reader Comments (17)
Love it, and sooo true. When I was successful at losing weight it was by logging food. Started law school and thought I could "count" cals in my head and have gained almost all of the weight back. Was probably eating 500-1000 more/day than I was when I was losing weight and logging everything!
Kelly,
How ironic that this topic is exactly what I am grappling with! I have a gym membership and was a very steady gym goer for 3 years. Started as a newbie in group classes (BodyPump) and managed to lose pounds and gain muscle but hit a plateau. I couldn't lose any more pounds, stopped sweating and got bored. I then started running outdoors and doing a 3 month/1 hour/2 days a week boot camp that was offered through my job at a very affordable price so my attendance in the gym slowly came to a stop. This was back in November and I "should have" frozen my gym membership but just put it on the back burner. I re-upped the boot camp and finally froze my membership, 6 months after not attending! I have access to P90X and some Insanity DVDS along with my obsession with BodyRock.tv and am wondering why I am keeping this membership. I finally realized it was due to FEAR! I believe that if I no longer have the membership, I will surely stop exercising! I know that this is not the case but the membership is like a reminder that there is no excuse NOT to work out and I am paying for it so I CAN'T stop exercising. It would be unfair to my family to pay and not go and it also adds to my guilt. I have not worked out in a week and the guilt has already set in. I imagine my arms shrinking, my middle getting mushier and my pants not buttoning! GEESH! I like to workout with others, I am not disciplined enough to workout alone. I am hoping to change this starting on Friday. (I have summers off due to working in a school)Wish me luck!
p.s. I track my food and exercise using MyFitnessPal.com. I run with the Nike Sensor and cycle with the iMapMyRide app on my phone. Although I am sure I shouldn't, I weight myself EVERYDAY! I log it on WeightTracker on my iTouch. YEAH, I am a little obsessed but I am in the best shape I have ever been.......(not sure if that is saying much, though)
Random: I was googling action hero babe workouts and saw that you had written about it---what do you think of the workouts? I want a great at home workout---im busier with nursing school---and want the BEST! What do you think?
PS: I am sending the bio and picture soon--I promise!
I ditched my gym...I was really scared to do it, but I have quite a few kettlebells, dumbbells, and barbell set. Generally I workout out in my garage or living room, but have been loving some kettlebell/running workouts at the track these days. Fun stuff! Plus fresh air.
Also, regarding tracking food/calories - I don't track calories, just what I eat during the day in a notebook. Just knowing that I have to write it down helps me out for sure, without getting obsessive.
PlasticCA- isn't it amazing?? How little things can make such a huge difference?? Amen!
Sue Ann- I hear you, but you KNOW you can do it. That's why you have US!!! I'm happy to check in on you and make sure you are doing your workouts!! IT helps me to be accountable to my online family! LOL
Lisa! ;-) Valerie's workouts are GREAT. Seriously. And I love how you can amp them up by adding weight or doing more reps-- I really love them. Haven't done them in a while but really that's only because I have way too many workout DVDS at home lately LOL.
Amanda! ;-) I would love to turn my garage into a gym....I really would. Do you have a 2-car or 1-car garage?
I'm an at home workout person...because I live in the middle of nowhere LOL. OMG, we were the same person I swear! I feel this week like I'm getting it together. tracking, workouts, pushing. Hooray!
Unless I am running (outside ONLY) I would prefer to do weights in a gym. I hate having extra 'equipment' laying around the house. PLus if I have to get out of the house and go somewhere then I am almost certain to go. If the stuff is at home and I pass it everyday when I walk through the family room I'll never use it.
I also track my calories/workouts at myfitnesspal.com
It has helped me notice just how much crapola I was eating!
Ok, clearly I need to check out some of these DVDs. I'm usually more of a gym person because I don't have enough equipment at home and I don't have room to store the heavier dumbbells, bars, etc. that I'd want. I like to do body weight exercise too though. I think a well-rounded routine has both. I posted about a gym workout today, but I've got one tomorrow that's just me and a track. It's all about balance! I used to track calories because I wanted to make sure I was eating to meet my goals. Now I'm more of an intuitive eater.
I'm also a workout at home girl! I love to try all sorts of DVD workouts and I run, so most definitely no gym for me. Though I do like the gym, I just do not like the cost.
Thank you for reinforcing how important tracking is for weight loss. I know this but I am like you...its in my head! I know I'm eating well but I have beein maintaining for the last 2 years. That's great but I still have 40 lbs to lose. I'll check out fitday and see what feed back it gives me in comparison to my weight watchers journal. I like the report breakouts on fitday. Great resource!
I'm both home workouts and gym. Now I would prefer to have my own home gym in our garage, we talk about remodeling it all the time into a home gym. But then that means we have to build a shed and buy the big fitness equipment like treadmill, elliptical, spin bikes (because if we left the gym we would terribly miss spin class)...and the list goes on. It's something I dream about often! So for now it's home and gym.
Kev and I have been talking about buying bikes. He would really love that and I think I could get used to it.
Kerri- HIGH FIVE BABY!!!
Amanda~ I do hear you on the space that weights and such at home takes up-- I shove all mine in a closet and it's a drag having to put it all away. I'm gonna check out your calorie counting site now too.
Casey ~ I hope to inevitably get back to knowing what my daily limit is but after 2 years of crazy mad dieting, I need to monitor my intake right now. I also totally agree about balance. That's why I like to mix it all up and not just do one program or DVD "set". ;-)
Patty!~take a peek at LiveStrong.com and also Amanda's comment with her site. ;-)
Angie!! I dream of a dreamy home gym someday too. Do you mean outdoor bikes or like spin bikes?
I have the Fitday software on my old computer & never put it on my newer one. It was frustrating to always add new foods. I've been using MyFitnessPal.com and while it's not the best, so many foods are already in there. I just don't like the way their exercise log is set up.
Once upon a time I was very addicted to Coolrunning.com and logged every mile down to the 10th. Thankfully, I'm out of that mode.
What is an UGI!?
Good for you! I did the whole no gym thing for a year and it didn't work well for me since I get bored with dvds and kettlebells plus I was running for awhile but then hurt my need. Now I'm back at the gym and love it but it all depends on the person.
I use Livestrong.com to track my cals and exercise, I love it!!
Tiff! I do LOVE The gym, all the selection etc. and cute boys too but for me it's more about convenience right now. I just can't give up THAT much time during my day to go there and back, cuz when I'm there, I stay in the steam room....and the sauna, you see where I'm going with this. LOL
Glynis! ;-) Ohhhh you gotta get a UGIFit!! Check out www.ugifit.com -- GREAT workout!! So versatile!
I have the luxury of having two gyms on base that I can use for free. One is well equipped, the other is moderately equipped, but offers various classes. I am also afforded gym time--3 one hour sessions per week, where I am paid to work out:) Lets not forget I can go on my lunch break (one is about 100 yards from my office, the other is a 2 minute drive). I am free to use it at other times, but since I have kiddos, I need to go while they're in daycare. But working out from home is definitely an option for me. I have a treadmill, punching bag, mini trampoline, trampoline, bike, pool, weights, kettle bells, exercise ball, pull up bar, P90X, Insanity, and a ton of other DVDs. My biggest hold up about working out from home are the kids. I come home from work, and I have to cook dinner, feed everyone, bathe the kids, clean up the kitchen. Yes, I can squeeze in a workout, but its really a mood killer when you're on the treadmill and Dora is on TV or youre tring to do some P90X and your kid is screaming at you wanting to watch something on TV that pleases her. Or the almost 2 year old wants to climb on you. So...in my case...the gym wins, even though I want home to win!
All I can say is LUCKY YOU!