Do I NEED the gym?

I hate the gym... I hate walking there, being there, having to shower afterwards, trying to find the time to get there, skipping it and then feeling like I'm wasting money... Is it ok to give it up and just take long walks and do more inside exercise like pilates tapes etc and taking the stairs everyday instead of the elevator?Those things seem much more do able to me and seem like they would in the long run be just as effective. My guy friend told me that I need to break a good sweat to get any results but I argued that just being more active through out the day in alot of smaller ways is just as good. Am I wrong? to get results do I need to run a treadmill and use machines? or are there everyday equivalents that will help just as much? it all gets down to calories burned and muscles used right?

Sat. Nov 19, 2:27am

I'm all about the blood type diet, so that affects my answer. Me, I NEED the gym; my best friend doesn't.

For example: If you have type O blood, you need to elevate your heart rate to around 70 percent of your maximum heart rate (which usually means working up a sweat) to get the best results. If you have type A blood, go for yoga, tai chi, and other less strenous forms of excercise.

Being more active through the day can help- and will likely help your health, but it may not necessarily be enough to lose the wieght you want to.

Link

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 4:17 AM

I go to a clean gym with great free classes two blocks from my home. There were cheaper gyms but the atmosphere and towels, cotton balls, q-tips, and other stuff makes going to the gym a pleasure. Usually exercise is the first activity I give up when I get overly busy. Developing a habit of classes has really helped me. I work out more intensely when I go to classes. After a spin or kickboxing class, I do some weights. If I don't do weights and resistance my upper body muscles seem to dissolve instantly.
Working out only on my own gets boring after a while and I tend to slack off. Which is dangerous for me because i get low blood pressure and dizzy. Aerobic exercise keeps my blood pressure in a comfortable range and lowers my resting heartbeat.
Starting aerobic exercise is a painful challenge, but I find after a week or two it becomes enjoyable.
The water polo coach at my school swears swimming is the best and most efficient overall workout if you want to minimize time spent on exercise.

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 5:06 AM

in my opinion, NO you don't need a gym... it helps some people stay structured and focused but if you can workout at home (and trust me you can sweat at home) then you are doing the same thing as going to a gym. I do other activities that aren't "exercise" to get my body moving amd sweating and my heart rate up some of them are : playing basketball with my sons, dancing goofy with my daughters and sometimes my sons will join in, walking, scrubbing the shower extra hard, heck I consider deep cleaning to be exercise.
so my answer is no do what makes you feel comfortable and happy, if it makes you feel healthy and lose some pounds in the process then it's working :-)

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 8:00 AM

You don't have to go to the gym. God if you hate it that much STOP! Find an activity you enjoy and stick with that for a while. Like walking? Mix it up a bit, do hills and add some leg weight, jog for a few min at a time then walk again. There so much you can do without going to the gym.

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 9:31 AM

Is it the Gym or Sweating that you Hate? (You should--eventually--sweat doing pilates...)

If it's just the gym, then don't go there. You just need to decide what you have to do to accomplish your goals. Which leads to another big question...how would you describe your goals? Do you "just" want to drop weight? Do you want to run a marathon (or a 2K, perhaps?). Stave off osteoporosis? Build pretty shoulders? Be stronger? What is good enough and what you need to do to get it depends on your goal. Consider what you need and then do that.

If the goal is avoiding sweat, I suspect (but don't really know) that your boyfriend might be right. Again depending on your goal, you may NEED to break a sweat, etc. You'll need to decide that depending on your goals.

Have you considered that it might be the timing? Do you schedule your gym visits at times that are inconvenient to have to shower and then put yourself back together? (That's why I never go at lunch.) Maybe 1st thing in the morning so that you throw something on to get there, but really put yourself together/shower for the day after your workout. If you go for that, then your gym needs to have what you need for that plan (place to hang clothes, good mirrors, hair dryers, whatever). Or after work--perhaps w/ your boyfriend?

Finally, you can (and when you understand pilates well, will) break a sweat doing pilates. I've been doing pilates for about 7 years now, and while there is a distinct "zen/meditative" element to it, if properly performed you will definitely work hard and sweat! I often wonder if it's really possible to get the deep muscle elements, breathing & diaphram work right just using tapes. You might want to try some private sessions with a pilates trainer (you need to check credentials...they should talk about their training lineage if you ask--that is, who taught them, etc., you'll hear most good pilates teachers talk about their teacher being 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation...someone who has been a ballet dancer is likely to be a good choice. You're looking for someone who can see which muscles you are (and are not) using so that they can direct you--and having found someone, you'll want to wear something fairly formfitting so that they can see what you're doing.)

HTH

Alissa2

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 11:41 AM

Gym is not for all

I have a mixed relationship with mine. years and years ago I got a killer rate at 24 hr fitness through my job, I went a few times, then skipped 8 YEARS! However I kept my membership current, knowing I'd never see that rate again, and hoping I'd find some motivation. Last year the gym built a new facility within easy walking distance, and I am finally going regularly. I don't like cardio, but I use the elliptical due to a foot injury then do my favorite part which is weights. HOWEVER the important part here is you absolutely DO NOT NEED THE GYM!! There are opportunities everyday and everywhere to stay fit. Daily, moderate 1/2 hour walks (and NO you don't need to work up a big sweat to be fit!) are great and you can combine this with simple resistance training ( a few dumbells are an easy addition) which you can usually find used, or add a workout ball for stretching, toning, etc. Borrow, trade or rent various workout tapes to see what suits YOU, and most of all, find a way to make it fun; eg lots of music, with friends, whatever works. Good luck, use your common sense, browse balanced fitness books in the library and bookstore, and feel free to change it up if it gets boring...go for it!!

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 1:23 PM

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