5 Reasons NOT To Go To the Gym

I used to only train at the gym, I thought it was the only the only way to go – I didn’t know any better.

But now I’m in the best position of my life both physically and financially and I only go to the gym once a week to lift really heavy stuff – for fun.

The other 3 training sessions are all done outdoors in the park or at the beach with only the use of Olympic rings, sandbags, kettlebells, bodyweight and med-balls – all tools that we use at our boot camps.

It’s funny but as soon as I stopped working and training at the gym my life instantly got better.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to imply that leaving the gym was the only reason for a turn in events, but it just worked out that way.

Here are 5 reasons why NOT to go to the gym…

1. Waiting for equipment
This used to drive me nuts. I reckon I’d waste a quarter of my valuable workout time waiting for equipment. Not only are you getting cold whilst you’re waiting but it’s impossible to finish your workout without spending an extra 15-20 minutes in the gym – and who wants that?

Either build your own home gym, join a fitness boot camp or use the jungle gym at parks and beaches – that’s what they’re there for.

2. People bugging you
Now I don’t know if people just used to bug me because I was a trainer but I’d spend half the time answering people’s questions. I’m not anti-social but if I’m training the last thing I want is to be asked questions when I’m In mid workout – if you need advice then hire a trainer. My Info Is reserved for my personal training and boot camp clients!

I was once asked a question mid bench press whilst listening to my I pod!

Then there’s always the guy that spends the whole time walking around the gym giving bad advice to unexpecting victims even though he’s In terrible shape himself – every gym has one, he’s the in house know it all.

3. Expensive memberships
What a con! Gyms are nearly as bad as banks. You pay hundreds of dollars for a membership card so you have the privilege to pay them a monthly membership fee – cheers!

Then you get locked into a long term contact with no way out (unless you give them more money).

For the all the money you spend on gym fees spend a few bucks on some useful pieces of home training equipment and use it for a lifetime with no more fees.

4. Useless equipment
A little secret in the fitness industry is that all those shining fancy machines you see in gyms are actually useless. I haven’t used machines for years because they don’t work – they don’t allow your body to move in the natural way it was designed to and often lead to overuse injuries.

If you want to be lean and toned forget about the machines, get yourself some dumbbells/ kettlebells, Olympic rings and you make your very own gym.

5. Rubbish trainers
The truth is most trainers suck. Some of these big franchise gyms (mention no names) churn through trainers so fast they simply cannot keep up with the demand of their massively high membership rates. So they hire trainer’s fresh out of 3 month fast track certification course and throw them on the floor. Many of these trainers have no experience training clients and by looking at them don’t have experience training themselves.

It’s time to try something new!

Get out of your comfort zone.

Get out of the gym.

Get outdoors.

Train Hard!

Dan Clay
Dangerously fit
www.bootcampsydney.com.au