Why I joined the gym {I hate gyms}

I finally bit the bullet and joined the local gym.

 

This may not seem like a big deal except that I despise gyms!

So, why does someone who dislikes gyms so intensely join one?

Well, here’s the rub . . .

I kept trying to workout at home and found myself being thwarted over and over and over again.

I began to feel cranky, depressed, tired, and fat.

Not really a great recipe for becoming a Real Fit Mom or having a delightful home, is it?

Here are the challenges I have faced when trying to workout at home:

  • Our home is very small, so it’s hard to exercise without waking up half the house (namely a certain two year old).
  • A certain two year old thinks I am a great bridge to climb over or crawl under whenever I try to do any type of floor work.
  • I don’t feel safe enough in our area to go for a run in the early morning alone.
  • If I try to exercise at a time of day when everyone is awake, there are many interruptions. And not just from my family, there are other people and things that seem to pop up right when I tie up my sneakers.
  • When I’m home I see the dishes that need to be done or the crumbs that need to be swept. It makes me a little anxious if I’m trying to do a workout that is longer than 20 minutes.

Some of these things I can work with, but some of are pretty difficult to change.

I’ve tried to find solutions, and they may come in time (read: when the 2 year old is a little older), but for now, I am a little tired of pushing against and climbing around these hurdles.

So, I joined the gym.

Did I tell you I don’t like gyms?

OK. So, why don’t I like gyms:

  • I have to exercise in front of people
  • It can be crowded
  • People jump on the equipment I’m about to use right when I am going to use it (not always, just sometimes)
  • I have to drive there
  • It costs money!
  • It costs lots of money!
  • I have to get up extra early to get there and back before my husband goes to work.
  • Lots of sweaty people touch the equipment I’m using (but my sweat is not a problem. ha!)

I kept talking around and around about the gym and finally decided to try it out. I mean, how will I know if I never try?

I won’t.

I am now at the beginning of my fourth week.

I still don’t really like it, but I do like getting my exercise in.

This morning was a particularly terrible morning and I found all the stuff I wanted to use was already working for someone else. My training session seemed to take forever and I lamented the fact that I could do all this at home a lot quicker. If only I could.

Logistically, if I want to work out at home in the early morning, I have to do it in my bedroom, while my husband is still asleep! He says he doesn’t care, but I find myself trying to be quiet and not putting in all the effort.

I’m not yet convinced that I will stay at the gym.

I was fortunate to find a place that lets me pay month to month. So, I can end at any time.

Things I do like so far:

  • It’s pretty cool to have my workout done and dusted before breakfast!
  • A few ladies from church also joined the gym and we have attended a class together. That was quite hilarious and a lot of fun.
  • There are a few pieces of equipment there that I don’t have at home. I love the chin-up machine.
  • I can exercise without people climbing on me or telling me they are hungry or that their sibling did something I need to deal with.

For now, I’ll keep going and re-evaluate in another month or two.

Do you like to exercise at the gym?

About Stacy

7 Responses to “Why I joined the gym {I hate gyms}”

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  1. Tammy says:

    “A certain two year old thinks I am a great bridge to climb over or crawl under whenever I try to do any type of floor work.”

    My two year old does this, and sometimes my four year old as well. It’s somewhat amusing, but also frustrating. I haven’t worked out consistently for a few months and would love to join a gym but we have no room in the budget for it at the moment. I’m going to have to get a bit creative and start something at home again.

    • Stacy says:

      I know what you are saying about finding room in the budget for the gym. It sure is a stretch for us right now.

      Having little ones can does present some extra challenges when working out at home (like them using us as bridges). I hope you find something that works for you. Creativity can get you a long way ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Tana says:

    I feel you. I hates gyms too. Mainly because of the people all around me. But I have been goin now about a year and the benefits outway the negativity. I can truly say it has been a blessing being able to be at hone for my family and know I have already got my workout in for the day. Keep it up!!!

  3. marsha says:

    I can totally relate to this. Once upon a time, I tried to do the whole workout-from-home thing. Except my problem was I would start out amped up and ready to go, then suddenly find myself sprawled out on the couch watching a show. I felt like a blob! At the same time, I could never get myself to go to the gym! After a long day working at Dish, the only thing I wanted to do was be a couch potato and the last thing I wanted to do was workout. I had to find a median between the two. Luckily, I found the answer to my prayers! I started bringing my tablet into the gym so I could tap into my TV channel line up through my free Dish Remote Access app. I could still watch all my trashy reality TV shows while working up a sweat. Like your post touches upon, sometimes we just got to bite the bullet in order to figure out what works!

    • Stacy says:

      Thanks for you comment, Marsha. You made me laugh when you said you would find yourself sprawled out on the couch! I’ve done that before. There sure a lot of distractions at home!

      I like how you figured out a way that works for you. That’s awesome.

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