Gym or Not to Gym

I haven't blogged for a few days.  Been on the run quite a bit and just haven't slowed down.  I did read something that I wanted to share with everyone.


People Who Lose 30+ lbs and Keep it Off all have these three things in common:

1. They Work Out at Home (not at the gym)
2. They Weigh Themselves Regularly
3. They Eat Breakfast

Study Source: National Weight Control Registry


Question:  What's the big deal about working out at home versus at the gym? What's considered "weighing and working out regularly"...how frequently is that?


Answer: the gym is fine, but the problem is that most people do not have a solid plan of action when they go to a gym unless they pay for it via a trainer. A trainer can't be with you 24/7 but a solid in-home fitness program can, and you get that trainer 24/7 at the same time. Food is also another issue all together and without knowing how to manage it, all the hard work is in vain. Most people just go to the gym and wing it with much guesswork and usually they do the same thing over and over. When you go to the gym already knowing how to do things the right way, it's much different.

You need to get at least 25 days of fitness into any given calendar month, for at least 30 minutes. BUT you have you mix that up. When you do the same thing over and over the body adapts very quickly. It knows what's coming and will only give you exactly what you need for that routine... no growth/progress. You have to confuse the body and if you have no clue, the gym only makes it worse so most will just jump on the treadmill, which is only basic cardio and does not burn the most fat. Now add that to bad food choices and here comes the backward steps. Need a plan for the gym and for working out at home but media and old ways of thinking still have many believing they only need to go to the gym, get a trainer for a few days or drink some magic potion. That doesn't work and we can all see it big time now!! (Another quote I snagged from Reaf Thompson)
  


I knew about #2 and #3 but I hadn't even thought about the gym thing.  After reading this FB post and subsequent comments, it made so much sense to me.  I know the last time I was working out like a mad woman at the gym just last year for about 5 months, I got a little stronger but didn't lose any weight and didn't see any significant change  And, I wasn't even doing the same thing every day... finally I got really discouraged and gave up :-(  I do not want to be there again.  The way to success is to definitely have a complete plan - a managed workout either with a trainer or a home DVD (both of which will give you the plan if they are the right program/trainer) PLUS, and probably most importantly, a defined nutrition/meal plan.  That's always the hard part.


So create a plan for both - have a workout plan but also have a daily plan for eating - at least until you train yourself to make better choices.