The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym
instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we
can't call it Jumping up and down.
Rita Rudner
Several months ago I wrote
a blog called Confessions
of a Gym Rat about my struggle getting into a gym that I really didn’t
like. It was in a basement, old, rundown, badly laid out and not cheap. I’ve
been working out in gyms since the mid-70s so not going to a gym didn’t appear
to be an option. Unfortunately this was the only gym close to my house since
Goodlife bought the big, bright, well laid out gym that I was a member of and
then closed it to drive people to the basement. Although I considered going to
a gym that I had to drive to, realistically I knew that wouldn’t work. After many
trials and tribulations I finally cancelled my gym membership and found a great
alternative.
I live in mid-town Toronto
in what I affectionately refer to as my 700 square feet of splendor so a big home
gym setup was not feasible. However, with a little creativity I can now do as
good a workout or better than I did in the gym in very little space and for
very little money. I bought a frame-less step machine. It’s literally just the
steps so it takes up very little space and it’s under $100 on Amazon. I learned
how to train in an old body building gym so I’ve never worked out with
machines, only free weights. I rounded out my “home gym” with a few sets of
dumbbells (which also take up next to no space and are very inexpensive). Since
I’m Jewish, guilt is a powerful motivator for me which is why I strategically
placed the stepper and the dumbbells in front of the TV. Every day I find a
one-hour TV show that I want to watch and hop on the stepper for the hour.
Afterwards I do a weight and ab work out. I’m now working out daily and more
efficiently than when I went to the gym. It’s easy to find the time at home and
the shower is just a few short steps away. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I really love my home setup and would never rejoin a gym.
If swimming is such a good way to stay in
shape, explain whales…
Unknown
Make someone smile today.
Geri