The Gym-Free Journal: Book Review

There was a time when I thought it was not possible to get fit without a well-equipped gym.  Until the end of my pregnancy with Big A, I spent a whole lot of time in them, teaching fitness classes and training.  Spin classes, step, weight training, cardio machines...I did it all.

But after having a baby, it was no longer feasible to get there every day, let alone stay to teach 2-3 fitness classes and lift weights.  I did manage to get there 2x week thanks to the JCC's babysitting service, and then I did some running outdoors or on our treadmill, and taught a spin class or two.  After a while, I realized I was actually fitter than I had been before I had Big A!  Then I had Little A and it got even more difficult to get to the gym.  Little A's nap schedule kept me relatively housebound for months, and she would not hear of me leaving her in a babysitting service (seriously, once I had the staff come and interrupt a spin class I was teaching because she was screaming so loudly!).   Since then, I have only been a once a week gym goer.

Basically, I have never looked back.  Aside from Sundays when I still teach a spin class at the JCC, I do all my workouts at home.  And I love it.  No waiting for machines, no having to work in with some stinky guy.  I can do what I want, when I want.  Granted we are very well equipped, but I don't even use our treadmill anymore and most of my strength training is done with free-weights and a stability ball.  So basically, what I am saying is you don't really need much equipment at all!

So I was stoked to receive a review copy of The Gym-Free Journal.

Its a guide-book for creating your own workout routine you can do at home.  It provides a program and diagrams and descriptions of all the exercises, as well as logs to record your workouts and food intake. 

I can't say there is anything radically new or different in this book, but recording your daily habits is one of the most effective strategies for losing weight and reaching your goals, so this book can be a very helpful tool.  I know there are lots of online apps that do this sort of thing, but not everyone likes to do everything on a device.  So if you prefer pen and paper, this book may be for you.

Really, there is no excuse for being sedentary.  Anyone who says they don't have time, money, etc. is basically just saying they refuse to make fitness a priority.  You don't need much money, space, or time to get fit and healthy.  The key is consistency.  Find something you can do as often as possible over the long-term.  If getting to a gym doesn't fit your lifestyle, take it home!