Can You Lose Weight If You Hate The Gym?


So, here you are, packing your bag for the gym and wondering whether you can come up with a credible last minute excuse to ditch your legs day and stay at home instead. After all, you think, you’re feeling a little tired at the end of a long day at work, and honestly, driving to the gym is the last thing you want to do. But you remember your weight loss goal and, with a heavy sigh, you still get to the gym. Reluctantly. Miserably. Angrily. In other words, it’s not that you don’t have any motivation – after all, you’re still going to work out tonight – it’s just that the gym doesn’t inspire you. For a lot of fitness aficionados, or simply for people who want to get back in shape, going to the gym is an obvious choice. Having access to a variety of sports equipment under one roof gives you the ability to train your legs, arms, abs, and back and consequently improve your strength and even target areas specifically. In short, it seems that the gym is part of every fitness plan. So as a gym hater, it’s worth finding out whether you can skip the gym and still achieve your goal. Not a gym freak? No problem 

Maybe You Can Change Your Gym Habits? 

Have you ever considered that maybe the problem is not the gym itself but with the way you approach the gym? Most people set themselves invisible barriers throughout the day which makes it almost impossible to find the motivation to go to the gym. Let’s be realistic: There are plenty of everyday events that can affect your motivation. Imagine waking up early and hearing the rain falls. Does that make you feel motivated? Probably not. But if you’ve decided to lay out your sports gear the night before, you will automatically be able to overcome the demotivational barrier. Make sure to smooth out your everyday routine. If you train in the morning, invest in a good coffee machine. If you train in the evening, why not pair with a gym buddy. It’s easier to stay motivated when you’re not on your own. 

Maybe Your Gym Doesn’t Work For You 

Most people at the gym choose not to work with a personal trainer. As a result, many gym addicts don’t actually know how to use their favorite gym machines, and even less how to get the most out of their training. In fact, you might resent going to the gym because you’re not doing the right type of exercise for your body type or your fitness goals. Did you know that fitness experts agree that exercise machines are a better choice than kettlebells and weight lifting for beginners? Here are some ideas to improve your workout strategy: The leg press might have a bad rep, but it’s ideal to work out at the same time your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves before you can start squatting routine. Additionally, the lateral pull-down, which lets you train your back muscles and shoulder girdle, is a great choice as these spots are often neglected by newcomers. Finally, grab yourself a few reps at a cable biceps bar before you use kettlebells. 

You Can Boost Fat Loss 

If you’re going to the gym to lose weight, you naturally want to target your fat loss. Here’s an important tip for you. Exercise helps a lot, but you need to fuel your body with fat loss boosts if you want to see a difference rapidly. You can, for instance, use a metabolic boosting product to encourage fat burn throughout the day, and especially after a workout. Additionally, you can prefer plenty of high quality yet affordable foods that fight belly fat over a traditional diet. Almonds, with skins, are a great snack and they target muscle build. Eating more beans can help to improve your digestion and reduce the bloating effect. And finally, eat your eggs to burn fat all around your muscles! 

Create Active Habits During The Day 

You can certainly make sure that your body keeps moving all day so that you can keep on burning calories even outside of the gym. If you have kids or a pet, you can commit to 15 mins of play per day. It’s not a high-fat burning strategy, but gradually you will notice the differences. If you don’t live far from work, how about switching your car for a bike for your commute journey? If you can’t and are using public transport, just make sure to get off one stop earlier, so that you still introduce some movements into your routine. 

There’s More Than The Gym 

What if, despite all the changes you’ve made, you still can’t deal with the idea of going to the gym? You don’t need to sign to a gym to be active. There are plenty of other sports options. Swimming is a great alternative, and it’s gentle on the joints while still exercising your whole body for endurance, strength, and cardio. If you prefer more music in your routine, how about joining a dance class? You can burn up to 800 calories per hour with salsa, and at the same time, you’ll also improve your memories and your cognitive abilities. 

Can Dieting Only Do The Trick? 

If you don’t like exercising, you’ll probably prefer a diet only approach. While you can lose weight with the appropriate diet, it can be challenging to maintain as you will have to go through a complete change of lifestyle. The paleo diet, for instance, is a useful tool, but if you're struggling to cut out refined carbs and sugar – everybody deserves a little treat – it may not be the best solution for you.

Do Effortless Alternatives Work? 

No diet change, no sports? You can look for fat removal treatments for quick results. However, be warned. Without a change of lifestyle, you won’t be able to maintain the positive results for long. Additionally, fat removal doesn’t tone your body, which means you might be far from your ideal body shape. Can you quit the gym and still get fit? The answer is yes, but only a healthy diet combined with an active lifestyle can work on the long term. Make the necessary changes and stick to them!


I hope you enjoyed this article about how to lose weight in a healthy way without the gym and on a budget.

Interested in more articles about frugal workouts? 

Read My Posts:

- Here's How To Stay Motivated To Workout Consistently

- How To Lose Weight The Right Way While Saving Cash

Stay Frugal & Fit My Friends!

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