Is Gym Really Worth It for Fitness Survival?

[leogrant12]

I’ve been thinking about the role of gyms when it comes to overall health, fitness, and even survival in the long run. Many people say you don’t need a gym bodyweight training, running, and home workouts are enough. But on the other hand, I see a lot of dedicated “gym boys” who spend hours lifting weights, building muscle, and following strict diet plans.
Do you think going to the gym is really necessary to stay fit and strong for survival in tough situations? Or can someone achieve the same results with home workouts and a good diet plan?

Well for strength training I like to use some machines and increase the weights I use. Slowly. I think it is really important to build strength. I’m not good at it mind!!

I can’t have all that weights and machine stuff at home. Nor do I want it for storage reasons.

Plus I think the gym is good as part of getting out and about. Not exactly social but among other people.

It depends what your goals are.

If it’s to build really big muscles then you need to lift very heavy weights which is much more easily done in a gym where they have room to store them and you can build up the numbers without having to buy all the increasing dumbbells etc.

If it’s to achieve something else like increasing general fitness and becoming more toned, then you absolutely don’t need to go to a gym. There are so many online resources these days, its a question of picking a good routine, and the bit that most people leave out is increasing daily levels of exercise naturally by walking or cycling rather than driving. I go to the gym for Body Pump classes because I am too lazy to work out at home - I do have some weights that I use if I don’t get to classes - but other than that I do parkrun once a week, run in between, try to make my daily step target and use my ebike where I can rather than driving ( yes I know but the thought of the hill up to our home was too daunting with a regular bike).

Going to the gym works for me because of wanting to use a wide variety of weights, from 4kg dumbbells to the 30kg barbell, & also for the social side.

I like running too but my preferred time to exercise is early mornings & I’m not up for running round the local park when it’s dark, so not an option in winter.