I’ve noticed something in the last few years: that the gym keeps getting a bad rep. It’s not functional, it’s no good for you, it's outdated, and the only kind of training you should do is the latest fitness trend. Now I’m not saying there aren’t some awesome fitness methods outside the gym – heck, I may be putting myself out of business here since I run boot camps around the city – but no matter who you are, where you’re starting from, the gym is extremely beneficial. If done correctly, of course!
I had a conversation with my brother the other day on this very subject. This is a guy who was the athlete of all athletes. He and I both grew up playing every sport under the sun until the sun went down! Soccer was our focus, and that guy dominated the field and went on to play for Team Canada and professionally in Europe.
Unfortunately, like many pro athletes, my brother got hurt over and over and eventually had to retire. Fast-forward 20 years and he’s sitting exactly where some of you are: middle-aged and overweight because of an injury that holds him back from running out onto the field.
When my brother asked for my advice on getting into shape, I told him that he needed to take that step that a lot of people dread: getting to the gym.
Of course, you don’t need an injury to start going to the gym. It’s a great place for anyone because there are so many exercises and options, no matter your circumstances or goals.
What you don’t want to do, though, is go to the gym and spend an hour on the elliptical. Go in with determination and spend an hour making your workout intense and effective. Perform a mixture of weight training, compound moves, and balance and core exercises with intense sprints of cardio. Create a mini circuit to hit the body in every way you can. The goal is to work hard and smart for better fat-burning and muscle-building effects.
Don’t be afraid of muscle (lean) mass. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be, which means the faster you burn calories and lose weight.
Don't just cross the gym off your list because it’s not the latest trend. I still have never met anyone who walked out of the gym and said, “I regret that workout.”
Kara Wutzke is a fitness trainer who offers boot camps and individual classes in Guangzhou, as well as running the K2Fit Challenge, a 10-week guided fitness competition for those who want to tone up or slim down. She can be contacted by emailing k2fit.gz@gmail.com or through WeChat ID: KaraK2Fit
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