To gym or not to gym?

GETTING bored at the gym? Or maybe you’re getting sick of looking at the chiselled physiques strutting their stuff and constantly saying to yourself “one day I’ll look like that!” Though, if we take a look at the reality, that toned guy or girl probably both lives at the gym, and would have a very restrictive lifestyle. One definitely not suited to the average expats.

Fair enough it has paid off for them, and we do enjoy the view. For the Average Joe however you may only have the time to hit the gym or pound the pavement (want more? I’ve got a whole bag of them) maybe once or twice a week. If this sounds familiar, and you still want to occasionally enjoy dinner without tracking every microgram, there are a few things we can do to keep ourselves looking hot year round.

Get off the conveyor belt

In my years as a trainer I have found that almost everybody who uses a gym has little to no idea what they’re actually supposed to be doing in there. Judging by the lines for the treadmill in most commercial gyms, it appears to be a somewhat universal assumption that getting results at a gym involves running in one spot on a fast moving conveyor belt.

Not only do I prefer the kind of conveyor belt that safely returns my luggage to me when I reach my holiday destination, but I also find running in one spot for hours on end quite boring. Add to that the fact that simply running won’t actually get you that beach body you’re pining for and it really just equates to time better spent elsewhere.

Here’s a few tips on how to get off the conveyor belt and wade through the dumb bell jungle.

• Avoid wasting time by setting yourself a time goal. Get in and out in 45 minutes, because not only are there plenty of physical benefits to a short, high intensity workout but let’s face it, after too long even the beautiful people turn in to big puddles of sweaty mess.
• Keep it simple. Too many people waste time trying to do things they’ve found online or in a magazine. Just stick to the major muscle movers, making sure you include push and pull exercises for both your upper and lower body, and you’ll see results
• Stick to a plan of attack. Choose a few exercises you’re bad at and aim to get better at them. Have them in a list on your phone and move through them as quickly as possible. If you’re taking too long to get through it all then take out an exercise or two or replace them with other less time consuming ones. Examples of such exercises can be push-ups, chin-ups, dips, planks and squats.

Like any new activity, it’s best to do a bit of research before entering a gym and devise your own plan. Alternatively seek the professional advice of a trainer at the gym.

Lastly, remember consistency is the key with any undertaking of this nature so make sure you enjoy whatever it is you do and always have your end goal in mind.

I better stop writing now, I’m running late for a workout.