Does going to the gym really help?

It is definitely useful, but the effectiveness depends entirely on how you use the gym. Many people even hurt their joints and waste money by going to the gym. In the end, they call the gym an IQ tax. In fact, the problem is not at the gym itself.

When I first got into fitness two years ago, I also encountered pitfalls. I got an annual membership card of more than 2,000 yuan and rushed to it. I practiced whatever I saw others doing. I squatted until my knees hurt for a week, and I deadlifted until my waist was stiff. After practicing for two months, I didn’t lose weight or increase my circumference. Later, I found an old and familiar muscle friend to train me for two months, and then I realized that my previous movements were all wrong. When squatting, I buckled my knees in, and when I did deadlifts, I relied on my waist. It was strange that it was effective. I adjusted my movements and practiced three times a week for three months. I lost 4 points of body fat. The waist of the tight jeans that I couldn't wear before was loosened. I used to be panting like a dog when I climbed the fifth floor. Now I can carry two boxes of milk up the stairs without difficulty. Only then can I really feel the benefits of the gym.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that working out at home is completely impossible. My best friend is born with social anxiety and feels uncomfortable entering the gym. She refuses to go. She practices elastic bands and kettlebells at home with a reliable fitness blogger, and controls her diet for half a year. Now her hip line has increased a lot, so she always says there is no need to waste money on going to the gym. But if you want to hit heavy weights and train precise small muscle groups, the equipment at home is really not enough - you can't just install a gantry on the ceiling of your home to practice high pull-downs, right? Not to mention how much risk of injury can be avoided by asking a muscle buddy to lend a hand when you reach failure with free weights.

After staying in the gym for a long time, I have met many people who feel that it is "useless": some people have come less than ten times in total after applying for the card. Each time they come, they take photos in front of the mirror for half an hour, walk on the treadmill for ten minutes, then go to the locker room to take a shower, and after that, they have to buy a cup of full-sugar milk tea on the way. It is weird that it can be effective.； Some people just hit the iron blindly without knowing anything, and refuse to ask anyone if their movements are ridiculously wrong. After practicing for three months, their shoulders are injured, but they turn around and say that fitness is hurting their bodies. ； Others expect to lose 10 pounds in a week of training, or lose weight after a month of training, and give up without seeing visible changes. Naturally, they feel that their money is wasted. To put it bluntly, the gym is just a tool. If you don’t cut the vegetables properly with the kitchen knife, you will blame the kitchen knife for not cutting the meat. How can this be true?

If you really want to judge whether the gym is useful to you, don't listen to other people's Amway claims or nonsense. Don't rush to apply for an annual membership. Buy a weekly membership and try it three or four times. If you can concentrate on practicing and feel that the equipment is comfortable to use and the atmosphere is acceptable, then it is worth the money.； If you can't sit still and always feel awkward and uncomfortable, you can still achieve your fitness goals by practicing freehand movements at home, walking two more steps and taking less elevators. You don't have to follow the trend and spend money to find trouble.