Why Do I Hate the Gym?

It is possible that more people hate the gym than love it. There are two possible routes to explore about hating the gym, first, your gym just is not the right fit for you; second, your goals are not motivating you. There might be more reasons, let’s explore those two and what might be done about that hate.

The gym atmosphere is not for everyone. Some gyms are full of bodybuilders in an atmosphere that feels like a grungy warehouse. Some seem to be full of models and influencers in an atmosphere that feels like a New York nightclub. All gyms are full of equipment that can look like torture devices. If you step back and look past the marketing and the members who are flexing in the mirror you will find that most gym-goers are average people trying to do something to be a little more healthy, just like you.

If you find the gym crowd to be intimidating or just not your scene, a good idea can be to try different times of the day. For every gym I have worked in or worked out in the time of day completely changes the atmosphere. The morning crowd or the lunchtime are nothing like the after-work crowd. Every gym also has a predictable flow of when it is busy or when it is empty, just ask one of the trainers or the managers what days and times fit what you prefer. It's a good idea to try out different times to see if you prefer no competition for equipment or if more of a social scene fits what keeps you motivated.

The gym itself might not be the issue, after all, it is just a building. You may have a goal that just doesn't spark your motivation to exercise consistently. Having a goal is not truly motivating, seeing results towards that goal is. It is possible that the most common goals that lead someone to the gym are to lose weight, put on muscle, or some version of wanting to look better. After just a couple of weeks, they end up frustrated because the scale has not moved as much as they would like, or they don't look peak Schwarzenegger. The issue just might be that losing weight or getting "lean" does not have an action associated with it. This is where process goals come in.

Setting a process goal makes it easier to be consistent because consistency becomes the goal. When it comes to losing weight. getting lean, or putting on muscle, consistency is the key. Don't throw out the big goal of weight loss or muscle gain; instead, change your long-term objective. In the short term pick an action that you can check off most days of the week. For example, five days a week I will go to the gym and bench press. Or, two days a week I will see a personal trainer. Find a way to keep track of your goal, a calendar works great, and celebrate when you hit your goal each week. In time you might find you are loving the results!

If the gym just isn't for you, there are many ways to get some healthful movement with no gym required.

Go outside and run.

Walking might be the most underrated exercise of all time.

Try out a group activity.

Being healthy and moving well does not necessarily require weights and machines.

More on goals and goal setting here.