Fingers crossed we are slowly starting to find our way out of COVID-19. Mask Mandates are being lifted, Restrictions are ending, and Businesses are starting to re-open their doors once again at full capacity. Now despite the fact that there is a potential World War on the horizon, there is a possibility that we all might get a chance to enjoy a sense of normalcy for at least a few short weeks.

Regardless of the current state of the world, I believe it’s time to get back to our regular lives and daily activities. For many people who spent the better part of the past two years quarantined in their homes, this is a chance to go back outside and see friends and family once again. Make no mistake, this Global Pandemic has had some serious negative impacts on both our mental health and physical wellbeing. Human beings are typically social creatures. We enjoy the company of others and seek the camaraderie formed through experiences.

COVID-19 fucked that all up for us.

I HAD Admiration and Respect For Home Workouts During The Pandemic

When it came to exercising and working out, gyms were closed for the better part of those early months of the Pandemic. And then when gyms did eventually re-open, many people refrained from going back because they were either too frightened of contracting the Coronavirus, and/or concerned about transmitting the virus to a friend or loved one that was either elderly or immunocompromised. Home Workouts became increasingly more popular as the the initial lockdowns were extended. Dumbbells and Barbells sold for 50% over-market value because supply became so low, and demand became so high. At one point, I was even getting DMs from random strangers on Instagram offering me $100 just to drop in to our Training Facility and do a workout on their own (one person even offered me as much as $250/workout).

I had lots of admiration for people that found the motivation and the creativity to train from their homes while the gyms were shutdown. And I had lots of respect for Personal Trainers that found ways to train their clients online by offering Zoom Interactive Workouts. But the key word here is “HAD”.

Gyms are now mostly open again. If you are someone who is serious about your health and fitness, do you really believe that you are getting in just as good of a workout at home than you would in a fully stocked gym that is loaded with different types of exercise equipment?

If you are a Personal Trainer/Coach can you honestly tell me that your clients are getting the same value out of their workouts while working from their homes then they would training in either a private or commercial gym with you?

And did I just ruffle a few feathers?

Smug, Arrogant Son of a Bitch

Now, I understand that my statements above might come off as a bit harsh for those of you who are still training from your homes. And in all honesty, if you get easily offended, then you probably shouldn’t ready most of what I write. But I made a promise to always be honest and upfront with our clients. And I would by lying if I told them or you, that you can get just as good of a workout at home, than you can in an actual training facility. Because the reality is, that is complete and utter bullshit.

As for the Independent Personal Trainers/Coaches who are still promoting Online Workouts? Shame on You! I believe that many of you (not all of you) are doing this strictly to save on overhead costs that you would pay for renting space at a private or commercial gym.

And for those people that are elderly, immunocompromised, and/or just don’t feel safe going back to public gyms just yet, I completely understand and respect your reasons for wishing to remain at home and maintain a small bubble.

But for the rest of us? Perhaps it’s time for a reality check.

Home Gyms vs Real Gyms

If you live in a house and have a large garage or basement suite that you have been able to convert to a fully functional gym equipped with heavy dumbbells, barbells, bumper plates, adjustable benches, a squat rack, and a universal cable pully machine, than I imagine you don’t need to read the rest of this week’s blog. But if you’re like me, and live in a condo or live in a house and just don’t have the space to fit all that equipment into your home, then please keep reading.

If you want to build muscle, you need to lift weights. If you want to lose fat, you need to train intensely. And if you want to create a physique that is balanced and symmetrical, you need to add in some variety to your exercise selection. A Home Gym with limited equipment and little space to move DOES NOT offer any of this. Yes, a Home Workout is better than doing nothing. And when nothing was the alternative, the Home Workouts were a great supplement to use in order to hopefully maintain some of the gains you had made prior to the Pandemic. But now the game has changed. Your other option is no longer “nothing”. You can go back to the gym and train again. You can use a combination of dumbbells, barbells, and cable pully exercises. You do have lots of space to work in.

So the question remains, why are you still training at home?

Closing Argument

Whether your reason for training at home is due to a combination of convenience and/or caution, you will never win an argument (with me anyways) suggesting that a Home Workout is just as sufficient to a Gym Workout. The intensity cannot be duplicated. The quality of the workout will not be replicated. And the results you achieve will never be equivalent. And if you are training at home and already understand all this, accept this, and are okay with this, than keep doing your thing.

But if you want real results, and want to see significant changes in your physique and your health, than it’s time to go back to the gym.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance