Telling people to go to the gym for exercise is bad advice, amirite?

A gym or health club can have many or all of the things you mentioned above…..

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I always tell people just get up and move. Doesn't have to be complicated. Take a bike ride, go for a walk, do some yoga... just move your body.

by krystelturcotte 1 day ago

Dance around the room wearing your girl's underwear over your head pretending to be spaceman spiff, just move your body

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I second this. I hate gyms. They are loud and overstimulating for me personally. I think if you have a friend who is telling you they want to get in shape the best avenue is to do it with them and just start them doing something simple that doesn't require a membership. Meet them at a local school track a few days a week after work and just do some sit ups, push ups, and some cardio with them. I think having someone else is honestly the motivation a lot of people need. It's hard for most people to hold themselves accountable when their body is sore and they are exhausted. Knowing someone is expecting them to show up somewhere can be enough.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

You don't need to get super muscular to understand the importance of strength training. Especially considering we lose so much of it after 30 if we're not maintaining it. Those other things are great. Sure. But strength training is just as important for your health as cardio, I'm 5'7" and weigh 157 lbs. I'm not super muscular. But I still have a strong, healthy attractive body that I wouldn't have from only biking, swimming and tennis. This isn't just an unpopular opinion, but the wrong opinion according to science.

by Available-Square 1 day ago

Now you're switching to rock climbing though which is a form of resistance exercise. The OP was talking about tennis and hiking which is not. After the age of 30, people also generally lose about 3-8% of muscle mass per decade if not maintaining it. Thats more than you think.

by Available-Square 1 day ago

Oh.. per decade? Lol. Yeah obviously a 60 year old man won't carry as much muscle as a 30 year old That's just the effects of aging and testosterone levels lowering Completely irrelevant statistic anyways, being 30 or 40 doesn't mean you need to specifically weight train as long as you're doing some activity or getting exercise, playing sports

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Hell yea brother, keep that up It's definitely sad to see people completely neglect their body and do NO forms of exercise, even sadder to see it on young people in their teens/20s when they are supposed to be at their "best", and they are throwing it all away for an extra hour of comfort per day and some snacks. If you've had cancer and can do it, why can't they?

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Yeah but the idea that a gym membership is the easiest way to figure out how you like to exercise is just silly

by Guilty_Structure961 1 day ago

Yk the internet exists right? Books too. That's actually where most people learn form and techniques. Not just going to the gym and studying other people like they're at the zoo lol. That's such a hilarious idea.

by Guilty_Structure961 1 day ago

Which you can do without a gym. If you want to try martial arts, making a punching bag is insanely easy, if you want to try weightlifting, I'm sure there are heavy things in your home. "Don't like working out? Try moving your refrigerator to see if you enjoy lifting! Try taping some pillows to 5 gallon water jugs filled with sand to see if you like martial arts!" Goofy as hell lmao

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Yes, but gyms aren't usually cheap and often require some form of commitment as well. I agree with the person you replied to simply because I think someone signing up for a gym membership when they are just getting started is a bad idea. There's plenty they can do at home or at a local park or local college track that is completely free.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I feel like if they're asking, it's because they need a friend to do it with them more than they need an actual suggestion. It's not like they don't know where the workouts are.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I would say, slowly starting making healthier choices. Maybe that means for some walking 10k steps a day, then cutting back on sugar, then focusing on getting a good amount of sleep, then dramatically cutting back on alcohol, etc. But I will always mention lifting weights eventually for women. Depending on what you look up the numbers say 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 2 women will get osteoporosis. I cannot in my good conscience not mention the gym/lifting heavy weights.

by Defiant_Rhubarb 1 day ago

Makes me think of Chandler in Friends trying to get OUT of the gym membership, but the gym makes it impossible 😂 "I WANNA QUIT THE GYM".

by CrazyHistorian 1 day ago

Most people who need to exercise don't enjoy it. You go to the gym because that helps put you in the frame of mind to burn calories. If they had something active that they enjoy doing they wouldn't be in a position where someone tells them to get a gym membership.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Well, it's only bad advice when people act like that is the only solution. Which is too often, particularly among the swole up gym bro crowd. Either the aspiring or current. Your opinion is totally in line with what most experts say as well. Of course, if the goal is to get ripped and swole, then a gym is the answer. But for health in general, just get out there and walk, run, ride... whatever often and get your heart rate up.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

Going for a walk (or run) is free, and better for your mental health than working out inside under florescent lights. It's also a good way to see if you'll stick to a exercise regime before you pay money.

by ScheduleBig6486 1 day ago

It depends on the goals. If the goal is to just be more active, then sure, do anything. But if the goal is to "get in shape," as you stated, you'd be surprised how little riding a bicycle does, vs other things. For starters, are you aware of the benefits of these different activities to make such a claim? Because cardio is not the best overall exercise for weight loss, that's a bit of a myth. And you have to cycle A LOT to really burn calories, or you need to go full tilt.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

It may not be universally applicable advice, but it certainly isn't bad advice. Yes, the best exercise or physical activity to do is the one you will do regularly, but for a whole lot of people, that's the gym.

by Anonymous 1 day ago

I wouldn't say it's bad advice as much it's not the only advice.

by crystallakin 1 day ago

Gyms are accessible and a hell of a lot easier to find than a active sport you really enjoy. It's not the best option, but it's still a good one for 99% of folks.

by Anonymous 1 day ago