There was a time I had no time for the gym. So, I came up with ineffective solutions.
A while ago, I was living in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have a car. I could barely show up at work on time, let alone going to the gym regularly. Anyway, I thought I could just do push-ups and pull-ups and at least maintain the strength I had. All because I was at a very critical point in my professional life. I had no wife or kids, but still, I felt like I should not be spending twelve hours on anything but focusing on what I needed to focus on. I say twelve hours because if you think about it, I hit the gym three times a week. One hour on the road and one hour back, train one hour and rest, eat & laundry. The whole thing really added up to four hours.
I see people online all the time saying that there should not be any excuse not to train. So, I went ahead and gave it a try. I can tell you that it was inefficient at best. And I now have more empathy for people who just don't exercise. I understand if you have something going on in your life that is important to you above all else, like your career, your family, your relationships etc. and plus you don't have the means to keep you alive like a car, sleep or good eating habits, you end up having to make a choice. And I made mine, which was to pause going to the gym. But the fallback option was not great.
The problem that I have with working out at home is that you cannot adjust the training intensity well. For example, you can do 10 push-ups. Well, how do you warm-up? By doing two push-ups? It's like warming up with 585lbs x 2 for a set of 585lbs x 10. I guess you could try knee push-ups, but they just feel horrible because angle changes throughout the movement too aggressively. The same goes for weighted push-ups, it never feels right trying to balance a weight on your back.
Push-ups are bad, pull-ups are worse. You cannot even work legs of course.
I went ahead and made the "wise" decision and quit working out until I sorted things out in my life.
People are afraid of making this decision because they're not confident enough to believe once things get better, they will go back to the gym. Since I knew I've always loved working out, that was never an issue for me.
My two cents.
Please be advised that I am not a licensed medical professional or a certified fitness trainer. The information presented on this blog is solely for informational purposes and should not be misconstrued as medical advice. Before embarking on any new exercise regimen, way of performing an exercise or dietary changes, it is crucial to seek guidance from your healthcare provider. Always prioritize your physical well-being and discontinue any activity that causes discomfort or pain. This blog serves as a platform for sharing personal experiences and perspectives, not as a substitute for professional medical or fitness advice. Please exercise due diligence and consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.
