This summer I am sick of the gym.  I find myself unmotivated to go to the gym and slog through a workout.  Summer provides a perfect opportunity to take a break from the gym and go do other activities.

As a matter of fact, many of the athletes I follow as well as smart fitness enthusiasts that I follow all admit to take time away from their normal gym routines to allow their minds and bodies to rejuvenate.

It is unwise to pound pound pound your ligaments, tendons, and joints all year long with punishing workout.  The Fit Fam Crowd loves to brag about going hard all of the time but in truth that will leave you overtrained, injured, and unmotivated.

My rule for my life has been 4 Formal  Training Workouts per week but lately I’ve been trying to be intentional about at least a 30 minute workout every day.  This means stretching, walking, cardio, conditioning, etc. for 30 minutes every day.  I think it’s important to not just get exercise but to move every day.  I read a great article in one of my industry publications where the physical therapist says she saw too many fitness pros getting too much exercise which left them injured and not enough movement.

If you are sick of the gym, then here are some ways you can get in your movement and keep fit!

1. Take it Outside

Whether you decide to walk, run, bike, or skate go outside and get some much needed Vitamin D.  Vitamin D acts almost like a hormone in our bodies and we ALL need it.   Take advantage of the longer daylight hours by going outdoors.  I find myself going out for a walk after work because it stays light until after 8 p.m.  Get out of the gym and go outside

2. Work Out at Home

This has been pretty eye opening for me. Great Workout DVD’s, Light Dumbbells, and my Ipod.  I am good to go.  I don’t need to think up a routine.  Someone else can put me through the paces and I don’t need to leave my house on days when I am time crunched.  A lot of my DVD’s are just 30 minutes so if I have extra time I will do 2 of them back to back.  1 hr out of my day and I don’t need to go anywhere.

I was initially hesitant to do these workouts but since I am allowing my body to rejuvenate, this is just enough for me to be challenged without overdoing it.  We learn as we get older to train smarter.

3. Allow yourself to be sick of the gym

It’s okay to be sick of the gym.  I’m saying this more for my veteran exercisers and fitness buffs.  I know many of them struggle with the guilt of not hitting the gym 5-6x per week but as I go further along in my fitness journey, I just believe these breaks are necessary.  Constantly pounding your body with the same routines just ends up in stagnation both performance wise and results wise.

Taking time off from the gym does not equal taking time off of exercise and movement.  It just means taking time off from the gym.

I already find myself thinking about what I am going to do when I return to the gym and which program I am going to follow.  I wasn’t doing that before so I can feel the excitement building!

4. Sign up for a new goal, class, or try something different

If you’re sick of your same old gym routine, then sign up for a new goal.  Even better sign up for a goal such as a 5K walk or run that is attached to charity.  That will give you some different workouts as well as give you something to train for.  A lot of boredom with the gym comes from training for the road to nowhere.  Having a concrete performance goal makes training a lot more fun!

Try a new class at your gym or a boutique studio.  There are so many different boutique studios and workouts to try these days that there is something for everyone. I  am planning on trying a new local yoga studio in the next month since my Yoga Challenge didn’t go so hot.  I only did 3 yoga workouts.  If I pay for a series of classes, then I am a lot more likely to show up.

There’s a Pure Barre studio near my training studio that I would also like to try.  As a Fitness Pro with an integrated training philosophy, I do steal from all different types of formats so not only do I get to do different types of workouts, I steal bits and pieces to incorporate into my training programs!  It’s a Win/Win situation.

5.  Join a New Gym

I joined a different gym last year for a few months and it was a good change of pace.  The new gym was clean, inspiring, had AWESOME equipment (always join a former Gold’s or World Gym) and the people were pretty serious about their strength training.  It was exactly what I needed at that time and was a good change of scenery.

If you’re sick of your old gym, then maybe you need a nice change of scenery for a few months to find better motivation.  If you’re part of a chain and have been going to the same location for years, then try a different location.  Sometimes all it takes is a change of venue to get you excited about your workouts again.

Gyms aren’t the sole answer to getting fit

In other countries, many people do not go to the gym and they are still fit and healthy.  When I was in France several years ago, I was struck by how few gyms I saw but yet obesity wasn’t as rampant. (despite the greatest food everrr) I suspect it was because people walked, biked, and did other fun things besides going to a gym for fitness.

Of course eating fresh food instead of processed “foods” also plays a large role in the French Paradox.

The point is:  Gyms aren’t the be all end all of fitness.  They have purpose but there are other ways to live healthy and fit.  Don’t get trapped in the mindset of “Gyms or Bust”.

Get started by walking 30 minutes a day!  Did you know that’s one of the BEST ways to get fit? It doesn’t cost anything, you can do it anyway, and people are more likely to stay with it and be consistent!  Start there and add on!!!

Are you ready?  Let’s GO!