Fitness Minus The Gym

I have a pathological fear of gyms.

That might be a slight exaggeration, but it isn’t far off. My experience with gyms is limited to one aerobics class and one attempt to sign up. The aerobics class was a disaster: I failed to keep up with the choreography and at the first opportunity, when the instructor turned her back, I ran out of the room.

A few years later, I decided to join one of the thirty-minute workout gyms. It was not long after I had my daughter and I thought a quick session a couple of times each week would suit me perfectly. I could go at the times that suited me, when my husband was home from work, and it was also close to home. So I went there and was introduced to someone who would show me around and tell me all about it.

The minute she began talking about weight loss, I knew I couldn’t do it. I tried explaining to her that I wouldn’t be coming to lose weight; I was only interested in my fitness and strength. I don’t even own a set of scales; I have no interest in the numbers. She looked perplexed and began measuring me. I protested and she told me that’s just the way things were done at this gym. So, I left.

Instead, I continued with the workout plan I’d been doing for years, one that I had begun when I first decided to do a hike in central Tasmania. This crazy idea came to me one day in the midst of a moment of feeling fit. It turned out I was wrong and something had to be done.

Together with my husband, Steve, who is a former gym-goer and fitness fanatic, I developed a plan to get ready for the hike we planned to do within a few months. In order to walk for five days straight, up mountains and across rough terrains, all the while carrying my supplies on my back, I had to build up my fitness levels, stamina and strength.

I began with some basic exercises at home – weights and push-ups, as well as lifts on the furniture for my arms; lunges, squats and toe-touches for my legs; and sit-ups for my stomach – and was amazed at the fast results. I did half the exercises one day, the rest the next day, and so on. I gave myself a break from it each Sunday. I never increased the weights, choosing instead to build up the number of repetitions, as I was after strength and toning rather than big muscles. I started off with small numbers of each exercise, increasing the number of repetitions once a week.

I called it my ‘home gym’.

I also walked a lot. We live in a hilly area, so that helped, and we walked a few evenings a week as well as for a few hours each Sunday afternoon.

Very soon, I noticed a couple of big differences. Firstly, I had a lot more energy. Beginning each day with my ‘home gym’ exercises before breakfast gave me a good start. Secondly, my arms, legs and stomach were much more toned, and I noticed an increase in the strength of my limbs. My knees no longer ached and, when we walked, I could easily carry a heavy backpack on my shoulders. I headed up hills without any struggle or hesitation.

I did the hike.

I felt good, and that was my main aim.

But the best thing? I didn’t have to make a stealthy dash from an aerobics class ever again.

The next step is getting back into it all properly. This is well overdue. It’s so easy to let these things slide, but those extra ten minutes of exercise in the comfort of my lounge room in the mornings really are worthwhile.

What's your relationship with exercise?


Megan