Why do people pay to go to the gym?

[SorenVC]

I don't get it. It's not fun working out at a gym and you even have to pay a subscription fee for it. Why do some men do it? I don't get it. Maybe I'm too weak for that. I understand it if it was free, but I will never pay noone to lift weights. Can someone explain this to me, I'm a dummy? I'd rather workout at home for free without having to pay anyone, damn me if the results are weaker, at least I still have money and don't have to force myself to do it.

[Reiwa]

The term originates from the Greek word "gymnasion," which literally means "a place to train naked".

[Zuranthium]

1. Some people are more motivated to work out in public or by forcing themselves to go to a place where that's the intent
2. Most people don't have all the equipment at home
3. It can be a place a network

and most importantly:

4. It's a place to be naked around other guys. Obviously appealing if you aren't 100% hetero (most people aren't) and even if you are, then maybe you like to show off your body and dick still. Saunas and steam rooms are fun. Also totally open shower areas, but those are rare now.

[Swish]

If you're like me and enjoy some cardio, its not always great weather to do it outside. A gym is perfect for those rainy days.

Everyone should spend time maintaining/improving their health for their own sake.

[SorenVC]

1. Some people are more motivated to work out in public or by forcing themselves to go to a place where that's the intent
2. Most people don't have all the equipment at home
3. It can be a place a network

and most importantly:

4. It's a place to be naked around other guys. Obviously appealing if you aren't 100% hetero (most people aren't) and even if you are, then maybe you like to show off your body and dick still. Saunas and steam rooms are fun. Also totally open shower areas, but those are rare now.

How come I am scared to go to a gym let alone a sauna. Idk, something just puts fear into me when I think of this places.

[Jimjam]

Healthy body healthy mind.

[SorenVC]

Healthy body healthy mind.

But don't you have to maintain this forever? Like if you workout for 1 year then you're strong. But stop doing it and in a few months you have to start from scratch. And I'm kinda scared to go crowded places where I've never been before, like gym or sauna. Man I would never go to such a place lol.

[Jimjam]

You benefit from being healthy while you are healthy. If you lose it that doesn’t remove all that time you were healthy.

You can talk to your therapist you mentioned re your aversion to unfamiliar places. Perhaps they can refer you to someone that can help with a CBT formulation. That approach tends to be helpful for this kind of stuff. I suspect it may impact more in your life than avoiding signing up to a gym.

Btw most gyms will have a friendly customer service which will on board you, show you the ropes and maybe even design you a fitness plan. In my experience at least. Also, you don’t need to lock in - pay as you go is something you can use for exploring your options.

[shovelquest]

8sHvWYAzIRo

[Zuranthium]

How come I am scared to go to a gym let alone a sauna. Idk, something just puts fear into me when I think of this places.

Who knows, but it shouldn't be scary, so just do it sometime and get over the mental block. And you're German, it's normal to be naked in saunas there. Maybe you're a troll though.

[shovelquest]

(most people aren't)

https://i.imgur.com/V26kuWH.gif

[Duik]

Nekkid you say.

[NopeNopeNopeNope]

https://i.imgur.com/oAddiD2.jpeg

[Swish]

I once went to a gym where the facilities were rarely cleaned, imagine showers etc smelling like rotten eggs. Didn't stay there long and did give a bad review :s

[OriginalContentGuy]

The best gyms have something that Tommy Suggs called the 'X-Factor'. Who was Tommy Suggs? Someone awesome if you're into that. He was editor of Strength and Health magazine as well as a national champion weightlifter and member and coach of the York Barbell Club in the '60s. There's a bio if you click his name on the page and he's on the Starting Strength Youtube if you prefer more info more along those lines.

https://startingstrength.com/article/reaching_the_top_with_the_x_factor

This applies to athletes not just the average gymgoer. You can train in a home gym often more regularly or just as hard if not harder than going to a gym because it's so close to you in proximity.

[SorenVC]

AdqgWh8J6KE

[atomicpaul]

i pay because of the directed classes, not the equipment itself. we have a home gym in our garage. but i like doing the boxing fitness classes and cardio kinda stuff there, stationary bikes and even the dancing shit (yeah i'm usually the only dude in those, whatever).

i don't really use the gym to socialize though, i'm an ambivert but really self-conscious about being smelly. even though it's a gym and everybody knows we might be smelly. i am usually listening to podcasts when i exercise.