Some thoughts I wanted to share...

There are a lot of unspoken truths about weight loss and gyms. Things everyone should know, but many don't. Here are some random tips, ideas and observations I've picked up from 25 years in the fitness business.

Very few people start exercising because they love sore muscles and sweat. They do it because the alternative is worse. Or because of a breakup. A lot of people start exercising because somebody left, and they're looking to upgrade.

If you're watching a late-night infomercial for a no-fail home exercise machine, look up "coat rack" on Amazon instead. Hundreds of options will appear for under $30. They don't need to be plugged in, they don't take up much floor space, and nobody has ever financed one for eighteen months.

Exercising outdoors looks great in the pictures. It's less great when it's raining, or ninety-five degrees, or the wind picks up. Find something you can do, and someplace you can do it, that works in any weather.

You don't need $118 pants from lululemon, a $50 tank top and sneakers that cost more than a car payment. You're going to the gym for a workout, not a fashion shoot.

Don't tell me you have no time to work out if you've watched an entire series in a weekend. How much would you weigh if you had to pedal to keep the TV on? You aren't going to get the butt you want by sitting on the one you have.

The gym isn't where you go to be comfortable. If you're doing it right, you'll finish sweaty, sore and tired. The good feeling comes afterward, and it's a different kind. If you're relaxed and having a nice time the whole way through, you're at a spa, not a gym.

Don't fall for rapid weight-loss gimmicks. The only guaranteed way to drop five pounds in 24 hours involves a stomach bug or a surgeon.

Nobody has ever lost weight in the sauna. You're not losing much on the treadmill at 2.5 miles an hour watching the cooking channel either. Thinking about exercising isn't enough. You have to actually work.

There are two kinds of people in a gym. Those who wipe down the machine when they're finished, and those who should be shunned from polite society. Wipe down your equipment.

You can tell a good trainer inside of one session. They ask about your history and your injuries before they hand you a weight. They watch you do the exercise instead of watching their phone. They can explain why you're doing something, not just what to do next. And they answer the question you asked. A trainer who does all four is worth paying. Learn which kind you've got before you commit to a package.

Think twice before signing up for any class with "extreme," "hard-core" or "boot camp" in the title.

Quit taking selfies and posting about everything you're doing. The workout still counts if nobody liked it.

That display case full of muscle-building bars isn't there for your benefit, and neither is the cooler full of energy drinks. Most of the bars are candy with a protein claim on the wrapper, and most of the drinks are soda with a better logo. Red Bull doesn't give you wings. Lat pulldowns do. If fitness came in a bottle, everybody would be in shape.

The sooner you start, the sooner your body starts benefiting. You don't have to wait for New Year's, the start of the week or next month. Tomorrow you'll wish you had started today.

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8/10/2019
Updated 8/30/2026