by Ren S.

Created on: August 06, 2008   Last Updated: March 06, 2010

It's not about where you work out, and everyone knows this, ultimately. It's about the time and effort you put in. If you go to a 24-hour fitness gym and still eat all you want or fail to monitor calories, you're not going to have much luck losing weight. If you don't do enough cardio or are unrealistic about how much working out you need to do, you'll be unsuccessful when it comes to losing weight.

One excuse people love to use when they're contemplating dropping pounds is that they can't afford or don't have time to go to a gym. But can you afford a speed jump rope and some weights, or find time to take a quick walk around the neighborhood or go to the park? Do you have TV stations that show exercise programs? Are there 30 minutes of the day where you're doing nothing, perhaps sitting around watching TV?  If not, do you have ten minutes to spare three times a day for maybe three or four days a week?  If you don't work on the weekends, as most people don't, the answer should be yes.

Fitness locations have great exercise machines, weights and other tools that aid in using weight, but they are not essential to your success. In fact, the majority of people who purchase gym memberships for the purpose of dropping pounds almost never use them. How does THAT help you lose weight?

The biggest hindrance to losing weight is one's mindset. You're either too tired, too busy or will start tomorrow. Location is not the issue, and most people are not going to go to the gym at 2 am just to get a workout-the people who will are not the ones who need to lose weight, but are, rather, those who are obsessed with working out or looking good. The one plus about a fitness center is the possibility of obtaining a personal trainer who can guide you and who expects you to be there on schedule. However, personal trainers can be less motivating than you think, especially depending on your attitude. I have found that there are people who say they want to lose weight and complain about parts of their body, but they don't listen to my suggestions and basically aren't serious enough to do what it takes. This kind of mindset will lead you to fail, whether you pay for a personal trainer, work out at fitness centers or go it alone.

Personally, the suggestions I question you on above were the best way for me to work out, as the idea of smelly sweat dripping and bulk shaking in front of several strangers-particularly of the opposite sex-in public was highly unappealing to me. I successfully shed approximately 25lbs in 4-5 months by speed roping in the living room, kitchen or garage, lifting light weights in the bedroom, doing various types of situps and stretches, doing cardio kickboxing along with programs on FitTV, utilizing an old stationary bike at my parents' house that they never use, playing basketball, and doing more research on eating right and using that information in determining what/how much to eat. I have never set foot in a 24-hour fitness center and never will.

Learn more about this author, Ren S..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.