In recent years, real gyms have been affected by the more “in” fitness factories. Real results, quality service and a “can do” attitude have taken a backseat to slick marketing and empty promises.
I grew up on the south side of Chicago and worked out at one of those REAL gyms back in the 90’s (a special little place called Quads Gym). As I bounced around the world (I lived in England and Delaware before moving to Grand Rapids in 2008), I witnessed the decline of common sense and the shameful rise of fitness gimmicks.
Now I won’t bore you with all the details of my professional life, but before ‘eating right and exercising’ became my career, I used to be a competitive weightlifter.
As I often tell people, PLs like to see everyone do their best. And the great thing about weightlifting is that attitude tends to carry over to life outside the gym, too.
People who work so hard to succeed in one area of their life find it difficult, even downright insulting, to fail. So even if you have no interest in squatting 700 pounds, you can still learn a lot by surrounding yourself with a “serious” training environment.
These days, my own serious training camps range from my garage gym, to my friend’s gym down the street in Holland, MI, to an open field, park, or forest. Can’t find a hardcore gym in your area? The key to being successful in fitness is not so much in the equipment you wear, but in the attitude you bring to the game.