3 Powerful Lessons from Getting Back to the 'Big Box' Gym
What's up,
Over the last week, I made a big shift in my training—I went from working out at home for months to getting back into a ‘box gym’ again.
And let me tell you, it was a game-changer.
After a long stretch of home workouts, getting back into a gym environment brought some new energy, new challenges, and of course, some valuable lessons.
I want to share with you a few takeaways I’ve learned from changing my training environment and how it can impact your own fitness journey.
Let’s get it.
1 - Environment matters more than you think
I’ve always preached consistency when it comes to training, and home workouts served me well during busier times. But getting back into the gym reminded me just how much your environment plays a role in pushing your limits.
The variety of equipment, the atmosphere, and even just seeing other people work hard around you—it lights a fire you didn’t know you needed.
Changing up your environment can break through plateaus, keep you motivated, and push you further than you could on your own.
Whether it’s switching from home workouts to a gym or just mixing up your routine with a new setting, sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what you need to expedite your results.
2 - Variety keeps you engaged
Training at home definitely has its benefits—no commute, full control of your time, and simplicity. But the moment I stepped back into the gym, I was reminded of just how much variety can change the game.
Access to different machines, heavier weights, and a range of exercises adds a whole new level of challenge to your workouts. Not only does this keep things fresh, but it also adds a ton of new stimulus you might not have access to at home.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, it might not be that you’ve hit your limit. You might just need to add more variety into your training, whether that’s at home or at the gym.
3 - Progress often comes in the last few reps
Here’s a major takeaway from my time back in the gym: The hardest part of the workout is where the real progress happens.
Whether you’re on the last few reps of a heavy set or pushing through those final minutes of cardio, that’s where the magic is. In a gym setting, the energy and access to heavier equipment helped me push beyond what I was used to at home.
And guess what? The same principle applies to your fitness journey—whether you’re working out from home or in the gym. The moments you feel like stopping are exactly when you need to keep going, because that’s where growth happens.
I'm sure after about a month, I'll get tired of driving back & forth to the gym, waiting for machines, or my schedule will pick up & home workouts will save the day once again. But I'm for sure bolstering my equipment (getting more lbs to store at home) to replicate the same intensity I have at the big gym.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for today.
Just wanted to share my personal findings. If you're burned out one way or the other, changing up your training & your environment could light that spark you need. We have to do this for the rest of our lives if we're gonna get healthy & stay there. You need variety injections every now and again. So before you just say forget it & skip a workout this week, try something new.
You won't regret it.
Talk soon,
Coach Montel
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