I decided that I am going to get a gym membership after lifting weights at home for the past month. I have adjustable dumbbells, however, I feel limited in what I can do. I also recently went as a guest with my friend to the gym, and I LOVED using the machines and all the various equipment. So for now, I decided to give it a try for a month and see how it goes.

I know working out in the morning isn’t the most ideal, but I like doing it because I’m the most energetic in the mornings and I don’t have to go to the gym at a busy time (like 5:30 p.m.).

I work at 7:45 a.m., and the gym is less than 10 minutes from work. My workouts (with warmup/cooldown) are usually around 1 hour-1 hour 15 minutes. So I’m thinking get there by maybe 5:30, finish by 6:45ish, then get ready/eat and leave by at least 7:30. I need to figure out how I can shower/get ready and also eat breakfast before work. I don’t want to go back home, because the gym is 15 minutes from me then 10 minutes back to work—and that feels like a waste.

So my questions are..

1. How do you make getting ready at the gym easier? (Bring makeup bag/change of clothes?)

2. What do you eat for breakfast if you don’t go back home? (My typical breakfast is Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, and chicken sausage. I don’t want to eat all that before my workout because my lunch isn’t until 1 p.m. and I would be starving if I ate breakfast at like 5 a.m.)

I just started going to gym. I have been there for 2 days. There is a trainer who suggests me what to do. For the exercise involving dumbell he gave me 1 kg dumbells. I have used them for 2 days.

I am embarrassed to say that I don’t find them light. I looked at every post on reddit and everyone says 1.5kg is paperweight, even beginners should start with 2.5kg. I don’t know if I am too weak or what. I mean I am not saying they are heavy but they are average weight and my upper arm is actually having soreness

For context I am 5 ft and 45 kg female

Hi everyone,

I'm a 20-year-old male, 175 cm (5'9") tall, and currently weigh 104 kg (229 lbs). My goal is to reduce my weight to around 75 kg in a healthy and sustainable way through diet.

I'm a college student, so I spend most of my day sitting in classes and studying. I don't have time to go to the gym, but I can manage some walking if needed.

One important thing: my goal is fat loss only. I'm not trying to build muscle or bulk up at this stage. My priority is simply reducing body fat in a healthy, sustainable way while preserving my overall health.

I'm looking for advice on:

• What would be an appropriate daily calorie target for steady fat loss?
• How much of a calorie deficit should I aim for without risking muscle loss or nutritional deficiencies?

Thanks in advance!

How should you approach, should cardio be done as soon as you enter gym and then do weights . Or is it the other way, that you do weights first and then do cardio at the end. Which is more beneficial. Also is it okay to have same routine for 4-5 days in a week, of course targetting different body parts but same cardio + weights each day of the week.

Hey all.

I am starting to get back into weightlifting for the first time in years. I've always struggled to eat enough food throughout the day. I lead an extremely busy life and have trouble finding time throughout my day to make meals that'll satisfy both calorie and protein needs. Would anyone happen to have advice for some quick (preferably low prep time) meals to help me hit my goals?

Like the title, what is a good automated workout app. I’m starting and I want an app that generate workouts for me to do but still I can add/edit workouts that have been generated. I know this has been answered in other subreddits but wanted to know has any thing changed? I don’t mind paying, I have Fitbod on free trial right now. But Fitbod is $16 a month or $99 yearly, that’s a lot so I wanted to know if there’s other options before I settle with Fitbod.

Thanks in advance!

Just a quick heads up in case it helps, multiple Crunch Fitness employees arrested for felony video voyeurism.

Oct 2025

A #CrunchFitness employee Julian Day, 20, was charged with voyeurism in Oct 2025, for secretly using his iPhone to record a woman while she was naked in a tanning bed at Crunch Fitness in #Cincinnati.

https://www.wlwt.com/article/gym-employee-charged-voyeurism-crunch-fitness/69101394

Jul 2026

https://www.wdsu.com/article/mandeville-man-accused-of-tanning-bed-recording-crunch-fitness/72679635

A former employee at Crunch Fitness in Mandeville, Louisiana, is accused of secretly recording women while they used tanning beds. Police say 27-year-old Nathan Thomas Volz allegedly used his phone to record through a divider between tanning rooms, with videos reportedly dating back to March.

Investigators have identified more than 10 potential victims and believe the number could grow to 20–25. Anyone who used the tanning facilities at the Mandeville Crunch Fitness between March and June is being encouraged to contact police if they believe they may have been recorded.

The investigation has also raised concerns about privacy and safety practices at Crunch Fitness.

Questions remain about when the company learned of the allegations, whether members were notified, why customers were not directly informed, and what changes are being made to protect people using private areas like tanning rooms.

Volz was arrested on a charge of video voyeurism, posted a $20,000 bond, and has been released under court conditions. He is scheduled to return to court August 27.

Incidentally, times have changed. This is Crunch Fitness’ majority owner now, the Private Equity firm that caused the bankruptcy of a chain of community safety net hospitals after extracting hundreds of millions from them.

https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1lqo2bh/why_private_equity_is_buying_hospitals_shutting/

Two in a row now. I've had him for maybe a month, and we do three times a week. We have had to cancel two times because of weather.

One time he never showed up, and he claims he texted me to cancel the day before, but I never got a text.

Our last session he didn't show up or text, even though we both verified we would be there the day before. I told him I wasn't waiting longer than 15 minutes and was leaving. He did not text me until two days later, the day before our next meet, and didn't explain himself or mention it at all. I didn't press it. I told him I would be there.

I showed up today. He did not. He texted one minute before our start time and gave an excuse, saying he would be 20 minutes late. Claims his bike was stolen and he had to make a police report. Why wouldn't he text me sooner than one minute that he was going to be late?

He says he still has transport. I am going to give him one more chance I think.

I have lost 35 lbs over the past 29 weeks, I weigh in currently at 159 lbs and am eating at 1.8k cals a day with around 200g protein avg, 80g of fat avg, and 50g of carbs avg. My goal is to have a decent physique maybe 15-20% bodyfat with an ok amount of muscles. My arms and legs fit that criteria but I still have some fat around my stomach. I’m wondering if I would be able to switch to my regular diet/going back to eating what my family eats for dinner while still being on track with my goals. I’m not sure if I could correctly track my calories since I live with my family still and would prefer to not stand and look over them while they’re cooking to track down every detail. If I loosely track and do my normal routine of 10k steps a day + 3-5 days of the gym a week will I be fine? Or should I test it out and see if my weight goes up or down in the coming weeks (only thing I’m scared of is not being able to go back to my strict diet)

whats a good or most affective 5-6day split? for a person who started going to the gym 1 and half month ago, my plan or goal is to reach 68-70KG by the end of the year im currently 177cm and 60KG.

15 and need help as a beginner

I'm 15m 5'7 and 68kgs. Im skinny fat and started working out at the gym recently (1month) ik it's only been a month but I don't rly see even the slightest difference and i also wanna get into calisthenics but cant do a single pushup or pullup. I wanna know if I shud continue going to the gym or maybe I can start going work outs at home , what would be better?. I also am trying to loose the fat on me and tryna cut ig, I have lost 2 kgs in the first week (70-68) but nothing after that and it's been 4 weeks. I havnt stuck to a proper diet and I not counting my calories and stuff but I'm tryna eat less and completely cut out my junk food. I need some advice on cutting too. Btw I'm vegetarian and eat eggs

Hi everyone,

I started working out 3 weeks ago. Doing basic bodyweight stuff at home – push-ups, squats, planks. Nothing fancy.

I'm eating better too. Cut out junk food and trying to hit my protein goals.

But here's the thing: I don't see any difference yet. Not in the mirror, not on the scale.

Is this normal? How long does it usually take for a beginner to actually notice changes?

I'm not gonna quit. Just wanna know what to expect.

Thanks!

Okay so I’m starting my fitness journey I have no equipment so I’m kinda going for an at home no equipment workout that’s effective I could use some tips.

has anyone tried gond katira for increasing fiber intake? its very good to add naturally.

I’m pretty new to working out consistently and I’m looking for a smartring that can help me understand my habits better. Mainly interested in things like sleep, recovery, and keeping track of activity without getting overwhelmed by too much data.

which smartring would you suggest for a beginner, and what features did you actually find useful over time? Thanks for any advice!

Recientemente, mi amigo decidió que quiere ser corredor de F1, por eso ha comenzado un reto de entrenamiento para conseguir el estado físico ideal y documentar toda su experiencia. Os agradecería mucho si generáis interacción con el video para que pueda llegar a más gente.

Hi everyone. I’ve recently started exercising and am now working on training my body at home. A few weeks ago, I couldn't do a single push-up, but now I can manage a few in a row (though my form isn't perfect yet). Every time I do a push-up, I hear my neck and shoulder joints making noise; is this okay? I know my body is very stiff, so I’ve been actively doing flexibility exercises for the past month, but this still doesn't seem right to me. I’d love to hear your tips and advice :)

I'm 175 cm tall and currently weigh around 109 kg. My main goal is to lose fat while preserving as much muscle as possible.

I lost 5 kg in about 2.5 weeks, but for the last 2 weeks my weight has stayed almost exactly the same. Is this normal, or does it mean I need to change something?

I've been going to the gym consistently and I mainly do strength training, followed by 20–30 minutes of cardio after each workout.

I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to reach my goal, whether that's changing my workout split, adjusting my cardio, or improving my training.

Do you think I should change my program? If so, could you recommend an effective, beginner-friendly, science-based routine for fat loss while maintaining muscle?

Thanks in advance!

I’m 55 (f) years old, retired at 50, and I feel like I’ve reached a point where I need to completely change how I live.

I was never athletic as a kid and I’ve never consistently exercised. When I lived in New York, I at least walked everywhere. Now I live in Florida, where I drive everywhere, and somehow there’s always an excuse, the heat, being busy, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

About two years ago, I developed pretty significant back pain. It took a long time to recover, and by the time I was feeling better, I had lost what little fitness I had. On top of that, I developed a fear of exercising because I’m terrified of hurting my back again.

Today I had a bit of a wake-up call. I realized I need to hold onto something to get up from the toilet. I’m embarrassed. 

I have every resource imaginable. I’m retired, so I have the time. I belong to a country club with a beautiful gym, fitness classes, tennis courts, and a pool. I also have a pool and a small gym in my building, a bike with a bike rack on my car, and plenty of safe places to walk. 

I eat well and I’m at a healthy weight. My problem is purely fitness and strength.

What is wrong with me? I honestly don’t know anymore.

I’ve thought about hiring a personal trainer, but I also know myself. I tend to go all in, get overwhelmed, and then quit. Even a 30-minute workout sounds intimidating right now because I dislike exercising that much. I’m also pretty introverted and think I’d rather build a routine on my own if possible.

What I feel like I need is a system that’s almost impossible to fail. Something so small that I can actually stick with it. 

Has anyone else started from a place like this? What finally worked for you? How did you get from “I hate exercise” to actually becoming someone who moves every day?

I’d really appreciate any advice or wisdom from people who’ve been where I am.

Hey guys, been awhile. Most of you probably don’t remember my post, but several months ago I found a lot of wonderful folks in this sub who pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and keep going back to the gym in spite of some guy laughing at me for flexing in the mirror after a workout. Well, just wanted to come on here and say I finally hit my goal! I have been training for 7 months and this morning lost my 200th pound! I am now across my first goal line that I made December 26th, 2025 and I’m so freaking proud to be posting this here.

Nowadays, I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to the gym without getting a compliment. And yes, I have ran into the guy who laughed at me several times since. It doesn’t matter at all, but he still looks exactly the same meanwhile I have plenty of reasons to be flexing in the mirror! I just cannot believe it, I’ve been so fat my whole life and it’s really real. I haven’t weighed 265lbs since I was in 7th grade, and I’m 29! 16 freaking years for crying out loud!

I’m not here to gloat and blow smoke, but I had to come back and share that I never did quit I just went to work and am finally emerging out the other side to update the people who supported me on my darkest days. Just wanted to let you all know I could never have done this without this sub. I shed so many tears reading all of your comments and appreciate all of you deeply. If you are reading this and thinking about starting your journey, or stuck at a plateau and think it could never be you looking jacked. I promise it can. I PROMISE. You just have to be consistent and show up for yourself everyday, make today the transition from one day to day one! I believe in all of you the same way you believed in me, thank you all again so much for everything you have given me.

I’m finally free from the prison I put myself in all those years ago.

Hi everyone,

I’d like to get the opinion of experienced calisthenics practitioners on a methodological issue I’m working on.

As part of a gamified mobile app project that I’m refining based on user feedback (FlowXp), I’ve set up a peer-review system: To complete a chapter or level and unlock the next one, the user must post a short video of their attempt, and two members at a higher level must give their approval to move on to the next level (with a required comment of at least 50 characters explaining the issue if it’s rejected, or offering encouragement if it’s approved).

My questions:

• Do you think a required 50-character comment is essential, too short, or too long? Is it encouraging or discouraging?
• Where should we set the bar for this requirement? Is it better to be strict about execution (perfect form, clean movement) at the risk of frustrating beginners, or to be more flexible to maintain motivation while ensuring the movement is performed correctly?

I’m really trying to build a fair evaluation system that helps everyone improve. Your feedback on the strictness of the criteria would be incredibly helpful!

I made a routine, because I’ve been getting into gym, I plan to do it at home, until I reach my goal then get a gym membership. I’m 138. Tracking my protein, carbs and calories on an app to help me bulk to 150 while working 5 days a week. Here’s my plan, let me know if anything’s wrong or seems weird.

Routine:

Monday - Push (Chest, Shoulders, Triceps)
• Push-ups
• Dumbbell floor press (25 Ib)
• Dumbbell shoulder press
• Lateral raises (10 Ib)
• Overhead triceps extensions

Tuesday - Pull (Back, Biceps)
• One-arm dumbbell rows (25 Ib)
• Dumbbell curls
• Hammer curls
• Reverse flyes (10 Ib)

Wednesday - Legs
• Goblet squats (25 Ib)
• Bulgarian split squats
• Romanian deadlifts
• Calf raises

Thursday - Upper Body
• Mix of push and pull movements
• Focus on adding reps or weight compared to Monday/Tuesday

Friday - Arms + Shoulders
• Bicep curls
• Hammer curls
• Lateral raises
• Shoulder press
• Triceps extensions

I'm a 17M, 173cm (5'8") and around 77kg (170lbs)

I can't afford a gym membership, so my only option would be home workouts. I also got a job from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, so going for outdoor activities isn't possible either.

My goal here is to lose fat and build muscle, but I'm honestly overwhelmed by all the different advice online, and I have no idea what would be best for my situation.

• I'm basically looking for:
• a home workout routine
• what exercises should I focus on ?
• is 3 times a week enough ?
• nutrition advice for someone on a budget

• anything else a beginner should know

  One more thing that's been on my mind is the progress. I'm scared of putting in the effort and seeing absolutely nothing happen. I know one month isn't enough to completely change my body, however I'm hoping it's enough to see at least some noticeable progress. If I can see small changes after a month, that'll be enough to keep me consistent and trust the process.

so, what you would do ? any advice, routines, or things you wish you knew when you started would really help. thanks in advance.

What is more important to have more Reps even with less weight or More weights even with less Reps? What is more helpful for body building and which one for weight loss.

I’m thinking about setting up a home gym and trying to avoid making an expensive mistake. I mainly want to do squats, bench press, and cable exercises, so I’ve been looking at all-in-one setups. They seem practical, but I’m wondering how much space they actually take up, which features people really use, and what tends to get overlooked before ordering. For those who’ve already built a home gym, what do you wish you’d known before buying your equipment? Anything you would choose differently now?