No Gym. No Problem

 No Gym. No Problem

Maybe it’s too expensive.

Maybe you’re too shy.

Some people just plain do not like the gym.  It can be boring, intimidating¹, and it can seem somewhat redundant².  The good news is there’s another way.  Sports!  Here we’ll take a look at what I feel are some of the most appropriate alternatives to the average gym routine.

In my eyes an ideal fitness program should consist of a few key elements.  Full bodied, primitive³ movement patterns, intensity⁴, and recordable progression.  Here are my top four sports that I feel possess these ingredients.

Rock Climbing

It doesn’t get much more primitive than scaling a sheet of rock with nothing but your hands and feet.  Rock climbing incorporates a lot of flexibility⁵, leg strength, grip and upper body strength.  All the elements you’ll need to be one ripped monkey.

The Motivator: It’s the perceived matter of life or death.  Succeed or plummet⁶.  Of course you’ll be wearing the proper safety equipment, but no one likes the feeling of having to let go.

Competitive Swimming

I’m not talking about splashing around at the local pool.  I’m talking about timed laps.  To get the

most bang for your buck⁷ try and learn all the styles.  Butterfly, breast, back and freestyle.  What with this being the Olympic season these should be somewhat familiar to you right now.  I like swimming as a replacement⁸ for the gym because of its low impact on joints⁹, full fluid body movements, and a little something called dynamic variable resistance.  The harder you push, the harder it pushes back.  You have infinite room for progression.

The Motivator: There’s something about being a great swimmer that makes you feel just a little bit more fearless when traveling.  The earth IS 70% water.  Why not conquer it.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

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An art form becoming more and more popular as mixed martial¹⁰ arts is more widely accepted in the United States.  As far as movement goes you’re looking at a lot of gripping, pulling, lunging and lifting.  And that’s just on your feet.  Once you hit the floor you’ll experience positions that would make a Yogi cringe.

The Motivator: It’s bad ass¹¹, plain and simple.  Not to mention nothing makes you work harder than the possibility of being choked.

Gymnastics

Sure doing gymnastics as an adult may seem a little obscure to you.  But it can be done I promise you that.  And I’m not talking about Olympic level gymnastics here.  Simply being able to master your own body and its weight is far more superior to anything you could achieve in the gym.  Start out slow, be patient, be confident, and trust yourself.  No one knows your body better than you.

The Motivator: Now, not only will you be able to dress like a ninja.  You’ll be able to move like one too.

I won’t lie, I may be a little partial when it comes to the sports I’ve selected here.  But I can tell you this.  In the world we live in form will always follow function.  Master any one of these sports and you can be sure the results will follow.

1 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

2 redundant   

adj.多余的，过剩的；(食物)丰富的；被解雇的

参考例句：

• There are too many redundant words in this book.这本书里多余的词太多。
• Nearly all the redundant worker have been absorbed into other departments.几乎所有冗员，都已调往其他部门任职。

3 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

4 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

5 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

6 plummet   

vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌；n.铅坠；重压物

参考例句：

• Mengniu and Yili have seen their shares plummet since the incident broke.自事件发生以来，蒙牛和伊利的股票大幅下跌。
• Even if rice prices were to plummet,other brakes on poverty alleviation remain.就算大米价格下跌，其它阻止导致贫困的因素仍然存在。

7 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

8 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

9 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

10 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

11 ass   

n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人

参考例句：

• He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
• An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。