My gym membership is expiring this month and guess who's NOT going to rejoin!

My gym membership is expiring this month and I'm not going to rejoin...and I actually used the heck out of it!

Here's why?

1. Money - I can think of 50 better things to do with my money than spend it on a gym membership

2. Need - this is the biggest reason - I don't need the gym (and chances are neither do you) - I have no excuse to not work out at home. I have a complete set of free weights, a good sturdy bench, a complete set of dumbbells, a heavy bag, speed bag, AND an elliptical...so why on earth did I ever join to begin with? Mrs. KDB wanted a personal trainer and when the PT she was using left the gym, the gym owner converted her prepaid payments in to a membership for us.

And I'll totally grant you the equipment there is much much nicer than mine at home, and there are a few pieces of equipment at the gym that I love having access to that I don't have at home.

Now here's the reality. Body weight workouts are absolutely awesome and you don't need anything. If you do want to amp it up, just go to the local sporting goods store and get a couple of sets of dumbbells. Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and yoga poses will help most anyone reach their muscle development goals.

The other biggee for me is, I've grown to absolutely hate doing cardio inside.

As a soccer player, I have always loved running, and now I've gotten so used to running outside over the years, the thought of parking on a treadmill or stationary bike makes me cringe.

I've got gear for year round running in all but a torrential downpour - so weather is never an obstacle.

Do this before you join the gym: try getting out on the pavement - no reading books, no magazines, no chit chat, no iPods - just you and the road, the wind, the sounds around you...it's pretty awesome and I bet you'll get hooked too.

Good luck to all!