why people don't use them in the first place. Not to mention that I honestly think gyms are a racket. Sure - it's nice to have when it's raining outside. Or when you live in a place with harsh weather. But it is not mandatory. posted by 7life at 9:37 AM on June 19 The idea that manual labor and gym time are interchangeable (let alone that manual labor is superior to gym time) is laughable. With manual labor, the focus is on getting a specific task completed, hopefully without injury. Chronic wear accumulates, and loads/rep ranges are not properly calibrated for ideal health benefits. In the gym, we (can) focus specifically on improving health, injury resistance, strength, flexibility, etc. It's certainly not sufficient to fully compensate for poor eating habits or posture but it's a hell of a lot better than manual labor. As diet is necessary to living and good health, so is sleeping and exercise. The most effective exercise will largely be using purpose-designed gym equipment. So far as gyms being a racket: Sure, if you follow the PlanetFitness model of "monthly fees, users never improve, discourage even moderate weights, encourage excessive use of cardio machines". You're absolutely right for cardio - the only purpose is to provide a nice indoor area. But cardio really, really isn't sufficient for good health. It doesn't have high enough resistance to maintain bone density or muscle mass, both of which are essential for avoiding injury - especially while crossing middle