Why Online Fitness Programs Never Work for Me

I have tried online fitness programs more times than I can count. And on paper, they should be perfect for me.

Workout whenever I want. No commute. No schedule to work around. Just roll out a mat, press play, and get it done.

Except…I don't.

I've finally accepted that I'm someone who needs the in-person experience to stay consistent. And it really comes down to three things.

I need other people to keep me accountable.

When I'm plugged into a studio, accountability happens without me really having to think about it.

I know the people who will be in class. A friend texts, "Want to take the 6:30 tomorrow?" I sign up because I know someone else is going. Even just seeing the same familiar faces week after week makes showing up feel like something I'm part of rather than another task on my to-do list. (And obviously, I don’t want to let my instructor down :P)

There are all these tiny layers of accountability built into a studio community, and I've learned that I need them.

I’m too ADHD.

My at-home workout usually goes something like this:

I put down my mat. I notice dog hair on the floor. I decide I should probably vacuum before I work out. While vacuuming, I see the dishes in the sink. I start doing those. There’s a bill on the counter. I pay that. One thing leads to another, and suddenly an hour has passed and the workout hasn't even started.

At that point? It's probably not happening.

Going to a studio removes the decision making and the distractions. For the next 50 minutes, there is nowhere else I need to be and nothing else I need to accomplish. I just get to disconnect.

I always leave with more.

This might actually be the biggest one.

Some of the best parts of being part of a studio happen before class starts, while you're grabbing your things afterward, or in a random conversation with the person on the Reformer next to you.

You hear about someone's new job. Someone recommends a restaurant. You get advice you didn't know you needed. You meet someone you might never have crossed paths with otherwise.

Those little interactions add up.

And yes, I come to class because I want to feel stronger, move my body, and take care of myself. But I've realized that taking care of myself also means having places where I'm known, where I see familiar faces, and where I feel connected to the people around me.

Online workouts can be incredibly convenient. For some people, they're exactly what makes fitness sustainable.

For me, I've learned that consistency looks a lot more like putting a class on my calendar, walking through the studio doors, and knowing there will be people on the other side.

Written by Laura Day

Marketing Manager + Instructor at Provision Studio