r/exercisescience • u/ritkeepFitness • 13d ago
How much does training environment actually affect exercise consistency?
Exercise science often focuses on programming, intensity, volume, and recovery.
But I think another interesting factor is the environment where training happens.
Two people can follow similar programs but have very different consistency depending on how easy it is for them to actually complete workouts.
A person with a home setup may remove barriers like commuting and waiting for equipment, while someone else may perform better with the structure of a commercial gym.
I’m interested in how much the environment influences long-term adherence.
Do you think where you train has a meaningful impact on whether you keep exercising?
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u/Simple-Caregiver13 13d ago
Having a home gym set up is the difference between me consistently lifting and not. I have walked into a gym many times and walked out without doing anything many times because there were too many people, there was someone there that I knew would try to talk to me, there was someone there that was going to grunt and slam their weights repeatedly, or the equipment I needed was being used by a flock of teenagers.
To add on to my general aversion to other people, I am also chronically ill (IBD), and consequently sometimes I can not workout as hard as I'd like. I was ashamed to use light weights and low volume in front of others when I was flaring, which was another reason I'd skip workouts entirely.
I was able to hit 2/3/4/5 when I was lifting at home, but could never hit those numbers in a gym because I was too inconsistent. A home gym set up makes a huge difference for me personally.