As a lifetime gym rat, 46 years and counting, I can both understand and take issue with your piece. No quarrel if folks are just getting started are intimidated by muscle heads or fearful of the gym morons who refuse to mask up.

That said, gyms have specialized machines that you and I can’t replicate at home. Part of this is what our goals are, our current fitness level, and if we need professional guidance.

Doing it at home can be perfect for many. However, poor form, and after 46 years I can still default to poor form if not mindful, leads to injury. I am a huge fan of hiring competent trainers to learn the basics. Video programs cannot provide the close, intimate attention to your unique body shape, size and idiosyncratic behaviors.

There’s no question that you and I can work out at home. However, if we thrive on the social environment, if the gym provides motivation and group support, which many of us both love and need, then a solid home program may not be the answer.

It’s wonderful this works for you. However given the rather vast variety of personality styles, body types and preferences as well as abilities, I might be careful to imply that one size fits all. It doesn’t. Just as”getting a six pack” is an unreasonable goal. We already all have that six pack. As another commenter wrote, revealing it is a matter of diet and fat content. For an endomorph like Oprah, for example, she is never going to see her ripped abs. Which, kindly, is perfectly all right. A six pack doesn’t make us fit. Fitness does. Fitness, as you make clear, takes work and consistency. Where and how we do that is as unique as a fingerprint.