Indoor vs Outdoor Training
Is there really a difference between indoors and outdoors workouts beyond just the machines vs the trees and playground equipment? In this workout video we compare two functional strength training routines with the exact same movement patterns (squat, lunge, press, pull, bend, twist, and cardio intervals) to find the real differences between training outdoors vs training indoors.
This of course isn’t a bodybuilder vs. calisthenics session or a primal animal flow vs. crossfit workout either. We are just comparing the functional training that we do in the P.T. studio with clients who want to boost strength, weight loss, fat loss, lean muscle, overall fitness and health and especially clients who want to optimize movement for activities beyond just working out. Here’s the 5 main differences and similarities.
#1 You Must Prep Your Workout Area & Have a Plan
Whether you train indoors or outdoors you will need to prep your area, gather your gear, secure a bench or move things out of the way, and work around other people. At home or outdoors you work around kids, pets, partners, furniture, landscaping crews, etc. In the gym you also have to work around other people, what’s available, and sometimes staff or gym closures. The idea that the gym will make your life easier is probably one of the biggest fallacies of gym training so whether training indoors or outdoors you’ll need a solid plan that can also be adaptable to your surroundings. There really is no difference here. It’s all about the plan!
#2 You Can Use ALL The Gear or Just Bodyweight
As you can see in the video here, I used lots of gym gear and also a tiny backpack containing just a trx, bands and a rope. It is true that gear options are plentiful indoors but you could also get a killer workout indoors with just one piece of gear or your bodyweight when all the machines and benches you want are taken. You could also do as I do every week and take a ton of gear to the park but again it’s not about the gear. It’s about knowing how to move your body during your training sessions so you can get the result you want.
So again gym vs at home vs outdoors is not really much different in terms of equipment. For the record functional trainers rarely use machines that let your core snooze so nevermind ideas about sitting in a leg press machine doing 4 standard sets with chat breaks in between. Like I said at the start, we’re comparing functional training options not bulking bodybuilder options. Machines are great for bodybuiliding not so great for functional fitness.
#3 You Can Train A Few Variables or ALL The Training Variables
To expand on the previous point, knowing what training variables matter for your goals is key. Sure in the gym it’s easier to add or delete weight, switch from bands to machine or ball to dumbbells or kettlebell back to ball but understanding how to easily do that is what allows you that flexibility with equipment. Yes, outdoors you will need to think “outside the box” more as trainers love to say.
It hleps to know dozens of versions of a press or lunge or squat instead of just 2 versions of a movement pattern plus as I show in the video, you need to be willing to adjust training variables such as unilateral training, tempo work, plyo work, rest periods, interval timing, etc. The thing is you should probably know all that for indoor training too so again it’s not about the location it’s about knowing how to exploit all your training variables for your unique body and goals.
#4 You Can Struggle With Distractions In or Out of Your Control
Now come the distractions. At home you have family, pets, deliveries, phone, computer, TV, laundry, cooking, cleaning. I often hear from at home clients that they go on the floor to do an exercise I taught them and then they get distracted with cleaning dust bunnies (haha, yes I know that routine too).
Outdoors there’s weather, dogs off their leashes, park maintenance making tons of noise or stinking up the park with their gas powered machines but the gym also has its multitude of distractions from loud obnoxious grunting guys to bad music or TV shows blaring, to the creepy gym guy that won’t stop talking to you or telling you how to train (sadly these guys still exist). Distractions are everywhere so it’s all a matter of what environment is least distracting to you. We all thrive in different settings and some of us can handle all the settings but prefer more control over our workout setting.
#5 You Can Take It Easy or Train As Hardcore As You Want!
Finally with workout intensity there is this myth that the gym allows you train harder because you can push more weight, BUT there is also this new school of fitness that claims that outdoors is hands down the best because it’s hardcore beastman vs. nature. Well the truth is you can take it easy anywhere and you can train hard anywhere too.
I’ve trained people with a set of ankle weights and a few bands and had them tell me that was harder than anything they had ever done in a gym or class. I’ve also trained people that mostly do outdoor fitness and had them say they were blown away by how much they felt their muscles working when doing tempo cable work or how much harder timed intervals were than just biking around their neighborhood. Intensity is just one more variable that can be manipulated to push you to your max or restore your body for healing.
So now that you know the minor differences between indoor and outdoor training which are you most drawn to do on your own? Which would you prefer if training with a fitness pro? There really is no right or wrong answer because as you probably gathered by now it’s not about the location, it’s about having a great fitness plan.
If you need a 3 month workout plan to get you started with functional training be sure to get started with my Essential Movement plan download at my shop here and if you need one on one help with your fitness be sure to use the special offer at the end.
