Training vs Working Out

America has a problem.

In a country with more gyms than any other nation in the world, we still face a wellness crisis. Despite 64 million Americans holding gym memberships and spending nearly $2,000 annually on health and fitness, our collective health continues to decline. Since 2000, fitness center memberships have doubled, yet obesity rates have increased by 10 percent during the same period. This disconnect reveals a fundamental flaw in our approach to physical well-being.

The Critical Difference

At New Chapter Fitness, we realize that true fitness isn’t about following cookie-cutter workouts or subscribing to cult-like movement philosophies. Our approach focuses on training—a purposeful, individualized strategy that goes beyond arbitrary exercises. We believe in:

• Developing sustainable movement patterns that integrate naturally into daily life
• Creating personalized training programs based on individual needs and goals
• Building both physical and mental resilience
• Empowering people to live more active, confident lives

The Exercise Misconception

The problem lies not in our desire to be healthy—Americans clearly want to improve their fitness—but in our fundamental understanding of exercise. We’ve reduced physical activity to an isolated task, a checkbox on our daily to-do list, rather than recognizing it as an integral part of our lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 75 percent of U.S. adults fail to meet recommended activity levels, with a quarter remaining completely inactive.

A Historical Perspective

Our current fitness crisis becomes clearer when we examine our past. In 1820, 79 percent of Americans worked in agriculture, requiring constant physical activity. Even without modern fitness centers, obesity rates in 1900 were nearly zero percent. Today, merely 1.3 percent of the U.S. population works in agriculture, and our lifestyle has become increasingly sedentary.

The Urban Design Impact

Modern American cities, designed primarily for cars rather than people, contribute significantly to our sedentary lifestyle. Parking lots occupy approximately one-third of urban land area, while residents in low-walkability areas face:

• 32 percent higher rates of prediabetes
• 30-50 percent higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes

In contrast, highly walkable cities show obesity and overweight rates of 43 percent compared to 53 percent in less walkable areas. The average American takes just 3,000-4,000 steps daily—less than two miles—while modern hunter-gatherer populations average 20,000 steps and spend less than 10 percent of their day sitting, resulting in some of the lowest heart disease rates ever studied.

Beyond Exercise: A Lifestyle Approach

Research, including Dan Buettner’s “The Blue Zones,” demonstrates that the world’s longest-living populations don’t “exercise” in the modern sense. Instead, movement is seamlessly integrated into their daily routines. This insight drives our philosophy: the challenge isn’t about squeezing in more fitness classes—it’s about redesigning our lives to make movement natural and sustainable.

Our Commitment

We reject the fitness industry’s tendency to prey on insecurities or promote quick fixes. Instead, we focus on:

• Teaching sustainable movement patterns
• Understanding each individual’s unique needs and aspirations
• Building physical and mental strength for real-life challenges
• Creating lasting lifestyle changes that promote longevity and well-being

The path to better health doesn’t require more gym memberships or trending workout programs. It requires a fundamental shift in how we approach movement and training. As we restore our right to enjoying active, free lives, we must educate ourselves, establish good habits, and stop pursuing the comfort that confines us.

At New Chapter Fitness, we’re committed to guiding you through this transformation, helping you build a stronger, more active, and more fulfilling life—one intentional movement at a time.