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- 20kg is 20kg. In the same way that a plain t-shirt is a plain t-shirt. But you still shop at zara
20kg is 20kg. In the same way that a plain t-shirt is a plain t-shirt. But you still shop at zara
Yes, a 20kg plate is a 20kg plate. But the gym you train in still matters.
Ey up,
Yes, theoretically, on paper, a dumbbell is a dumbbell. A barbell’s a barbell. A squat rack is a squat rack. You absolutely can make progress anywhere.
Take my ex-client Jan, she literally trained in her driveway with hand-built equipment.

But most people aren’t built like Jan.
And environment does matter.
I’ve coached enough people in enough different gyms to tell you one thing for certain:
The gym you train in will either help you push harder… or give you one more reason to skip a session.
Commercial gyms = £20/month to hate your life
You know the ones:
Machines broken for 6 months straight
Minimum wage staff scrolling TikTok behind the desk
Gym floor covered in unracked weights and sweat
Headphones mandatory because they don’t even pay for Spotify Premium 🎧
No one speaks to anyone, no one wipes down machines, no one gives a shite
You can train here and get results, but it’s like running in sand. Possible, just 10x harder than it needs to be.
Private gyms = where progress actually happens
You pay a little more, and it shows.
Nobody’s curling in the squat rack here.
Machines get fixed same day
The owner is behind the desk, not some teenager on £6/hour
Everyone knows each other’s name
Weights go back where they’re meant to
People share equipment without needing to be asked
You might even forget your headphones and still have a good session 😮💨
Honestly, it just feels better. And when the environment is better, you train harder. Period.
The verdict?
Theoretically, the equipment’s the same.
But in reality, the energy, atmosphere, and effort around you changes everything.
If you're struggling to stay consistent or feel like you're stuck in a rut, maybe it's not you.
Maybe it's your gym.
Cheers,
Sheep 🐑
P.S.
Changing your gym isn’t the only upgrade. If you want actual accountability, structure, and results, book a free coaching consultation. I’ll show you what training with a proper system (and coach) looks like. No pressure, just real help.