Gym vs home exercises. Also, shoulder injury.

purplishblue

Trying to decide, should I keep my gym membership, or try to just exercise on my own? What do you find gives you more motivation? What works easier with your schedule?

I also have an shoulder injury and need to do just leg and core exercises right now while it's getting treated. I'd like to do exercise videos but I feel like they'd all include arms. Any thoughts? I guess I'm trying to figure out what types of cardio I can do on my own. It's WAY too cold out here to do walking/running outside right now!

Shannon_H

I would check out bodyrock.tv. Completely free and there is a new video everyday. I love it!

knittnponder

Well at the gym you're going to have access to ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, stair machines, etc along with all the weights. I have a little gym set up in my garage but I also go to the gym. What works for me might not be the thing for you though. You have a gym membership, are you using it? Do you already have equipment at home and are you using it? Doesn't matter what you have access to or what your plan is if you're not actually working out.

K3rB3ar89

For myself im a single mom. i do basically all my work outs at home. I have a gym membership too and i never use it because my life is sooo busy. Working out at home isnt for everyone though, you need too be very self motivated. Try being a video or two and see how you like it before you choose too totally get rid of your membership. I have lost about 11 pounds since the 1st of Jan just eating right and working out at home, but i myself still hold onto my gym membership for whatever reason:S my main motivation is seeing how well im doing just doin things on my own and wanting soo bad to be healthy.

As far as things without arms i dont think ill be much help. I personally havent found a video that doesnt involve your whole body:S

Sharonks

I miss having a gym membership because they had weights. I can't afford to buy a good set for home. What I liked about the gym was that I would go before work. I could beat traffic into town, workout, and then be on the road to work. Choosing a gym close to work meant I only had to battle traffic a little rather than a lot. I got into a good pattern where I got up, filled a travel mug with coffee and some toast to have in my car. I was rolling before I could decide not to go.

I had both my shoulders go a few years ago. Major rotator cuff stuff. I couldn't raise my arms more than a few inches from my sides and was in excruciating pain. I couldn't even walk much because the movement hurt. The dr. said this was pretty much what I would have to live with forever. I had no insurance so couldn't really do anything about it. Instead, I started stretching. Eventually the inflammation went down and it didn't hurt that much but I still couldn't lift my arms very far. I kept stretching and just tried to lift my arms up. It took a couple of years but I was able to raise my arms about shoulder level. At this point, the inflammation was gone so the pain wasn't too bad. Then I started doing arm lifts with 1 lb weights. Eventually I did 30 Day Shred. Oh did that hurt my shoulders. But it also started strengthening my shoulder muscles.

I am now about 4 or 5 years from my shoulder problems. I don't think anyone would notice restricted movement in my shoulders. I still don't have 100% range of motion and they are still weaker than they should be but I am grateful I can lift them up and do pretty normal stuff with them. I still have to modify some yoga poses and at times it is painful to put the weight bar on my shoulders and squat because my hands can't hold the bar due to lack of rotation in my shoulders.

Check with your dr. or pt before you work your shoulders. I couldn't afford pt and I figured I had nothing to lose by trying to do it on my own since it was so bad I couldn't drive or anything. Not sure it could have gotten more disabling than it was.

Ctrum69

Trying to decide, should I keep my gym membership, or try to just exercise on my own? What do you find gives you more motivation? What works easier with your schedule?

I also have an shoulder injury and need to do just leg and core exercises right now while it's getting treated. I'd like to do exercise videos but I feel like they'd all include arms. Any thoughts? I guess I'm trying to figure out what types of cardio I can do on my own. It's WAY too cold out here to do walking/running outside right now!

I _hate_ gyms with a passion. I have a first gen bowflex, a decent treadmill, a bolt-on for my bike that turns it into a stationary, and DDPYoga at home, and find I get much more benefit being able to workout whenever I want, than trying to use a gym.

What's the shoulder injury? Can you use it at all?

chriscolh

I think it all depends on what works for you. I love my gym membership. When I work out at home, I feel self-conscious (I have sweet boys who think it's funny to watch mom try to follow a video), and I love my instructors in my classes at the gym. I am more motivated to work hard when I am at the gym, too. I know, I'm a wimp, but if I'm at home and I get tired, I will sit down, catch my breath, watch a few minutes of the video, and then if I'm lucky, I'll finish the workout. At the gym, we push hard and I get more done in one hour than what I would ever get done at home. I tore 2 tendons in my right shoulder about 1 1/2 years ago and had to work around it for almost 8 months. But when I let my instructors know, they were always willing to show me modifications to the workout that would protect my shoulder and allow it to heal. (plus side is that my left side is now as strong as my right!) But that is what works for me. I have a few friends who have their own equipment and lots of motivation and they are very successful working out at home, but I am much more successful and consistent at the gym.
Good luck with whatever you decide! (and be patient with your shoulder. I learned that if you push it too hard too soon, it will make your recovery time twice as long!)

jenjen828

I have done both, and here is what worked for me. I love working out at home. I have an elliptical and an exercise bike. Also have a treadmill that I borrowed from my parents, but I really don't use it, because it bores me. I have a driveway that I walk up and down. 12 laps around my driveway is a mile. I have adjustable dumbells.

To be honest, most everyone has exercise equipment that they don't use. I have borrowed equipment. I have bought stuff at yard sales, and stuff that I really love (like my elliptical), I bought new when on sale (which is probably right about now with people slacking up from their new years resolutions). I love working out at home. I do not have to dress to impress. I can look as goofy and bad as I want. I can workout in my PJs if I want (as long as I am not walking up and down the driveway). I have even been known in a time crunch to strap on my HRM and jog in place while cooking supper.

What works for you is what you will actually do. For me, I like the no fuss of being able to work out at home. I have a few videos, and I have used you tube and fitness blender videos too. Just find what you like and do it. The gym is good if you need to be social and that motivates you. For me, I just like being at home where I can be with my family and it works better with my schedule and I really have no excuse at this point not to work out--other than having the occasional "lazy bum" days.

There is not really a right or wrong answer. Just do what you need or want to do.

gypsyGIRL159

LET ME PUT IT TO YOU LIKE THIS: When I am at the Gym..... I am another person! I FEEL SO POWERFUL..... SO INSANELY STRONG, AND IN MY ELEMENT THAT I CAN DO EXPLOITS!!!! I AM RADICAL AT THE GYM!!!!

I am good at home..... but the Gym HYPES me and I get to see others that INSPIRE ME, LIFT ME, AND MOTIVATE ME TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE.

I live in a nice apt home..... and I HAVE A HOME GYM RIGHT UPSTAIRS...... but there are NO motivational posters, no people working on their goals, and no body to be excited about how far I've come..... and my ongoing goals.

I WILL ALWAYS KEEP A GYM MEMBERSHIP NOW.... FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I WILL TAPER OFF ON MY TRAINER WHEN I REACH MY GOALS...... BUT I WILL PERIODICALLY USE HIM AGAIN - LIKE EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO STAY ON POINT! I

I WANT SO MUCH MORE THAN OBESITY HAS TO OFFER! I AM WORTH IT!!!

I hope this helps!!!!

Mufasa777

I find I'm more likely to workout at home. Being a student I am short on time. This way if I have 40 extra minutes to workout I can workout for a full 40 minutes instead of 20 minutes of commuting and 20 minutes working out.

bzbs

First of all with your shoulder injury be sure what ever exercise you are doing is ok with your doc or therapist ( I had 5 shoulder surgeries in 2 /12 year period) I now do T-25 as my regular program modified. with a few extra modifications due to my shoulder, and have been seeing great results. I go to the gym a little but not very much as I have several programs I do at home that seem to work better for me and I found that at the gym I was tempted to overdo on some things that would harm my shoulder. message me if you want an y individual tips on what I have done