home gym vs. gym membership

stephalvarez5

so for x-mas i've decided to buy myself one of the two, a home gym, (the weider 2980 214lb stack gym). or a gym membership to 24 hour fitness. which do you think would be better to own? give me pro's n cons of each so that i make a sound decision. I'll tell u a lil about my lifestyle to better help with your suggestions.

1. i'm a night owl and i work a lot.
2. i prefer to run (i've mostly been running at the local H.S. track, but it's winter!!)
3. toning and definition are important to me (focus areas are abs and arms)
4. i love high impact activities (football, boxing etc.)
5. most of my friends are 24 hour fitness members

anything else? im leaning more toward the gym membership because they have a huge variety of machines and classes and it's a lot less likely that i'll get around to doing everything vs. getting bored at home with the home gym. then again, having a home gym is so convenient. hmmm... what do YOU think?

.s.

anaaho

People tend to subconsciously work harder with an audience around so you will probably work harder at the gym than you would at home. Also, I find myself being distracted by doing other things around the house at times if I work out at home

stephalvarez5

People tend to subconsciously work harder with an audience around so you will probably work harder at the gym than you would at home. Also, I find myself being distracted by doing other things around the house at times if I work out at home

that's a very valid point. especially cuz i have a huge ego and love to be the best at everything and show off. hahha gross i know. but ur point is very valid in my case thank you.

khillman77

I like the gym better, because I usually don't do as well at home. Plus the gym is where I go to de-STRESS!!!

stephalvarez5

I like the gym better, because I usually don't do as well at home. Plus the gym is where I go to de-STRESS!!!

i never thought about it like that, a nice lil heaven away from all the mess at home. great excuse to get out and have "me" time.

velix

I prefer the gym. There is no other reason to be there but to work out. Whereas at home, I have a hundred different things I "could" be doing instead. Also, I use the gym as a time out from my everyday stuff. Sort of alone time where I get to focus on me 100%.

And I agree with the performance comment above - I am more willing to quit in the middle of a rep when at home, but around people, I always want to make sure I give 100% (don't want anyone to be able to make the "oh, of course she quit, look at her size" comments.....

vkpmusic

I love the gym b/c I will do whatever the instructor says...but I slack at home.

That being said, lately with my work schedule, I've found it very hard to make it to the gym. Will your friends go with you late at night? I belong to the Y now, but I used to go to a 24 hr place and the few times I went at night after 6 I was one of the only people there. I found it creepy. Will you go enough to make it worth the money you are spending. Lately that has not been true for me, which is why I ask.

summerbert

I find that I work out better at home. I can make a million excuses not to go to the gym but here my stuff is staring me in the face. I have a pull up station, free weights, resistance bands, big ball, small ab ball, and elliptical

tolygal

If I could get to a gym every day, I'd definetly do that. I have what I need at home to workout (aerobic videos, steps, dumbells, elliptical trainer), but I really love the days I get to go to the gym. I work from home 3 days a week and drive in 2 days. So on the 2 days I go in, the gym is worked into my schedule (I go before work, so no excuses). I wish I did it more, and I would except I have an hour and 15 minute commute. So, if you had to pick just one, and you are able to get to a gym, I'd do that!! I LOVE the classes - so much more fun than doing my aerobic videos at home - plus, I push myself even harder at the gym! And the people watching really helps pass the time on the elliptical!!!

Caperfae

I would choose the gym membership. You said your friends are members there so you'd always have a workout buddy. Gyms have other equipment in the event you get bored with the home gym set up. Probably and indoor track as well?

eglass64

Go with the Gym.

MunchkinHawk12

I have a gym membership, but I like to workout at home as well. I feel, however, that I workout better at the gym, especially cardio. I usually do circuit training at home.

meagalayne

Once I get to the gym, I've committed myself to working out and I know that since I'm already there I might as well make the best of it. This mentality doesn't pan out at home - I can easily cut my workout short by talking myself out of it when I'm still in my house. I just don't work as hard.

Having a home gym, however, will last you greater than 1 year. The equipment should last for some time, while the membership had to be paid continuously. It's akin to owning vs renting a house...

Good luck with whatever you decide! I just joined a gym after running outside all year and training at home. I am really excited to see how much it changes my exercise habits.

AnnaPixie

I'm pro home gym cos:

You can workout any time any day - roll out of bed and workout if you fancy etc
you can make weird noises and contorted faces and sing out loud and not become self conscious....lol
you dont have to wait to use any equipment
you dont pick up other peoples bugs/virus'
its much cheaper long term
you can play loud music :bigsmile:

chacaruso

I would go with the gym. I've done both and am definitely self-motivated. However there is something extra you get when you physically have to go there. You work a little harder, you're not distracted by anything at home, it really is YOUR time.

edorice

I will take it a step further. If you're in the I.E. and you need to decide on which gym I would go with L.A. Fitness. 24 Hour Fitness has not been doing enough to upgrade and repair their equipment. My husband and I were long time members of 24 Hour Fitness and we switched over to L A Fitness two years ago. There is an awesome LA Fitness off of Arlington Avenue in Riverside. Each treadmill and bike has it's own TV. The treadmills have fans. The group classes are current, posted online, and over-all user friendly.

iguanaliz

I have both a home gym and a gym membership. I use the gym membership. Here's why...I'm self employed and work from home. I have a really hard time separating work from non-work and tend to work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. (On the 7th day, I clean!) I'm in a creative field and there does come a time when the brain must stop!

So I made a deal with myself that I can leave work for a few hours during the afternoon IF I go to the gym. It's the exact perfect break I need, and I don't feel guilty about it because that 90 minute "tune out" is exactly what I need to push through another few hours when I get back. Meanwhile, the cats like jumping on the home equipment :0)

JLeeAlton

I used to belong to LA Fitness and I loved it. Classes were great and the times I worked out I never had to wait for the equipment that I wanted to use. I now workout at home to save money. I have great DVDs and my FH has a weight bench and I have an elliptical. Everyone has made valid points so its your turn to make a pros and cons list.

sexygenius

get a gym membership...its way better

sbilyeu75

I personally prefer the gym. I tried working out at home but there are too many distractions. I also find that once I started getting to know people at the gym, they notice when I take some time off. It helps keep me motivated. I also like to see what other people are doing, sometimes I can get great ideas to incorporate in my workout. Or, I can have people check my form so I don't end up injuring myself.

stephalvarez5

everyone's suggestions and tips and point of views really have helped me consider things i didnt necessarly consider before. you are all so supportive and helpful and give great insight. thank you all for your responses.

i'm going with the gym membership.

ChuckgM3

I'm glad you decided on the gym, I think you'll enjoy it.

It'll be good to work out with your friends, but as mentioned here before if you're still undecided I'd recommend LA Fitness, they have really done a great job with upgrading their equipment lately.

Sweet13_Princess

Although it's nice to have a piece of fitness equipment at home, most of the time it becomes a laundry rack or dust collector. I know that I tend to work out a lot harder when I go to the gym, whether I'm taking a class with an instructor, or by myself. I believe having other fit bodies around really motivates you to push yourself, plus you're always wondering if people are watching you. I'd recommend the gym this year, then put the equipment on your wish list for next Christmas.

Shannon

binary_jester

Excellent choice for all the reasons above, but one huge one I don't think I saw. Free weights are always better than machines. Period.

sempernova

I have a gym membership as I work from my home and get sick of my own company. :sick:
I also work harder in the gym coz I don't want anyone to see me slacking off!

Helent26

I think probably the gym membership - there's the social aspect, your friends are already members, which also adds a little healthy competition! The fact you prefer to run - you can use the treadmills inside for the cold days. There are a variety of exercises to do at the gym for toning arms and abs - the machines there also help you to decide the areas and they have different machines for different muscle groups in the same area, therefore giving a better way to tone these areas that you would no necesseraly know how to at home

The plus point to a home gym is - if you don't like exercising with other people due to self consciousness etc this is ideal, also you can workout whenver you want, whereas a gym maybe closed. Working out at home can become boring and you may find 'other things' that need doing such as house work lol, i know this because that's usually my problem :sad: hehe

Hope this helps! Good luck finding what suits you :flowerforyou:

MISTTIMG

In my opinion if you are motivated by working out along side other folks and cannot get into home workouts, then by all means choose the gym. However after working at 24 fitness for 6 years, "going to the gym" lost it's "magic" for me. first of all it's the security aspect, I wouldn't take anything to the gym that you couldn't easily part with, there is much locker/car thrift. Then you have to consider the time involved getting dressed, putting some things together in a bag (towel, Id, etc) and driving to and from the gym. time that you could be using to exercise if you had the equipment set up in your home. Also, sometimes the weather is nasty, wet-cold-snow. and It would be nice Not to get out in that. Also at home you can control the temp/music just the way you like it.You can bring your own music to the gym, then again whatever device you use to store your music could be left on the treadmill/ elliptical-- something else to worry about. Also I might mention, there is a thread on MFP that is talking about creepy people you see at the gym, Well let me tell you employees at the gym talk about the members all the time! I am thinking of one case now involving a trainer in his mid 20's, his client was a woman in her mid 40's and let's just say she had a major crush on this guy, well each time she was scheduled to come in, he would stand around front desk and talk about personal things that she was doing that I really didn't want to hear. So, anyway, even though I have locked in an almost free lifetime membership to the gym, I prefer to workout in the privacy of my home. Play my exercise DVD's, know my equipment is clean, and not worry about anyone stealing my stuff.

iishnova

Good choice going with the membership! I used to have a treadmill at home and other equipment but it was too easy just to walk past it, as I was self-conscious to use it when anyone else was home (they always felt the need to give me fitness tips, not helpful when i didn't want to work out to begin with). But the pros were the being able to play music and sing and my treadmill faced a window looking out onto the street so I could people watch at the same time! I have access to a gym now and I work out more often, especially now that I can go with my family rather than working out in front of them. I grab a spot in the back of the cardio room and I can still people watch (I also turn up my music and dance because they can't see me lol)

Totally de-stressing when the gym isn't packed (its a marine gym so lots of very fit people) and usually it doesn't get to bad. Plus once again I am in the back so its all good and I'm motivated by the Marines working so hard around me.

lacroyx

I had a choice and chose membership gym. Mine was due to lack of space in my tiny apartment.