Public or private

Which do you prefer & do you think your intensity of the workout is different depending?
I.e. Using an elliptical machine alone in your basement/exercise DVD vs. going to the gym, outdoor exercising?

Personally, even though I have an elliptical machine, making the daily or every other day drive to the gym itself motivates me more.

Replies

  • DannyNovela
    DannyNovela Posts: 39 Member
    I prefer going for a long mountain bike or road ride. then it is outdoor jogging and then anything cardio in the gym. and yes intensity varies depending on activity and duration of said activity.. if it is only a 30 minute mtb ride then i go all out all thirty vs if it is a 3 hour ride then i got to pick and choose my spots push myself.
  • I don't have a gym membership so do my training either at home in the lounge/garage or running outdoors. I find exercising outdoors much easier and motivation levels are higher, especially if there are others around doing the same. At home it is a little tougher to stay motivated but the intensity levels are equal for me.

    I find running outdoors gives you an opportunity to use other people or landmarks as targets e.g. I will sprint to the next tree or water crossing or I will run until I reach those people up ahead etc
  • Any more input MFP community??
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    Depends what type of exercise - something I love or something I do b/c it's good for me.
    I looooove running and will push myself when alone or with a group.
    Weight lifting is a chore for me and I will make every excuse to skip it entirely or do a half-hearted workout when alone, so I go to CrossFit and the group atmosphere keeps me going.
  • mjhedgehog
    mjhedgehog Posts: 249 Member
    I prefer working out in private because then the only person who can judge me is me and I never have to wait for a tredmill to be available at the gym. :laugh:

    the only kind of "work outs" I do in public are sports like softball lol.
  • charelg
    charelg Posts: 599 Member
    I work out at home or run, I'm cheap and don't want to pay for the gym.
  • janlee_001
    janlee_001 Posts: 309 Member
    Both - sometimes I really need the group and it keeps me going say for instance Zumba. I would love to have a walking partner, but with bike riding I prefer to go alone so I can deal with just me and my pace and strength.
  • sds76
    sds76 Posts: 215 Member
    ALONE for sure. I don't mind my kids around but no one else. I make hubby sit in our room and play on the computer when I work out(obviously he really doesn't mind this). I work my butt off when no one is watching but if someone walks in I immediatly stop. I am self-concious(sp) about the jiggle, about being winded and tired doing something that most people probably wouldn't be. I know it's stupid but if it's what I have to do to get a good workout in then I'll do it :)
  • sz8soon
    sz8soon Posts: 816 Member
    Call me voyeuristic, I like it public.

    I push myself waaay harder in a gym or in public than I do when I'm home
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    I work out in my house or outside. I don't want to pay for the gym. I'd rather have a new pair of shoes every month. :wink:
  • Call me voyeuristic, I like it public.

    I push myself waaay harder in a gym or in public than I do when I'm home

    Same lol
  • The gym really motivates me...If I do my workouts at home I find myself taking breaks or getting LAZY!
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    I think this might be weird, but I push myself so much harder during home workouts. I think it's because I'm not afraid to grunt it out and fling my sweat all over the place! And of course sing along to my ipod...

    I like running outside though, and I go to ballet twice a week and it kicks my butt so that's my "public" exercise time.
  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
    At home, alone, indoors with A/C and 2 fans blowing on me!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I e-hat the gym, but I run outside, so that's in public.
  • marieautumn
    marieautumn Posts: 928 Member
    i have an eliptical machine however i like the motivating feeling i get from going to the gym. call me a show off but i like getting on the machine next to some one and seeing if i can keep at it longer than them.
  • Mad4282
    Mad4282 Posts: 171 Member
    I run outside and do workouts at home, I use to be a member of a gym but having to wait for even a moment to workout on a treadmill or for a class to start when I am pumped and ready to go drives me nuts!
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    personally i prefer alone mostly because i cant stand the smell of locker rooms etc plus i have full access to free weights etc at home so no need to waste the money or the gas
  • caterpillardreams
    caterpillardreams Posts: 476 Member
    .
    I find running outdoors gives you an opportunity to use other people or landmarks as targets e.g. I will sprint to the next tree or water crossing or I will run until I reach those people up ahead etc

    I love to run outdoors as well. The other day I was running and there was a man running in front of me, so I passed him., helped me go a bit faster and work a bit harder.
    I love aerobic classes, like Zumba, I like spinning as well, but I do not like running on treadmills or biking in a gym alone. That being said I also can not afford a gym membership so I do all my workouts at home and outside. I like it alot, Its a little bit more challenging to find the motivation on my own. But it helps me see what I am made of and I that I can do anything no matter the challenge.
    Everyone likes different things, I wish I was a good swimmer I would swim laps. That sounds like a great workout
  • caterpillardreams
    caterpillardreams Posts: 476 Member
    I work out in my house or outside. I don't want to pay for the gym. I'd rather have a new pair of shoes every month. :wink:

    I like this logic. Mama needs a new pair of shoes. LOL
  • I prefer the gym setting, so public. I have a lot of weight to lose and I like surrounding myself with that environment. I kind of like the fact that I am a heavy girl but I am also very athletic, so when I take classes at the gym, there are always the new people or the really fit people who look at me like, wtf is she doing taking this class, she's not going to make it through. Then when they see me push myself all throughout the class and keep up, they kind of give me a double look, lol, it is kind of a huge motivator for me and it gives me a huge push to keep up.
  • BeingAwesome247
    BeingAwesome247 Posts: 1,171 Member
    Private

    I don't have the extra funds for a gym membership and when I'm working all day and only have limited hours with my kido, I'd rather be home.
    She likes to join along which is awesome or we go for walks together
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    I love the motivation of working out in a group. My natural hyper-competitive nature? Or just the joy of seeing others in pain along with me? Group cardio classes are so much fun, and I burn a ton more calories than I ever have just running on a treadmill.

    I do enjoy bike rides on my own though, a different kind of burn but I need a mix of both. :)
  • sexikc
    sexikc Posts: 153 Member
    I must be more of a public person I love going to the park and walking or running or around the neighborhood. But even more...I LOVE THE GYM!!! I love to see the beautiful people, the fit ones trying the stay that way, the unfit ones trying to get that way. I love group exercise the most...especially the group I workout with everyone is so motivationg and down to earth and the energy of the classes are AWESOME!!

    At home..blah...i have several workout dvds and a wii but the dvds are stacked somewhere and the wii that is for netflix! lol
  • I definitely exercise better in private. I hate being sweaty or out of breath in front of others. At home I can gasp and sweat to my heart's content. If I had to go out to the gym to exercise, I would never be bothered!
  • I think this might be weird, but I push myself so much harder during home workouts. I think it's because I'm not afraid to grunt it out and fling my sweat all over the place! And of course sing along to my ipod...

    I like running outside though, and I go to ballet twice a week and it kicks my butt so that's my "public" exercise time.

    Lol! I feel you on that I used to watch music videos and really get into it with some of the angry or high energy songs like rap or whatnot...that can be liberating, but when I'm in public it's like the pressure is on more to fully complete my work out with no breaks in between even if it's by using the same equipment I have at home!