Home workouts vs. the Gym

I think I prob work out harder at home cuz I am more comfortable there, but the gym has more variety of equipment so that's good also. But home is alot less expensive and you can get the same results if you are diligent.

More distractions at home...I alternate between the two though.

I live in an apartment. I don't have room for the equipment to work out at home. Equipment takes up space, and can bother the neighbors/family members if you workout at home. That's one of the cons for working out at home. Another is variety, and decent equipment is expensive. I had a set of dumbbells when I had a house, which worked okay, but I had many more options at the gym.

If I had the money for a decent squat rack, olympic weights, and a bench, (and somewhere to put it all.) I would be satisfied with my home gym. One of the cons of going to the gym is distance. I hate having to get in my car, go out in bad weather, and fight the crowds at the gym. At home you can workout how you want, where you want, and when you want.

I did the gym thing for six months. The pros were simple: better equipment, less chance of slacking off. The cons were drive time, self-consciousness about exercises I wasn't good at yet, and having to bundle up my daughter to get there.

Now I mostly work out at home, and the pros are that I can start and finish within an exact time frame and move on to what needs doing around the house or with my family, I don't feel self-conscious about not being in great shape yet, and I have NO EXCUSE not to work out! The cons are a severe lack of equipment, temptation to cut it short if I get tired, and no one to help me improve my form if I'm unsure if I'm doing it right. (Though I have been known to hit up YouTube, it only helps so much.)

I used to have a gym membership but found I enjoy working out on my own (where I dont feel self conscious about the jiggling) I dont have to wait for a free cross trainer or feel like a silly girlie la-la in front of the men in the weights section and dont have to worry about kicking unsuspecting victims during classes (tried zumba once, never again) I also like being able to jump into a clean shower straight after workouts, the ones at my gym were GROSS!

Home
Pros;
No commute
No germs (eeky sweat residue from who knows what)
No prying eyes

Cons;
Initial fee to purchase equipment's is high whereas at a gym you're technically still paying the same amount for an equipment usage per say but in monthly increments.
Might be lazy and unmotivated to start..
No hot guys to watch live.


Gym:
Pros;
Can offer support and motivation
Classes
Amenities such as swimming pool, more exercise equipment...etc

Cons;
Price
Prying eyes
Dirty equipment = disease contraction

I work out at home. I can work out whenever I want, listen to my own music, do whatever comes to mind (if I have the equipment to do it), it's perfect for me. It makes it very easy to maintain my workout frequency, if I decide to work out it takes an hour max from the moment I decide to work out until I'm out of the shower. Having to get dressed, walk/run/drive to a gym, work out, walk/run/drive back is quite a stopper for me. It's also cheaper - I don't HAVE TO buy more equipment because I do fine with what I have and the free advice out there are plenty and good if you find the right mentors.

The cons are that I need to buy equipment, and equipment takes up space at home. I have kettlebells, dumbbells, a door gym and will buy slings or straps - but sometimes I would wish I had access to heavier equipment for deadlifts and so on. I also lack mirrors and someone to check my form and give guidance. I have a bit of practice from earlier gym memberships though, basic form is OK but when I incorporate something new I need to be extra aware of my exercises until I feel that my form is good.

But as I said, I have gone to gyms earlier and there is a good reason why I don't do that anymore. I can keep up my motivation only for so long until it gives in - especially during summer when the weather is good and being indoors is far from where I want to be. It also takes quite a lot more time, and I have to pay every month.

I have experience of both, previously working out at a gym but recently having set up a home gym. These are my 'pro' lists for each:


Gym:
Fewer distractions
Greater range of equipment
Spotters on hand if needed
Easier to stay focussed on the task in hand

Home:
Available to use at any time
No cost (after initial outlay for equipment)
No queuing to use equipment
Can get small chores done between sets
Can wear what I like (i.e. workout bare foot, in PJs, etc.)
Don't have to worry about pieces of equipment being broken or out of action as I look after them and no one else uses it.
Get to use my own shower which I know is well cleaned
Can use online workouts / DVDs to keep mixing things up

Only Self-disciplined people can workout @home

this. plus the regulars who work out on the same schedule that I do are great to talk to and get advice from, as well as encouragement.

Working out at home: less self-conscious, saves time and gas, 24/7 availability, can multi-task (wash clothes and cook while doing a video), cheap

Working out at the gym: more/better equipment, group classes, camaraderie and motivation from others, structure

I actually think I work out harder at the GYM... in my mind I'm trying to keep up with everyone else. That was at the gym I was comfortable at. Then I tried another gym and I just couldn't wait to get the hell outta there so I know I didn't nearly as hard. So now I've been doing it hat home. And THAT has it's advantages too... I'm trying new things that I would be too embarrased to do at the gym (at the gym I want to look like I have some idea of what I'm doing). But it's easy to get distracted or just sit on my butt and look up exercises on Youtube or Pinterest instead of actually doing them. So if I could afford it I would go with the gym!

I generally dislike gyms, but they do have one thing going for them: climate control. If it's a hundred degrees outside and a million degrees in my un-air-conditioned apartment, I'll probably go to the gym. Same goes for the cold in the winter.

I do both and as long as you get into a routine each week both are great
At home I like the fact I can watch movies etc i choose when on the stationary bike etc
At the gym I put my iPod ear phones in and play my own music. This allows my personal choice of music and means I don't get distracted by people talking to me (call me stand offish if you like, but I'm not there to chat)

The biggest reason I use the gym is that I need the extra motivation I get from working out with other people. It helps me get up at 4:30 am .........something I never would do for a workout at home.