Results without the gym

Absolutely! Muscle tone is easily achieved when we consciously pay attention to how we move.
The magic of weight loss is more about what you eat or don't eat and not about pushing more weights about.

The guys on my soccer teams don't like me 'cause I never go the gyms like they do, I never run to train, like some of them do. And I usually out run and run by most of them. ... and I don't need ibuprofen to manage the pains they keep getting either but that's another story.

I've never set foot in a gym to workout in my life. No need to spend a lot of money on fancy machines and driving all over just to workout.

YES YOU CAN! I sincerely, honestly, really have no time for the gym. But I work out 6 days a week at home. Those workouts are spread among these and other at home workouts....

...High intensity intervals (using the iPad app "seconds" I set up the intervals using my music and doing in place "sprints" or jacks for the high intensity), Leslie sansome's many walking at home DVDs (vary from 15 minutes miles to inervals with high intensity to 5 12-minute miles), dance aerobics (tammi web has one to rock and one to Motown that are fun), step aerobics (gin miller's DVD are good and a step at "play it again" type stores are inexpensive), Buns/abs/etc of steel by Tammi Web (weights), shapely girl DVD w circuits (aerobics/weights), various "the firm" workouts suchmas their circuit and weights workouts on giam tv (pay service, but only 10/mo) or on a purchased DVD ...... Etc. etc.

With some relatively inexpensive DVDs from amazon, a set of hand weights, a step, and a small area and a tv you can definitely get fit. I have in the past had a trainer weekly and I am every bit as fit now as i was then. Trainers and gyms are great for specific needs, but far from necessary for getting fit and losing weight! Rock on :glasses:

Yes. What matters most is your level of commitment. Also depends on your definition of toned is.

But it sure does get you there faster if you go to the gym. I mean, I live in LA and I can get to Vegas without driving or flying. But it sure is easier if I use a car instead of walk.

If it's weight loss and muscle maintenance with an increase in real strength rather than visual growth necessarily, all you need is your own body, a pull-up bar and a whole load of motivation.

Check out either or both:

- You Are You Own Gym; training and reference book, website, app

- Convict Conditioning: training and reference book - also a great read in it's own right.

Google either of those for great progressive bodyweight exercises.

I don't go to the gym, I do own a barbell and dumbbells, but between a small calorie deficit, a little cardio and lifting weight, I'm starting to look pretty good.

I've got my own setup at work unit.
Made a squat rack from some old wood I had.
I already had a bar, but just got some weights with a bar which cost me £32. Basic bench can be bought or made for not much.

Of course, there's plenty of body weight exercises you can do too - however I am liking the starting strength and similar routines - relatively low amount of time needed for better results than I've had with other stuff, including programs set by gym personal training staff etc.

I used to manage a gym in the late 80's early 90's and competed in powerlifting. I can absolutely confirm that I have gotten far better results for overall fitness at home by using a good workout space with body-weight exercises, good adjustable dumbbells (Ironmaster), HIIT, Tabata, a TRX, and a Concept2 rower. I go at my own pace, don't have anyone bothering me, I don't have to go anywhere, and my workouts are only limited by my imagination. For what it costs to travel to a gym and the membership, you can outfit your home gym in a small amount of space and get fantastic results. I did have Olympic weights, cages, stands and benches with the dumbbells, but I sold everything except the dumbbells and one bench a few years ago and started on just fitness with that and some elastic bands and p90x. My body was being torn up by "feats of strength" after 25 years of it. Best thing I ever did and I feel so much better and stronger. I added the TRX, rower, etc. over the years. Just start simple and work your way up.

Can you get true results with working out at home? When I say true results I mean weight loss and muscle tone???

The air in the gym has muscles in it so that's why it smells and that's why you can only get results there.</sarcasm>

In other news, most of the bigger guys I know have their own gym if they're trying to be smart money wise.

If you're asking if you can get ripped without weights, well, you can only go so far with body weight. The heavier you can lift, the more muscle you can get.

Well - and there I was thinking it was just steroids! </also sarcasm>

YES YOU CAN! I sincerely, honestly, really have no time for the gym. But I work out 6 days a week at home. Those workouts are spread among these and other at home workouts....

...High intensity intervals (using the iPad app "seconds" I set up the intervals using my music and doing in place "sprints" or jacks for the high intensity), Leslie sansome's many walking at home DVDs (vary from 15 minutes miles to inervals with high intensity to 5 12-minute miles), dance aerobics (tammi web has one to rock and one to Motown that are fun), step aerobics (gin miller's DVD are good and a step at "play it again" type stores are inexpensive), Buns/abs/etc of steel by Tammi Web (weights), shapely girl DVD w circuits (aerobics/weights), various "the firm" workouts suchmas their circuit and weights workouts on giam tv (pay service, but only 10/mo) or on a purchased DVD ...... Etc. etc.

With some relatively inexpensive DVDs from amazon, a set of hand weights, a step, and a small area and a tv you can definitely get fit. I have in the past had a trainer weekly and I am every bit as fit now as i was then. Trainers and gyms are great for specific needs, but far from necessary for getting fit and losing weight! Rock on :glasses:

I have used and still use Leslie Sansone and I found a new one I like of hers on youtube. Completely free. I lost all my weight before my baby without a gym. I am working on it again without a gym. It can be done

What I understood from the OP's question was can she achieve weight loss and maintain muscle (what I understand from the term 'toning') by working out at home.

I am sure the answer you will all agree is yes providing there is enough motivation and research into how to approach it.

That might be a weights set up or it might be progressive bodyweight routines - same outcome, different paths.

Carlos, I believe you got it, I'm speaking more to the peeps talking about elaborate home gym setups. I think your answer is closer.

However,I will say that among people that won't commit to going to the gym it's hard to find someone that will commit to a strenuous bodyweight routine. Those tend to be very intense and the type of person that avoids gym routines is usually looking for a way to dodge that intensity, not increase it. They want a shortcut but bodyweight workouts are the opposite once you get past the basics

Unfortunately I only rent a small room in a shared house, so no space for a 'home gym', but if I did, I reckon I'd still be happy to do Starting Strength or similar at home - as with my set up at work, you can wander off for the rest periods and are actually doing relatively small amounts of actual lifting - you're not sitting there doing 8 sets of 12 reps with thirty seconds rest between, then moving on to another exercise.

But then I've never found lifting dislikeable per se, just boring - while I do actually dislike running, say (though still do do it on occasion.)

Don't underestimate the power of your own body weight! My home gym consists of dumbbells, an elliptical machine, a stationary bike, an old treadmill (currently in storage cause it's too old and busted), resistance bands, and a hula hoop. I've seen this belly bare ABS! I don't workout in public unless it's a dance class. :bigsmile: