gym vs home

Hey guys and gals!
I have a gym membership that I use for some classes like Zumba or Body Shred.
However...I have had two weeks off from the gym and am wondering if it's worth it? Pretty much every day I have done the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred plus usually my wii zumba which I really enjoy.
If I'm motivated already, do you think the gym is worth my energy and money??
I don't know...?
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Replies

  • djxil
    djxil Posts: 357
    I haven't been to a gym in a very long time and plan to pick up a membership in March or April, money permitting. As long as you are active, it does not matter where you do it.

    To me, the gym is worth it b/c it's a place I go to work out, it's very specific, I just have too many distractions at the house.

    Nice going, either way!
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,004 Member
    I would love to be able to workout at home, but live in central London where rent/mortgage is astronomical. Having an extra bedroom for an elliptical trainer and some weights would set me back £400 a month, or $650 at current exchange rates. A gym membership is way cheaper.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    If your doing classes at the gym which you could do at home instead then do that, it'll save you time and money.

    I worked out at home very successfully for over 2 years. I then started lifting weights at home, but soon got to the point I needed a squat rack and bench but had no room for these, which is why I joined a gym recently.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I need my gym...unfortunately I do not own nor do I have the space to have a power rack in my home. The weight room is all I use the gym for. If I was just doing classes and could get the same workout at home with a DVD then I'd probably skip the driving around and just workout at home. Same goes for cardio...always have been baffled why people join a gym and pay all of that money to drone away on a treadmill when they could just walk or run outside for free...and it's really pretty outside and they get their vitamin D.
  • tembii
    tembii Posts: 34
    I personally love going to the gym because it gets me in the mood to work out, seeing all the equipment and people working out, plus I love getting out of the house, but since I haven't been able to afford the gym, since then I have a pair of dumbbells and a treadmill that I use daily and it works just as great for me as going to the gym. I also do exercise videos off of Youtube, mostly from Cassey Ho, she's awesome! My friend works out at home with me so she helps keep me motivated too c: All in all... I'm in vote of home work outs! As long as you have the equipment or workout DVDs you like C:
  • I have a home gym, but right now it lacks things like heat and mirrors. Climate control is amaaazing! And I like mirrors to check form. Once I have those set up, my preference is home.
  • I personally love the gym. I love having the large selection of equipment and other amenities like classes, sauna, heated indoor pool, steam room. I also enjoy socializing with other gym goers (after my workouts). I just don't get as motivated working out at home. However there are other people like my sister that feel that driving to the gym and dealing with the gym crowds is a pain and she does better working out at home. It really depends on what works best for you.
  • I need the gym. If I go through the motions of packing for the gym, then I also make the appointment for my son to spend time in the playroom (on the days I have him) and I actually make it to the gym. I have a ton of workout DVD's mostly bellydance which I love but when I get home my "laziness" takes over and all the excuses that I can come up with happen, which means that my workout doesn't happen. But that's me, if you can do it at home and you know that you'll do your workouts at home, save the monthly membership cost until you need to utilize a gym (like when you are doing more weight training and less cardio, lack of space or whatever reason makes the gym more attractive than home).
  • VpinkLotus
    VpinkLotus Posts: 849 Member
    I really like both. I love to get away and go to the gym, but sometimes it's not possible and so learned to love home workouts too. I couldn't chose either or.
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    i have no excuse not to work out at home but tired of getting gym memberships and not using the money i spent on them to its fullest potential. i have a full sized gym with all the perks at home so im using that now. the downside is that im a social butterfly.. so i have a trainer now and i go to him three times a week ..he is a riot . at almost 54 yrs old i am going back to college in a few weeks and will be using their sports facilities as it is included in my tuition. nicer yet is my trainer is right across the street from the complex!!
  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member
    I haven't been to the gym in months since I got my own rack, bench, and plates. Now I wouldn't give up my home weight workouts for the world... but I do wish I had mirrors and a power rack. My gym membership is uber-cheap, so I'm keeping it. May go back there to use the rowing machine, which I do miss, and might even venture into the big boys' weight room at some point.
  • RaggedyPond
    RaggedyPond Posts: 1,487 Member
    If I had my own squat rack I would probably never go to the gym.
  • mamma_nee
    mamma_nee Posts: 809 Member
    I prefer the comfort of my own home - I have a treadmill - bike- weights- elliptical - elastic bands - I don`t need someone else's sweat LOL
  • carrieous
    carrieous Posts: 1,024 Member
    I work out much harder when I know someone might be watching.
  • carrieous
    carrieous Posts: 1,024 Member
    plus there are hot dudes to gawk at
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    The gym is worth it for me for the weights, the pool and the sauna.I can't get any of that stuff at home
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    If all your exercise needs are met at home, why pay for the gym? You pretty much answered your own question. Cancel it.
  • Soccer_Chick
    Soccer_Chick Posts: 204 Member
    We have a pretty nice gym set up in the garage. We have an elliptical, bike and treadmill, bench press/leg extension, pulldown/cable row set up plus a full rack of dumbells. We have jumprope, boxes to jump/step up onto, the big exercise ball and a balance board. We also installed a flat screen on the wall and some mirrors for checking form. All that said, I do not do well working out in the garage. I belong to a gym just down the street from my house and I work-out much better there. My wife on the other hand loves to work-out in the garage and does so regularly. I feel that I get too distracted in the garage and don't feel like I stay focused. I also don't feel like I work out as intensely in the garage as I do in the gym.

    I guess it just boils down to personal preference with the most critical factor being which place gets you the best work-out in the best frame of mind!
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    I love the gym, it gets me out of the house and I can change my workouts or routines at will because all the equipment that I need is there, and that gives me a lot of motivation.

    I only have light dumb bells and bands in the house for when I do DVDs workouts, which is very seldom. I am not interested in having a gym in my house, even if I had a big extra room for that. But we are all different, if you (OP) like to workout at home, go for it. The main thing is to do what you like and what you can in a consistent way.
  • rexroars
    rexroars Posts: 131 Member
    The benefit I see to a gym is the social aspect of classes. It could be a great place to meet healthy, ambitious people with similar interests :) But I'm a recent graduate and can't afford a gym, so I just get outside as much as possible!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I workout at home.


    Why pay for something I can do at home...I first started out with 30DS too, and Wii stuff and then dug out my weights and husband built me a squat rack...

    I took over a room and now I don't have to go outside in this -38 degree winter weather...brrrr
  • fattymcrunnerpants
    fattymcrunnerpants Posts: 311 Member
    I gave up my gym membership when I realized I was doing the same exact thing at the gym that I could do at home. I was using their treadmill and free weights, I have a treadmill and free weights at home. Now I just pay a drop in fee if I want to take a class, it's much cheaper.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I believe it comes down to personal preference and whichever gives you the best chance at adherence and long term sustainability. I personally like going to the GYM (YMCA) it offers me everything from an 8 lane pool, therapy pool, massive cardio area, huge weightroom with everything you could possibly need, Racquetball courts, indoor track, and it is backed up to a Riverwalk with 18 miles of paved trails for biking and jogging/walking among a host of other things, (class, and whatnot). Oh and the Steam sauna's, whirlpool, and on premise deep tissue massage therapist as well...... So for me it is a no brainer.... But you must decide what gives you the best options to be successful. Best of Luck
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    Love the gym .. I will keep going there for probably many years. Unless my financial situation changes for the worse .. I will keep at it. Just lots of good equipment and classes. I don't think I would be able to even come close to that at home.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I workout at home....always have. Personally, I hate gyms.

    I have invested a lot of money into good quality gym equipment which has paid for itself.

    Different strokes for different folks.
  • BlackPup
    BlackPup Posts: 242 Member
    Can't afford the gym. But got a cheap exercise bike and will make do with that, body weight resistance training and taking my son for walks in a backpack
  • TheSaoirseTree
    TheSaoirseTree Posts: 26 Member
    When my goal was to lose weight, I was fine with working out at home. Now that my goals have changed, I like having access to the gym.

    Plus, it's only $10 a month, open (and manned) 24 hours a day, and has a pool. It's too good of a deal to give up!
  • fourfiftythree
    fourfiftythree Posts: 203 Member
    Not a fan of the gym. I've lost every pound breaking a sweat in my own living room.
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
    I love going to the gym. I have learned a lot and have been pushed beyond my comfort zone which feels awesome! I started with classes, then I moved to the cardio area, and finally made my way to the weights. I feel more confident and I love the energy I draw from others. I still do classes like power pump when I need to mix up my routine and I always come out feeling like I have been worked hard! I do zumba every week and I love it!
    However, if you are paying for it and not using it, then you are wasting your money. It takes a lot to make yourself walk out that door. For me, it's so much easier to not work out when I try to at home. It starts with "I'm tired and don't want to" one day and continues from there. If I have a reason to put on my shoes and leave my house I know I will be more likely to get it done. It takes time to get into the routine and dedication of the gym, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    I've been working at home for almost three years now, with not much equipment. Errors and trials allowed me to have a super efficient routine! Plus i don't have any money so... :D