Gym vs home exercises. Also, shoulder injury.

Well at the gym you're going to have access to ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, stair machines, etc along with all the weights. I have a little gym set up in my garage but I also go to the gym. What works for me might not be the thing for you though. You have a gym membership, are you using it? Do you already have equipment at home and are you using it? Doesn't matter what you have access to or what your plan is if you're not actually working out.

I miss having a gym membership because they had weights. I can't afford to buy a good set for home. What I liked about the gym was that I would go before work. I could beat traffic into town, workout, and then be on the road to work. Choosing a gym close to work meant I only had to battle traffic a little rather than a lot. I got into a good pattern where I got up, filled a travel mug with coffee and some toast to have in my car. I was rolling before I could decide not to go.

I had both my shoulders go a few years ago. Major rotator cuff stuff. I couldn't raise my arms more than a few inches from my sides and was in excruciating pain. I couldn't even walk much because the movement hurt. The dr. said this was pretty much what I would have to live with forever. I had no insurance so couldn't really do anything about it. Instead, I started stretching. Eventually the inflammation went down and it didn't hurt that much but I still couldn't lift my arms very far. I kept stretching and just tried to lift my arms up. It took a couple of years but I was able to raise my arms about shoulder level. At this point, the inflammation was gone so the pain wasn't too bad. Then I started doing arm lifts with 1 lb weights. Eventually I did 30 Day Shred. Oh did that hurt my shoulders. But it also started strengthening my shoulder muscles.

I am now about 4 or 5 years from my shoulder problems. I don't think anyone would notice restricted movement in my shoulders. I still don't have 100% range of motion and they are still weaker than they should be but I am grateful I can lift them up and do pretty normal stuff with them. I still have to modify some yoga poses and at times it is painful to put the weight bar on my shoulders and squat because my hands can't hold the bar due to lack of rotation in my shoulders.

Check with your dr. or pt before you work your shoulders. I couldn't afford pt and I figured I had nothing to lose by trying to do it on my own since it was so bad I couldn't drive or anything. Not sure it could have gotten more disabling than it was.

I think it all depends on what works for you. I love my gym membership. When I work out at home, I feel self-conscious (I have sweet boys who think it's funny to watch mom try to follow a video), and I love my instructors in my classes at the gym. I am more motivated to work hard when I am at the gym, too. I know, I'm a wimp, but if I'm at home and I get tired, I will sit down, catch my breath, watch a few minutes of the video, and then if I'm lucky, I'll finish the workout. At the gym, we push hard and I get more done in one hour than what I would ever get done at home. I tore 2 tendons in my right shoulder about 1 1/2 years ago and had to work around it for almost 8 months. But when I let my instructors know, they were always willing to show me modifications to the workout that would protect my shoulder and allow it to heal. (plus side is that my left side is now as strong as my right!) But that is what works for me. I have a few friends who have their own equipment and lots of motivation and they are very successful working out at home, but I am much more successful and consistent at the gym.
Good luck with whatever you decide! (and be patient with your shoulder. I learned that if you push it too hard too soon, it will make your recovery time twice as long!)

LET ME PUT IT TO YOU LIKE THIS: When I am at the Gym..... I am another person! I FEEL SO POWERFUL..... SO INSANELY STRONG, AND IN MY ELEMENT THAT I CAN DO EXPLOITS!!!! I AM RADICAL AT THE GYM!!!!

I am good at home..... but the Gym HYPES me and I get to see others that INSPIRE ME, LIFT ME, AND MOTIVATE ME TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE.

I live in a nice apt home..... and I HAVE A HOME GYM RIGHT UPSTAIRS...... but there are NO motivational posters, no people working on their goals, and no body to be excited about how far I've come..... and my ongoing goals.

I WILL ALWAYS KEEP A GYM MEMBERSHIP NOW.... FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I WILL TAPER OFF ON MY TRAINER WHEN I REACH MY GOALS...... BUT I WILL PERIODICALLY USE HIM AGAIN - LIKE EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO STAY ON POINT! I

I WANT SO MUCH MORE THAN OBESITY HAS TO OFFER! I AM WORTH IT!!!

I hope this helps!!!!

First of all with your shoulder injury be sure what ever exercise you are doing is ok with your doc or therapist ( I had 5 shoulder surgeries in 2 /12 year period) I now do T-25 as my regular program modified. with a few extra modifications due to my shoulder, and have been seeing great results. I go to the gym a little but not very much as I have several programs I do at home that seem to work better for me and I found that at the gym I was tempted to overdo on some things that would harm my shoulder. message me if you want an y individual tips on what I have done