Home workouts or Gym memberships

I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?
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Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I did home workouts for most of my weightloss. I joined the YMCA when my youngest was 8 months old and oldest was 3 yrs. It was getting hard to complete even a 20 min workout at home without being interrupted. The YMCA has 2 hrs childcare included per day in the family membership. Joining also meant I was able to start a lifting routine. I live in a small apartment on the 2nd floor; not really a good place for a home gym set up. My husband has found that he really loves the kickboxing and body pump group classes. There is also a pool if I'm in the mood to swim.
  • memo1974
    memo1974 Posts: 57 Member
    I agree with you. I have a weight set, a bench, and a squat rack on my garage. I love working out on my garage, gyms are full of weirdos, I'm too old to deal with those kind of people.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    My husband and I had a membership with the local aquatic centre and gym. We really liked the place and spent several evenings each week there. My husband is into swimming so he'd go off to the pool while I took a spinning class, then we'd walk/run on the treadmill together.

    At the time we were living about 10 min drive away. Then we moved and the 10 min drive became a 30+ min drive each way and our frequency dropped to about once a week.

    We let our membership expire .. :( ... and built a home gym.

    The home gym is nice, but we both miss the other place. No doubt, at some point, we'll rejoin it or another similar place.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    i like both working out at home and the gym. these days, i work out at home, but i have a decent FID bench, weights, a hyper bench, barbells - both adjustable and fixed - a decent quality set of resistance bands and some more stuff, as well.
  • soufauxgirl
    soufauxgirl Posts: 392 Member
    Hubby and I are gradually building up our home gym. Got the exercise bike, treadmill, home gym, and a bench need to get free weights next. Love the fact that I am literally a hop skip and a jump away from hitting the shower and I can play my eclectic music and sing along to it without any strange looks LOL!
  • pattyandthemoos
    pattyandthemoos Posts: 79 Member
    edited May 2016
    I work out at a home for several reasons. I have a decent home gym, driving to a gym would take at least 30 minutes round trip, and I prefer to be alone so I can talk to myself or grunt, spit, whatever. Lol. Really though my biggest reason is social anxiety.

    I have thought about going to a gym a few times a week though just because they have some machines I don't have but I just don't think I need it. I'd rather spend the money investing in my home gym.
  • LazSommer
    LazSommer Posts: 1,851 Member
    billutzman wrote: »
    I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

    I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

    What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?

    The meat heads probably hang out at the equipment because they use it. Maybe you should worry less about others.

    That being said I have built up my own free weight equipment collection because waiting for sets sucks. Especially when some non-meat head dares to touch the squat rack.
  • JoshuaMcAllister
    JoshuaMcAllister Posts: 500 Member
    billutzman wrote: »
    I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

    I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

    What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?

    Walk, run or cycle to the gym and you've saved yourself the headache of finding your keys and driving. (I'll never understand those who choose too drive to the gym then spend 30 minutes on cardio equipment, it's similar to when I hear "I'm just going to jump in the car to take the dog a walk")

    I do both, I don't mind training at home but you are very limited to what exercises you can do. The bulk of my training is done in the gym, with the occasional home workout.

    PS. Meat heads are in every gym. Focus on your training, not what they may or not be doing. Its usually the latter.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    I prefer working out at home because in a gym you're exposed to the bodily pathogens of many other guests. Not just viruses and bacteria, but also fungi.
  • JoshuaMcAllister
    JoshuaMcAllister Posts: 500 Member
    I prefer working out at home because in a gym you're exposed to the bodily pathogens of many other guests. Not just viruses and bacteria, but also fungi.

    The same can be said by walking into any room, in any building, city, country worldwide.

  • foxygirl14
    foxygirl14 Posts: 158 Member
    billutzman wrote: »
    I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.
    ?

    That's why I like Planet Fitness. It's a very non-judgmental environment while motivating me by just being around other people working out.
  • Danimri84
    Danimri84 Posts: 262 Member
    I prefer working out at home...but that could be because there is no way I could ever go to a gym.
  • chrlslove7
    chrlslove7 Posts: 136 Member
    I like the gym because I'm just more motivated there. At home, I can stop easily or I just get lazy. The work put in to getting to the gym (clothes, getting kids ready, $ spent on the gym itself) actually fuels me. I catch people looking which sucks because I know my form may be off and I get self-conscious but it works overall.
  • annapage38
    annapage38 Posts: 110 Member
    billutzman wrote: »
    I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

    I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

    What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?

    Walk, run or cycle to the gym and you've saved yourself the headache of finding your keys and driving. (I'll never understand those who choose too drive to the gym then spend 30 minutes on cardio equipment, it's similar to when I hear "I'm just going to jump in the car to take the dog a walk")

    I do both, I don't mind training at home but you are very limited to what exercises you can do. The bulk of my training is done in the gym, with the occasional home workout.

    PS. Meat heads are in every gym. Focus on your training, not what they may or not be doing. Its usually the latter.

    I mean, people are lucky to have a gym close enough to them to walk/run/cycle. I chose my gym because it's a cheap price of £10 pm. I go every day without fail and do HIIT classes - yes I can do them at home, but I love the atmosphere at my gym, the PTs are wonderful and so friendly. I also will use the cardio machines too. You also have to think that maybe the gym isn't in the nicest neighborhood... I 100% would not be happy walking through my gym's area.

    There's two sides to every story :smile:
  • fourmartinkids
    fourmartinkids Posts: 54 Member
    Home gym for me - got everything I need :
    Free weights , elliptical , treadmill, weder club machine, jump ropes, back extension seat - u name it !

    On the down side : my laundry room is next door. With 4 kid there's always a pile of laundry
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    billutzman wrote: »
    I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

    I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

    What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?

    Cycling is my primary cardiovascular exercise. I go to the gym to lift weights. I would love to have all of the equipment available to me in my home, but that's not happening. At minimum I would need a power rack, an Oly platform, a bench, the plates and bumper plates, as well as a bunch of dumbbells and I just don't have that kind of room in my home.

    I've never enjoyed DVD workouts...I like lifting weights.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I prefer working out at home because in a gym you're exposed to the bodily pathogens of many other guests. Not just viruses and bacteria, but also fungi.

    Unless you actually live in a bubble, you're exposed to all of that everywhere you go.
  • himilayaneyes
    himilayaneyes Posts: 204 Member
    I have done both home and gym workouts in the past. Currently, I prefer to go to the gym because I just feel more motivated to get my workout done in that atmosphere. There are meatheads at my gym, but they've been very helpful (e.g., spotting when I need it, helping me find weights, etc.). I notice the same people in the gym on the days and times that I go...so it's like its own little community. As far as germs, soap and water on a regular basis. :smile:
  • RosieRose7673
    RosieRose7673 Posts: 438 Member
    annapage38 wrote: »
    billutzman wrote: »
    I prefer working out at home doing beachbody dvds, or on my elliptical, or jogging outdoors.

    I figure by the time I would get ready for the gym, find my keys, actually drive there, and start workout, I would be done at home. It is a timesaver st home. Plus in yrs past, the meat heads that think they rule the place hangout at equip and just mentally bother me. I went to a planet fitness once and was impressed with the fact the equipment seemed open and normal folks were there.

    What are other folks reasons for preferring gym over home or vice versa?

    Walk, run or cycle to the gym and you've saved yourself the headache of finding your keys and driving. (I'll never understand those who choose too drive to the gym then spend 30 minutes on cardio equipment, it's similar to when I hear "I'm just going to jump in the car to take the dog a walk")

    I do both, I don't mind training at home but you are very limited to what exercises you can do. The bulk of my training is done in the gym, with the occasional home workout.

    PS. Meat heads are in every gym. Focus on your training, not what they may or not be doing. Its usually the latter.

    I mean, people are lucky to have a gym close enough to them to walk/run/cycle. I chose my gym because it's a cheap price of £10 pm. I go every day without fail and do HIIT classes - yes I can do them at home, but I love the atmosphere at my gym, the PTs are wonderful and so friendly. I also will use the cardio machines too. You also have to think that maybe the gym isn't in the nicest neighborhood... I 100% would not be happy walking through my gym's area.

    There's two sides to every story :smile:

    This is true. I love my gym and about 95% of the time, I walk there. It's a mile away from my place. However, in situations such as today when I decide to go at 5 am, I drive. It's still dark out and my neighborhood is not horrible, but also not the greatest. Mostly a lot of aggressive homeless people around when it's dark. So that's when I do drive.

    During the day or early evening, it's a perfectly fine walk!
  • CentralCaliCycling
    CentralCaliCycling Posts: 453 Member
    Haven't been the to gym in years - no time with work and bike riding. I hate exchanging the limited time I have outside on the bike for time spent inside a gym.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Gym. Because its hard to be a meathead at home.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    I need the motivation of the gym. It's a sacrifice for me to pay for the gym, so it makes me feel that I need to use it to justify the expense. And at home, the couch and TV are there just beckoning for me to make myself comfortable. They're a "great" excuse to skip the workout. My hat goes off to people who are motivated enough to work out at home.

    I also have a small place and couldn't possibly do the kind of workouts I can do at the gym.
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    I used to have a gym membership and enjoyed it for more than a year. Toward the end, I hated to go there so much that I was wasting money on the membership. I believe I hated it because I felt I should be doing more to keep my home and yard clean. Counting the getting ready and driving, the gym was about a 2-hour commitment every time I went. Now I'm trying to get more activity at home, but I must confess I'm not keeping my home and yard a lot cleaner. More time seems to go to websites like MFP now.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    I am a meathead in my own home and can act and be beasty all I want without being judged! Nothing like quick access to shower, food, no waiting, no driving or commute, and no other meatheads in my way!

    It took me a year to buy the stuff, I am going to use it and it will never be used as a clothes hanger!
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    I like going to my small workplace gym, although I sometimes work out at home or outdoors. I also go to a couple of pools to swim. The workplace gym is very economical ($150/year) because it is subsidized. Hard to beat that. Plus, it's like the Cheers bar: everyone knows your name.
  • AigreDoux
    AigreDoux Posts: 594 Member
    I love my home gym. I have a big house so space isn't an issue. I have a treadmill, power rack, bar+plates, powerblocks, bench, resistance bands, etc. If I had to drive to the gym I would only go twice a week at most. At home, I get in 5-6 workouts a week, mostly in the mornings before the kids wake up.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Both. I love the gym atmosphere so that's where I work out during the week. Home gym on the weekends or days off or days when it's too dangerous to be on the roads due to snow and ice.