Join a gym, or buy a treadmill?

Great question!

When I first saw the topic my immediate answer with both. I have a gym membership, and a recumbent bike at home. I use the bike for off days or when the weather is bad or when I just don't feel like going to the gym. But you are asking for a totally different reason.

I too am starting a running program. I run at the gym but I totally suck at it too. It has gotten a little easier but I am still a little embarassed. If you think you can stay motivated at home and the only reason you would want the gym membership would be to use their treadmills, I say buy your own.
1) It will always be available
2) You can't get some good treadmills at a reasonable price.
3) It is a one time payment
4) Save time by not having to drive to the gym
5) You cun run naked if you want too :blushing:

http://www.playitagainsports.com/location.aspx?id=3350

ID BUY THE TREADMILL ITS ALOT CHEAPER
STRTING FROM 142-300-500-1000 BUT IT DEPENDS WAT KINDU WANT ALSO

When we moved out of town, we were faced with a similar decision. I used to belong to the YMCA and it was only a few minutes away. I went 3-4 days a week, if not more and participated in multiple classes. I was active on volleyball and basketball teams and really utilized the facilities. When we moved, the nearest Y was now over 20 minutes away, not convenient. There is a small gym in town with a few treadmills, ellipticals and some weight machines and we could join there for the same price.

After comparing the overall costs, my husband and I decided to buy an elliptical machine and a weight bench for our house. We figured that the cost of the gym membership we weren't paying would pay for the equipment in less than a year, and we get the benefit of having the equipment for longer than that.

That being said, I think it's harder to get motivated to workout at home. I'm always finding something that needs to be done instead of going upstairs and doing it. Running outside was easier, but I'm trying to train myself now that there's over a foot of snow on the ground and it hasn't been warmer than 20 in quite a few weeks.

My personal needs led us to get an elliptical rather than a treadmill (we both have knee problems), but ultimately I'm glad we purchased one for our home. I still run outside when the weather is nice, but I have an option to workout whenever I want, no matter what time of day it is and no matter the weather.

I would go for it, or wait a few months and set aside the money you would be paying the gym (or even just $50 a month) and buy it outright. Sorry for the long story, hope it helps. Good luck!

1) It will always be available
2) You can't get some good treadmills at a reasonable price.
3) It is a one time payment
4) Save time by not having to drive to the gym
5) You cun run naked if you want too :blushing:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Nerver thought about #5 as a perk, but there you go! Enough for me! I vote for treadmill, in the long run it will cost less and if you are like me it is not as easy to blow off using the treadmill when it is sitting in your house. I ususally would use the gym for the eliptical and classes, so I bought an elliptical about 7 years ago and just pay individually for yoga classes. You can do most gym stuff at home.

Yeah I say buy the treadmill, then you have absolutley no excuse to not use it. I bought an elliptical 2 years ago and use it faithfully, a gym membership really was out of the question for me, not only for price, but I have 5 kids, so finding a sitter is about impossible, my husband works long hours. I love having my own machine, if was rich, had a bigger house I would have a room full of exercise equipment so much more comfortable working out in my own house. Good luck, I hope you can get one.

If you decided to buy a treadmill go to a place and at least try it out first. My mom bought one for 300 and some odd dollars and my husband can't run on it. It is too short. Also, alot of the time the cheaper ones have the arm bar that moves back in forth. It drives me crazy to try to run with that. We ended up get a nordic track one about oh.. 4 years ago and spent 1800 bucks on it. It's nice and has held up well, but I could of found one just as good for 900 too.. So try them out, decide wha tyou have to have on yours, and what your willing to spend.

If you are dedicated enough to USE the gym membership, I'd do that.

If you will not get bored with only having a treadmill, Craiglist you a treadmill!!

Me personally... I love my gym membership. I need the diverse machinery and activities. I'm ADD when it comes to working out. I get burned out on the same exercise over and over. I'd get bored with just a treadmill.

Great question!
5) You cun run naked if you want too :blushing:

man-o-man. :noway: i cant. no matter even if i wanted to. :noway: :noway:
my body jiggles too much and it hurts. i need to have my body heavyly strapped in.

I bought a nordic track for around $700 on sale about 4 years ago. I've used it every winter and in the summer when it was to humid.
I love that I don't have to drive anywhere to workout. Wake up, put on clothes, and it's treadmill time!
For me the gym would be a time sucker. Besides driving there I know I'd end up talking..... more time gone from my day when all I wanted was my workout.

I have a exercise bike collecting dust and just last night I came up with the idea of placing it on Craig's list in exchange for a threadmill. Always wanted one,but also always wanted to join a gym,but wont go alone and have no one to go with me..................so I would go with threadmill. Besides,reason #5 sounds like fun,straped in or not.:laugh:

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Food Diary

I own a treadmill, a nice 'fancy' one, waste of money! it was around 1500 and no one uses it :ohwell: My hubby and I both go to the gym, it's 13/mon through work. Best 156 a year I spend! The gym has other options weights, free and machine, ellipticals, bikes, punching bag for my bad days and feel like killing someone, jump ropes, everything that a person needs

too bad you cant sell it to him!!!:laugh:

I know huh? But then I'd have to clean my basement, it's a great storage rack:laugh: :grumble:

I am in the same boat...finances make it difficult to go outside......I don't have snow, but do live in a high crime area, so I am waiting on my tax return.....hitting Craigs List and buying someone else's clotheline. Something small enough to drag into the living room so I can be walking while I am watchin.. I say go for the treadmill and come here to get motivated to use it often!

GO Green!:bigsmile:

Seems it's personal preference. I would never be motivated enough to work out in my home, I like to take spin class at the gym. It's more accountability, especially once you start getting to know people, then they ask where you were and if have to have an explanation of why you didn't come, lol.

Do you have insurance? A lot of time health insurance will reimburse you for part of the cost of a gym membership.

I'm a gym gal.....our local fitness centers that are run by parks and recreation only charge 213.00 a year for a membership, and it includes swimming, and recreational skating, so check out that option, I find that I make friends there, therefore I have workout partners that keep you motivated, plus the extent of the machines and weights as well as classes offered just don't compare to only having a single piece of equipment at home. I look at the gym as I do brushing my teeth, it's part of my routine, no humming and hawing, and to boot, I was there so often, I eventually became certified and now work as a trainer, I say lace up your shoes and hit the gym