Home gym or fitness center?

anthony_8
anthony_8 Posts: 12 Member
edited November 15 in Fitness and Exercise
Was thinking of turning the garage into a gym...slowly with a few pieces of equipment here and there. Is it more beneficial with it being easier to access? Or would a real gym be better because of the atmosphere? Would love to hear input!

Replies

  • BRS11AU
    BRS11AU Posts: 58 Member
    Personally for me a home gym would be perfect. My own rules, my own music without having to wear headphones, and no wait on the machine or rack I need. You could set the atmosphere however you like really. Only downside would be staying up on maintenance of your equipment.
  • kyladefranco
    kyladefranco Posts: 34 Member
    I like the atmosphere of being at the gym and it's great way to meet other people. I feel more motivated and accountable when I know people are going to be asking me why I wasn't there. Haha. It depends on how social you are and what works best for you. My gym is like 10 minutes from my home so there's no reason I can't make the drive to get there!
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Personal preference.

    If you make excuses, you'll find "reasons" to skip workouts regardless. If you don't, you won't.

    For me, the pros to my home gym are that it's never closed and it's never too busy. Pros to the commercial gym I belong too are that there is far more extensive equipment.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I prefer a home gym so I can run on my elliptical while watching TV- it makes it go a lot faster for me. I also never have to wait for the machine!! If you are lifting weights though be careful not to get hurt with no one around.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    I enjoy the gym atmosphere and seeing the other regulars. Some days it helps to actually get in the car and go somewhere, it feels more purposeful to me.
    It's also nice to have a lot of options if I decide to do cardio. I have an elliptical at home, but much prefer the ones at the gym and would probably never spend the money myself to get that nice of a machine for home.
    I also enjoy having lots of machine options for lifting, another thing I'd never purchase for a home gym.
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    Both! I have a small home gym as well as two memberships at two different places, along with my free fitness center as work. I am always covered :smile: But I guess it depends upon what you like to do. For me, one place is my MMA School. The other gym is where I dance, do group-x and lift weights. My work gym offers good equipment, cardio, weights and group-x so it's an extra bonus. My at home gym includes some weights, an elliptical, medicine ball, a heavy bag and a wave-master so if all else fails I can get a good workout at home.
  • anthony_8
    anthony_8 Posts: 12 Member
    I think the one thing that keeps me away from the gym is the weather during winter. I know it's an excuse but it's so much easier to get out the door and to the gym in the summer. A rack in the garage with some more free weights might be in order for rough cold snowy conditions
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    anthony_8 wrote: »
    I think the one thing that keeps me away from the gym is the weather during winter. I know it's an excuse but it's so much easier to get out the door and to the gym in the summer. A rack in the garage with some more free weights might be in order for rough cold snowy conditions

    Is your garage heated? It'll matter in the winter.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Some people enjoy the gym or fitness center "environment". I personally have and prefer a home gym - my equipment, my music, my rules, etc.
  • anthony_8
    anthony_8 Posts: 12 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    anthony_8 wrote: »
    I think the one thing that keeps me away from the gym is the weather during winter. I know it's an excuse but it's so much easier to get out the door and to the gym in the summer. A rack in the garage with some more free weights might be in order for rough cold snowy conditions

    Is your garage heated? It'll matter in the winter.

    It's not insulated very well but do have a few space heaters that warm it up quite fast.
  • applemiki
    applemiki Posts: 13 Member
    I do both. 4 days a week I go the gym at my complex and in other days I grab my weights and put on a YT workout video
  • HG210
    HG210 Posts: 103 Member
    anthony_8 wrote: »
    I think the one thing that keeps me away from the gym is the weather during winter. I know it's an excuse but it's so much easier to get out the door and to the gym in the summer. A rack in the garage with some more free weights might be in order for rough cold snowy conditions

    I think you answered your own questions.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I personally would love to have a home gym b/c I wouldn't have to wait for equipment, I wouldn't have to pay for the membership, and I wouldn't have to deal with other people's germs. But I do enjoy going to the gym. It's nice to be around other fitness minded people. I have a pole installed in my home so I can practice pole, but I still go to classes. I feel like I would still go to the gym even if I had the equipment, just to get out of the house.
  • anthony_8
    anthony_8 Posts: 12 Member
    I know it's easier to get distracted at home...like not finishing a workout to go inside and watch TV, do household stuff etc. At the gym you're in that certain element to buckle down and get it done. I guess it depends on the person
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited January 2017
    anthony_8 wrote: »
    I know it's easier to get distracted at home...like not finishing a workout to go inside and watch TV, do household stuff etc. At the gym you're in that certain element to buckle down and get it done. I guess it depends on the person

    I don't have this issue when I pole. There isn't a tv in my pole room, so I don't get distracted by my tv. I find that once I'm in my gear and I'm warmed up, I'm committed to finishing my workout. I feel like you just have to get through the warm-up at home b/c once that happens the chances of you backing out of completing the workout is slim.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    Logistics and cost make the gym/fitness center the choice.

    Logistics, my garage is not heated and just happens to be full of cars. I know, parking your car in the garage, I'm a rebel. My basement's ceiling is too low that I can't do an overhead press, nor any other overhead exercise, while standing. The gym I attend is about 10 minutes drive from my home, because of a lack of need to highway U-turn,it's 5 minutes home. A 3.5 mile jog an I'm there.

    Costs. Gym $25/month including taxes and there yearly "maintenance fee" of which, my health insurance carrier pays me $20 per month when I go to the gym 12 days out of that month. Net cost $5 per month. "Good" elliptical/treadmill/other cardio machine= $1,500 to $3K ( I tested a $550 elliptical it was unsteady and "cheap" feeling). Squat cage $20 to $750? Weight set $500+/-. Discounting the Health insurance incentive, and using the cost the cardio machine alone, going with the less expensive $1500 one, $1500/$25= 60 months or five years. Assuming the home bought machine needs no maintenance or repairs in that time. That give me one machine and a basic weight set up.

    At the gym I can use a real good elliptical, real good treadmill, rower, step climber, stationary bike to give me all the cardio variety I'd want when the weather is cold, dark and wet when I don't like running outside.

    At the gym I have use of free weights, more than I could possibly lift in any lifetime, dumbbells ranging from 5 pounds to over 100 apiece, squat cages (2), benches and enough machines, if I wanted to use machines, to keep me busy for years. (I do use the assisted pull up/dip machine {someday I'll do unassisted pull ups again}).

    For me: cost, logistics and variety means the gym. It would be nice to just roll down to the basement to work out, It is just not cost effective. Perhaps I'm lucky in having such a gym near my home.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I have a home gym in my basement. I like it better than going to a gym (though I do go to one sometimes.) For me, the pros are:

    - can use it at any time of day/night, no driving required
    - proximity to other stuff I need to be doing (can run upstairs to turn on oven, run downstairs to do a set, run upstairs to pop something in the oven, etc.)
    - no waiting on equipment
    - can arrange equipment the way I want to
    - can superset without annoying others and without anybody swiping my equipment
    - I can have it quiet or I can play whatever music I want
    - can go barefoot
    - good example for my daughter

    The only downside I can think of is that I have no mirrors up so I can't check my form in the moment. I take videos or sometimes I'll ask my husband but he doesn't lift so he doesn't always know what I am talking about.

    I've cobbled my equipment together bit by bit. A lot of it is secondhand. I don't think I've spent more than $500 total in 3 years.

    I don't really get distracted by doing other things at home. As far as it getting cold, I find that I can turn on a space heater for the first 10 minutes but then have to turn it off because I get plenty warm once I start the workout.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Have you been working out at the gym? Do you like it? Why are you thinking about changing?
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    edited January 2017
    I have a home gym that I spent about a grand on (barbell, squat rack w/ pull up bar, bumper plates, regular plates, dumbbells, resistance bands) that I love and use all the time. I live in Ohio though, so when November hit, I moved the garage gym to the basement gym. I don't need any cardio equipment because I run outside (even in the winter), but I do use my office fitness center for its cardio equipment during my lunch hour which also negates any cardio equipment purchase on my end.

    There are things I miss at commercial gyms (cable machine, for one), but I do not miss waiting for equipment. I can go to my basement anytime and do my thing.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    This is an often asked question.

    Answer: Personal choice.

    My choice was to build a gym in my garage. Feel the $ is/was better spent that way; can work out any time day/night; no need to wait to use equipment nor need to deal the other petty rules, inconveniences and annoyances of working out at a public gym.

    So, if you have the $ and space and this kind of thinking appeals to you, then a home gym would probably suit you.

    If not, then pick a public gym that has the equipment you need for the price you can afford.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    I have a basement gym I probably spent <$300 on. Barbell set, squat stands, bench, and flooring. If the ceiling was higher, I'd spring for a power rack. Its dark, cold, cramped, and I love it so much I'm there everyday.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Gym. I don't have a pool at home :D
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