Home gym vs. public gym

I really want to invest in a home gym, doing math, I pay average of $110 per month for gym membership (my whole family so 3 people) and it has been an year, so if I convert my garage into a home gym, pay monthly 100/mo I can probably have a decent set up and after 5 years it's all mine. but then again workout at public gyms is motivation you meet people who's going for the same goals as you, trying to better themselves which kinda makes me work harder to get mine, lol.
Such tough decisions...plus in a home gym if I were to move one day, it's going to be a pain in the butt to get all that moved to a new place, long term thoughts there.

I do a bit of both. I have a gym at home, recently got a power cage, but now I need to convert from standard 1" bars to olys because my lifts are getting too heavy. I am running out of plates at home and need to buy more, but it's all costly.

I go to a powerlifting class at a gym weekly / bi-weekly for pointers, form correction, and comraderie.

If I had more time and money, and a schedule that worked, I'd use the gym because of unlimited weights, power racks, and Oly equipment... Plus if I do get hurt, it's not alone in my basement.

But... For now... I make it work.

giantrobot_powerlifting wrote: »

I have access to one of the best powerlifting gyms in the metro Milwaukee area (Midwest Power Gym), where all the equipment you train with is what you would test with on the platform (Texas Combo Racks) and all the weights are IPF approved and calibrated in kilos.



I also have a (300 square foot) basement gym (Giant Robot), where the equipment is not platform standard and the weights are pounds and not calibrated.



Both gyms are limited in equipment, and have about the same things. Barbells, plates, collars, and a cable machine for accessories.

I still make gains between both gyms, however at the first gym I get to train with other smarter, stronger, powerlifters and not only does it become like a team effort, I learn something every time I session with another athlete. We coach each other up. You can't beat the support and the friendship is invaluable, and that support can really come in handy when you step up on the platform.

After all, your program should guide you -- the gym just needs the bare minims to meet the demands of your programming.

Bottom is what I envision for my home gym..nice setup!

Love the basement gym setup! So sick

sardelsa wrote: »

Holy smokes @giantrobot_powerlifting your gym is amazing, hopefully we can upgrade ours in the future to look half as good as that!

Thank you Stef.... but what I’ve seen of yours on IG, your basement gym area is pretty BA too.

sardelsa wrote: »

Thanks for sharing. Really interesting to see what works for everyone.
Holy smokes @giantrobot_powerlifting your gym is amazing, hopefully we can upgrade ours in the future to look half as good as that!

@RoxieDawn wow I didn't know you workout at home. Your progress is unbelievable and that gives me hope . It is definitely different for everyone for sure. I just need more equipment... but I think my lack of equipment has also caused me to be more creative, doing different types of squats and sometimes strange variations of other things I wouldn't do otherwise.

I started with the only weights I had, a set of 5 dbs. Seriously.

I've got basic stuff, bench, bar/plates, squat stands, EZ bar/straight bar (three total bars) and sets of dbs up to 55 pounds, hubs didn't like adjustable. And a pullup bar and couple kettlebells. I got a leg press a few months ago.

With programming ideal to use my equipment it works out well I think.

Ps You are doing quite well girl, your at home results are amazing.

I started at home using water bottles, then horrible cheapo Weider weights (short bar, sand filled weights) and cheap narrow bench inherited from someone who quit working out. When I got to the point that I couldn't get the weight to my shoulders to squat I bought a set of stands. Eventually outgrew the weights I had and joined a 24 hr access gym. Made good progress in about six months of going regularly.

Since being injured, I have been lifting at home again, because it isn't worth putting on a decent outfit and driving to the gym to lift light. But now that I'm recovering I need to head back. Without a proper squat rack I don't feel comfortable squatting heavy - I have had to bail in the past. And I use the Smith machine for hip thrusts.

It's definitely easier to just roll off the couch and wander over to my weights than to pull myself together enough to get to the gym, but my workouts are better at the gym. A home workout is better than none, though.

I have only ever lifted at home, in my basement, alone, and LOVE it. I can't imagine dealing with a public gym, the extra cost, dealing with other people, sharing equipment, etc. I don't have any problem staying motivated to follow my program(s). All things being equal I bet I workout more than I would with my home gym if I had to leave the house to do so. The basement is unfinished at present, at some point I would like to finish it, at least partially, and really make it nice. Still, it's quite possibly my favorite place to spend time.

Equipment:
Fitness Gear Olympic Weight Bench + two oly bars, a curl bar, dip belt, and 600lbs of plates
Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbell Pair 5-52.5lbs each
Joist-mounted pull-up bar
Concept2 Rower
Treadmill (mostly for the Mrs.)
Spin Bike

Ultimately I'd like to have nicer/more pricey equipment and a full rack, but the stuff I have is functional and held up really well for what it cost. I've purchased everything new but never for full retail via sales, gift cards, rebates, etc. All told I've probably invested ~$2250 in equipment and accessories, gradually over that span.

Results:
Left is July 7, 2015, right around the time I bought the bench, 170lbs (had been doing DB lifting since April 2015)
Right is January 17, 2018, 172.4 lbs (most recent progress photo, due to take another at the end of the month)


Started basically from scratch from a strength standpoint, current maxes are below, should be higher but a back injury in late 2016 and a pec strain/tear in fall of 2017 have slowed some progress; I limit how often I deadlift and could bench 275 at one point pre-injury.

Current ESTIMATED ONE REP MAXES per Symmetric Strength
Back Squat: 365 lbs[Proficient]
Deadlift: 376 lbs[Intermediate]
Bench Press: 245 lbs[Intermediate]
Overhead Press: 147 lbs[Intermediate]
Pull-up: 92 lbs added[Proficient]
Pendlay Row: 202 lbs[Proficient]

Now, if I can just get my wife into lifting like the rest of the lovely ladies in the thread I'd really be in business.

I have to use a home gym because I work 10 hours a day and when I leave work at 5:30pm the gyms are rammed until after 9 and I can't get much done. I'm the kind of person that gets in, gets it done, and goes home, my time is very valuable. I hate waiting for people, especially the ones who check their phones while people are stood waiting. I used to go in my lunch but I could only fit 20 minutes in before I had to shoot off back to work.

I do OK though, I've got a few hundred kg of plates. I have an exercise bike, a rowing machine, a dip frame, a pull up bar, an adjustable weight bench. I much prefer doing it at home but I'd use a gym if I could find a quiet one after work.

steveko89 wrote: »

mom23mangos wrote: »

I am so jealous of all of you with basements.

Do you have a garage? Could you build a shed or something dedicated to gym space?

Ha! No. We live in a townhome with absolutely no yard. We downsized from a 5 bedroom to a 3 when we moved into the city. My oldest has to sleep on the couch since he moved back home.

mom23mangos wrote: »

I am so jealous of all of you with basements. We have absolutely no space for a home gym. I have some basic equipment like pull up bar, barbell and dumbbells with plates, a few kettlebells. Enough to do a decent upper body workout at home, but not lower. Plus, I'm just not motivated at home. I do much better at the gym and will push myself harder with other people around. I also enjoy meeting people and hearing what their fitness stories are. My MFP friends get a running "Humans of the Gym" update.

You know what I didn't hear mentioned? Childcare. I don't need it anymore, but I know it was a huge plus to me when my kids were little. There would have been no way I could have worked out at home with them. They just demanded too much attention. The YMCA offered 2hrs of free childcare. Boom!

Yep, that’s why I’m at the local gym. 4 kids under 8 that I homeschool, so they’re always with me. I have a garage gym (squat rack, bench), but someone always finds me and I cannot concentrate while answering 600 questions. Or making sure no one runs into the street or crushes themselves with a plate or dB. I prefer late am or afternoon workouts, I’m not ready to lift at 5 am before hubs leaves at 6 and everyone wakes up. So 2hrs of free childcare it is!