Exercise at Home Or Gym?

AMaro215
AMaro215 Posts: 78 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
So I am just wondering how many of you would prefer working at home over going to the gym...I have a gym membership, pay $15 a month, the contract is up in November 2012. I have really been thinking about buying an elliptical for home use so I can exercise when it is convenient for me. I just started my weight loss journey, I have tried two other times in the past and I stop going to the gym and watching what I am eating. I have to do this NOW, I am getting married in 9 months so I can't make any excuses this time. Walmart has an elliptical for $387, looks nice, its a Golds Gym, anyone have one? Most of the reviews are good. I am just thinking I will be able to get more exercise if I buy one because now by the time I get off work(run day care out of my home, watch kids from 6:00-600 and which makes dinner around 7:00/7:30 so I get to the gym around 8:00/8:15 and they close at 9:00...Yesterday for example I felt SOOO good to be at the gym and didnt want to get off the elliptical but had to because they were closing...I have had a treadmill in the past, said I would use it, over the two years I had it, I used it maybe 10 times :( I sold it once I got my gym membership. I just want to get your opinions on what you think works best :) I have also thought about getting Jillians 30 day shred to do.

Replies

  • Collinsky
    Collinsky Posts: 593 Member
    While I think having the option of working out at a gym would be fun, home workouts are much better for me at this point. I like not having to worry about childcare, I like having my children *see* me work on my fitness, I like not having any travel time or hassles, I like being able to work out at 10 PM in my underwear if I decide to (LOL! :laugh: )

    My suggestion would be to plan to have a way to do cardio AND weight training - so maybe an elliptical and some weights. I personally use DVDs, treadmill, and weights ... but you have to pick something that you enjoy and will want to use!
  • megan1869
    megan1869 Posts: 166 Member
    100% recommend at home working out... as a busy law student I work out at odd hours and the treadmill has paid for itself if you consider its cost in relation to the ridic gym fees!
  • Valtishia
    Valtishia Posts: 811 Member
    Personally, I like the gym much better. I used to go to the gym, but then found it was getting to expensive so I bought an elliptical. I now have a $2800 piece of equipment in my living room that I don't use and rejoined the gym lol. I think its a matter of mindset. Many people have great success working out at home, whether it be with a video or equipment. I get too distracted at home. I start my workout, then I think of something that needs to be done and I can't concentrate on my workout. At the gym, I can't do anything but workout there, so I can concentrate on what I went there for.
  • Crystal_Pistol
    Crystal_Pistol Posts: 750 Member
    HOME!!! Fortunate to have everything I need for a serious workout at home :D
  • SammyKatt
    SammyKatt Posts: 363 Member
    I would rather workout at home. I like working out right when I'm off work and to go to a gym means sitting in traffic for at least 30 mins before I'm even at the gym. I can be home in 5 mins and have been working out for 25 mins already at that point!
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    Gym. You'll have a larger variety of equipment for the price. Unless you're considering also getting some free weights as well.
  • 2fit4fat
    2fit4fat Posts: 559 Member
    I have a basic elliptical at home (69 bucks on sale!) and I love having it at home.. Being able to jump on it during kids naptime and while I'm watching a movie with my husband is great! I will join the gym for the mirrors and weights (so I can watch my form better) in a few months :-)
  • nu2012
    nu2012 Posts: 562 Member
    I get bored doing the same thing again and again...treadmill or elliptical. For sometime I started rotating on the machines in the gym and then i started with gym classes. I like gym for the variety of classes they have but lately I found many workout dvds in my library so I get variety at home. So if you can burn the calories at home,why not? It's more flexible and you can do at any time of the day.
  • drsteph01
    drsteph01 Posts: 82
    Home is the place for me. I have a treadmill and use Team Beachbody videos to add variety and keep me challenged. The other great thing about their products is the built in support system if you purchase through one of their coaches.
  • msenior
    msenior Posts: 171 Member
    I just use dvd at home because its hard to fit in the gym when you are a single parent. My routine is drop off at school, catch the train to work and then after work grab another train walk to school to pick up kid and then home. Get what i mean. NO TIME FOR MYSELF, the only time i get for myself is on the train.

    Therefore, i work out at home. I am also looking into buying a treadmill or elliptical myself. Because most evenings after reading bedtime stories, I just wanna watch tv. If i have one of those machines i could use it while watching tv.

    My best work out time is early mornings. I have more energy and a better mind set.
  • grizzlymaze
    grizzlymaze Posts: 185 Member
    As long as your comfortable with your setting, it doesn't really matter where you work out. It could be in your home, at the gym or even in a school yard or park. The main focus is to being active so that you burn calories. I love to run but hate treadmills! So in order to make it a bit more interesting while I run, I choose a different route on every run that I do. After (or even before) I run, I will google the location that I ran to and fro to get a better judgement on how far I ran, sometimes 3 miles but most of the times 5-6 miles on each run.

    That main point is just to be comfortable with which ever choice you make.
  • Mdin1029
    Mdin1029 Posts: 456 Member
    These are not the only options! OUTDOORS! I live in socal so of course I prefer being outside (I don't understand why anyone here goes to the gym just to get on a treadmil!). I love outdoors for running, fast-paced walks, hikes, rollerblading, swimming, and biking. I also really like working out at home with my Jillian Michael's dvds, I do 30 Day Shred, No More Trouble Zones, and Ripped in 30 as well as others. Basically I get my cardio outdoors and do strength training through her dvd's at home. We have an elliptical at home that my husband uses because running outdoors is too hard on his knees, but I only use it is raining or too late for an outdoor run.
  • tataliciousd89
    tataliciousd89 Posts: 465
    I do both. I always have a gym membership, but on the days that I dont go I mix it up with weights or videos at home. Either that or I take my dog to a nice hiking trail, thats my all time fav. We both sleep like babies after a nice long hike.
  • nsimportant
    nsimportant Posts: 170 Member
    If I had a place where I could put in a power rack at least 150kg of weights and whole set of dumbbells(or something that can be changed up to 40kg) and a bench I would buy it and workout at home, but It all ads up to a yearly or two years price of gym membership but then I wouldn't have to wait for anyone I could just do my workouts.
  • lonaneomaflame
    lonaneomaflame Posts: 85
    I do both, I've been seriously wooking out for about a week now. I have a $10 gym membership that I love for the machines and the atmosphear and I know a lot of the people there which is nice. I am on a kind of odd schedule though with my hubby working night shift and me having to drop him off at midnight and pick him up at 6am, and then I have school at one four days a week. so I go to the gym right after classes and around the same time on days that I'm not in class. I love working out at home with my mom's kenict at around one in the morning since I'm up and want to do something. And to wrap it all up I take my dog for a mile walk/run everyday because he loves it so much. We also have a treadmill that no one ever uses; if I did I wouldn't be taking my dog out and all of us would rather walk around the block then on a treadmill. My dad got it because he is embarressed by how over weight he is, but he doesn't use it either...
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    Are there any gyms in your area that are open 24/7?
  • JT1090
    JT1090 Posts: 79 Member
    At home! I can run, walk the dog, bike, do yoga, pilates, swim (etc) and it's all in the comfort of my own home. I also don't have to waste money on a membership or gas getting to the gym. Plus it's nice to jump in my own shower right after a work out and get on with my day pretty quickly.
  • yag1630
    yag1630 Posts: 92
    I workout at the gym three times a week while at home I also do video exercise by Jillian. It works cause I have 5 days in a week getting fit. Hope to loose more pounds to hit my goal and stay healthy.
  • astul
    astul Posts: 63 Member
    Home! yt exercise bike is there staring at me, goading me to get on it and burn those calories! The gym to me is out of sight, out of mind! I find it easier to catch up on my soaps whilst trundling away on the bike - it all saves time for me!!
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    I can only speak for myself but I have to go to a gym. I need to have someone tell me what to do so I take classes mostly. If I am at home I tend to slack. I had an elliptical too that ended up gathering dust and basically became a hanger for my jackets. I have 3 great classes that I love at th gym so I go 3 days a week, it is my social outlet as well since I have grown close to these girls I take the class with. They keep me honest and we have even talked about going out for dinner after class sometime.
  • andiechick
    andiechick Posts: 916 Member
    I workout at home as its more convenient for me and I can do without paying a membership right now. We've turned our garage into our own mini gym...I have a treadmill and a gravity walker, plus we have a punch bag and my husband has his weights. To mix it up I use my wii for boxing, zumba & just dance and when I can fit it in around childcare and hubby's shifts I go for a swim.
    All our lives are different so we have to find what world best for ourselves
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    Gym. You'll have a larger variety of equipment for the price. Unless you're considering also getting some free weights as well.

    Definitely this. I do a bit of working out at home now and again (I have a few dvds and a kinect thingummy). But most of my work out is either on the road, or in the gym. The gym has become my place where I do stuff just for me. Getting away from the house, concentrating on getting healthy, these provide a sense of me looking after myself, and also give impetus to my healthy eating.

    If you're pretty new to this, I'd say focus on getting yourself to the gym, at least three times a week, for a month. Make it one of your habits. And evaluate once you've done that, whether you'd prefer home workouts to gym.
  • tonilizzy88
    tonilizzy88 Posts: 920 Member
    to be honest with you i would have said gym because thats all i knew but then i moved to the countryside were id have to travel 30 mins to get to my closest gym and though no way am i doing that. so i bought a pair of trainers, borrowed my boyfriends crosstrainer and bought a dog and a HRM.

    and i wish i had found this a long time ago because im saving petrol, have a little dog to go running with and cross trainer for when its rainning which is also free.
  • douglasmobbs
    douglasmobbs Posts: 563 Member
    I might build myself a swimming pool at home so I can do my preffered exercise at home. Doing that by hand will be a great work out.
  • Teliooo
    Teliooo Posts: 725 Member
    I work out at home. I have been to the gym maybe 15 times in the last 6 years. It was a waste of money for me. 100+ pounds down and so it must be working. I would ideally love to join one but the cost factored with how much I would go, just does not make sense. I would rathe invest the money in weights and maybe a treadmill. there are loads of free work out sites. My uncle is a fitness trainer and I asked him if I should joing a gym to get some toning and he directed me to bodyrock.tv and told me not to bother with the gym.
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