Gym Membership or Weights at Home?
kaleas
Posts: 200
I've been using the gym at school the last two years. I've work out whenever I was on campus. I just graduated, so now I need to pay for a gym membership, along with the gas to drive to the gym. Round trip it's 10 miles, multiply that 3 -4 times a week, so it's about 40 miles or 8 dollars in gas a week. The membership is 25 a month. So going to the gym is going to cost me almost 40 a month.
I normally only lift weights when I go. Sometimes I do cardio but normally I get that in biking to work. I don't want to stop working out, but I haven't in almost three weeks now because of being graduated, and I'm starting to become edgy.
I live in a small apartment, so I can't get a bench. I'd been working on deadlifts and squats with weights.
What's your thoughts? Should I invest in free weights at home that I can store easily, or pay for the gym membership?
I normally only lift weights when I go. Sometimes I do cardio but normally I get that in biking to work. I don't want to stop working out, but I haven't in almost three weeks now because of being graduated, and I'm starting to become edgy.
I live in a small apartment, so I can't get a bench. I'd been working on deadlifts and squats with weights.
What's your thoughts? Should I invest in free weights at home that I can store easily, or pay for the gym membership?
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Replies
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Since you only use the gym for weights (or usually just weights) I feel like it would just be better to invest in free weights. (and better for the environment if you want to get all green talk and stuff haha)
It depends on your current job status as well. As a college student, I'm broke xD but if you have a job that pays enough for the commute you can invest in the membership. I think it will just depend on what makes you feel better about your weight loss/maintenance.0 -
get a gym membership. if you are serious about weight lifting there's no way you'd be able to fit the equipment you'd need into a small apartment. besides that weights are hella expensive0
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I can't really afford 40 dollars a month. I thought about biking to the gym every time I want to use it. There is one closer, but it's a Planet Fitness, and because they're only 10 dollars a month, the place is like hell on earth...0
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I am a gym rat and there is no way I could get the workouts I do at my house let alone a small appt. You have to weigh out the cost against your health and decide if it is worth it. For me it would be a no brainer.... gym it is..... Best of Luck....0
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I bought a nice weight lifting machine and treadmill for probably about $800, which will pay for itself pretty quickly two-fold, 1) by the gas/membership costs and 2) because I actually use it at home, whereas I had been paying for a membership and rarely going to the gym...0
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Before joining, do your research online.
write down prices, any added dues etc..
compare them, ask for a weeks free pass to see if you like it.
May gyms give 7-10 days free pass.
When you pick a certain one, make sure they'll do comparison price..
I did and saved 250.00 !!0 -
If you can save for them, you can get a pair of Bowflex weights -- sorry, I cannot remember the name right now -- the kind that Chalene Johnson uses in ChaLEAN Extreme; you can dial them from I think 2 lbs. up to 50 lbs. per dumbbell. That would save space. You can always use your body weight, too. Good luck!
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From Home, B/c of my and dh work schedules and I can't afford the ones that have child care or the babysitter and the gym membership for the gym that doesn have child care.
You don't need those workout machines, most of them are a waste of time anyway. you can get cheap weights from Wal-mart.
They might not be the top shelf, but they work. If you get a bar please make sure you have a spotter, just in case. You can also look on craigs list or some states have stores that sell used gym/workout equipment. You can also get a pull up bar that slides on you door frame.
Good luck!0 -
get the gym membership. sounds like you would be very limited at home.0
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I'd get a flat bench (like what you'd use for free weight flys) and 3-4 sizes of dumbbells (I have those 6 sided dumbbells that are sold everywhere) something for curls, bench, flys, triceps, etc. I have a workout room at home and after the initial cost - it's there all the time at no additional cost. Question to ask yourself: Is your workout both about working out and a social aspect? If social is involved then the gym membership may be the way to go.
Hope this helps.
Pete0 -
cycle to the gym? if you don't want to do that much cycling, is work any closer than the gym? maybe drive to work and ride to the gym on those days?
is there a gym or YMCA near work you could workout over lunch?
Maybe look into a Planet, Snap, Anytime, etc. 24 hr fitness place. No frills but less expensive. Depending on what your goals are with the weights. If you are just looking to maintain what you've got - maybe a home set would do. But if you are looking to further define, etc - I'd stick with the gym and figure out a way that makes sense to get there. Also, what about public transit? Is that an option where you are?0 -
I lift at home.0
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I built a home gym for the same reason...in the time it would take me to get to the gym & back I'm done with my workout.
My home gym pics are in my ticker below :happy:0 -
I'm kind of in the same boat. I chose to stick with the membership to my gym. I think it's worth it to have access to a legitimate squat rack.0
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I can't really afford 40 dollars a month. I thought about biking to the gym every time I want to use it. There is one closer, but it's a Planet Fitness, and because they're only 10 dollars a month, the place is like hell on earth...
Graduation gift from Mom and Dad, one year's gym membership.
Alternately, early Christmas present?
What parent could refuse?0 -
While in a perfect world... a gym membership would be great...I have so little time as a single mom and was finding EVERY excuse why I could not go to the gym. I love to lift weights and have been building up my home gym. I have free weights of varies sizes and a barbell with several size weights...it has been very nice having everything I need ( not want...) at home so I can work out when I can fit it in. I dont have to drive to the gym and back...very convienient.
For those that say you cant train at home...I am proof that you can..I still have a ways to go...but if you are motivated to make a change, you can get a workout in anywhere with anything...0 -
I can't really afford 40 dollars a month. I thought about biking to the gym every time I want to use it. There is one closer, but it's a Planet Fitness, and because they're only 10 dollars a month, the place is like hell on earth...
i go to a planet fitness and its not all that bad!0 -
I can't really afford 40 dollars a month. I thought about biking to the gym every time I want to use it. There is one closer, but it's a Planet Fitness, and because they're only 10 dollars a month, the place is like hell on earth...
Graduation gift from Mom and Dad, one year's gym membership.
Alternately, early Christmas present?
What parent could refuse?
That would be great, but unfortunately my parents dont have that kind of money.
There is a gym that's right in town, a few blocks from my house. It's an all women's gym. It's a 70 dollar investment fee and 30 a month after that, but I could walk there. They do have weird hours as it's a small place, but also a lot more accessible.0 -
If you are actually going to use them, Home. I have found, though, that you come up with more excuses at home than if you just get your *kitten* to the gym.
As a single parent 24/7/365, I presently use both. Life throws curves. And what it truly comes down to is your dedication.0 -
If you are actually going to use them, Home. I have found, though, that you come up with more excuses at home than if you just get your *kitten* to the gym.
As a single parent 24/7/365, I presently use both. Life throws curves. And what it truly comes down to is your dedication.
Lifting weights and working out is the one thing that keeps me sane. However as much as I think I'd like to use them, half of the battle would be getting to the gym. Once there, I'd kick my *kitten* into working hard. I am afraid that with them being at home, I'll wimp out and give up, or wont work as hard because I didn't drive all the way there, or didn't invest money into it monthly.0 -
Someone mentioned the adjustable dumbells. Those work pretty good and take up just a small footprint. I think perhaps your answer might be a combination of things.
Someone was right in that there is no substitution for legit free weight equipment for certain things ie a squat rack. HUGE footprint and the safety guards are a must if you are doing anything remotely heavy. This requires a gym unfortunately.
But...
Perhaps it's time to branch out a bit with your workouts. We all have to adapt once in a while and it sounds like this maybe a good time for you. So First I suggest you limit your weekly visits to the gym for those workouts where you need the equipment. This'll save you time and gas money at least.
Second there are soooo many different things a person can do to work the same muscle groups where you can get by without needing equipment at all or perhaps smaller apartment friendly equipment like the dumbells mentioned above. This will require a bit of creativity on your part but in this day and age a simple google search for things like "quad exercises without equipment" might give you some ideas. Shoot some of those yoga poses even give me a pretty good muscle burn and those only require a soft mat. Add some hand weights to those with a bit of muscle movement and I'm thinking that could be an even more killer workout and not too different from plain free weight exercises.
I say adapt and overcome but don't give up. Good luck.0 -
You must be a finance or accounting major since you give relevant costing (breaking down gas per mile and month).
The start up cost for a home gym can vary greatly. You will need atleast an adjustable flat bench and a series of free weights at the minimum. The bench can cost anywhere from $50 to 300 (I wouldn't cheap out though, it's essential and will get used). For the free weights I would buy something like the Boflex Dumbbells (see link at bottom). Not only will they save space but is a cost effective way to get dummbells that you can vary from 5 to 50LBS. Do research as boflex aren't the only ones producing this product. Their cost is around 400 plus tax.
Now you can compare. 40/month (480/year) for a gym membership or 450-700 (one time upfront cost) for the bare bones essentials of a home gym. Essentially at some point in year 2 of your membership, the home gym will be financially the better alternative.
Some things to point out:
- You have a small apt. Do you have the room to store this equipment and enough room to do all the exercises you would need to get a workout
- Your home gym will be bare bones where a big box gym will offer full amenities and equipment (a gym will offer various machines, barbells, various benches, cables, classes and more)
- You can grow your home gym over time and customize it to fit your lifestyle/workout habits
- Personal gym vs competing for machines at big box gym (can get a no hassle workout and in a shorter time period)
- Personal gym can cater to your schedule where big box gyms have set hours and are only effective if you have time to get there
Cost wise it's a no brainer, but you will have to decide whether a home of big box gym will deliver a better overall experience to maximize results.
http://www.bowflex.ca/bowflex_home_gyms_ca/accessories/freeweights/prdcd~100131/Bowflex+SelectTech+552+Dumbbells.jsp0 -
That really depends on the type of person you are. I've never had much success with weights at home. I either don't have the right equipment or I don't have room to move around it. And I find it very hard to focus on my workout. Right now I'm waiting for my new gym to open so I'm just doing body weight stuff, but's only 10 minutes most days.
Does your apartment complex have a fitness room? Maybe a jogging trail nearby home or work with exercise stations. When given the choice between Planet Fitness and just swim/bike/run on my own I dropped the gym, so I feel your pain there.
Try to string trips together either to the gym or other trips to save money for the gym trips. Be creative. But most importantly, know yourself and choose what will keep you going.0 -
Lifting weights and working out is the one thing that keeps me sane. However as much as I think I'd like to use them, half of the battle would be getting to the gym. Once there, I'd kick my *kitten* into working hard. I am afraid that with them being at home, I'll wimp out and give up, or wont work as hard because I didn't drive all the way there, or didn't invest money into it monthly.
This. It's basically a personal decision that you're going to have to make for yourself to decide what's best for you.
With a home gym you have ease of access, affordability, don't have to worry about overcrowding etc.
The problem there is that it may be hard to motivate yourself adequately
With a gym it's basically the opposite.
For me, an at home gym could only ever be free weights. I've tried doing cardio/calisthenics at home, and I can never stick with it. My couch is just too comfortable. I do plan to get a gym at home eventually, but in the meantime I workout at a gym near my office.
I used PF for a long time, while it's certainly not a great gym, it's cheap, you may want to consider it.0 -
I don't think you can do Dead Lifts at Planet "fitness". In fact most any real weight lifting isn't allowed.
I would suggest getting a small set for your house and lifting there. I do all of my work outs at home.0 -
Iturned my shed in to a workout/weight room. I like it better then having to go to a gym0
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I haven't ever in my life had a gym membership and I used to work out 1 hour a day 5 days a week (trying to get back there). Even after I fell off that bandwagon I kept working out, doing something. My apartment isn't all that small now. But before I had a very tiny place and I had an aerobic step, a balance ball, resistance band, three sets of free weights (5,8,10 pounds) and a barbell with plates. I fit it all into a hallway closet. I've never been a weight bench type of person or had treadmills or stationary bikes or anything like that. My workouts of choice are kickboxing, strength training with free weights, Pilates or yoga,squats, lunges and circuit training. You can still get a great workout and look fit and toned with free weights, balance balls, and resistance bands if you workout at home. They even have the free weights now with the removable plates so you can make them as heavy or as light as you need too. I have more workout DVDs now than I do movies and I like the peace and quite of working out at home and the money saved. I'm like you. I can't afford a gym membership right now and even if i could i would rather buy my own treadmill.0
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:bigsmile: I AGREE WITH YOU!0
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I've been using the gym at school the last two years. I've work out whenever I was on campus. I just graduated, so now I need to pay for a gym membership, along with the gas to drive to the gym. Round trip it's 10 miles, multiply that 3 -4 times a week, so it's about 40 miles or 8 dollars in gas a week. The membership is 25 a month. So going to the gym is going to cost me almost 40 a month.
I normally only lift weights when I go. Sometimes I do cardio but normally I get that in biking to work. I don't want to stop working out, but I haven't in almost three weeks now because of being graduated, and I'm starting to become edgy.
I live in a small apartment, so I can't get a bench. I'd been working on deadlifts and squats with weights.
What's your thoughts? Should I invest in free weights at home that I can store easily, or pay for the gym membership?
To do a home gym right you probably need a minimum of $800 - $1,000. If you can swing that then it's probably a good idea.0 -
I currently have both a gym member ship and an at home set up that is quite nice. I have two kids of my own plus a little boy that is with me M-F 12+hours a day and my hubby works and travels insain scedual so I workout at home if I have to but if I get a small window to get to the gym I go I enjoy the gym atmosphere I tend to workout harder at the gym than I do at home plus I like being able to talk with other adults once in awhile lol
Its all in what will work into your life better I personalyNEED the gym if I didn`t get out alone once in awhile I would go crazy there is only so much Dora the explorer a mom can handle kwim lol0
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