Gym vs. Working out at home

2

Replies

  • hanniejong
    hanniejong Posts: 556 Member
    I don't go to a gym the nearest one is 40 minutes away so it is not only the time but the fuel I save by working out at home or just walking around our small town. I have a few pieces of equipment I picked up in the sales at a great price, would now like to buy and electric treadmill because my doctor won't let me use my manual ones so will send them to the thrift shops.
    I worked out at home for years iwth just a few video's now DVD's and hand weights and i also have ankle weights although temperarily missed placed.
  • TinaHumphries
    TinaHumphries Posts: 130 Member
    For me, it's gotta be working out at home.

    Even though my wobbly bits don't wobble so much now:laugh: , I workout much better when I'm not worrying about who can see them.
  • Mariaisgettingfit
    Mariaisgettingfit Posts: 22
    I used to go to the gym but I'm pretty self-concious and I felt like I wasn't as good as the others, or that they were looking at me. (Silly, I know.) I also found that it was far too expensive as I'm a student with just a weekend job. Working out at home is better for me because I feel like I can let myself go and sweat it all out without nobody seeing! I definitely think it's just as good if not better!
  • beccci91
    beccci91 Posts: 213 Member
    I work out at home and so far my investment has been a few fitness DVDs, Wii games, dumbbells, a kettlebell and running shoes :) I love it and I hate the gym with a passion
  • walker001
    walker001 Posts: 116 Member
    I only workout at home. We live in the country and to far to go and it is too expensive for my budget as well.

    I walk almost everyday, I have a home gym and use it about 3 time a week and I have DVD's. So you just have to motivate yourself to do it.
  • deborahjoan56
    deborahjoan56 Posts: 5 Member
    I do both, workout at home with a weight machine and also run. Then I take kickboxing classes twice a week at a local Martial Arts school, that's great and its a terrific workout
  • jppd47
    jppd47 Posts: 737 Member
    I prefer home.

    olympic bar w/ 300lbs of weights = 300
    power rack = 300
    bowflex selectable weights= 600
    bench= 120
    tower=150
    trx=200

    A few small things here and there, comes to about $2000-2500. Works for me. I don't like going to a gym when I can do what I need at home. No travel, no waiting.
    If I feel like taking my heavy bag outside and doing carries with it i can. And my daughter likes to workout with me!
    558689_465452266802592_1195988751_n.jpg
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    I prefer home.

    olympic bar w/ 300lbs of weights = 300
    power rack = 300
    bowflex selectable weights= 600
    bench= 120
    tower=150
    trx=200

    A few small things here and there, comes to about $2000-2500. Works for me. I don't like going to a gym when I can do what I need at home. No travel, no waiting.
    If I feel like taking my heavy bag outside and doing carries with it i can. And my daughter likes to workout with me!
    558689_465452266802592_1195988751_n.jpg

    +1 for the TRX. I own a similar suspension trainer and I love it. It is the core of the "autism-friendly" workout program I put together for myself that has shown me better results than any program I've tried.
  • m60kaf
    m60kaf Posts: 421 Member
    For me, it's gotta be working out at home.

    Even though my wobbly bits don't wobble so much now:laugh: , I workout much better when I'm not worrying about who can see them.

    Conversely when I go to a gym now it amazes me how good I look in comparison to everyone else -- bar the odd few very fit. ( usually feel very negative about my progress)

    Not seeing other people and with me working out with someone who if pretty fit is possibly a bit of a negative in terms of how well you think you are doing in the long run - but I know what you mean
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    People are douche bags, so it's just better for me to workout at home. When I used to belong to a gym, I never talked to anyone because they disrupt you and want to have conversations, and I'm always timing my workouts and rest periods and all that. I know most people are more casual about it, but I'm really not. I make it count and I'm out of there in 45 minutes. I'm not a 2.5 hour fat blabber mouth gym person. Sorry, but that's the truth. I've decided that it's just better that I build out a home gym and just do it alone. I'm pretty motivated so I don't have any problem sticking with it. Plus, I can workout naked, if I want. :-)

    The only downside (I've been working out at home for about a year) is that I am very competitive. So, seeing some of the guys working out, sometimes motivated me to push harder. But, I don't know if that matters all that much. I've been doing great on my own.
  • Jessamine
    Jessamine Posts: 226 Member
    I am lucky to live and work right near my gym. I get bored easily, so I'm always going back and forth between the gym, exercise classes, and a variety of different exercises at home. Even with all those options I still don't exercise nearly as much as I should!
  • mandy_lee86
    mandy_lee86 Posts: 103 Member
    I considered getting some equipment for home. But, for the price of an elliptical it would take me 5 years to pay it off for what i'm paying monthly at the gym ($10/month). Plus, staying in that routine of going in the gym helps me keep going.
  • gwild0r
    gwild0r Posts: 135 Member
    I love the social aspect of the gym.. I've found i've learned more from others by going to the gym and talking to them about their routines.. but your probably beyond that noob aspect of going to the gym..
  • Jess81620
    Jess81620 Posts: 72 Member
    I use two gyms and one is where I work it's small and never busy. The other is about 5 mins from where I live. I normally use this gym for workout classes but it never seems to be crazy busy. Never seen a line to use equipment. I would have a hard time being motived to use the gym as well if I had to deal with what you do.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    I've decided I'm going to be cancelling my gym membership as soon as my contract ends because having to go to a gym to get my workout on is just too much trouble. The fact that I can only make it in during peak hours when you're waiting to use most of the equipment doesn't help. Commuting to the gym makes the act of working out a lot more time consuming, and plus having to actually make the trip a lot of the time just doesn't seem worth the trouble when I have some home equipment, some videos, and can get my workout done in just the commute time to and from the gym alone.

    Am I the only one who feels this way?

    Everyone is at a different point in their training. I don't have room for the equipment and wouldn't want to be buying >400lbs in weights. That said Im not sure I'd want to lift it by myself in my house either.
  • RaeN81
    RaeN81 Posts: 534 Member
    It really depends what you are doing. For me, I have to go to the gym because I need to swim regularly and it's better if someone watches my kids for me so that I can workout free of distractions. It's all about personal circumstances and choices. I also use the city's facilities (which do not require a membership) and never bother with a gym membership even though I workout regularly. I use a punch pass--that way, I always get my money's worth and I don't feel guilty if I go for an outdoor bike or run and skip the gym. It's a nice option to have though when you need a break from in home or outdoor workouts.
  • faefaith
    faefaith Posts: 433 Member
    I love variety! I have a toning glass that I go to regularly but eventually I'm gonna want something different to keep my mind engaged and to give my body a different challenge. I like to have my gym membership as part of what I do but I do not limit my options to 'gym only'. I also like belly dancing and hiking. I think the key is fun. If you find that the gym is de-motivating you it may not be what your style is. Have fun discovering what works! There are so many options and I wish you luck!
  • Jess81620
    Jess81620 Posts: 72 Member
    For me, it's gotta be working out at home.

    Even though my wobbly bits don't wobble so much now:laugh: , I workout much better when I'm not worrying about who can see them.

    That's funny I am the opposite I am competive in nature so I work out a lot harder when I am at the gym. Especially if there are other girls around who around my fitness level but just a little more fit.
  • BigMech
    BigMech Posts: 472 Member
    I've tried working out at home, but the gym work better for me. I hit the gym in the morning before work, so that there are no excuses that will keep me from going. At home there is always something that needs done, or some one interrupting the workout. To each his own.
  • robinregina
    robinregina Posts: 131 Member
    I work out at home and love it. I do my step class from a dvd and I walk aound my neighborhood. I think it's working for me since I only have 2 more pounds to lose to reach my goal.

    I agree with you, the gym is just a waste of money and time, but if it works for anybody who's doing it right now, please--more power to you!! Just not my thing. That's what makes MFP so interesting, everybody can do their own thing and it still works.

    robin
  • K8tzmom
    K8tzmom Posts: 20 Member
    I joined a gym in March and LOVE it - I have the choice to do group classes, individual work outs, racketball, CRX, swimming, etc. BUT I also do bodyrock.tv at home. So there's never an excuse to not do something!
  • future_runner
    future_runner Posts: 136 Member
    I like both. I got my gym membership years ago and it's gone up almost $15 a month since I got it so I am holding on. But sometimes I like videos (30ds, chalean extreme, or just running which I prefer to do outside) soo when I am going to be home for a while I freeze my membership for that month so it's cheaper. Right now- and the rest of the summer- I will be going to my gym every single day bc I'm studying to take the tx bar and I do my afternoon studying at home. I like to physically go to a different place to work out it because it helps me mentally go to a different place.

    Checkout body rock tv, idk the exact web address but you can google it or it's all over pinterest. It has a ton of really intense at home workouts.

    You can spend nothing on gym equipment also if working with your body weight.
  • Brizoeller
    Brizoeller Posts: 182 Member
    I started a gym membership when i was 17. Whenever i moved, i always got one. After i got pregnant i cancelled my membership, I felt that money could go to stuff for the baby. I never rejoined. And i am smaller and in better shape than I ever was. My main reasoning was i got stuck in the "cardio only" mindset. I wanted to use their machines and then it would be so busy i would say I'd lift weights when i got home. lol that NEVER happened. Now i mix it up with videos, running outdoors, and weights, Everyone is different though, thats just what works for me :) Although sometimes i do miss the classes at the gym, they were always a fun break in routine.
  • lauraloo1978
    lauraloo1978 Posts: 3 Member
    thank you for mentioning fitness blender, what a great website!
  • katscoots
    katscoots Posts: 255 Member
    I've done both - before I had children - going to the gym was ok - but I've always wanted that home gym where I don't have to wait for a machine or whatever. Plus workout videos are really great now adays - no more Jane Fonda. After having babies and working long hours - I work out when time permits and having it available in my home and not having to deal with other people has been great for me. When I work out - I'm there to work out - I don't want to socialize or show off or whatever...so the home gym is my preferred choice.

    Plus, I know the shower is clean and who has been in there. :)
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    If I had around 6000 and change laying around I'd work out at home.

    We got our elliptical trainer used on Craigslist, $200. Same with the all-in-one gym we got (don't know what it's called, similar to a bowflex but uses weights) for $150. I think my hand weights from Target costed about $15.00.
  • ONE03
    ONE03 Posts: 125 Member
    Definitely do what works for you. For gym, working out at home works just fine for me in terms of cost and convenience. I think the only reason I'd want to go to the gym is for the classes. It's kind of like school. While there are some online classes I could take, I know I'd procrastinate or skim through the material just to get it over with. Going to classes work a lot better for me in that regard. So whatever method is going to get you to workout the most, go for it!!!
  • sazzyp1973
    sazzyp1973 Posts: 517 Member
    At the moment I work out at home as I can do some as and when I have the time and when I feel like it. I do something everyday this way and I am sure if I went to the gym right now I wouldn't.

    I plan to start going to the local sports centre for swimming and fitness classes in the future though but won't get a subscription and will pay for the classes I go to.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    I literally live next door to a big gym - but it doesn't work for me. It's just too popular-there's never parking, the machines are always taken, the classes and kid's club are always full- it's less hassle to work out at home with my machines and JM DVD's. :)
  • katscoots
    katscoots Posts: 255 Member
    If I had around 6000 and change laying around I'd work out at home.

    We got our elliptical trainer used on Craigslist, $200. Same with the all-in-one gym we got (don't know what it's called, similar to a bowflex but uses weights) for $150. I think my hand weights from Target costed about $15.00.

    I bought a treadmill at around $450 11 years ago and it still works great; have a spinner bike ($199) and a floor model elliptical that was around $1000. Plus videos and some hand weights. I love it.
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