Gym vs. Working out at home

I am very lucky to have a full gym in my basement. My dad was very big into body building when he was younger and so we've got all the equipment you need for an excellent workout. It really helps me save money and I believe it's definitely a big part of keeping me motivated because for me I know that all I have to do is throw on some sweats and walk downstairs to get to the gym.

I still like going to the gym with friends every once in a while just to change up the scenery lol, but drop-in fees every once in awhile is pretty reasonable.

I don't have a gym membership. There are too many free exercise videos online...plus I can always just go running. The road is the only gym I need and it is free!

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?

If I could fit the equipment I want into my home, I'd have done it. My ceilings are so low everywhere except the living room / dining room that I can reach up and touch them with my heels on the floor. There's no way I'd get a power rack in there or be able to do a proper overhead press, so it's the gym for me.

I contacted the guy who ran a local powerlifting club (which is now closed, but I didn't know it at the time) and asked him for recommendations on the best gym in the area, then switched my membership to there. They've got a huge free weights area with 3 power racks and 4 flat benches (each with an olympic barbell), and tons of other stuff to distract people from the equipment I came to use. :laugh:

Finding the plates you need, on the other hand... the 25s like to run away whenever you're not looking. People don't even ask half the time, they just walk up and grab stuff off my rack when I'm in the middle of a set. Fairly annoying, but oh well.

I struggle to stay focused working out at home. I always find something else that needs to be done, or a comfy chair or sofa that needs sitting on...lol. When I leave and go to the gym, I know I'm there for a purpose and I have an easier time staying on task. Maybe someday that will change, but for now, I need to go somewhere else to work out.

It doesn't hurt that my gym membership is only $15/month either, so it's not a financial burden.

Cancelling the fancy gym membership was the best thing for me. Barbells and dumbells and the junk that go with them are great but not needed- AT ALL. My equipment?

Running shoes
Jump Rope
Chin Up bar
TRX
Sandbag
Rebounder
An awesome trainer who holds me accountable.

I do both the gym and at home working out. If it is taking too much time or not worth your while, you can totally get a good workout at home. Just don't give up keep at it.

I also do both. That way I have the opportunity to work out twice a day since most of the classes I take at the gym are midday or noon and I am up at about 5:30AM

I like the social aspect of my gym classes as well as access to equipment I don't have at home and I only have to walk a block to get there. However, I am a morning person so I'm starting Jillian Michaels' 30DS and I occasionally do a workout from Fitness Blender.

If you do, decide to work out only at home, make sure you have the discipline to keep at it.

I feel the same way... I'm getting home gym stuff because I have kids and I know that if i have to get a babysitter every time I want to go to the gym then I'm going to end up not going often enough. So home gym it is for me. And I agree, the commute and waiting for equipment at the gym seems very time consuming too...

I think gyms have their advantages though, but it's up to the individual to do what's going to work best for them.

I took the jump last year and invested in some home gym equipment. Specifically: Bob Body punching bag, power rack, olympic weight set, dumbbells, bench and a recumbent bike.

I just love the convenience. My home office is actually in my gym, so working out is quite often on my mind. If I am having a stressful day at the office, I can just break up my day and bang out a workout.

I live in a small town with only one overpriced gym option, so while the initial investment was more than enough to burn my very soul, now that I have had the equipment for over a year, it is essentially half paid for in gym membership savings. Not to mention that this stuff all holds a great resell value (at least in Canada).

I do miss the social aspect of the gym - but that is really the only con I can think of.

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?

So here's what I see that's important to you.

Time- You want to save as much as it as possible.

You are frustrated by the amount of time it takes you to get to the gym, and you are equally frustrated by the wait times at your very active gym.

your problem isn't the gym in general, the problem you have is with your current gym period. Why not look for a gym that's either closer to your home or closer to your office? My commute home can be 45min to an hour in rush hour traffic, so I chose to get a gym membership next to the office, approx 10 minutes away. After my workout, my drive home is 30 minutes so I kind of save time working out there then going home.

Also, your gym sounds over-crowded which is typical for this time of the year because everyone is trying to get buff for the beach. I think you just don't like this gym.

I got a gym membership at lifetime close to where I live. Big *kitten* gym with lots of equipment. It's a little pricy, but plenty of machines and very rarely am I stuck waiting for a machine I want. Chose a gym that works for you, otherwise working at home is an ok option too, just not something I prefer.

I work out at home, using DVDs, online videos and some of the workouts on Comcast. I also walk 3-4 days a week and run 1-2 days a week (trying to switch those numbers, but just not there yet). In two months, I've lost 17 lbs, feel so much stronger and am much happier.

However, I kind of miss going to the gym and hopping on a treadmill and tuning out for an hour. I was running more when I had a gym membership also. So I've been thinking for renewing mine. I go to Planet Fitness about 1 mile from me, and am a morning person, so was there at 5 am and never had to wait for anything. I think after the summer, I'll probably renew my membership and start really running again.