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In an earlier post "Before You Sign Up For a Gym Membership..." I pointed out the three main advantages of having a gym membership. For some people 1, 2, or all 3 of those reasons are extremely important to keep them exercising regularly. For others 1, 2, or again all 3 can be major reasons to not consider a gym membership. But can you get as good of a workout at home as you could at a gym? Of course you can! First let's look at some of the advantages of doing your fitness routine at home.
1. Convenience: It's at the perfect location. You don't have to leave home or make a pit stop between work or school and home. Just a short walk and you're there. No worrying about whether or not you packed your workout clothes.
You have access to the gym and all the equipment, your equipment, at any time you wish. In a crowded gym you may have to wait for someone to finish using the equipment you were planning to use, or you may even need to switch to a Plan B Workout if the place is too packed. Not at home. Your exercise equipment is there and waiting just for you.
2. Privacy: Some people don't like the thought of others looking at them while they are exercising. If you fall into this category I suggest you start thinking about what kind of exercise you can do with minimal equipment or start planning to equip your own home gym.
If you feel you just need to be a bit stronger and fitter, and more confident before setting foot in a gym you can certainly get a jump start by exercising at home without investing in any equipment.
3. Environmental Control: Depending on the gym or health club, you may not have any say so as to what music is being played. In your own home gym you have complete control. If you want music playing you get to pick. Want to watch a certain show on television while doing cardio? It's your gym, the choice is all yours!
Wondering what slob left their sweat all over the bench you were getting ready to use? That's just one more thing you don't have to deal with when doing your fitness routine at home.
Most people may wonder about not having access to all the equipment that is found in gyms. Too many choices can have its drawbacks. For a beginner it can be overwhelming seeing all the unfamiliar machines and gadgets and not knowing what to do with them, or feeling like you need to incorporate them into your exercise plan.
Depending on your ultimate training goal many of the machines found in health clubs are not necessary. Every major muscle group, joint action, or movement pattern can be adequately trained using the most basic equipment like elastic resistance, dumbbells or even just your body weight.
A gym or health club is not the only way to go about finding proper exercise instruction. There is the ongoing problem of exercise newbies asking questions to the 'gym rat' who appears the "fittest"(slimmest, biggest, most ripped, lifts the most weight, or whatever) but who may not have enough knowledge about proper training or exercise technique to be of the most help.
You can learn many new exercises freely by doing research online, checking out current books on exercise from the library and even by watching some fitness shows(not reality TV) on television that are hosted by real, professional trainers. There are numerous exercise DVD's. You could start by seeing what is available at your library and try before you buy. Another consideration is using ready made workout programs that you can access on your computer or download to an MP3 player or smart phone. The best option is to hire a certified personal trainer to come to your place, design a routine based on your physical abilities and needs, personal goals, and available exercise equipment.
If the social aspect of a membership sounds good but some of the other factors are still not that appealing you always have the option of finding a workout partner to join you during your home gym workout, or find a local group fitness program, often referred to as 'boot camps.'
One thing to keep in mind is that your decision to exercise at home or in a gym does not have to be a 'one or the other decision.' I know many people, myself included, that have a gym membership but also perform some of their workouts at home or outdoors. You may find at some point that a change of atmosphere is just what you need to rejuvenate your motivation and keep your fitness routine on track. If that is the case, go ahead and try a 'change of place.'
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