Working Out at Home Verses at the Gym

People have different reasons why they like and dislike working out at a gym verses at home. 

Here are five common factors to consider to help you make the best decision for you.

1) Time

Working out at home can be a timesaver. One of the major reasons exercisers cite as the reason they like to stay home instead of going to a gym is because they do not like the commute. In many cases, the time spent going to and from a gym could have been spent on a full workout routine at home.

Another plus for working out at home is much time can be wasted at a gym waiting to get on a particular machine. Not all people are on the same timeline, so it is frustrating that someone may be on a machine longer than they need to be or at least longer than you think they should be.

If you have your own machines at home, you can get on them whenever you want and stay on for as long as you want. Also at a gym, some people feel rushed if they are on a machine and someone is waiting to get on it.

2) Space

Many people just don’t have room to set up a home gym, especially if they live in an apartment, condo or townhouse, so they join a gym to get access to the equipment they like or need.

3) Distractions

The biggest negative of working out from home is the distraction. Either the kids need something, or the phone is ringing off the hook, or you are thinking of a million other things that need to get done. While at a gym, most of those distractions are gone and you can focus on your workout. The distractions at home can get so bad, that you end up not exercising at all. 

Your focus is usually better while working out at a gym. You are away from home and the office, and you can concentrate on working out - not distracted by all the other things going on in your home or work life.

4) Variety

Normally, you can get a more varied workout in a gym, due to all the different types of equipment they have. Most homes do not have the room, nor could most of us afford, all the equipment found in a gym. Plus at a gym, you can get in on some organized fitness classes led by an instructor - something you can’t get at home, unless you have a program like it on DVD, but then you don’t have the personalized aspect of the class.

5) Cost

One of the cons of a gym is the recurring membership cost; there is no end to it. If you put that money into a home gym, providing you have the room for one, you could use that membership cost to buy your own equipment.

So as you can see, there are pros and cons to both. Weight the costs - both tangible and intangible - and select the best venue for you.