Exercise is a physical activity that has been noted in many quarters to improve one ’s health and quality of life dramatically. And for this reason, a lot of folks try to or are involved in one form of work out regimen or another.
However, one problem that could get one in a twist when starting an exercise regimen, is the decision on whether one wants to purchase a membership to a gym or invest in pieces of equipment to create their own home gym. And this dilemma has plagued the mind ever since home gyms became the rage.
And this is coupled with the fact that many motivated folks who have enrolled in a gym work out program are left with no action, and a monthly gym payment nonetheless. Or maybe you’re someone who has promised themselves for the thousandth time that you’re going to start a fitness regime, but with no accountability.
Deciding what is best for one, with regards to working out at home or in the gym, ultimately comes down to a couple of these factors: cost-benefit-analysis (for and against)– does no fee really mean no motivation? Does better equipment really result in a better workout? Making the decision on where to set up one’s work out location can be daunting for a couple us. Let us help.
Atmosphere
Some people are more motivated amongst a buzzing environment around them. In this instance, one may be more motivated to do well if one is around other people. See, competition is a powerful thing, and it’s not always easy to just compete with yourself. If you want to get out of your head, then often, the gym is a better bet since it’s a brand new space, untainted with work or home life. Plus, there is always an excess amount of people at the gym who can help you on your journey. Spotters are particularly helpful for safety reasons. Nobody wants to be alone with a 200 pounds bar over their head.
On the other hand, if you’re a particularly social person, the trap here is that you’ll end up being distracted at the gym, chatting with people instead of getting your reps out. Whereas at home, in your private sanctuary, devoid of contact with the outside world, you may just find you can concentrate better and get a better workout in. Also, while there may be people in the gym to help you, there are also numerous bad influences who practice bad work out forms. Be careful not to get injured copying one of those forms.
Equipment
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The range of equipment you will find in a gym will unquestionably beat anything you can assemble at home. Even the cost of having a decent range of dumbbells will set you back hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Most gyms have a plethora of instruments for you to work out with, from cable machines, to free weights, to treadmills, in order to fill your every exercising dream.
However, do you really need all these fancy machines? We know that free weights alone are enough for you to put slabs of muscles on your bones. Do you really need a treadmill to go running? How about a jog around the park or neighboorhood instead?
Convenience
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There is certainly a lack of freedom involved with going to a gym. You have to get changed, pack a bag, drive/walk/cycle to the gym, and back! While your home gym is open 24/7, and there are no queues to use the equipment. You may have enough motivation to work out, but not enough to get you there in the first place. Moreover, with privacy, there is no anxiety that comes with impressing those around you, at home, as no one will judge you, and you can also be yourself.
But with that convenience comes a drawback–are you prepared to push yourself if no one is watching? Working out at home is something that is easy to do, but also easy not to do. The whole process of scheduling a gym session often makes tailoring it into your routine much easier. Thus you’re actually sometimes more likely to go work out if you have to actually make the effort to do it.
In Summary
In a nutshell then… working out at home is more convenient while working out at a gym is more motivational and safer.
Thus, the key to this riddle is to find a way to make working out at home safer and motivational and to set up a home gym as cheaply as possible to negate the gym membership fee.
Tip One – Enlist A Gym Partner
The most effective way to resolve these problems is to find a gym partner. This way, you could both inspire each other with a little friendly competition, and even help cut cost by going halves on some gym equipment. A gym partner will also help keep you accountable.
Tip Two – Focus On The Essentials
As previously stated, you aren’t going to match a gym for equipment quality and quantity. However, if you focus on the basics, you can establish a cost-effective home gym. This is going to involve concentrating on mainly free weights.
Buy some adjustable dumbbells. You don’t need to buy individual dumbbells for each weight category when you can simply slip the desired weights on the dumbbell that you want to use at that time. This is going to give you the most bang for your buck. A few other examples of essential equipment that one could buy are
1) Solid bench and barbell. The amount of different exercises you can do with a simple bar is simply staggering. Overhead press – check, Bench Press – check, Squats – Check, Barbell Curls – Check, Deadlifts – Check. The list goes on.
2) Pull-up bar. Being able to do pullups should be an essential aim in anyone’s workout plan. Buy a bar and fit it on the doorframe of your gym.
Tip Three – Advance Slowly
Once you’ve played around with the basic equipment for a while and established a routine, then you can make a decision as to whether you are going to stick to your workouts. If you are, then you can start thinking about buying more advanced, expensive equipment such as
1) A squat rack – a squat rack is an essential piece of equipment for practicing and improving your squats.
2) A cable machine – a cable machine opens up a world of new potential exercises to your routine.
3) A treadmill. A piece of useful equipment especially for those that would rather run indoors. There are relatively cheap thread mills that one could buy, but be sure to read their reviews before you make any purchase.
4) An all in one home gym – if you are a motivated person, then you can eliminate the need for a training partner. An all in one home gym also tend to come with devices that can protect the user while they are lifting. This is usually a relatively expensive bit of kit, but if you’re serious about the gym, then it can be a savvy investment in the long run since it’s potentially the only device you’ll ever need for working out.
Conclusion
Look after your home gym equipment, and you’ll make a saving against paying a gym membership in the long run, while having all the benefits that come with owning a home gym.
Tags: Exercise gym home gym physical activity stay fit treadmill work out equipment work out regimen
