| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/17/2007 2:07:26 PM | | Home gyms are way too conducive to the old "I'll do it tomorrow" mentality. Plus, nothing motivates me like women at the gym training! | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/17/2007 10:07:11 PM | | It all depends on what you like better. You can build a fantastic body with just the basics at home. I do both, it all depends on my mood that day, and how much time I have. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/18/2007 8:16:29 AM | The basic question is how good are you at motivating yourself?
For me, the public gym was kinda lame, their pool is way too hot - more like a bath tub - the fitness classes were a) more like line dancing and b) didn't really have any 'motivating' ladies in it, and there's definitely WAY too many old gay guys in the locker room.
Yuckola.
Plus, I get MUCH better results running, skating, biking and using my own home equipment, which I do almost every day. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/18/2007 8:46:24 AM | I love both commercial gyms and my home gym. but for me it came down to cost and time. I was sick of paying for memberships on top of the gas to get there and back and the time spent getting there and back was more than my actual workout.
So a few years ago I bought pretty much everything I need including a spin bike and a manual treadmill from garage sales and I'm set for life. Motivation is no problem for me but a shoulder injury is a pain in the ass.
I still occassionaly hit up a good gym for $10 bucks to use some different equipment and to workout beside a real cutey but it still can't beat having my own equipment. you can see most of it in one of my pics, and it pays for itself very quickly. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/30/2007 7:45:45 AM | I have a "little home gym" works just about every muscle, got it for $220.00. I hadn't used it in a while, but promised myself I would start using it daily. I'm a single parent with no motivation (only from kids) who tell me to stop using it as a closet....lol. SO, last July I got a bigger cable system which has FREE workouts on "exercise on demand". I programed it to when I want to be LAZY (as before) to come on automatically when I turn on the TV. So when I see it, I either roll out my mat or call my kids to do a routine with me. This channel has EVERYTHING you could think of, it even has some videos you buy at the health stores, and has kids video workouts too. We like it. I would love it to be our morning routine, and since my 12 year old son has the gym set in his room, he workouts when watching his favorite show. He enjoys it alot and my 6 year old daughter is into pilates, yoga, and cardio kickboxing. They tell me "if you can put on the TV to watch movies or your shows, than you can work out for the same time amount"..... IT PUSHES ME TO THROW IN A WORKOUT....LOL....Hope this helps some of you.....HAPPY NEW YEAR POF PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/30/2007 11:07:24 AM | | I wish I had room for a home gym. I dislike driving to the gym and the equipment you want to use is being used. I don't like waiting around. I like to get in and get out. Sometime it's too crowed to workout. There is a small gym at work that I use. It's nice, get in and get out. The only thing I like about my gym is the pool. I like to swim. Like I said, if I had room for a home gym I would already have one and cancle my gym membership or keep it use I can use the pool. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/30/2007 10:06:52 PM | | I have a bench and a set of free weights at home, once you realize how healthy it is to do some cardio and strength building everyday it just becomes routine. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 12/30/2007 11:57:15 PM | I'm a big fan of the public gym because of the atmosphere that it builds to push you more. I think the biggest thing is to find a good public gym because there are definitely gyms that are too small are poorly laid out and if they're in a high density area can be quite the wait during high time. Also finding a gym that is local to your home or work is great because that means there's no excuse to skip a workout if it's on your way to or from work. All you need is an hour or two and you'll feel better all day! Motivation plays a big part and of course reaching your goals. Good Luck!  | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/1/2008 9:25:44 AM | "I used to think that way too. If I was to buy the stuff that I use at the gym, it would cost me more than a lifetime of memberships.
Nobody has mentioned it, but it is much safer to work out in a health club. If you do heavy weights, there is a chance you can get hurt. There are people at a club who will respond. Who is going to respond in your private home ???
I suggest the OP try the YMCA. They just require you to pay a building or initiation fee and then you can go monthly or else don't agree to year long contracts with private gyms, but you might have to pay more per month." - SteveCollingwoodON
Yes I do lift heavy weights.
At this point I'm trying to muscle up a little and do weights that I can only do 4-5 reps.
I have a POWER CAGE which will spot for me if I drop the weights or am unable to finish the last rep.
I hate gyms mainly because I MUST hit my sets at the proper moment into recovery from the last set.
This is impossible in a gym, where you often do a set, then have to get up and let the next person in line to a set, and maybe others before you get your turn again.
And for sets to be effective, beginning each one from full recovery doesn't get the same results, because you don't stimulate the deeper muscle fibers that are forced into action because the shallower fibers are still in a state of at least partial fatigue.
Each to their own.
I like my home gym.
I'm self motivated and don't need a spotter or personal trainer.
I will never pay to join a gym. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/2/2008 3:26:23 PM | | There's a small free weight dumbbell thing designed by Bowflex I highly recommend. You don't have to buy an entire rack, saves space (and money). Real solid construction from what I hear, best of luck to you. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/3/2008 12:29:10 AM | Interesting replies...
I find the intimacy of workingout at home much more relaxing...shouting at the mirror like a mad man has a tendancy to attract attention. 
I don't like distractions, especially when lifting somethign heavy, so the less tail walking by in tight shorts, the better. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/3/2008 9:33:22 AM | if you have the space for a home gym, then go for it dude. You'll save so much money, wont have to wait around for people and you choose the music!
If you don't have the motivation to work out at home, then to be fair, you probably won't stick it out at a normal gym either. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/4/2008 7:59:05 AM | Public all the way for this kid.
1) It is on the way home from the office...so instead of a slow 90 minute death in the car...I can lift while rush hour goes away.
2) Even if I've had 3 hours sleep, the only thing I need to motivate myself to do is actually show up. When I get there, I'm on autopilot.
3) There are some NICE women that go to my gym. Can you say Redskins Cheerleaders? 
F. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/7/2008 10:42:28 AM | Thanks for all of the responses. Right now the plan is to continue the workout that I am doing at home until either I plateau or just need a different environment then to look into a gym. Right now everything is based off of an exercise ball, resistant bands, some weird band thing that I have had forever and a lot of body weight exercises as space is somewhat limited.
I like the idea of going one month at a time in terms of membership so the Y is looking rather appealing. There is a good life, bodywork and The Gym in town but really unsure how their membership works. A major fitness center just locked their doors so I don't want to end up in a place that closes down in the middle of the membership nor do I want to spend half of my time in a facility standing around so a lot of homework will be done before reaching a decision.
thanks again | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/7/2008 11:18:34 AM | OP if you have been reading all the posts you can see the answer is highly personal, it's basically what works for you.
For me I use both and outdoors weather permitting. I am lucky that my gym allows me to suspend my membership for $25, so I use the gym from September/October thru April/May for the pool, spin classes and weights. I have a treadmill, stationary bike, and a full set of dumbells from 5 lbs to 70 lbs along with a bench in my basement. I prefer my treadmill as it has a wooden running base that is easier on my knees then the ones found at my gym.
As soon as the weather permits open water swimming (live in Michigan) I swim at a local state park. I run and bike outside as much as possible year round. I much prefer outdoors to a gym or my basement. I guess I am odd in the sense that I have little issues motivating myself to go to the gym or to my basement or outdoors to workout. To me they all have pluses and minuses. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/8/2008 11:57:57 AM | | I have a set of weights at home that do me if i fancy just mucking about or if I cant make a session at the gym but to be honest I don't get as good a work out from it as I get distracted easier, don't have enough weights or enough of the right equipment to work out at my best. In a public gym you have the benefit of a lot of good equipment, other people to get advice/spots from and a bit of competition! So IMHO you should go for the public gym. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/8/2008 2:13:16 PM | At home, I have free weights and bench, exercise bike and mountain bike, and a heavy bag and boxing gloves, none of which get much use from me! For those types of training, I prefer a public gym where you have trainers, get motivation from other members, and have spotters when you need them.
In the warmer months, I prefer being outside doing different activities. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/8/2008 8:23:33 PM | I'm a long time gym class person (aerobics, step, interval, etc.). Over time, as the frequency of classes seems to have decreased in general, and my flexibility in schedule has become less open, I've turned to home workouts. I bought a Reebok Step a few years ago, and have since built up a pretty varied selection of home workouts - CIA (Creative Instructor Aerobics, I think it is) has many many tapes/DVD's that are very useful and seem to mix pilates type work with traditional step/interval.
I do miss going to the gym, but motivation has never really been an issue for me since I feel like crap when I go too long without working out. If you have some space and a VCR and or DVD, and maybe can spend a few dollars on some equipment, working out at home can be very convenient. | |
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ps81
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Joined: 1/6/2008
Msg: 44 | |
| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/10/2008 9:32:03 AM | Home gym wins easily.
no certain hours
no ppl staring
no change rooms or locks
you have complete control over everything
you can modify the arrangement of your equipment
play whatever music you like (not in all gyms)
if you want invite over friends to workout with you
supplements or beverages are no further then a step away
save money
In my home gym I have an exercise ball, ab bench, incline bench, exercise bike, free weights, curl bar and straight bar. Just some suggestions my home gym was fairly cheap. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/11/2008 2:20:54 PM | I have a gym membership and some equipment at home. I don't know that I would go as far as calling it a gym, but I have a professional quality pilates reformer (with all the bells and whistles), a couple of Swiss balls, a complete set of Therabands, cables and dumbbells.
I find that if I stop going to the gym I don't do as well using my at home equipment, but if I regularly go to the gym I fill in with the at home stuff.
The more choices I have, the better I do.
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/12/2008 5:38:38 AM | | I would recommend looking for a smaller gym that is well equipped. say a personal training service/gym where the trainer will train you and also let you train on your own on your off days with no big locked in contracts.Say like the musclehouse gym home of bodzbycamacho personal training service in gilroy which I own:):):):) Without a doubt the answer to your problem:) | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/12/2008 10:56:45 PM | | Pullup bar next to my computer. Best investment I ever made. It just sits there taunting me every time I walk past. | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/13/2008 11:26:16 AM | I have been a member at a couple gyms in the past. I decided to stop driving though and it made it very inconvenient to get to the closest gym. I decided to invest in a home gym.
I picked up a bowflex, free weights with a incline/decline preacher curl bench, a smith machine and have around 500-600lbs of free weight. I purchased the smith machine opposed to the power rack because I rarely get training partners. I can schedule my workouts whenever it is convenient and don't have to worry about things such as peek times, parking, business hours, or the annoying staff always trying to sell you something. The point people made earlier about supersets is a big deal for me.
A major pro though to going to the gym is how much knowledge you can gain from the other people there. I'm glad I went to the gym for the first few years because it allowed me to learn from the other members and probably accelerated my gains due to it. I would definately suggest a gym membership to someone just beginning though not limited to beginners.
Another major pro is that they should have ALL the different equipment that you will want/need that would be very expensive to purchase yourself. | |
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dsw77
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Joined: 1/9/2008
Msg: 49 | |
| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/13/2008 8:48:21 PM | I've been lifting for 13 years and I could never workout at home once I joined a gym when I was 17...there is too many distractions at home, I'd be tempted to flop down on the couch and watch tv or go on the net...I like to keep it seperate just like we like to keep our work seperate from our home lives, also by joining a gym you are going to be around like minded people who also are there for the same reason! to get in and stay in shape! Most gyms are monthly automatic withdrawal, you usually dont have to pay by the year....and if the gym does close just put a stop payment on your account! this way they can't screw you by taking your next months fees and taking off with your $$$ it has happened to me in the past! As far as bowflex goes... I personally dont like it! your better off learning how to lift with proper tecnique using free weights...good luck | |
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| home gym versus public gym
Posted: 1/14/2008 12:53:41 PM | A home gym is excellent if your not lifting real heavy if you are be very careful ya need a good spoter just in case. any workout is better than none at all
keep it real and keep it safe | |
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