Do you go to the gym or workout at home?
 

I am not really a gym-goer and I hate the idea of paying for a gym membership I won't really use. I saw a great workout in Fitness Magazine in the July/August issue about a workout called "get slim without the gym" -- it has a lot of good ideas for working out at home. Has anyone read about it or tried it? What do you think of it?

I work out at home, and did for all but a year or so of my journey.

When I started, I had cheap equipment....a rebounder, some exercise DVDs, and some basic strength training equipment (dumbbells and resistance bands). Very little investment and I could get my workouts in...cardio with the rebounder, DVDs, and a weekly outdoor walk/run, weights a few times a week. Then I joined a gym for about a year to get a personal trainer (was training my arms for a wedding dress!) and try out different cardio equipment.

Now that I KNOW I'm sticking with exercise and know what I like, I've made the choice to invest in some cardio equipment (I had an elliptical I used for 3 years, at which point it broke fantastically, and I've just purchased a new Incline Trainer to replace it).

I have a home gym...treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, bowflex, free weights, and dvd's Most of the bigger items are from craigslist but in awesome shape. I slowly built it up though. I have 3 kids and the gyms around here want an arm, a leg and a kidney to watch your kids in the daycare section :lol:

I've read that issue and have incorporated some of those workouts into my routine....the only thing I don't have is the gliding discs lol those look like fun too ;)

I've been a member of gyms in the past but for this current journey the last 2 years it's been all at home except for the community membership at the local university, but I only use that for pool access.

First it was walking, Then DVDs, Then Running, Then Running and Biking and Swimming.

Best purchase I made last year was my treadmill. If you get a better quality one it's worth it. Lot less excuse potential when it's sitting there staring you in the face every day.

Some people thrive with the gym thing, but for me there are just too many things preventing me from getting out of the house every day.

I haven't tried the workout in the magazine but would love to. Do you know if there is a link to it somewhere? I live in a place where the closest gym is about an hour away so I prefer to do teh home workouts also. I have a few dvd's but am wide open to suggestions of others or workouts that don't require equip that takes up a lot of space (because the baby stuff has taken over our household!). Thanks!

i also use my repertoire i have at home. dumbells, bands, exercise bike. I also have a giselle under my bed, and a rebounder under my son's bed, the bean is in the closet...heh.

I like the gym occasionally. I have a membership to our YMCA. They don't charge to watch my son--it's just all the way across town! I will only go if I have to be in town. really thinking about using the indoor pool again though!

I've been working out at home this time around. I've had gym memberships in the past, mostly student memberships, and enjoyed the classes and swimming pool access they provided. But most of them are a distance from where I'm living now so I'm working out at home, following a video most mornings. I find that besides the distance and expense, there are too many excuses between my bed and the gym and not nearly so many between my bed and the living room.

Those are just my experiences though.

I only work out at home right now (even though I technically have a membership to my school gym until the end of the summer), but I haven't tried that workout you mentioned.

My cardio consists of workout DVDs and running, and for strength training I have pairs of dumbbells ranging from 5 lb to 25 lb. I've got a few other pieces of equipment but those are the important ones to me.

Check out the Exercise Video forum, there are a lot of people there who only work out at home, and you might find some suggestions for videos to try!

I work out at home, and started out with dvds, walking, and a kickboxing bag from a class I took a few years ago. I have built up a pretty decent list of fitness equipment, now that I know I'm going to stick to using it. I've got a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, weight bag & gloves, weider max home gym, assorted dumbells, pullup bar, misc. exercise mats & Exercise TV On Demand with my Comcast.

I don't love the gym scene, like being able to be more flexible with my workout time.

I just can't seem to get motivated at home. I had a treadmill that I never used so I sold it.
I joined the gym because it is much easier to work out for me there. Plus the gym has a kids club so I can work out without having to watch my little one at the same time. I am a single mom so that is a HUGE help. Once you are IN the gym it is easy, just getting myself to go is the hard part
I also try to walk the baby in the stroller and take the dog too, but it has just been too hot out lately.
I do have some dumbells here at home that I might start using. My arms are too fat. But again, it is so much easier at the gym because I don't have to watch my son every second.

I'm a homebody, too. I love my DVDs and have been so pleased at my weight loss success because of them. I have two elementary-aged kids so I need to fit "me-time" in the "them-time". For these past six months (my weight loss plan), I woke up earlier and earlier to fit in my exercise. Now, I'm so pleased with the alone time I get from rising early, that it'll be a big motivator to keep me going as I transition over to "maintenance" in the coming weeks.

I had joined a boxing gym (surprisingly across the street from my house-next to the grocery store). I did like the atmosphere and the real community feeling folks had--guys all came up and pointed out better ways to practise, reminded to keep elbows up, etc. But I couldn't commit because I wasn't able to leave the kids alone. As they age up, I am now really enjoying the home dvd.

I did pick up a new book (something by Prevention with a title like 321 Prevention). I just love every page but especially the exercise guide with pictures. I have two dvds that have the exercises in such a way that I feel like I can do at my own speed during the dvd (like jumping jacks, squats, etc). It's not so "jazzercize" where you have to follow exactly what the instructor is doing or get screwed up with the routine. So, I love the 321 routine (it's 3 minutes aerobics, 2 minutes strengthening, 1 minute abs in a rotational sequence over and over).

I'm gearing up for vacation and trying to figure out how to keep up my intensive aerobic needs and keep up strengthening. So, I'm looking at elastic bands for the suit case. I'll be able to keep toning and working out all vacation (hopefully).

I workout at home. I have a treadmill for the winter (generally). I have a barbell/weights, a set of adjustable dumbbells, a swiss ball, a step, a pull-up / chin-up bar (with bands), and a big rubber mat that I put down when using the weights. I was going to say that I don't have much, but writing it out makes it seem like more. During better weather I walk a lot, jog a little, and swim most days in the backyard. I have a couple of DVDs/tapes, none of which I've used in ages. I have a friend offering to loan me his P90X DVDs, but I just don't see me using them at the moment.

I still live with my parents (which can be fortunate or unfortunate - depends how you look at it) and we have a treadmill, a broken stationary bike, and a Giselle. We also have something similar to a Bowflex, but it was cheaper and it's really hard to use and very user unfriendly. We have DVDs, dumbbells, and stretchy bands.

My mom has offered to get me a gym membership in the past, and I have decided to take her up on it. There's a church-run gym about an hour away, which is in the same town my (community) college is, which I had planned on joining ($35 A YEAR) but all my classes are online this semester. There's a gym about 10 minutes away, but it's $30 a month, and you have to sign a six month contract. Boooo.

I'm still going to join.

I have a bum knee and can use the treadmill if I be really careful, which I usually am, but I know that I can bike and do other things with less pain, so it's worth it. It also changes it up a bit.

And I agree with the person who said it is SO MUCH EASIER to be motivated at the gym. Totally.

I totally love Prevention. Denise Austin is one of my favorites and they list her in there quite a few times with their routines. I have found my favorite routines in prevention.

I got started working out again on the "Fast-track your fatloss. 10 minute workouts" article.

The other issue I have kept that is dear to me. "Go from Fat to Firm with Denise" The issue has routine for strength, flexiblilty and toning trouble spots.

i grap a book at the checkout line, and if it has an interesting article, i buy it.

I a VIDOIOT I have about 100 different ones I have collected oled vcr from the thrift store that I have converted to dvd and new dvd. I have exercise ball, medicine ball, bosu ball, weights, ellipticals {in both my homes}I know I am spoiled. We have always lived rually too far from gyms so never was able to go. And I love the freedom of working out at 3:30 am or 4:00pm It has served me well. Ilive in areas that NO ONE and I mean NO ONE I know exercises they think I am CRAZY AND NOW WITH P90X!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know a few people have said they feel more motivated at the gym... but I don't work nearly as hard at the gym! I don't want to be dripping sweat all over the equipment (and boy do I SWEAT)... I won't do anything that makes me afraid I'll wet myself (my bladder doesn't handle jumping jacks well :o sorry for the TMI!)... and I don't feel comfortable grunting or moaning. :D All of those are things I can do at home with no embarrassment. Oh, plus, I have to wear a SHIRT at the gym.

I tend not to do well around people so I work out at home. I have DVDs, hand weights, stability ball, weighted water ball and my Wii (with Wii Fit, balance board, Gold's Gym Cardio, and My Fitness Coach). I seem to be doing pretty good with it so far :D

:o

Off topic, but this comment made my laugh. I work from home and it would be a real hardship to have to wear a shirt in the summer.

I've been working out at a gym since November 2007. Love the gym environment. I've made friends and there's always entertainment in watching others or one of the 15 TV's mounted in front of me.No joke! I seriously had to re-evaluate my membership recently. $30 membership + 2 kids going to kid's club 5 times a week = $80. So basically $110/month just for me to work out. They recently changed to a unlimited auto-deduct that is so much better!! $20/month. They were losing people to LA Fitness.

I do cardio outside (running) and go to the gym for weights. I have a fairly extensive weights collection although last year I ditched my bench, but with kids I just find weights too dangerous to have accessible and I need someone to watch them.

Also for me...if I am in the home I can always find something else I "SHOULD" be doing, but at the gym, there is only 1 thing I am there for.

I work out at home, also. I'd love to do it at the gym - when I went to the gym before I never once skipped a workout to sleep in/do laundry/etc. However, with my schedule right now and no 24 hour gyms on my side of town, I'm stuck at home. At least home videos now are good workouts!

I've joined and left two gyms in the last three months! Haha. One was a regular one, but I mostly just ran on the treadmill, the second one was a kickboxing one with a class three times a week.

Now I'm back to doing my 30 Day Shred Dvd at home. It's so much more convenient, considering that I don't have to bus to the gym, just pop the dvd in and go! Btw, all I have is a yoga mat, I use giant crushed tomato cans for weights :p. Whatever works lol.
I do my cardio running outside, which is tougher, cause I have to wake up super early to avoid the heat and the people!

I've worked out at home, then joined the Y because it was cheaper than buying all the weights, barbells, etc I wanted, but I barely used the membership there, so it was really a waste for me. This past March I started at a Crossfit affiliate gym, and it's the perfect fit for me. I'm there six days a week, which is as many days as they are open. Yeah, I'm addicted! So for me, the (right) gym was the way to go, but the wrong gym was a waste of money. For yourself, you'll just have to find your way, and figure out what works best for you personally. If I have to miss the gym one day, due to work or other obligations, then I do work out at home, but prefer the gym, because it has all the equipment and weights, lifting platforms, chalk, gymnastic rings, and all kinds of cool stuff I do not have or could not afford to have at my house.

I bought an elliptical at Walmart in August of '07 (I think) and I used it for a good 3 months and then a few more times here and there. It was pretty inexpensive thank goodness. But it started making noises and I had it in the laundry room which would get so hot because of the lack of insulation. Then, because I know how I am, I quit all together because I felt like the machine was just not stable for me. Maybe because I was too big. The last time I used it was before I went on my vacation and that was in mid April. Before my purchase I also tried DVDs and I could not do it. I guess it's just not me.

In May I joined the gym and I am so glad I made the switch. Of course I was freaked out because of the people who I thought would be just looking at me and judging me and the fear I didn't know how to use certain machine. But my good friend convinced me that everyone at the gym was there for one reason: to work out. And this week was the first week I went to gym 5 days straight. Woot! I change into my work out clothes at work and I get dropped off at the gym for two hours. This works for me because I have the worst motivation ever.

So really it's just a personal choice. But I applaud everyone who works out at home :cp: I wish I could! A friend bought me the "Dancing with the Stars" work out DVD and not even Maksim motivates me :p But at least we are all moving in some sort of way! :carrot:

I have a membership to a wonderful gym. It's part of a wellness center and there are lots of geriatric heart patients, as well as middle aged moms, and a few young college students thrown in to give us all something nice to look at. :) The staff is wonderful and very helpful.

I go to the gym to do my cardio on the elliptical, treadmill, and bike. I used to use the weight machines but have read so much about how they don't really do much and are potentially dangerous. So, I have a set of dumbbells that I use at home and when I get the guts up I might pay one of the trainers for an hour to show me around the free weight section of the gym.

Once I get my own home (and out of an apartment) I plan to put together my own home gym. I do think having my own set-up will be awesome. Then I too can exercise without a shirt. :D

I workout from home now. Over the years, I've joined many gyms and wasted SO much money by not going regularly and well, later just stopped going. I could not motivate myself to go and my gyms have been always on my way to work or home...so very close and accessible. I finally decided that gym and me is not going to happen so it was time to invest in some home equipment. I don't have too much space hence, was limited to what I could buy. I bought a nice set of free weights (which are expandable) and an awesome treadmill. I do own various fitness DVDs and as well as have a netflix account to rent/instant watch any workout dvd if I am bored. I watch old shows or movies while I'm on the treadmill. And, I do go out for my runs on the track too.

Plus, I LOVE to workout in my underwear not something I'd be comfy doing at the gym :D

I had a gym membership for years that I ended up not using because I had (re)gained weight, felt discouraged and beat myself up every time I tried working out (I used to be able to do blahblah /angst), and the club just didn't seem very entry-level friendly. And I sucked at even going in to cancel, or kept telling myself I'd eventually go.

When we moved earlier this year I found another club near me that had lots to do and is associated with a hospital so seemed to have a much more diverse membership -- literally all ages and sizes. I finally cancelled the old membership and signed up here. It's not cheap though besides the recent vacationing + house guest, I try to make sure I get my money's worth. I love the variety and take advantage of lots of free classes -- I find I work much harder when there's that instructor watching, encouraging. The ones I've met so far have been so motivating and helpful.

I also tend to stretch my workout time longer when I'm there, even just throwing in a little extra time on an elliptical or something if I'm not quite ready to go home.

I have never stepped foot in a gym, and I prefer it that way. My main form of exercise is walking. Yes, W A L K I NG. Walking works wonders, AND it's FREE :)
I ended up buying an elliptical over the winter (let's face it, no one wants to walk outside during a Canadian winter) but I don't enjoy my elliptical. I actually dispise it. It bores me. I really don't use it much.

Now i work out at home, but i have had a membership to the Y in the past.
I like home better.
I can wear my tattered gym clothes and no one cares
I can stink
I can watch the shows i want to watch
I don't have to listen to other people yap away on their cell phones
I don't even have to brush my teeth :)

I own an elliptical, and Jillian michaels dvds plus some 5lb, and 8lb hand weights. I also have some resistance bands, a ball, and a pair of running shoes.
Its so much more convenient at home for me and my kids. I don't have to load them up and take them anywhere, and i often do it while they nap. It works out great for me.

The benefits to the gym that i remember were ; the indoor track, the variety of weight machines and the treadmills. I never did classes or swam.

Sure! Here is the link to the workout on Fitness Magazine's website: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/worko...thout-the-gym/

And thanks for all the responses everyone! I had no idea so many people agreed with me that working out at home is better than paying for a gym -- glad to know I'm not the only one. I really think with the right equipment, like some of the things suggested in the Fitness article, working out at home is a great inexpensive alternative to a gym. Plus I agree with people that it's easier to get motivated in the privacy of my own home rather than a public gym!

Right now I do both. I have a gym membership and the classes are free. It's just a pita to get there and if anything comes up I chuck the idea of going. It's not pretty.

I also have some fun dvd's that I do at home. I'm more likely to "force" myself to do a dvd than to pack up & head to the gym. I recently got a Wii and that's a ton of fun! I don't realize how much I'm doing with it until I'm sore. That's the sort of workout I like, ones that don't feel like work.

I'm considering ending my gym membership. But concerned about getting enough from walking, dvd's and the Wii...

I do both! I only use the gym for classes - never for anything else like treadmill, elliptical, etc. I much prefer taking classes at the gym but if I'm not able to work it into my schedule, I have some great dvds at home that keep me motivated, I enjoy doing, etc. I'm actually off to a yoga class in about 30 minutes :carrot:!

Lately I've been working out at home.. there's a park nearby and I'll go walking there, or I do a workout DVD.. I'd like to join a gym for the equipment, but its kinda expensive and working out at home is def. more comfortable for now..