Working Out at Home: Pros & Cons

Working Out at Home: Pros & Cons

So you’re ready to get started with a workout routine, but you’re struggling with choosing between keeping your workouts at home, taking advantage of the range of home gym exercise equipment, or joining the nearest gym. You’ve read post after post from fellow fitness enthusiasts, and it seems that everyone’s recommending conflicting perspectives.

Weighing the Benefits of Home Exercise

At-home advocates say they have fewer excuses to not workout, and that they save money by purchasing affordable home workout equipment for a one-time investment lasting for years to come. On the other hand, gym warriors point to the variety of equipment and access to perks such as trainers and group classes as the thing that keeps them paying money every month.

To help you make your final decision, we’ve addressed some of the major pros and cons of working out at home:

Pro: No Excuses to Skip a Workout

If you’re hitting your home exercise equipment, you can fit in a workout at any time, at any hour without having to schedule a time to pack up and commute to the local gym. Early morning, late at night, even over your lunch break if you work remotely, it’s totally up to you. You don’t have to make your workout schedule fit into a gym’s open hours; your home gym is always open!

Also, if you’re the type of person to use lots of excuses to get out of getting your sweat on (and we don’t blame you!), having all you need to workout at home gives you no excuse to skip a workout. Short on time? Fit in a quick HIIT or bodyweight session between plans. Bad weather? No need to drive to the gym! Don’t have clean gym clothes? Toss on your pajamas or that holey pair of sweats and get to it.

Con: Getting Motivated Can Be More Difficult

Have you ever felt unmotivated to workout, but once you’re at the gym you give it your all? That quick switch in your motivation is likely due to being in an environment where everyone else is working hard for their goals, and you don’t want to look as if you’re phoning it in in public.

When you’re working out at home, it can be more difficult to flip that motivation switch to put in a hard workout if you’re not feeling it that day. The siren call of your couch and TV or those unfinished chores may be too much, or you may not workout as hard as you’d like to with no one else around.

When it comes to motivation, the gym generally wins out.

Pro: Working Out at Home can be Less Expensive

Gym memberships and class passes are expensive. You can easily rack up hundreds per month just to get all the workout options you want. And when you add into that finding all the gear you need, paying for gas to drive to and from the gym … It all adds up fast.

By working out at home, you’re not paying those monthly fees and shelling out money for all the little extras you don’t even think about when you decide to embark on a fitness journey.

You can make your home workout experience as minimal as you want, with YouTube workout videos and bodyweight exercises. Or, if you want to invest a little bit of money to get some home workout equipment, consider buying a great elliptical such as the Octane Lateral X Touch or a Life Fitness G2 Home Gym that will give you the same quality you’ll find at the gym without paying those monthly fees.

Con: You Don’t Have Access to a Range of Equipment

Paying for a gym membership means you have access to a range of health fitness equipment, classes, and motivation that you wouldn’t have at home. Depending on the amenities of your chosen facility, you might be able to use an indoor track, fitness equipment, weight room, swimming pool, steam room, group classes, and personal trainer whenever you want, all for the same monthly fee. This gives you tons of options, especially if you’re someone who needs to keep your workout routine fresh to keep up your motivation.

To combat this, we recommend investing in some versatile home gym equipment for sale, such as the Life Fitness G2 Home Gym with Leg Press. You get a variety of workout options in one piece of equipment, all while still at home.

Pro: You Have More Privacy

Admit it: You’ve sometimes felt just a little silly when trying a new workout routine or move. It’s OK, we’ve all been there! Trying something new is always a little nerve-wracking, and it can be difficult when you feel that people are staring at you.

By working out at home, you can put on your favorite music – as loud as you want! – and do your thing, whether that’s lifting weights, running, or following along with a filmed routine. No one’s there to see when you trip or miss a move, and you don’t have to worry about matching your outfit.

Con: You’re Less Social

Gyms are great places to meet like-minded people, and gym friendships often turn into solid relationships in the outside world. Nothing can get you motivated quite like the pumping music and camaraderie of a group fitness class. Seeing others working hard, struggling in the same ways that you are, can be the motivation you need to push just that much harder, giving you a great workout.

Having that extra touch with the outside world can be especially important if you work at home. You’re already spending a great deal of your time alone, and working out alone isn’t exactly going to help the sense of isolation you sometimes feel.

Health Fitness Equipment in Jackson, MS

Outfit your home gym with the best exercise equipment in the business by visiting Fitness Expo Stores in Jackson, Mississippi. We have high-quality gym equipment for sale to help you reach all your fitness goals. Visit our online store or stop by today to talk with one of our fitness consultants!