gym or workout videos?

L

lcsavik_85

Cathlete
A friend just offered me a coupon for a membership at the gym for $15
a month. I'm very happy with my workout videos and the fact that I can wear whatever and get as sweaty as I want in the privacy of my own home. Plus I love the pause button when I need a quick break to take care of whatever I need to! And I don't have a time limit on whatever I want to do.
Why should I accept the coupon and get the membership? Any reasons you guys can give me would help a lot.

Thanx,
~Reece Out~
 
I can't give you any reasons because I feel the same way you do & I would hate going to a gym.
My sister, however, loves it. I guess it just depends on what you're the most comfortable & happy with. (Also on what you'll actually do...I can talk myself into things at home but would find it really hard to talk myself into getting dressed & leaving the house & driving to the gym, blah blah, etc.)
Can you try it on a trial basis? That way you could really see if you'd like it or not.
Whatever you do, enjoy it!
Ruth:)
 
Oh so THAT'S why you won't come see me at the club Ruth! LOL!!
T. :)
 
Shoot for 15 bucks I'd take it. That's a pretty low fee.
I think the cardio at home and at the club is pretty much the same. You can get your HR up at either place for the same amount of time.
The weights are a different story though. There is no way you can get as good of a weight workout at home as you do at a club unless you have a home gym system. Even then, those are still pretty inflexible as far as switching up routines.
The gym is a great place to meet other fitness minded people.
As far as dressing the way you want, you can do that at the club. I've seen some outrageous outfits on one hand and on the other I see many people in sweats and t-shirt. I've seen it all and believe me, nobody gives two rat's asses about what people are wearing.
Of course, you need to consider your goals as well. Some people's fitness goals can be achieved by just doing a home routine. Others need the club.
Just as an aside, club or home, you should be on a time limit when working out. Workouts should be completed within a specified timeframe. It makes the workouts crisper, more efficient and beneficial.
Go at 4:30 AM like I do!! LOL!! You feel tired at times but hey, you gotta suck it up if you wanna be in shape.
T. :)
 
Yes, I agree. For a $15 monthly membership, you have to least try it to see if it will fit into your routine. I also agree about the weights. The gym unfortunately wouldn't fit into my schedule..I am usually gone from 7:30 in the morning until about 8:30 or 9 at night and it takes all of my will power to stick that tape or DVD in or do my own cardio...but I do. Weekends I'm also working some. Thank God for Cathe or I'd be a real physical mess.
 
Stay at home. I did the gym thing and I am much happier at home. I don't have to wait for the equipment I want to use -- at the gym, I'd have to stand and wait for someone else to finish with the elliptical cross-trainer or with the leg press machine or whatever. I stood around waiting more than I worked out. It doesn't matter how good a deal is, if you're not getting your money's worth, it's a waste. Save the $15 a month and buy more Cathe videos and home equipment with it...or if you have all the Cathe videos and don't need anymore home equipment, treat yourself to a movie or to a pedicure or something.

Plus, going to the gym was just one more thing I had to work into my busy schedule. I've got enough to do and trying to fit the gym in was just too much. That's the biggest reason why I started working out at home in the first place...because I don't have to go anywhere except to my living room, and I can do it whenever I want and break my workouts up so that I do some in the morning and some in the afternoon if I want to. That would be two trips to the gym. x(
 
I'd try the gym out for a week or so - most gyms offer a free trial period - and see if you like it. I used to work out at home exclusively for lots of reasons, mostly b/c of my schedule, but now I do both. I agree with Trevor re: weight training. I've seen tremendous results since I started lifting at the gym, I don't have a home gym system, no squat rack so I can't replicate some of what I do at the gym at home. Also, some of the classes are a lot of fun. I've found the people at my gym to be very friendly, everyone dresses in whatever they want - once in a while something outrageous but mostly just t-shirts over workout pants & shorts. Oh, and I am the sweatiest person I know, lol, I always have an extra t-shirt in my bag! But going to the gym has shown me that I'm not the only woman who sweats buckets when she works out :).

For $15 a month it's worth looking into. If you don't like it you already have a great workout plan in place, right? I still love my Cathe and I do lots of her cardio and core work each week, if I can't make it to the gym for one of my weight training sessions I'll pull out one of her workouts.

HTH,

Randi
 
$15 a month is an unbelievable price. I pay $80.

There are a few good reasons to join a gym--you have more variety when it comes to working out. There are machines (which most people can't have at home), free weights and classes. Staff can help you vary your workout & offer a spot if you're trying to increase your weights. Also (some people like this & some don't) it is a social thing--I've met some great people at my gym that have at least one thing in common with me. :)

Edited to add: there is also the safety element. Someone is always there in case you injure yourself, & they're (hopefully) trained in at least basic first aid.
 
I know many people do not have a home gym, but if my basement wasn't turned into a gym, I would probably work out at home anyway. Most of the equipment I have in my basement are equipment from gyms which is why I can get great results. I have dumbbells weights from 3lbs - 100lbs.

I signed up for Lucille Roberts just for step/step aerobics, b/c the gym I use to go was Hard Core and there were no classes. With certain instructors at Lucille Roberts I didn't even break a sweat. Besides I don't drive and the winter was taking a toll on me, b/c when I did break a sweat I would have to walk home in the cold all clammy & wet. So now I can get the benefit of both weight training and aerobics (cardio).

Gotta love Cathe}( .

Haydee

Edited to say: I would probably work out at home anyway b/c I would have bought heavy dumbbells, plated weights and heavy bars.
 
personally... i would stick with home.. i never tried curves or our local gym cuz it's much easier for me to get up and walk out the door to my garage vice getting dressed, getting presentable (yes... i would have to be presentable), driving to the gym.. ewwwww

i have tons of dvds (although i only do cathe exclusively now) and my dumbbells and troy barbell and all the other required stuff and we also have a smith machine with olympic weights/barbell that i don't use cuz i prefer cathe!

however... that doesn't mean a gym isn't for you... if you think you'd do it.. for 15 bucks is a cheap way to try! you may like it!
 
I personally have had a membership and then got rid of it. I know many are motivated by going to a gym setting...I however, don't have a problem with self motivation. That is the KEY thing! If you can do it at home with you being your motivator. I say keep it close at home. I personally like to do my own workouts at home because I can do what I went and the format I like when I want! Also, I used the whole mind struggle with "time" when I was going to the gym. To do the same length of workout....you had to add on travel time to and from the gym. But, at home....your travel time is walking into the other room and then jumping in the shower instead of driving home all sweaty. I can't help you make your decision because $15 is a good rate. However, I would think about YOUR needs and your own motivation. Otherwise, I would suggest saving that $15 a month and use that towards newer workouts!
 
I really love having both options. It's nice to get out of the house sometimes though.

My little boy, DH and I make a day of it sometimes. We'll all go on a Saturday afternoon and have a great time there. DH and I workout and then they have hot tubs and steam rooms. I've never once had to wait for a machine to use. This place is awesome!

Meanwhile, my son has a great time playing basketball in the child area. We all love it.

http://www.lifetimefitness.com
 
I'd be sure to look into the conditions of the membership before making any choice. Do you have to commit to a certain number of months (6 months, a year)? Is your membership limited to certain times/days or to a certain number of days a week or month?

Also, what would you do in the gym that you can't do at home? Is $15 a month worth it to you to get those "extras"? Do you feel you'd get more out of working out with others?

For me, the only benefit to a gym would be some of the weight machines (leg extension and press, lat pulldowns) and some safety equipment that would let me lift heavier (squat racks and bench press racks.
 
As much as I hate to admit it - but I've finally joined a gym! Trevor is right - the weight workouts at gyms are just better! I love working out in the privacy of my own home, plus at home, I can workout whenever I want - don't have to worry about getting into the car, driving through snow, rain or whatever to get there....BUT - for weights - gyms are better.

I joined after reading several posts about true heavy lifting to effect change in the legs, thighs, butt and hamstrings - and I just wasn't lifting heavy enough at home and couldn't unless I got a smith machine and several other machines, which is too expensive.

I am now lifting a lot more weight at gyms and, I'm happy to say, my legs are fried by the end of my workouts. As for cardio - I do that at home or go for a run, which I really enjoy.
 
Thank you for all the replies.

I have a lot of equipment at home. I do need to get the next size up on dumb bells.
The only reason I would go to the gym is for the classes and the eliptical machine. I don't want to put any more muscle on. I would like to be more defined.
The gym here on the rez is very basic. No spas etc.. just equipment and a few classes. If my friend were to go with me I'd probably go. I wouldn't want things turning into a competition with her.

I wouldn't like the idea of having to wait for equipment.
What I meant by the time limit was the fact that I like to do more than 30 minutes of cardio. I wouldn't like to have to wait on someone else. That would be a waste of my time. If it were more time efficient I'd go for it hands down.

I went to the gym 4 years ago for quite a while. I just remember the guys watching me run and always asking for my number. That was the reason I stopped going. I'm not sure it would be that way out here on the rez b/c its a completely different culture. So I don't think that would be an excuse for out here.
 
I like Cathe's videos. Although I have the dicipline to go to the gym my intensity just isn't quite as high as it is with Cathe's videos.:)
 
I think I would stick with the home workouts as well. I used to belong to a gym, but I did not enjoy it as much for the same reasons -- I would have to wait for machines because they were in use by others or I was constantly eyeballed because someone wanted the same machine I was on! Plus dragging my butt to the gym was somewhat of a pain; I was constantly having distractions that kept me from leaving whereas with videos I can do my workouts in the a.m. (when my home gym is always open) and not be distracted, i.e., no excuses!
 
I joined a gym several months ago and am SO glad I did. I found a ladies-only gym that had a pretty good price and lots of equipment & classes. I was soooo bored with home workouts-- even a new video didn't excite me-- that I was not motivated to work out at all. Now I do spinning (LOVE it!), kickboxing and weight training classes at the gym. I'm also loving the elliptical machines for other cardio. All in all, a great decision for me b/c I'm working out consistently again. With that said, I'll probably be bored again by the time my membership is up and be back on home workouts! :)

Another big factor for me is location. I pack my clothes in the morning and stop on my way home from work. No getting to the couch and blowing off working out...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top