Home Gym

[Quinch]

I'm wondering whether to invest in some home gym equipment next year to save money on gym membership subscriptions in the long term.

 

Can anyone recommend any pieces of equipment, bearing in mind that I don't have much space for large X-trainers, rowing machines, etc. I just want to lose weight and tone up.

 

Thanks

[JamesM]

My personal feeling based on my own experience is that the money saved is lost in motivation.

 

I also invested in some weights, a bench, and a treadmill. This was because we had no time for gyms with young children. I found that we (my wife and I) did not use it nearly as much as we went to the gym.

 

In our garage, we have the bench, treadmill, and weights. We both again have memberships. We both workout more and harder than we ever did at home.

 

So, while on paper the investment makes sense, for many it does not work out to practically make sense.

 

Again, this is my experience.

 

Now to equipment. If I were to invest in something to work the overall body at at reasonable price, then I would buy either a set of dumbbells and a bench, or I would find a unit that has a lot of exercises. Since I am familiar with many types of exercises for the whole body, then for me a dumbbell set is fine. Yet the ability to leave weights in place as is offered by a machine makes this enticing.

 

I purchased a good set of dumbbells with a rack taking up a two foot by two foot area and about three foot high for $300. I bought the bench for under a $100. And the treadmill was $800 (I could have gone cheaper). The only thing really used extensively was the treadmill. If I enjoyed working alone, then I think I would go that route again. Yet taking long walks outside would be cheaper and more effective IMO than a treadmill. The price of two memberships was less than $1000 at the time (ten years ago. (However, now my wife has a membership through her job and I have one at a different place. The price totals about $400).

 

I am not sure how easy in the UK it is to find used equipment, but here in the US the newspapers have a classified section. Unfortunately, you picked the time of year that is when people make resolutions. Equipment will be harder to find. Come next summer, then many people will be selling their equipment. This would be the best way to get good stuff at a great price.

 

Sorry for the lengthy explanation.

 

IMO, a good set of weights and a bench would be all that is necessary if you have the ambition to workout at home. Otherwise, the gym membership will provide greater benefits overall.

[wuggle]

I would recomend that you only get a set of dumbells for home and stick with gym membership for most of your work. I have over the years bought gym equipment and after a short period of time it gets unused then disposed of. Making a deliberate decision to go to the gym and the drive you can get from other people there make this so much better than working at home. If you have a set of dumbells at home you can do little bits of arm & upper body work on days when you cant get to the gym.

[MadBambi]

I personally prefer working out at home. I totally wasted my money on my gym membership. I didn't like going cuz all the creepy guys stare at you n' then try to make lame chit-chat by the treadmill, watch you so that if you look as if you don't know how to use the equipment they rush over in their sweat n' muscles to "assist" you...eww!

 

LoL! But expensive idk cuz i stay w my sister. The equipment was collecting dust in the basement from back when she had your same idea of self motivation with creating a home gym. The only thing about that is - you gotta have the drive and motivation. Im my own motivation - working out is rewarding to me. I look in the mirror like, "damn, girl! Your arms look niiiiiiice! Can't wait to hit the wieghts again 2mro! Yeeeeeeeeeeah!" But my sister ain't really motivated, i am her motivation. So, if you're not already gung-ho about working out, if you need a lil push or if you're just starting out - going to the gym is a much better motivator.

 

I love working out at home though. It's private, i can blast the music, i can workout in my underwear if i want, at whatever time of day, i can get all gross and sweaty and not have to worry about if someone thinks that's so hooooooot when i go to get a drink of water.

 

As far as equipment the only thing i use is the treadmill, weight bench and roman chair. It's a bunch of other cool stuff down there but i think these are the essentials. Upgrade as needed, you know?

[You'reasian]

I'm wondering whether to invest in some home gym equipment next year to save money on gym membership subscriptions in the long term.

 

Can anyone recommend any pieces of equipment, bearing in mind that I don't have much space for large X-trainers, rowing machines, etc. I just want to lose weight and tone up.

 

Thanks

 

Do a google search on kettle bells.

[justaman99]

Do a google search on kettle bells.

 

yup kettlebells are great.

[sb129]

I agree with JamesM- I need the motivation factor of going to the gym/classes. If left to my own devices I don't work nearly as hard as has been proven by my sessions with a personal trainer the last couple of weeks.

 

Depends on how disciplined you are really. I found buying a bike was a much better investment than home gym equipment- if you have to get from A to B and back again, you can't just slack off if the phone rings. An hour a day cycling soon sorts out your muscle tone.

[josie54]

I'm with MadBambi--I had a gym membership and while I didn't hate it, I also didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I do working out at home. I don't like socializing when I'm working out, and hated seeing someone I knew or having to say "hi" and "excuse me" to people when I was all sweaty and gross. And then there's the 30-minute limit on cardio equipment...at home I can work out as long as I want without guilt.

 

I already had a set-up at home in the basement which I now use regularly and happily--I have a treadmill, free weights (2 lbs pair up to 25 lbs pair), a workout mat, a small television and a bunch of DVDs (both workout DVDs and DVDs of my favorite television shows and movies). I use strength training DVDs for weight workouts, and entertainment DVDs for treadmill time.

 

When I had less space than I do now, I ran outside, kept my weights under my bed, and worked out in my bedroom (in a space about 4 feet by 6 feet). Still had my TV/DVD player for my strength training DVDs. So you can still have a good workout in limited space.

 

So then the question is: Did you work out on your own when you DIDN'T have a gym membership? If you are motivated to work out on your own, then invest in home equipment and cancel the gym membership. If you need the gym to make yourself exercise, investing in home equipment will be a waste of money.

[lonelyandfrustrated]

For losing weight while saving money...switch to walking/jogging/running! Buy those $5 mini dumbells to pump your arms while walking.

 

For all over toning, I'd get one of those pilates balls and a DVD.

 

Total cost: about $25. Motivation is all on you. Maybe start a fitness blog so you feel compelled to log your progress.

[sb129]

I just got home from a group outdoor workout- best way to describe it is "beach boot camp". Its an hour of circuit training and cardio intervals on the beach.

 

Best workout I have ever done- I have met some great people and work HARD because the trainer is there telling you to push just a little bit further, and you mentally compete with the other people in the group.

 

I am getting much better results doing this kind of stuff than I ever did working out home alone- its a personal choice, but I def need someone to tell me to keep going.

[Trialbyfire]

In order to work out at home, you have to be disciplined. What works for me is that it's part of my lifestyle, just like brushing my teeth, at least three times a day. If you can't get to this level of needing to feel body-healthy v. just wanting to look good, don't work out at home.

[sb129]

I am on wedding countdown (21 days to go!) so I need ALL the extra help I can get!

[DaveK]

Over the years I have spend many thousands of dollars of training equipment. I use it for a couple of months, maybe a year, and then stop. I am addicted to exercise, but it is just that home equipment doesn't seem to cut it.

 

Body weight exercise is best. Pilates is a good start. Expand that to various kinds of push ups, dips, sit ups, pull ups and squats. Use your imagination. One of my favorite workouts is going for a run, then doing body weight exercises on the kids' jungle gym in the back yard.

 

The only equipment that I have now is one of those big pilates balls to arch my back and do abs. And, I swear by my kettlebell.

 

Good luck!