Ask most people if they have a gym membership, and they’ll respond affirmatively. Ask most people if they actually go to the gym, and they’ll respond with a “no.” We love having gym memberships -- the problem is, we just don’t seem to go.
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Family responsibilities, work pressure, changing schedules, and who can forget the nauseating non-verbal “drama” we find at gyms? That alone will drive people away.
If working out at home sounds like a pleasant option, but you’re still not convinced, maybe these 10 reasons to work out at home will get you motivated.
I’m not suggesting that you leave your gym if you enjoy it; I’m simply recommending a home-based alternative that may be the solution you’re looking for.
Home workouts can be tailored to your schedule. If you have a home gym equipped with some free weights, video tapes, a fitness ball and possibly a cardio machine, you don’t have to worry about drive time to your gym. If your work schedule changes often or you can’t find a babysitter, then you’re not pressured to find the time to get to the gym. In fact, if your gym is a 30-minute drive away and you can only fit in a 20-minute workout, then the drive ends up being longer than the workout. The beauty of working out at home is you can manipulate your workout schedule as you see fit.
Create an environment that you enjoy. Creating your own workout environment helps to increase motivation. If you hate listening to gym music blaring, then you can choose the music you prefer in your home environment. Enjoy having plants and motivational posters in your workout room? It’s easy enough to do when you to create your customized place of well-being.
Avoiding “muscle heads” - There’s no need to suffer through primal screaming in the gym while Mr. Muscle Head performs his usual Monday bench press routine with a weight that’s too heavy for him. In your home gym, you create the mood and the aura as opposed to it being created by outside influences.
No waiting for equipment. If you work out at a gym at the busiest time, you may have to wait for certain equipment. You may even have to witness two people talking for what seems eternity while one just sits on the equipment you want to use. There’s nothing more annoying than that. If you love non-stop movement and brisk workouts, then you definitely want to pursue the home workout route. --- more »
Saving Money - Let’s face it, a gym membership that you don’t use is good money down the drain. Add that up year after year, and you can probably purchase a new car or a full-scale home gym. An efficient work out at home can cost anywhere from $100 and up. Investing in an adjustable weight bench, some dumbbells, a fitness ball and fun videotapes is all you need. If you want to go the extra mile and purchase a treadmill, the investment will be worth it.
Personal Privacy - If you work out at home, you can dress any way you wish. You can avoid people staring at you, hitting on you, judging you, etc. You work out however you desire and whenever you desire. Even headphones won’t deter some dimwits from talking to you at the gym while you’re attempting to cram in a workout to get back in time to feed your kids dinner. And of course, your privacy guarantees that the local gym-going “expert” doesn’t interrupt you with, “Would you like me to show you how to do that exercise correctly?”
Make use of online training. eDiets has an outstanding fitness program that provides a complete workout based on experience and tailored to the equipment you own. It includes a totally cool Virtual Trainer exercise animation that shows you how to perform each exercise with perfect form. You just can’t beat personal training in your own home on your own time. Confused about how to perform an exercise? No problem. Instead of risking injury, walk over to your computer and simply access the eDiets fitness program to view the correct exercise form – you can’t do that in a gym.
Watch your kids. I know many gyms have day care, but there is something comforting about knowing you can work out and watch your kids as well. It’s also a great lesson for your children because they learn the value of exercise and good health.
Avoiding bad weather - Depending on which part of the country you live in, driving to the gym can be an exercise in frustration. When I lived in the Northeast, during the winter months the thought of bundling up and driving through snow, sleet and rain in order to work out was sometimes an exercise in discipline. This is completely avoided when you work out at home.
Split your workout time. Research shows that two shorter workouts during the day are just as effective as one longer workout. Working out at home allows you to exercise for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening. Maybe you’d like to weight-train in the morning and use a 30-minute videotape after work. Trying to split your workout with a gym membership means endless driving and packing of workout gear – not fun! --- more »
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