Home or Gym?

When evaluating convenience or accountability, where you choose to exercise says a lot about you.

It’s that time of year when the TVs are plastered wall-to-wall with infomercials touting the next great workout and equipment manufacturers telling you that you’d actually exercise if you had the latest treadmill in your home. Of course, springtime emerges and your DVD set has dust on it and your treadmill is covered with shirts that are waiting to be ironed.

On the flip side, the local health clubs are selling memberships and charging huge joiner fees (*except FitMe Wellness, which never charges a joiner fee) knowing that the vast majority of enrollees won’t use their membership past Valentine’s Day, eventually coming back to the gym in March to quit due to lack of use.

So what’s the right answer for you?

The advantage of working out at home is the convenience that allows you to get in a quick workout whenever the chance arises. But it is that same convenience that can jump up and zap any motivation you have to exercise. Hey, those shirts aren’t going to iron themselves and what’s that noise the kids are making?

Working out at a health club and getting out of the house is beneficial because it allows you to focus solely on exercise and improving your health. If you leave your cell phone behind, you can actually dedicate the time you spend there on your fitness. Another benefit of working out at a health club is that the variety of activities and equipment should keep you motivated and engaged. Replicating that variety at home is exceptionally expensive.

This argument for variety, however, really only holds water if you consciously work to avoid using the same piece of cardio equipment every time you go. Take the initiative to try something new! Learn how to use the strength training equipment, or better yet, ask a personal trainer for help. Try a new class. Don’t let anxiety about trying something different stop you; you can only experience improvement through change!

So, unless you have incredible self discipline, skip the latest DVD fitness craze and find a health club that meets your needs and shares your values. The accountability, social interaction, variety, and 1-on-1 support are all worth it in the end.