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Exercise At Home or The Gym

Exercising At Home vs. The Gym: Which is Better?

By LucianaPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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Exercise At Home or The Gym
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

I've tried both. When I primarily exercised at home, I spent about 45 minutes a day doing general cardio exercises. Sometimes, I followed work-at-home instructional videos. Occasionally, I went walking or jogging outdoors at various walking trails. When I exercised at home, it was effective to a certain extent. I didn't have the chance to utilize elaborate equipment that would allow me to focus on specific areas of the body. However, just performing basic cardio routines on a regular basis helped me reach my goals in an adequate time frame. On the days that I went jogging outdoors, I was definitely able to get my heart rate up and reach my fitness goals as well.

Working out at the gym was a lot of fun. In addition to having access to a wide range of cardio equipment, abdominal crunchers, and free weights, I had the opportunity to join fitness classes. I visited the gym about three to four times a week, spending about an hour during each visit. I believe that I was able to reach my fitness goals much quicker than working out at home. My gym membership also gave me additional perks, such as open access to massage chairs.

By Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash

Pros of a Gym Membership

There are definitely great perks to working out at a gym. It's very easy to get a full-body workout with each visit. Maintaining a gym membership can also keep you motivated to reach your goals, as you are in a facility with other people who are also working hard with their exercise routines. If you're new at starting a workout regimen, many gyms have personal trainers who will not only help you get started with targeted exercises, but they'll also guide you during your progress to make sure you're staying on track and working out at the right pace.

Cons of a Gym Membership

Memberships can be costly on your budget. You'll probably pay more for gyms that offer a wide array of unique services to club members. You may be required to sign an annual contract that can include hidden fees. One of the main disadvantages to having a membership is that you will need to pay for the contract, regardless of how often you visit the gym. Most facilities are closed on holidays, and there are also days where they may close to repair or upgrade their equipment. If you're not up to going to the gym, you're still required to pay the costs to maintain your membership. A few facilities, however, may allow you to pay on a month-to-month basis.

By Kari Shea on Unsplash

Pros of Working Out At Home

If you're able to develop a good workout routine at home, you can exercise any time of the day, morning, noon, and night. You don't need to travel to any location or wait for machines to become available. If you're interested in doing more than just general aerobic exercises, you may want to invest in personal equipment, such as a treadmill or an elliptical machine.

Cons of Working Out At Home

Your home routines may not offer the full-body workouts that you need to reach your fitness goals. You don't have access to a personal trainer who can assist you throughout your progress. Also, it's easy to become lazy and postpone workout sessions. If you're not personally motivated to maintain a schedule that's best for reaching your targeted goals, it's possible you may never actually get where you want to be.

Whether you choose to maintain a gym membership, workout at home, or do both, regular exercise is beneficial to your general health. It helps you maintain a healthy weight and reduce overall stress. You can get started with exercising a few times a week with basic workout routines prior to moving to more advanced levels.

lifestyle
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About the Creator

Luciana

Luciana contributes content about a variety of topics, ranging from business and finance to lifestyle and fitness.

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