Working Out in the Gym vs Working Out at Home
While gym memberships have their benefits, such as access to expensive equipment and trainers, opportunities to socialise and a less distracting environment, the cost and extra travel time required is not always the most feasible way to get the body you’ve always dreamed of.
Finding ways to work out at home provides you with fewer excuses and more opportunities to exercise and make the most of your time, because, as any budding exercise enthusiast knows: consistency is key.
Exercising at home can be done cheaply, or if you’re willing to invest a little money, you can set up a basic home gym for around the cost of a one-year gym membership.
Helping you weigh up your options
Financial benefits of working out at home
According to Gym Prices, the average price for a Victorian gym membership is $77 a month, which is more than $900 per year. Membership aside, transportation costs can be a real hurdle as we all know fuel isn’t getting any cheaper. Working out at home means you have the opportunity but not the obligation to work out.
Time management
Finding the time to work out isn’t always easy. One of the most obvious benefits of having a home gym is the freedom: you can work out whenever it suits you. You don’t have to worry about the drive to the gym and the battle to find parking. For those of us how do need the structure of the gym consider trying a 24-hour one, there are no excuses for running out of time when the gym never closes.
What you’ll need for a home gym
Many people jump straight to the treadmill when they visualise their home work out station, but actually, treadmills are the easiest piece of equipment to go without. If you live in an area with a reasonable climate and plenty of safe places to jog, then there is actually a great deal of added benefits to hitting the pavement.
If, however, you are still keen to get your sweat on indoors, then there are plenty of places to go searching for equipment that is in your price range. Websites such as Ebay and Gumtree are full of lower cost, second hand items that are still in great condition. Shop around; give yourself time to find the items you need at a price that is right for you.
With running, work out DVDs and of course YouTube you have cardio covered, what else is next? Many women are still underestimating the incredible versatility of the good old fashioned weight set. You can use weights for squats, bench presses and any number of total body work outs.
Perhaps, the most cost effective way to work out at home is a body weight circuit. There are 1000s of circuit ideas online and if you prefer to follow along you can find great videos on YouTube. We love Workout Labs where you can find workouts targeting every part of the body.
While a brand new set up won’t come cheap, a second hand approach may see you score the items you need for just a couple of hundred dollars. You can even work out for free using household items and body weight circuits. Keeping in mind that a healthy lifestyle is a long term commitment, setting up your own work out station is definitely something to consider.
What’s your favourite home workout? Share it with us below and help a sister out!
#FunAndFree: Workouts
In our #funandfree series we will be exploring awesome activities you can take part in that are also FREE! This edition is workouts in Melbourne's CBD