Any benefit of going to the gym rather than working out at home?

[Anonymous]

Any that you can think of?

[Hanjheo]

1. Some enjoy the social atmosphere and variety at a gym.

2. Equipment. Do you want to spend $100,000 (or more) on expensive gym equipment? (I did though) Gyms have it all for you. This greatly expands the list of exercise options you have when designing a workout program.

3. Spotters. There's always people at the gym, and if you ever need a spot, there will always be someone to ask. This is crucial for maintaining proper safety while lifting. A 300lb bar crashing on your neck is no good.

4. Dumbbells. This could go under equipment, but I look at it as a different category, because it's huge. It is much too expensive to buy your own set of dumbbells ranging from 5-150lbs.

5. Price. In the beginning, it is much cheaper to get a membership to a gym for a year than it is to buy enough equipment to have your own reasonable home gym.

But just like there's advantages, there's disadvantages. Such as

1. Distractions. You go to the gym to workout, not to chat with other members. Gyms can be too distracting for many people, whether it be their workout pals or fitness chicks, socialization in the gym takes away from your workout.

2. Lack Of Freedom. You can't just do whatever you want in a gym. You also can't sprawl across the middle of the gym floor after.

3. Waiting In Line. A lot of gyms get extremely crowded during certain days and times, and those days and times may be the only day and time that you can get to the gym. If you're doing a fatigue related workout with short rest periods, this becomes impossible when there's a line to use the squat rack.

4. Location. Sometimes, the closest gym to you, won't be that close. It becomes very inconvenient to drive 30 minutes away to get to the gym. This might even stop some bodybuilders from doing their workouts because they don't feel like driving 30 minutes to workout.

5. Hygiene. For the most part, gyms are pretty clean. But I'm sure that you wouldn't like to walk over to the bench to find a nice little puddle of sweat where your head is supposed to go, thanks to the 300lb man trying to get in shape.

But there's lots of advantages and disadvantages of home gyms as well. Especially if you can't afford the equipment.

[Asker]

You spent $100,000 on gym equipment? I doubt that very much. I bought a home gym on Craigslist for $130. Covers every major muscle group.

[Hanjheo]

But it depends on what you buy. Weights aren't cheap, then there's benches, the bars, the racks. (had to buy more than one because my brothers kept coming over to use the equipment). If you bought a few things, 130 is a lot but if you cover enough weights, it adds up.

[Anonymous]

It definitely differs per person. Some people feel more motivated by having to go somewhere, because if you try to work out at home you can get easily distracted and start to do something else. At the gym, your only option is to work out. Some people feel that seeing others working out helps to motivate them, but others feel intimidated seeing others working out so that's why they'd rather work out at home.

It also depends on what kind of work out you want. If you're just going to go to the gym to run on the treadmill, well you can totally just run at home. But gyms usually have equipment that is much more expensive and takes up a lot of space so it's too much for someone to have at home.

Gym membership can also include classes and a personal trainer (depending on the gym and your membership level). Having a personal trainer is great because it's someone motivating you to work out and also showing you the specific workouts you should do to see your desired result.

[JohnDoe3000]

Having other people around you to motivate you and having specialized equipment for workouts that are hard to do at home. But in principle you can do all the workouts you need with a minimal investment in equipment that fits in your house: 1 heavy dumbbell, 1 light dumbbell, a pull-up bar, a towel/yogamat/bathrobe (so doing crunches on a hard floor won't hurt your back) and a chair (so you don't hurt your back working the heavy dumbbell). For cardio you need sneakers to run, or a bicycle to go cycling.

[MrAtticusLebowski]

Good question. Off the top of my head, not everyone has space or can accommodate exercise equipment. Especially if you live in an Apt. not on the ground floor.

It also depends on what you're trying to accomplish, exercise wise. For example i could easily but a squat rack, adjustable bench, weights and maybe a battle rope and would be ok not going to a gym.

[Asker]

I bought a home gym on Craigslist for $130.

[MrAtticusLebowski]

what's all included? Sounds like a good deal.

[kaylaS91]

There's a lot more equipment at the gym than I could ever have at home. More variety in terms of types as well as weights. Plus, my home could never provide the eye-candy I can enjoy at the gym while working out. :P

[Levin]

Actually, that's the only benefit of the gym, the eye candy. Totally forgot about that :D Still not worth the 6£ a session or the monthly subscription for that though.

[kaylaS91]

@Levin you mean to say that you have just as much equipment as the gym you go to?

[Levin]

Nah, you can use your own body for body weight exercises. Gymnastic rings and pull up bar is about all the equipment (I think) you need for body weight exercises. Cardio. Well, I go to a Kung Fu class twice a week, which gets me sweating (a lot). For that I can also just go for a jog/run (can you imagine that, without doing it on a conveyor belt! :P). Also, standing meditation, splashing hands, bagua, lion's roar. I do some Tibetan Yoga. There's myriad things I can do with just my own body... Also, there's the Fu Hu Gong (Crouching Tiger exercises) which are another set of whole body conditioning exercises that are just done with the body weight. If I go to the gym, aside from the subscription and price (which I don't think is worth it), it's up to half an hour to drive there, park, pay for a parking spot etc. Not a very efficient use of time. Could have pretty much finished my work out at home. I like health centres for stuff like swimming. Not for gyming though.

[kaylaS91]

@Levin you live 30 minutes away from the closest gym?
Wow. Yes, you could go for a jog but I have bad hips/knees so I prefer to stick to time on the low-impact elliptical, or an occasional bikeride with my boyfriend.

[Stardust143]

A lot more equipment, pool, hot tub, sauna, basketball court, fitness classes, PT sessions, etc. Maybe pressure to work out since you're paying for membership, and also the motivation of everyone else being there to work out too. If you go with a friend, that can help as well.

[dpg91]

Equipment is by far the biggest benefit of the gym for me. I bought an adjustable dumbbell set when I was younger - it quickly became inadequate so I joined the gym and never looked back. Variety of weights, proper benches, barbells, cable and resistance machines etc.

[Kuraj]

Some muscle groups are hard to exercise without the proper equipment.
But if your goal is just to lose weight or something, then there are few benefits that would outweigh the membership costs.

I personally work out at home and I never felt it being inadequate.
But I do have some basic equipment. (weights benches etc)

[kittykatbrat]

For me... its taking new classes and trialling new equipment.

I'm not a member... just an occasional visitor.

[drakeondegrassi]

the motivation of having others around you, and you feel awkward quitting after 10 minutes helps me.

[Josht13]

If no one can see your gainz then are they really there?

[Asker]

Go out clubbing.

[Josht13]

Your hiding your bicep pump still.

[AhGojira]

You get to lay on other peoples sweat, wait to use equipment, find parking spots, and give them your money.

[somebodysaycheese]

weights. Thats the only benefits i see from the gym is getting in weight training.

[Xfitchick]

More variety, heavy weights and trainers you can ask advice to.

[meatballs21]

More, and better equipment to use. Access to trainers and classes. More space.

[Jan1ssary_]

U have chance to see a lot of sexy chicks, which encourages me to lift more :D

[Asker]

Wouldn't you be better suited to go talk to them?

[brewersfan01]

i much prefer the gym. i like the atmosphere and workin out with other people. more equipment and therefore can get a better workout in.

[Chadette]

Access to certain equipment you might not have at home.

[Anonymous]

Better equipment and people make it more interesting

[Opinion Owner]

Trainers may be available too plus it gets you out

[Aweir]

There isn't in my opinion.

[Asker]

I agree.

[iFarted]

Hot girls with hot bodies

[Asker]

I think I just figured out that the gym is like amateur pickup hour

[Asker]

Everyone probably has a fantasy of being picked up at the gym.

[Decentguy]

proper equipment

[HulkkSmash]

Hot bitches