2017 is just around the corner and it brings along the new opportunity to make your fitness goals finally happen, this time for real! Knowing that sticking to your resolution requires some upfront planning and organization, you might find yourself weighing the pros and cons of working out in a gym and working out at home. As someone who does a little bit of both, depending on my mood, here are some things you should know before deciding where you should blow off some steam.
Time
If you’ve ever worked out in a gym, you probably know that getting there takes time, and time is not something many of us have in abundance. When working out at home though, you won’t have to spend time traveling back and forth to the gym. Plus, nothing beats showering right after an intense workout in the comfort of your own bath tub. Additionally, during winter time, the days are shorter and the weather can be unpredictable, depending on where you live. This might make getting to the gym a challenge, thus, reducing the chances of you wanting to leave the warmth of your home to get there.
Cost
While a gym membership is the cheaper initial investment than buying machines, if you plan on working out for a longer period of time, buying your own gym machines is certainly the smarter thing to do. Think about it, you’ll be paying for a gym membership, water bottles and will certainly want to look as good as you can so chances are you’ll end up spending money on different workout clothing pieces as well to keep up with the trends.
Machine Quality and Maintenance
The increased use of the machines in the gym will certainly take a toll on them. While most gyms count on the members’ consciousness to clean after themselves and carefully use the equipment, oftentimes that’s not how things turn out.
Crowds
While gyms do offer a large selection of gym machines, they tend to be much crowded on certain days of the week and on certain periods of the day. Many people are able to hit the gym only after their working hours, which is when the biggest crowds occur. Moreover, Monday seems to be THE day of the week when all of a sudden everyone wants to get in shape and gets inspired, so the gym may be more crowded than the usual. This could be a bit frustrating and you might need to skip some exercises or make a change in your program.