home gym vs.

[surfgod247]

well its time that i either invest in some new equipment or join a gym, what do you people think home gym vs?

[metaldrumr7]

a home gym isnt too bad of an investment if you keep your exercise pretty simple

you can buy a power rack, weight set with barbell, bench and you can do the following

bench press (all variations)
squats (front or back)
deadlifts
pullups
dips
bb rows
military press

if you want to spend more cash you can get a lat machine to do lat pulls, tricep pushdowns, cable curls, cable rows

last you can get a dumbbell set, or spinlocks to do you dumbell exercises (I personally bought some olympic dumbbell handles recently to keep the cost down)

[surfgod247]

well i all ready have, 2 benches a set of dumbells the dumbell handles w. curl bar but i just feel that at 30 bucks a month a gym is looking like a good investment rather then dishing out 400 just for the cage.

[RemainDieHard]

It is a big investment by the time you get a decent home setup going. You could drop a grand into your home gym easy just to get the necesities. It would take a long ass time for it to pay for itself vs a gym membership.

For me, my home gym has really helped my gains. I get to listen to my own good music, not have to wait for people "babysitting" the machines, more time to cook and sleep also. I can start my workout, throw a steak on the grill, check on it between sets, and I can chow down on it as soon as my workout is done

[888888]

Originally Posted by surfgod247

well i all ready have, 2 benches a set of dumbells the dumbell handles w. curl bar but i just feel that at 30 bucks a month a gym is looking like a good investment rather then dishing out 400 just for the cage.

think of the long term, home gym is better off.

plus convenience...

[7digits]

i would invest in a home-gym. it is the best having all your equipment in the basement. you can grunt and groan all you want without getting any dirty looks from managment.

[Radok]

Definitely get your own set up. When you are doing your last set of deadlifts and you have to yell to get the last rep, and then it slams back down, you'll be happy you're not in a gym. Eating immediately after and being able to lift weights whenever are the other pluses. You will definitely get better results if you have your own stuff.

[Shredded_Wheat]

Homegym all the way! Also look at the cost savings in gas and wear and tear on your vehicle.

Even at 30 bucks a month (low end) = $ 360 year x say 20 years = $ 7200

You could build a heck of a setup not too mention when you get older and can't lift you could always turn around and sell the equipment and get some money back!

Only loss is possiblilty no spotter.

[KMan81]

I'd say it really depends on the person. There are two major mental obsticals to over come. The first is just getting started in a workout. The other is keeping motivated and keeping the intensity up during the workout.

The first item is much easier with a home gym as you just have to walk to the next room / basement / wherever you have it to get your workout started. The second issue is easier in a gym as the others around you help you keep the intensity up.

Personally I have limitted enough time and the gyms are far enough out of the way that working out at home is the only feasible solution.

[Joe K.]

Originally Posted by Shredded_Wheat

not too mention when you get older and can't lift you could always turn around and sell the equipment and get some money back!

Only loss is possiblilty no spotter.

Actually, when you are older is when you are going to really want to lift! It will keep you young!

[crimsonrain22]

Well after spending a few hundred on home equipment im gonna say there is just something about going to the gym. Now dont get me wrong home gyms rock and I love mine. But require alot of space, money, and motivation. Also I find my intensity alot higher at the gym there is just something about haveing all that equipment at my disposal that is insperational. Caught myself being lazy on to many of my workouts at home with the well if I had this piece of equipment I would work that group harder an so on and so on. If your just getting into this get a membership and give it a try. Also keep in mind if you want to do the home thing there are 100's of people like me who find out the gym is more for then hence lots of gently used equipment floating around at a good price.

[MCWTRAINER]

Originally Posted by surfgod247

well i all ready have, 2 benches a set of dumbells the dumbell handles w. curl bar but i just feel that at 30 bucks a month a gym is looking like a good investment rather then dishing out 400 just for the cage.

Let's put it this way... you can spend $1000 on a really good home gym and that would be about 2 years worth of a gym membership. The home gym you will have much longer than 2 years. Much better investment in going with a home gym. Much more convenient also!!!

Originally Posted by metalman302

It is a big investment by the time you get a decent home setup going. You could drop a grand into your home gym easy just to get the necesities. It would take a long ass time for it to pay for itself vs a gym membership.

For me, my home gym has really helped my gains. I get to listen to my own good music, not have to wait for people "babysitting" the machines, more time to cook and sleep also. I can start my workout, throw a steak on the grill, check on it between sets, and I can chow down on it as soon as my workout is done

It really doesn't take a long time to make your money back. Think about your gas money to the gym, your time going and leaving the gym, the overall cost of the membership vs. how much you put into you home gym and how long you will have it.

I love the fact that I can workout, not have to wait for machines, listen to the music I want to listen to, grunt, yell, whatever and never have anyone look at me weird. Then all I have to do is walk up the steps to grab a shower and a protein shake.

[surfgod247]

well another problem that the space i have to add on to my gym is in a garage so during the summer it gets hot in there, plus the other nice thing im thinking about is if i wanna change up my workout routine all i gotta do is research something new then try it out vs is i had my own place i might need new equipment

[KMan81]

If you buy the right equipment you'll be able to cover most of what you need. As far as climate control, a window AC unit should cover you for the summer.

However, if you are still experimenting a lot with what works well for you and what exercises you might want to do I say join the gym at least for 6 months.

[RemainDieHard]

The only thing that helps my intensity at the gym is all hot chicks there. Their ****ty hip hop music definitely does not help. The music is not a problem if you just bring your own MP3 player.

No need for a spotter if you get a power cage.

[bizman0000]

If you have the space, I would say stick with a home gym. It will be cheaper in the long run and it's a lot more convenient. The only problem is working legs though. In a power rack you can only do squats and lunges. A hack squat/ leg press machine, seated and standing calf machine is needed for a full leg workout.

[RemainDieHard]

Just use a step or calf block and hold a dumbbell for calves

[billy]

Originally Posted by metalman302

The only thing that helps my intensity at the gym is all hot chicks there.

If that's the case then a homegym is not for you. Most intermediate to advance lifters who lift at home already have the motivation and intensity regardless of who is or is not around.

[59kg_weakling]

Homegym by a landslide!

You can lift when you want, wear what you want, listen to what you want, grunt how you want, smell how you want, fart when you want, focus how you want and eat whenever and what you want.

That and it's good to have your own dungeon of pain.

[Shredded_Wheat]

Joe K.

I meant to sell the equipment when you are way older (ie estate sale, etc). For example my grandfather is 92 and still works out at an assited living place.

I workout in a storage unit with my setup. No AC/electricity/etc.... Just add a window unit for yours.

[Sabbra Cadabra]

home. having one for past 5 years has saved in the long run on what people have paid where i live for a gym. plus the odd occasion when ive been late home from work and its easier to get in and workout then drtiving to my local gym.

ended up now converting a garage into a gym lol.

id weigh up a few factors like money, space, if getting more equipment will be worthwhile etc loads of things to think about.

[bbjerke]

There is a lot of great equipment out there that people don't use any more, and lots of fitness equipment takes forever to wear out. Here is a site to help you get some used home gym equipment, or unload the stuff you want to upgrade.

www.buysellfitness.com

You should be able to ask about what folks think regarding the equipment too.

[Zensuji]

home

[user23960508710783]

Originally Posted by surfgod247

well its time that i either invest in some new equipment or join a gym, what do you people think home gym vs?

It depends on how much equipment you "need". If you HAVE to do leg extensions, pulley pushdowns, seated rows, etc. that will require their own special equipment, then you should just join a gym.

Otherwise, a simple bench and plenty of dumbbells would be all you need to get in a solid workout. It might not be perfect, but it would be good.

Otherwise you can look forward to standing in line to use equipment, putting up with people's attitudes, annoying contracts with gym management, etc. etc.

[Chris0288]

Yep I basicly look at it like this:

Gym:

Pros:
More equipment
If it breaks not your problem

Cons:
Annoying people
Posers
Equipment hogging
Bad music
Journey there and back
Paying monthly fee for nothing really, like paying rent, you don't own anything at the end of it


Home:

Pros:
No travelling
Your own music
No waiting
100% focus no distractions

Cons:
Initial outlay is high, but will be recouped within 2 years

I'm quiting JJB gym and getting home stuff asap

[Shredded_Wheat]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul4447

It depends on how much equipment you "need". If you HAVE to do leg extensions, pulley pushdowns, seated rows, etc. that will require their own special equipment, then you should just join a gym.

Otherwise, a simple bench and plenty of dumbbells would be all you need to get in a solid workout. It might not be perfect, but it would be good.

Otherwise you can look forward to standing in line to use equipment, putting up with people's attitudes, annoying contracts with gym management, etc. etc.

The piece of equipment that I have has leg ext. pulleys both high and low, seated rows, etc.. and I paid under 200 bucks for it at "Academy". Granted it does what you mentioned and not other things but overall is decent.

[user23960508710783]

Originally Posted by Shredded_Wheat

The piece of equipment that I have has leg ext. pulleys both high and low, seated rows, etc.. and I paid under 200 bucks for it at "Academy". Granted it does what you mentioned and not other things but overall is decent.

Even better then.

If one can find great and diverse equipment for $200, then a home gym seems like common sense.

[COOP1]

I recently lucked out, and got a home gym for cheap! Thanks to a guy I knew, that was hard up for cash. I am looking at moving soon, I hope to find a house with a basement. I feel that it would greatly help me, as I am sick of going to the local Y waiting for equipment, and dealing with all the idiots that go there to talk, and look at them selfs in the mirrior. I want my own domain, that I can crank up to Tool, and zone out for an hour to my own world.

[TANK25]

I have been workingout for over 20yrs. I was a gym rat for yrs and I luv it.Then the Balleys and LA Fitness started to pop up. They cause all the hardcore whole in the wall gyms out of business.I worked out at LA Fitness for awhile and hated it. Crap music,way to many people if you have to workout at night,have to wait for equipment,have to watch what you say.I got my money together and started to build a gym in my basement. You can save hundreds if you check the trade in times and craigslit. I have me a nice home gym and I get great workouts.I save on gas and time.I don`t have to put up with crap music or someone asking me (how many sets you have left)
I guess it all depends on what you are looking for.

[AlexNJ]

^ All good reasons for a home gym. My rack, bb, dbs, EZ bar, calf block, and bench are all I need. Nothing beats the privacy of working out at home.