Gym seems like a waste of money- Why not do your weights at home?

[LeBeau]

Cooledcannon I'm gonna go on a hunch here, no disrespect intended, but how often do you blaze?

 

[cooledcannon]

Cooledcannon I'm gonna go on a hunch here, no disrespect intended, but how often do you blaze?

Actually, never.

But Im the kind of person who looks like I do all the time, so close enough. I probably would if I could, its just I never had the energy to increase my social circle, so I dont actually know anyone who would sell me anything.

 

[germanico]

Socializing also lifts your mood and makes you less prone to depression. A gym is a good place to socialize.

 

[cooledcannon]

Socializing also lifts your mood and makes you less prone to depression. A gym is a good place to socialize.

Interesting. I actually should go out of the house and socialise more.

Ive only done it at the beach since I live less than a kilometer away, but I live around 3 km from the city center where other people are around, so when summer is over I actually have to put much more effort in because I have to catch the bus. Its also hard when you dont know anyone. I mean I can talk to people alright in friendly convo but not really arranging meetups and such.

 

[Vroom]

You're right cannon - it IS a waste of money.

Here's a post I made on another thread about it:

After getting sick of spending $40 a month on a gym with 100 treadmills and bikes and dozens of cable machines that I never used - but only a single squat rack, I put together a home gym in my garage with all I needed, mostly second hand from gumtree (an australian online classifieds site).
Best of all it's only cost me $100 for:

squat rack
Adjustable bench
doorway chin up bar
2 barbells
1 ez bar
4 adjustable dumbells
~300kg weight


Weights and fitness gear is something that a lot of people have lying around that they want to get rid of, but they often don't know the going rate. By checking the site for new ads often, I was able to pounce on underpriced deals quickly. I bought a few of these packages, I was able to accumulate close to 500kg of weight at around $1 per/kg, which is ~1/2 the going rate for second hand weights and ~1/4 the price of new, and got the squat rack and adjustable bench for just $100. When I went to collect these items, each and every person remarked how the phone just didn't stop ringing from the moment they posted the ad - proof that there are quite a few people doing the same thing, and that the deal is a good one.

Of course, nobody needs dozens of 2.5 and 1.25kg plates, so I took the bars and plates that I needed, and put together my own packages to sell online at the proper market rate, recouping most of my costs. The only thing I wasn't able to get cheaply were the rubber floor tiles which cost $50/sqm, but are a must to stop from cracking my homes foundation when dropping heavy deadlifts, .

I keep my workouts simple:

Deadlifts
Squats
Bench press
Overhead press
Chins

And if I wanted to, I could do all sorts of dumbell and vanity exercises. There's nothing holding back my progression - I've got more weight than I can lift, and for the chins, I use a martial arts belt to add weight. And best of all, I can lift barefoot, wearing nothing but my undies

The only thing I miss from the gym is checking out the fine girls, but I can live with that.

http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-30284.html

I've had this set up for 18 months or so, so would have saved $1000 or s and gained in convenience. Throwing money away doesn't prove that you're "dedicated". It's much easier to force yourself to go into your own garage and smash out a few sets than to drag your arse off to the gym.

I might also add that a very common theme on this forum is how hard it is to open girls at the gym, so don't feel like you're missing out on much there.

 

[cardguy]

To me - anything that saves time is just as important as money.

Time = Money.

 

[Hades]

A gym membership is valuable. Nobody would drive to a gym, get dressed, and then just say "Screw it" and drive off. Who would waste the trip? If you're particularly spendthrift about it, you can reflect that every day you don't use a membership is one day less that you own one.

Even considering that, there's a definite psychological component to walking into a gym and getting changed in the locker room that motivates people to lift weights. On my sorest of days I was ready to lift once I had my gym clothes on.

If all your stuff is at home, then you can just continuously put off lifting weights. "Shit, everything I need is right here, right now. I don't have to lift immediately, those weights will be right here when I get back". Pretty soon it's midnight and you have to get to bed, having never bothered to touch the weights. Why bother? They don't depreciate by not using them. That line of thinking is the reason why I would wager that 95% of bowflexes and treadmills in the country are just expensive clothes racks.

If you want to be effective at working out at home it helps to do something like throw in an hour long playlist on your computer, and do that every day right after you wake up. Go for broke until the playlist is over. Some kind of ritual or routine to "get in state" for lifting is essential, because consistency is king when making strength gains.

 

[germanico]

Ive only done it at the beach since I live less than a kilometer away, but I live around 3 km from the city center where other people are around.

Go take a walk at the beach at least 2 times a week, even if you dont talk to anyone. Go outide to spend some time with yourself.

A 4-5 kilometer walk will take less than an hour. Getting out of the house is important.

Try meetup.com and couchsurfing.org for local groups that you can join.

 

[lovejoy]

I've done both over the last 40 years, it takes a lot of dedication to do it at home. You have to look at it as the first thing you have to do in your day and do it. Most people are not capable of it. Got to go now and do my morning 10 mile sprint training...

 

[Pantheon Dweller]

Go on craigslist and buy what you need, it takes space and many people don't know what weights and racks are worth so you can have great gear for a few months worth of gym membership.

Some people need to think "I paid so I have to work out", but some willpower works just as well. It also takes far less time for the same workout (no packing your bag, driving, waiting for the squat rack, etc.) and you can eat a large meal just after since you're already home.

As for socializing, you can leave your house without paying a membership.

 

[The Great Basilisk]

Home gym is impractical if you want to live in a city downtown. I have a 23 square meter studio and there is no way i would get a home gym. I'd need atleast another room which would make my living expenses about 300€ more per month. My gym memebership costs 20€/month and the gym is located about 200m from my apartment door and is open 24/7.

 

[Lothario]

I have tried both ways and just can't get motivated to do work outs at home or while travelling but when I do go the Gym the only thing I do there is a solid workout and there are friends who push you to the limits.

Now it's just a routine, finish work, go to the Gym and then home.

 

[ddjembe mutombo]

I pay $90/mo for the gym I work out at downtown. It seems like a lot, but there is so much benefit that comes with that price tag. Everything is nicely maintained, well kept, and well racked. I never have to wait to use anything. Full NBA size court, and a plethora of free group classes. If you want to get in shape, just take a group class. Any competitive man will push himself harder than the rest of the class. Finally, the locker room is very nice and they wash your gym clothes for you.

 

[berserk]

I'm not a big fan of commercial gyms. Sure, you can oggle at some fit cardio bunnies and maybe get some extra motivation, but you also have to deal with all the (literal) phags standing around gossiping, the semi-squat bros who hog equipment and the twig like personal trainers who always try to sell some bad deal.

Besides, when you have lifted for years, the need for motivation goes away and it's more about just getting it done with good intensity in a short amount of time. So yeah, I can see the appeal of a very basic squat rack and bumper plate barbells.

 

[Moma]

As a regular gym goer for over a decade now, I can say that my most optimal gym times was when I went with another person who had similar goals. When I went with a couple of dedicated mates in the UK, that was when I was at my best and I was able to kill it during summer with road game and just wearing skimpy shirts etc.

If you can google or craigslist a gym buddy and you can go with this person, you will enjoy the best progress possible. You may have to vet the person of course..because if they just went to talk and goof off, you may find that partnership counter productive.

Of course prepare your meals beforehand so you don't binge on crap, protein, carbs at the right percentage with your vegetables post workout and you simply can't go wrong.

 

[Peregrine]

No question about it, I'd rather lift at home if I had the space for it. No one to share with, no commute to discourage me from going, no one to talk to, no women to distract me, cheaper over the long run, etc.

Leaving for the gym in an hour (can't leave now because fuckin' women-only hours) and boy do I wish I could do my squats right now at my own place.

 

[cpred]

I like going to the gym. They have all the equipment there that I need. I do not have the space in my apartment for a squat rack or bench with weights. I do have an exercise room in my high-rise if I want to go upstairs on an off day from heavy lifting.

 

[turuk]

I doubt most people have enough space at home to put a complete set of dumbbells at home. It takes a lot of space but I guess it is possible and financially feasable if you have long-term outlook. For me, I still live at home and no space in my room. In addition going to the gym gives you chance to socialize and be outside the house.

 

[Quintus Curtius]

It isn't easy to motivate yourself to work out at home. Inevitably, you will begin to slack off. The act of actually going to a new location to work out is part of of the process of getting in the zone. You can't do everything at home.

Also, it's doubtful that you can equip a home "gym" with sufficient variety and types of equipment to get a good workout. Maybe you can get a Stairmaster and a few barbells and dumbells, but that's hardly enough.

It is very easy to find reasonable gym memberships. Just avoid the unnecessary expenses, like personal trainers, classes you have to pay extra for, and pointless things like that.

 

[devilution]

I'm perfectly a big fan of bodyweight exercises, at home push ups and pull ups with dips at the local playground. I'm not against going to the gym but view bodyweight exercises as the perfect way to work out for me.
I like the fact all the movements and muscles groups I'm working out will compliment each other, I'm not bagging on weights. The gym is a perfectly good alternative to building muscles.