Home gyms can be very effective for people looking to exercise, particularly those who have not had much luck with joining commercial gyms in the past. On the other hand, there are some cons to building your own home gym that you may want to take into consideration as well before putting one together. Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons of home gyms so you can make an informed decision when it comes time to create your own workout space at home.
Pros of Home Gym
Having your own home gym comes with certain perks. For example, many gyms are open for limited hours, requiring you to squeeze in workouts around your schedule. If you’re someone who works long hours or has a busy schedule (or both), having your own home gym can be ideal because it lets you workout at whatever time is most convenient for you. Not only that, but many gyms require you to buy expensive memberships—especially if they have tons of high-tech equipment. If you’re not planning on working out regularly, buying an expensive membership could be money wasted since most people don’t end up going often enough to justify paying full price every month. Finally, and perhaps best of all: no lines!
Pro 1. No commute
That's right. You can stay in your pajamas all day if you want. No need to change clothes or even get dressed. This is one of your pros of having a home gym. Sure, you will still have to shower, but you do that anyway so why not save yourself some time and keep everything in one place?
Pro 2. Exercise at any time of the day or night
One of your main goals should be to be consistent with your workout schedule on amazon. If you keep pushing your workouts to different times during the day, you will never get into any kind of routine. When you have a home gym, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is; there is always time for some fitness.
Pro 3. Nobody is getting in your way to equipment
Gyms are often busy and sometimes, you have to wait in the line to get to some equipment. It can be annoying, demotivating and slightly frustrating. Well, with the home gym, this is no longer a problem. It is your equipment at your safe place and you can use it how long and how much you wish without waiting in line or standing in the way of somebody else. This makes your workout so much more enjoyable.
Pro 4. Design it as you wish
If you want to design your own workout area, it's an easy job. You can add whatever elements you want; make it formal or informal. And, if you are tight on space, there are many pieces of equipment which do not require much space. For example - exercise balls on amazon are perfect for toning up your abs and getting rid of that excess fat from around your waistline. There is no doubt that these days, home gyms have become increasingly popular among those who would like to keep fit in their leisure time but do not have enough time for regular workouts in gyms because of their professional obligations and family commitments. Home gyms allow people to work out whenever they want, even when their regular schedule prevents them from making it to classes at local fitness centers.
Pro 5. Possibly cheaper
It's no secret that buying equipment for your home is going to somewhat expensive. There are cheaper options of course if you wanted to save some money but either way, it's going an investment.
Although getting a gym membership is a smaller monthly investment, it can actually add up to much more over time. For instance, setting up your home gym could cost you anything from $500 -$2500. But if you're spending $90/pm, you're already paying out $1,080/pa. Home gym equipment have higher costs but at least, once bought, you can enjoy them for as long as you like at no extra costs.
Pro 6. Fewer germs
When you train at a commercial gym, you’re training alongside dozens of other people. Not only are those people strangers, but they’re also working out with their own sweat and germs—which means they’re bringing their bacterial load into your workout space.
When you train at home, there aren’t as many people to share your equipment with (unless you decide to invite them). This leads to less exposure to other people’s bacteria.
Cons of Home Gym
In addition to lacking socialization, working out at home can make you complacent. It’s easy to think that since you have everything you need and are comfortable, there’s no reason to really work hard. If you decide to build a home gym, set up some structure for yourself and hold yourself accountable by following an exercise plan or hiring a trainer who will challenge you with new workouts every week. You might also consider making sure your workout is visible; research shows that people tend to work harder when they know other people are watching them.
Con 1. High start-up costs
With cost associated with buying and installing fitness equipment, building an in-home gym can be very expensive. Depending on your goals, you might find that you'd be better off just paying for a membership at a local gym or hiring a personal trainer to make sure you're making smart workout choices. A $3000 treadmill probably isn't worth it if your main goal is to lose some weight. But if your goal is strength training and toning (as opposed to cardio) then it could be worth it. You could get all of these same benefits from free weights set up in your basement.
Con 2. Lack of social interaction
When you work out in a public place, you’re more likely to hold yourself accountable for your actions. Working out at home, on the other hand, doesn’t require you to check in with anyone else or justify your actions. You can (and probably will) sneak in an extra rep when someone is watching. That accountability aspect can be key to building a healthy workout routine. If you want to make it happen, though, try holding yourself accountable by working out with a partner or friend — even if it’s just once every few weeks.
Con 3. Lack of competition
The third con is that a home gym means no competition. Unless you're running competitions to try and get people to come into your home and challenge you, then you're missing out on one of the benefits of going to a commercial gym: motivation.
You can bring friends or hire trainers (or make friends with trainers) who will help motivate you through workouts. Building new relationships is great for any business but it’s an especially important benefit for personal training since it increases accountability. With no accountability, working out at home becomes nothing more than an option, not something that needs to happen—which means that it won't happen as often as getting motivated by others.
Final Thoughts
Building a home gym has its benefits and drawbacks. Most of the drawbacks stem from your surroundings and financial capabilities. However, if you feel like you have the space, resources and dedication to build a home gym and use it, then you should certainly build it. Then, you can train with a friend or a partner to keep motivation going as you progress towards your goals!