My Home Sweet Home Workout

I am faithful with my workouts and exercise routine but I have never had a gym membership. Does that seem unusual? I recently read that approximately 14% of the US population currently has a gym membership. That might not sound like much until you consider that that is 45 million people. Is it worth it?

I understand some of the reasons people tell themselves they need a gym membership: The gym has the necessary equipment needed; the gym offers classes and/or instruction; Paying for a membership will keep me motivated.

I disagree on all counts. Unless you are a high endurance athlete, you don’t need a large quantity of different types of equipment. There are an unlimited number of ways to get an at-home workout regardless of the type of workout you’re looking for. Cardio, weight bearing, yoga, pilates are all easily arranged at home. Your home gym can be completed with a couple of sets of differing dumbbell weights and access to the internet. My home gym includes 5 sets of dumbbells and a mat. And even the mat is optional. If you’re going to be doing floor exercises, you can use a carpeted area, or a blanket or a towel for a little cushioning from a hard floor.

In terms of putting together a workout program, there is no better resource than Social Media. My go-to recently has been YouTube. There are options here for classes, instruction, and unlimited varieties of workouts. Whether you want to begin a cardio workout or a weight bearing workout (and even if you don’t know which of these you should start with), there is a YouTube video to guide you. There are resources to help you decide what type of workout to do, how often to do it and for how long. You can search by goal (I want to build muscle, burn fat, get in shape for a marathon), by body part, by equipment type, or by time available. For example, I usually break up my weight workouts by body sections. I work upper body one day, and lower body another day. Sometimes my lower body is just legs and I’ll do abs alone on a third day. If I’m short on time, I can search for a 10 minute ab workout, and will be provided with numerous options to choose from. You can further refine your options by searching for beginner ab workouts or floor ab workouts. I have never entered search criteria for a workout and come back with no results. And if you have a smart tv, you can get your workout on the big screen.

Aside from social media options, one of the most enjoyable ways of getting gym-free exercise is to get outside. Take a walk or hike with friends, play some tennis, play frisbee, try something new! Some tips for maintaining an active lifestyle are to do things that are fun, and change it up to keep from getting bored. My favorite tip is to solicit some friends to join you. This ensures it will be fun while also having someone to hold you accountable.

The most frustrating gym rationalization to me is that paying for a membership will motivate me to work out. Unfortunately, the facts show the opposite is true. As many as 80% of gym workouts go unused. You may have experienced this phenomenon, or know someone who has. You are excited for a fresh start, attending several times a week at first (probably in January!), then less and less until you discover that 6 months have gone by, and you haven’t been to the gym once.

I suggest you find another way to motivate yourself. Here are some ideas: Regular weigh-ins, post a picture of yourself at your ideal weight, work out with a friend, place a dream outfit where you’ll see it daily. work out first thing in the morning before distractions allow you to find an excuse to skip it. With my home workouts I save time because I don’t have to drive to the gym. I can wear whatever I want and try anything new without being self conscious. And it’s easier to get back into the swing if you miss a few days. Why? Because when you’re home, you’re at the gym! Oh, and did I mention, I don’t have that unnecessary debit coming out of my bank account every month. A good, simple workout with no cost? Sign me up.