Do you really need a fancy place to do planks? Do you hate wearing earbuds and prefer to have Metallica playing in the background? Are you uncomfortable wearing gym attire?
Where is the best place to workout?
I belong to my company gym and I’m 99% sure that I would never go if it didn’t exist. I go to it 3 times a week because it’s convenient; it’s 1 floor below mine. I own a workout book but never read it when I’m home. But am I missing out by not going to Golds, NYSC or Blink?
At Home
When I get home around 7pm, I love to cook (Italian sauce & pasta, soul food and meatloaf are my main dishes) and veg out on the couch. I surf the Internet and catch up on my DVR. I’m not the most motivated person once I back in my place, I just want to eat and relax.
But then there are highly motivated people who can just go home and bang out 3 sets of pushups, jumprope, burpies, lift weights and do a workout video. I don’t know how they have the energy to do it, but kudos to them. If I did that I wouldn’t cook and order a pizza; nullifying the hard work I just put in.
The benefits are that you can take as long as possible, pace yourself, listen to whatever music and take a nice shower. Also you do not have to worry about getting creepy stares from fellow gym members.
Another thing is that you will also save money. I’m not sure why I didn’t write this first since this is a personal finance website. I only pay $30 a month, but one of my friends pays about $200 a month for Equinox. Although Equinox has great features that does sound a bit too pricey for most of us.
Jaymee on Twitter mentioned that her gym has a cafe and people drinking coffee on the cardio machines and at the bench press. Even though I do like certain amenities, that does sound to be a bit too much. I feel that is a distraction and a reason for the gym to charge a higher monthly fee. It’s also counter-productive. Eat donuts, have a coffee after a workout? No thanks…
At The Gym
I do not have a pool or a rock climbing wall at my apartment. I love playing volleyball, but I do not have a court in my backyard. I also do not have friends to talk to in-between sets. My personal trainer does not live near me. Sometimes I struggle with motivation, as I stated earlier. All of those issues are mostly resolved by going to a gym.
When I did go to Blink for a few months I loved the decor, equipment and the atmosphere. The staff was friendly and were willing to answer my questions. I think it also helped that it was a relatively new gym.
I don’t pay attention to all of the TV’s or music surrounding me. Every once in awhile I would notice a news story flashing on the screen, but I didn’t find them distracting. The only songs that would bother me would be if Yoko Ono would be screeching from the speakers.
Would you skip the gym if there was terrible weather? I shockingly didn’t when there were several downpours last summer. I walked the 3 Avenues (15 minutes) because I couldn’t stomach wasting money on a place I didn’t go to.
Both?
Another solution is use both. The gym for special equipment like swimming, volleyball, boxing, etc. At home then you do bicep curls, calisthenics and pushups. This solution allows you to have it all.
This was not for me because I wound up not working out at home. Once I got home my motivation dissolved. I’m not going to be on American Ninja Warrior any time soon.
Tips
- Find a gym that fits your needs
- Be motivated when working out at home
- Does your gym have unnecessary amenities that may inflate the cost?
- Do what makes you happy
– Mike
Where do you workout? What are the benefits of your gym?
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