You've decided that you want to start a regular exercise program. Great! Now the question is: Should you get a gym membership or buy equipment to use at home?
I myself am a "gym rat" but I hasten to say that gyms are not always the best choice for everyone. Now that I've said that, in my opinion, it is easier, safer, funner (note to my second grade English teacher: Yes, I do know that "funner" is not a real word), more economical in the long run and more likely to give you better results than working out at home.
But the decision of working out at home or in a gym is one you'll have to make for yourself, sport. So here are the plusses and minuses:
Work out at home...
No travel time or gas expense
Lack of variety of equipment
No professional trainer
Equipment maintenance and repairs your responsibility
Solitary with no social atmosphere
You can choose your own music, TV channels, etc.
Must buy equipment up front
Never have to wait to use equipment
Work out at a gym...
Travel expenses add up over time (see below)
More variety of equipment
Professional trainer available if you choose
Someone else maintains and repairs equipment
Work out around other people (may be a plus or minus)
You're mostly stuck with the gym's TV and music
Monthly payments, may have to sign long term contract
Equipment not always available, especially during peak times
In terms of economics, if you look simply at the cost of buying even marginally decent strength training and cardio equipment for your home, the cost starts at a minimum of $1,000 and can easily end up at $3,000 or more. Assuming a good gym in your area has memberships for $40 to $60 a month, you could get about two years at a gym for the cost of the most economical home gym. Also, keep in mind that home cardio equipment like treadmills and elliptical trainers may require maintenance after two years or so, and repairs can be expensive and inconvenient.
An economic factor working against health clubs is the cost and time of driving to and from. Unless the health club is in a very convenient location for you, the back-and-forth can add up to lots of mileage and hours of driving over the months and years.
Excuse me a moment, I'm putting my accountant hat on. OK, I'm ready to talk like an accountant... Let's use your favorite author (me) as an example. I went to the gym located a little over six miles out of my way on my way home from work. I went there an average of three times a week. I used that gym for over four years so that's over 600 roundtrips of 12 miles each, which is 7,200 miles. At 30 cents a mile for gas and wear-and-tear, it cost me $2,160 to drive to and from the gym. That made my true cost of belonging to that gym equal to the $40 monthly membership fee plus about $45 per month in travel costs, for a total of $85 per month.
The decision is more than just dollars
Whew, my brain is tired and I think I smell smoke. I'm taking off my accounting hat now, because obviously there's much more to this decision than just dollars.
One of the key factors to think about is: will you feel comfortable in a gym? Some people feel right at home in a health club and some don't. But, if you're worried about not looking trim and fit amongst all of the trim and fit members, don't be concerned about that. Everyone is at the gym for the same reason as you, and plenty of un-trim and un-fit people inhabit gyms.
The best way to figure out if a gym is right for you is to visit one at the time of day that you would normally work out. Check out the crowds, how available equipment is and the general condition of the place. In terms of condition, look for these tell-tale signs: split cushions on equipment, signs saying "out of order" on equipment, the number of open machines in the cardio exercise area , and dirt or dust bunnies in corners. These are signs of poor maintenance or too many members for the equipment available.
You should also consider whether a small facility or a large mega-club is right for you. Some people prefer to get lost in a large place while others prefer a cozier atmosphere.
Another factor is the classes offered. Step aerobics, group stationary biking, kick boxing and countless other group classes may be available (or not) at a health club. If you think these will become part of your exercise program, make sure your gym offers them, that classes aren't always full, and that they are offered at times that are convenient for you.
Try to get a feel for the "personality" of the gym. Different gyms tend to have different personalities. You may find one gym is where all the body builders work out while another one has a larger base of women, maybe because they offer more aerobics classes.
Many people like the social aspect of working out with others. However, this is the proverbial two-edged sword. On one hand, it relieves the day-to-day rut you may find yourself in after months of working out regularly. And, depending on your preferences, you may like to be around other people during your workout. On the other hand, there may be times when you are in a rush and want to get through your workout, or you have a problem at work that you want to ruminate about while you do your cardio. But, oops, here comes Mrs. Jones, and you know she's going to bend your ear for the entire time you're on the treadmill.
If you like being around other people, gyms can keep you interested in exercising. I personally find it motivating to work out at a gym because on any given day there are people there who are a little further along the fitness road than me, but there are also some people that I am ahead of. That makes me feel good about how far I've come but reminds me that there is room for improvement
One of the big advantages that a gym membership offers in the long run is variety. Gyms usually have a choice of two, three or more machines for doing a particular exercise, so you can approach your muscles from slightly different angles each workout. Also, the variety of different machines keeps you from getting bored.
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