Of course, it all depends on why you are working out, i.e. what your main reason behind working out is. 

While it is easy to decide to start working out, where the which one and the what of the decision could be a problem. If you only want to lose weight, the most basic workout sessions are enough for you in the privacy of your gym. For something more, the experts in a gym might be able to help you better. 

The most important decision to make is: whether to work out at the gym or to work out in your own home. To decide better, you need to think of all the aspects of your decision; all the discussion below can help in the process. 

Working Out: Gym vs. Home 

So, which one is better? 

Working Out at Home

For overall fitness and losing weight, you don’t need to do more than the basic exercises: running, jogging, power-walking or simply walking. The best practice would be to take at least an hour every day to run or walk outside the home, both to stay physically active and to take in some fresh air. Exercising outside is the easiest and the best choice you can make, even if you are simply walking. You can both lose weight and stay active when you are walking, jogging or running. 

However, you might not have the luxury of taking a stroll outdoors – may be because you have young children in your care or if you live in a crowded city that barely has walking space. In that case, you can still work out from your home, simply by doing some freehand exercises. 

Alternatively, you can also work out by buying a treadmill or an elliptical machine, in the privacy of your own home, whenever you have free time on your hands. 

Working Out at the Gym 

When you have enough time on your hands and even a treadmill or elliptical machine waiting for you at home, but you are still reluctant to spend time exercising, the gym is the right option for you. When at home, you can find a thousand chores to do instead of working out, or simply lie down on the couch when you should be exercising, and there’s no one to guide you towards the machine. 

If you can simply take the time to go to your nearest gym, you can’t but start exercising. There’ll be no chore to distract you or the luxury of lounging around the house. You’ll have to get on a machine because everyone else is also on a machine, and you can’t simply sit back and stare at your phone for hours. 

Working Out at Home: Pros and Cons

Pros: 

  • If you simply can’t leave home, either because you have a baby or if you work from home, the best option is to work out from home. Taking your baby to the gym can’t be easy, and neither it is convenient to take a break from your work to go to the gym every day. 
  • You’ll be working out free of cost, as opposed to paying or a membership at the gym. Even if you buy an exercise machine, it will be a one-time investment for you. You won’t have to pay for using the machine every month or every day. If you don’t have the budget, you don’t even have to buy an expensive machine to work out; a simple exercise ball or resistance bands are enough for a workout, or you can simply choose to do planks or push-ups, free of cost.  
  • Even without the different machines, you can find a variety of exercises to do at home, free of cost. If you are tired of your treadmill, you can try yoga or Zumba. You can even use YouTube to try different exercise methods, go for a run outside or simply dance to your favourite tunes. Whatever you do to keep active and get your body moving, can be considered as working out if you want to. 
  • It takes less time to work out at home. If you have only half an hour to spare, you can use that time to work out without bothering to change, lock up your home and leave for the gym, not to mention the time it takes to reach the gym and start working out. 

Cons: 

  • At home, there’s no one to push you to exercise if you are not dedicated. You might spend time on other chores or by watching TV while your exercise machine sits idle. 
  • There’s nothing to keep you interested when working out at home, and you might get bored easily. 
  • Even a single treadmill can take up a lot of space at home. It takes less time to work out at home. If you have only half an hour to spare, you can use that time to work out without bothering to change, lock up your home and leave for the gym, not to mention the time it takes to reach the gym and start working out. 

Working Out at the Gym: Pros and Cons

Pros: 

  • When at the gym, you have a lot of options when it comes to different exercise machines. Treadmills, elliptical machines, stair climber machines, stationary bikes, stair steppers – these are only some of the machines that you can find in a well-equipped gym, not to mention the other exercise machines for building muscles. You can’t really buy them all for you home, even if you have the budget, as all these machines would take up a lot of space. 
  • Paying your monthly membership fee can be a motivation for visiting the gym. Since you’ll be paying the fee, you might end up going to the gym at least a few times every week, instead of skipping exercising at home. 
  • It is easier to focus on your exercise while at the gym because there won’t be much else to do, no chores to distract you. You can listen to music or chat with the person next to you, but exercise at the same time. 
  • At the gym, you can get help and assistance from professional trainers. They can help you to understand which exercise is perfect for you, how long you’ll need to exercise, and which machines can be easy for you. 
  • If you are a stay-at-home parent or if you work for home, going to the gym can be an excellent option of social interaction. You can make new friends while focusing on your exercise. Besides, there is a different energy at the gym that can compel you to exercise more vigorously – something you won’t find at home. 

Cons: 

  • Leaving your home to go to the gym can be a hassle every time. Even if your gym is close to your gym, you have to pack a bag and leave the home to go to the gym, which can cut in your time at the gym. 
  • For joining any gym, you have to pay a weekly or monthly fee. The fee maybe $10 or $500, it is still an extra cost for you to bear. 
  • Working out at the gym also means working out alongside other people, which is not something everyone loves. Even if you are a member of a very posh gym, there will be other sweaty, noisy people working out beside you, sharing the same equipment. This is something not acceptable to many people. 

There you have it! Everything you need to know and think about before deciding – whether to join a gym or work out at home. Both of these options come with their own pros and cons, and you have to decide which option is the best one for you. You can choose either to stay at home or to join a gym or better yet – to design a workout regime that is a combination of these two options.