Why working out at home works for me
That’s my mantra.
Don’t get me wrong – I used to be a gym loyalist. And, I’m still not anti-gym. We’ve had memberships to various facilities for over 15 years. And, as a chick who’s pretty committed to fitness I was never a “New Year’s Resolution” gym-goer who quits by February 1. However, this year, I will officially break up with the gym. For the first time in over a decade, we will not have a family membership at a fitness facility. My son retains a youth membership for basketball court access but the hubs and I are done.
Why? Well, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve always been a home-gym kinda girl. I’ve had videos, weights, a treadmill, elliptical, etc. all along, even with our memberships. And now, with a legit home gym that’s about to get a Peloton bike, we have invested too much to also be paying for a gym membership. I can now do everything at home that I used to do at a gym. But besides the obvious cost benefits of dropping a membership, I’ve found there are some really good reasons for working out at home – reasons that have helped me be healthier. Here they are:
Convenience – Wake up Work Out! I can go from PJs to Pilates in about 5 minutes. Being able to workout on my own schedule has always been a bonus for me because typical gym classes are not conducive to working people’s schedules or those of us who traveled for a living. I’m a morning person, but getting up, getting caffeinated and getting to a spin class by 5:30 a.m. is physically impossible for me. And, usually, your boss doesn’t look kindly on a noon start so you can take a 10 a.m. yoga class or leaving at 3:30 so you can get to the gym for that 5 p.m. Zumba sweat sesh. My days are busy…my workouts have to fit my schedule and they do…at home.
A Wellness Culture . From the time my children were small they have
Accountability. You can only walk past a pricey treadmill or see a stack of unopened DVDs so many times without getting a little twinge of guilt for the money you spent. For some people an unused gym membership creates that sense of guilt. For me, the gym was “out of sight, out of mind” especially on a cold, dark morning or after work when all I wanted was a glass of wine. My home gym investment keeps me accountable. When that spin bike arrives, I know the exact number of online classes we have to participate in to recover our investment. I guess being frugal and fitness minded have worked in my favor!
Creativity with my Comfort Zone! In my home gym I try new things with reckless abandon (picture Phoebe from Friends jogging). Seriously. I have done hip-hop
So, I know a dedicated room with various cardio equipment, weights of all sizes and some of the features of a traditional gym isn’t possible for everyone (but check out my post on setting up a home gym – it’s not as difficult as you think!). But all you really need is a corner of a room and an internet connection. Today, I stream all of my “classes” online for a price that is ridiculous compared to a gym where sometimes your membership doesn’t even include spin or yoga. I have the cardio equipment and weights because I want to be a trainer and have the ability to coach people out of my home. You don’t need all of that. You can simply start by claiming a corner and logging in.
In the meantime, if you paid for that membership,get your butt off the couch and get to the gym. If you don’t have a membership or a clue, give me a shout!I can help.
xoxo
Niki