Working out at home vs. the gym

Has anyone had success working out at home and successfully achieving your weight loss goals? Advice needed please! I am officially the heaviest I've ever been and I have to do something about it! Is it possible to lose weight doing videos at home? Treadmill? TIA. I I were to join a gym U would only join for the classes anyway.

Message edited 1/11/2014 9:41:13 AM.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I keep my gym membership open because it's really peanuts to me ($20 a month) and I spend more money on coffee and other random crap.

When I do go, the gym does have a lot to offer for that $20 a month. (Unlimited classes, cardio, weight machines).

I have a lot to lose this year too and I am going to start focusing more on my diet because I KNOW that's my biggest issue and exercise is secondary.

If you were paying over $50 a month for a membership that you didn't use, then I would say that would be a waste of money.

I made that mistake when I stopped making the time for yoga classes.

Hence, I didn't renew my membership this year.

I also personally feel that any exercise is good exercise whether that is at home, walking around your neighborhood or at the gym.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I got better results working out at home (strength/interval/circuit videos like J. Michael and Jackie Warner) combined with jogging. I think they key is at the gym I spent longer time and more cardio and at home it's 30 min but more intense.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I've done it all. Your success depends on you, it doesn't matter where you do it. If you're more comfortable at home and will do the work, do it. However, I will say that by doing a particularly challenging class at the gym, it works me harder than I'd probably do myself.

At home, I can recommend Jillian Michaels, heard great things about T25 and Hip Hop Abs too. On my off-gym days, I just do my own workouts that I've gleaned from all the exercise videos I've done.

My greatest successes have been when I was tracking all my food (myfitnesspal), keeping things in check, and working out a couple of hours a week. If you do both, I don't think you need to kill yourself with exercise.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

My DH does a hybrid of P90x and Insanity since he can't get to the gym because of his work schedule and watching DS, it works for him. P90x is more weight lifting and insanity is cardio.

I have been trying to get in more activity and I have been doing either (depending on time I have): Jillian Michael's videos or some of the Insanity videos, or Plyometrics from P90X.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I HATE working out... can't stress that enough.

But I've been doing the T-25 DVDs. My friend is a Beach Body coach... I don't do the Shakeology and all of that, but I do like being in the Facebook challenge group my friend runs because it provides accountability. Everyone checks in daily on whether they did their workout, how they found it (was it hard to get through, etc.), and what they are eating.

I think working out at home is so much more convenient, but the problem is the isolation/loneliness factor, and keeping your motivation going. So for me, having the camaraderie of a Facebook group really has been helping me.

So I think you have to be honest with yourself about whether you are going to be able to get to a gym and when. If you decide to do something at home, maybe try to find an online group or forum that you can check in with in order to keep going. Because again, it's something that I struggle to be consistent about. I am just not one of those people who gets joy out of exercise... those endorphins people talk about don't seem to work for me! lol

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I hear you my jeans are TIGHT right now. I even made a thread about how delicious boxed chocolates are!! I've done both and found working out at home is more for me. I have several workout DVDs including my newest one Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. Also I like casual walks/jog around the neighborhood. I can get bored with the gym easily. Right now I'm changing my diet first. Check out my Dr. Oz thread I recently created.

Working out at home vs. the gym

Thanks everyone! I decided to buy videos to workout at home and change my diet. I like the idea of getting an intense work out done in 30 minutes so I bought JM and JW like stinger suggested. I also joined WW online bc I know my portions are out of control. Thanks again, I will post an update in a month :) :)

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I'm waaaayyyyy more motivated going to the gym.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I hate exercising and never did in my life - but needed to lose weight last year. I lost 20 pounds in 6 months just running on the treadmill in my basement every night, and cutting out extra snacks and reducing portion sizes. I ran about 4-5 times per week for 30 minutes - started off with a run/walk program and worked my way up to mostly running the whole time.

For me, I work full time and have 2 kids - there is literally no possible time to go to the gym. So while it's not the ideal time to work out, I do it after they are in bed. My motivation was feeling my clothes get bigger on me! I actually prefer just going upstairs and showering rather than showering at a gym or getting in my car all disgusting. I also don't like people watching me pant and sweat. :)

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

i hate the gym b.c i HATE going out in the cold and/or taking my kids, needing a babysitter.
i never worked out at home but bought the jillian michaels DVDs and that changed it for me. on my own terms, can wear what i want, in my own home, kids are there no need for sitter etc.
totally worked and got into really good shape.
totally surprised how much it worked for me.

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

I like going to the gym because I am a SAHM. It gives me the feeling of "getting out of the house" because I get to talk to other people, some mothers in the same boat as me. I went to the same gym 10 years ago and lost a lot of weight as well. Knowing that I am paying for the membership also motivates me to get to the gym to exercise and motivates me to watch what I eat at home. I also get to take a nice quiet/hot shower in peace

Re: Working out at home vs. the gym

It depends on you. I used to do bootcamp twice a week and the other days I did elliptical or the 20 minutes JM DVD…. and I gained weight maybe because I wasn't pushing me really hard and I was allowing myself to eat more. At home is easy for me to stop the DVD or not to do it hard on the elliptical.

I joined a gym just for classes and I feel more motivated. I don't weight myself so I don't know if I have lost anything, but I feel better, my face, my arms, even my waist. The hardest part is to leave home in this cold, but once I'm there I really like it and I feel guilty if I don't. Working out at home I found easy excuses to skip my work out (feeling sick or tired, or scheduling things to do).