It’s the age old debate… what is better? Working out at a commercial gym, or building your own home gym and working out there?
Now, there are arguments to be had on both sides, but for me, personally, I would much rather prefer working out at home.
In my opinion, I can get a better workout in in my own home gym and, while I can still get in a good workout at a commercial gym, I find it can be quite distracting. Not to mention, for me, it is extremely frustrating when the one power rack in the gym is being used by three dumb-asses alternating supersets of 50-pound box squats, 2-minute intervals on a spin bike, a set of jumping jacks, 5-minutes of jogging backwards on a treadmill, and 21-reps of 20-pounds dumbbell shrugs.
I’m never getting in that power rack.
And, then what? Do I go over and politely tell those guys that they’re jackasses and show them what they should be doing? I would be doing them a favor, although I would be wasting even more time, getting further and further out of my workout.
But, then if I did go show them what they were doing wrong, how would they even receive it? Probably not well…
So, while this kind of scenario doesn’t always happen at the gym, it does sometimes. And, when it does it completely ruins what you have planned for the day.
And, that ain’t cool.
So, I avoid that kind of stuff completely and work out in my home gym.
But that is just one example of why it is better to work out in your home gym, as opposed to going to a commercial gym. Here are 18 other reasons why you should train in a home gym:
1. You Don’t Have to Feel Self-Conscious
Okay, so this one is kind of dependent on how far along you are in your pursuit of being ridiculously fit. Some people, of course, are just getting started. And, that’s great… everyone has to start somewhere.
Some people who are starting, though, are doing so because they currently aren’t in a good place health-wise. And, typically, if you aren’t in a good place health-wise, you likely don’t have the best self-image of yourself or your body.
Now if this is the case, there is nothing more important than building some momentum. You need to get in the gym, lift some weights, do some exercises, and start feeling better about yourself.
If you’re one of these people who aren’t in shape, but who are trying to get in shape, the problem with going to a commercial gym is that you’re going to be surrounded by a lot of people who are in ridiculously good shape. You’re also going to be surrounded by obnoxious bros, loud frat boys, and chicks who can currently lift more than you.
Not everyone in a commercial gym is like that, but they are there… trust me.
And, so due to the type of people who you run into in the gym, it can be kind of intimidating for beginners and people who really need to be in the gym to go do your workout. I mean, nobody wants to feel inferior, and if you’re just getting started, there are a lot of people who will make you feel inferior in the gym, whether intentionally or not.
Now, I wish I could just say “Just go do your workout and worry about yourself and don’t pay attention to anyone else at the gym.” But, human nature says some people probably won’t do that.
So, my suggestion to you if you have self-image issues and body issues, is to build yourself a home gym (which can be done with a few inexpensive pieces of equipment–especially if you’re a beginner), workout at home, get some confidence, and move past those issues.
2. Listen to Whatever Music You Want
Imagine this…
You’re stepping up to a barbell stacked with plates on both sides. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for… a 500-pound PR-shattering deadlift. You’re so amped. Everyone is watching to see if you’ll be able to lock it out.
The hot chick with the yoga pants wants you… you know it, she knows it, and she knows that you know that she knows it.
But back to the task at hand… that massive amount of weight you’re about to make your bitch…
You setup to the bar. Your form is perfect. You look like an animal.
It’s time…
[Music starts playing]“I can be your hero baby!”
“I can kiss away the pain, oh yeah!”
“I will stand by you forever!”
“You can take my breath away…”
(P.S. I didn’t have to look those lyrics up… just sayin’)
What in the…?!?!
Your moment has just been ruined (or I guess heightened depending on your taste in music) by a team of researchers hired by your gym’s corporate office who concluded that Enrique Inglesias tested well across the different demographics of people who go to your gym.
Hopefully Enrique distracted you before you started your lift, because if you caught on to the fact that Hero was playing mid-lift, you aren’t locking that shit out. And, if you do lock it out, you’re probably going to snap your femur because you can no longer fully concentrate on the task at hand, but rather you are left wondering if the people around you are recognizing the irony of the fact that the most emasculating song is playing as you’re trying to do the most masculine thing possible.
No. Don’t get caught in a situation like this… ever.
In your home gym you can listen to whatever you want. Enrique Inglesias turns into Ronnie James Dio, Cher turns into Metallica, and your workout can now be completed without questioning whether someone is trolling you or not.
(Of course, you could always wear headphones to the gym, too…)
3. Make as Much Noise As You Want and Grunt Like the Raging Beast That You Are
Have you ever been to the gym and been stuck next to the guy who screams when he is curling 25-pound dumbbells?
It’s kind of annoying isn’t it?
But, then again, have you ever tried screaming like a damn wild wildebeest when curling 25-pound dumbbells?
It’s exhilarating!
Of course, you can’t do that kind of thing in a commercial gym. Not unless you want personal trainer Bob to come and reprimand you.
However, in a home gym you can get as loud and obnoxious as you want. You can even break stuff if you really want to…
The point is that there is no limits to what you can do and how you can act in your own home gym.
4. Slam Your Plates on the Floor and Watch Yourself Not Give Any F*cks
People get really offended when you drop weights in the gym. I mean people will seriously go tell on you if you drop metal plates in a commercial gym. And, then you’ll have to have a chat with personal trainer Bob.
But sometimes you have to drop weights… especially if you’re serious about getting stronger.
Gyms that have rules against dropping weights are actually preventing people from getting gains.
If you want to push yourself, you have to lift really heavy weights and you have to push yourself close to, or past failure. And, if you push yourself past failure, sometimes you will have to drop that weight.
However, you can’t drop weight at a lot of commercial gyms and therefore they are a hindrance to you becoming the best and strongest version of you.
Look, I get it. Commercial gyms are a business. And, they make a lot more business off of people who aren’t jacked than they do off of people who are jacked. And, they need to cater to those not-jacked people who are intimidated by weight-slamming monsters.
That’s fine for them, but it sucks for you.
There is a solution, though. Skip the commercial gym and get into a home gym. You can slam weights to your hearts desire and personal trainer Bob can’t do a thing about it.
5. Workout Without a Shirt On
This one is a game-changer…
In your home gym, you can workout shirtless.
Don’t you roll your eyes at me. You know that you’ve always wanted to work out without a shirt on.
But you’ve been conditioned to thinking that if you work out without a shirt on you’ll be a huge douche.
And, of course, you can’t just start taking off your clothes in a commercial gym because that would be kind of douchey…
But in a home gym, you can wear whatever you want… fish net shirts, do-rags, MC-Hammer pants, jorts (like the Hulk), or… nothing at all. It’s your gym and your rules.
Seriously, do a workout at home and do it shirtless. You’ll feel like you’re a caged blood-thirsty animal, who has just been released.
But don’t do that shit in a commercial gym… it makes you look like a sociopathic ass. And the only time when you should be a sociopathic ass is when you are home alone.
6. Stay in the Power Rack for Hours on End… And Not Even Care
There are a couple of really annoying things that happen in commercial gyms. One of those things is that there is usually only one or two power racks. And, those power racks are typically occupied by people.
So, it is extremely annoying to have to wait for a power rack to finally open up.
But, then, when you finally get into the power rack, you can start to feel everyone else who wants to use that rack breathing down your neck. They want what you have and suddenly you are that guy who hogs the power rack for hours on end.
It’s just a messed up and tragic cycle.
Buying a power rack for your home gym solves this problem, though. You don’t have to wait for the guy doing every variation of curls to finish in the power rack and you don’t have to feel guilty for sitting in the power rack your whole training session.
It’s your power rack and your gym. Stay in that thing all day long if you want.
7. Superset with EVERY Piece of Equipment in your Gym
Do you even superset, bro? Well, if you aren’t you should be.
Now, don’t get me wrong, being a super super-setter isn’t the best way to go about your workouts. However, supersets are great additions to any training regimen.
The only problem with doing supersets, however, is that sometimes in a commercial gym the different equipment you want to use is being used, or you feel bad about taking up multiple pieces of equipment.
In a home gym, you can toss both of these cares out the window. Not only can you superset with every piece of equipment in your gym, there will be nobody using that equipment to prevent you, and you don’t have to feel bad about it at all because it’s your equipment!
8. Don’t Have to Waste Time Driving There
This doesn’t impact everyone who goes to the gym. If you live within 5 minutes of your gym, then getting there isn’t really that big of a deal.
However, if you live 10-15 minutes or more away from your gym, then you are wasting a ton of time that you could be working out. For instance, consider that a HIIT session lasts for about 20-30 minutes and most people don’t train before or after then. Taking that into consideration, you just spent all of that time driving to the gym when you could have finished your workout at home.
If you spend 45 minutes to an hour lifting weights, you’re wasting 15-30 minutes driving to the gym when you could be working out at home.
So, if you’re someone who it takes more than 10-15 minutes (one-way) to get to your gym, you might want to consider how much more time-efficient it would be to workout at home.
9. No Hot Chicks to Distract Your Lifts
There’s going to be a lot of guys who stop reading right here and never ever return to this site…
The thought of not getting a chance to pump iron in front of hot chicks wearing yoga pants is enough to make a lot of curl-happy bros have a full-on meltdown.
But if you’re serious about your training, then you might want to consider how much better your training would be if there wasn’t a hot lady next to you distracting you from the task at hand.
I mean, think about how one single hot chick wearing yoga pants can screw up your workout (if you let her, of course)…
You go into the gym expecting to do your regularly planned workout. However, when you get there, that girl with the amazing body is there working on her fitness.
Suddenly, your regularly-scheduled workout turns into a full-body 1-rep max day. You’re going to lift as heavy as it takes to get her attention. It’s the kind of shit that has been ingrained in us males’ heads since the beginning of time.
Maybe you’re a Jedi and you can avoid staring at chick’s asses in the gym. If so, that’s great for you. However, if you’re brain is wired the same way as 99% of the rest of the male population, then you would probably run into less distractions working out at home.
10. You Don’t Have to Look Good to Workout in your Home Gym
Do you take showers before you go to the gym? Do you do your hair? You do realize that you’re going to sweat and, therefore, not be clean if you’re really working out, right?
Then why do you need to take a shower before the gym?
Human nature… that’s why.
Now, you personally may not have to deal with this kind of issue when going to a commercial gym, but trust me, a lot of people actually make it an effort to look their best when going to the gym. That means, taking a shower, doing their makeup, styling their hair, trying on different outfits, etc.
People are self-conscious and if it is possible to look better before going out in public, most people will do what is necessary to do so.
So, if you’re one of these kinds of people, this is another huge time-waster. You have to shower (that’s 5-10+ minutes), do your hair (another ~5 minutes or more), try on ten different outfits (5-30 minutes), and if you’re a girl put on makeup (3 hours).
Imagine, in all that time wasted, you could be anywhere from done with your workout, to 15-20 minutes into it. In your home gym, there’s nobody there who can judge you, so it doesn’t matter what you look like…
…only that you came to work.
11. Need Water? No Waiting in Line!
Okay, this one could probably be removed from this list… especially if you’re smart enough to bring your gallon-sized water jug to the gym.
But sometimes you forget your gallon of water at home and you are forced to deal with one of the biggest downfalls of commercial gyms…
The water line.
We’ve all been there… we’re in the middle of some insane workout and we run down to our last drop of water. We need more, so we go to the water fountain only to find the line is three dudes long.
And, all three of them are refilling their gallon-sized water jugs.
By the time you get up to the water fountain your heart rate has decreased, your no longer into your workout, and you’re really starting to wonder how you forgot your jug of water.
But, of course, if you workout at home you will never have to wait in line for water and more importantly, you will never forget your water jug at home.
12. Spend Money Now to Save Money in the Long Run
The biggest turn-off to building your own home gym is the high upfront costs. This is even more true for people who are further along in their strength-training/pursuit of fitness, as the stronger and more fit you get, the more likely it is you need some expensive equipment.
Things like power racks, sets of Olympic weights, barbells, dumbbells, cardio machines, etc. all cost a small fortune. And, so, most people will never consider building their own home gym.
However, if you compare the high up front costs of building your own home gym and compare them to the ongoing long-term costs associated with going to a commercial gym (membership fees, gas driving there, etc.) then you are getting a steal of a deal with your home gym.
And, the best part about building a home gym is that you don’t have to do it all at once. You can get a couple of pieces of equipment to start, use your gym membership to maintain your training regimen, and slowly add-on to your home gym until you can fully switch to workout out at home.
Ultimately, you save a decent chunk of change over the long run by building your own home gym.
13. Nobody Asking You for Spots
Spots spots spots spots spots spots
Spots spots spots spots spots
Spots spots spots spots spots
Everybody!
There is one community-driven aspect of going to the gym that is very heart-warming. It’s one man helping another man achieve their goals. It’s one individual making sure another individual doesn’t kill their self. It’s camaraderie and brotherhood…
It’s spots!
However, spotting someone can be downright annoying… especially if you’re in the middle of your workout. Every time you spot someone you lose time you could be training.
But even then, if the person in need of a spot asks you after a set, you can easily fit in a spot before you begin your next spot. So, as long as the other guy is following spot-asking etiquette then it isn’t too bad.
The problem is, with the rise of commercial gyms spot-asking etiquette has slowly been going down hill.
Have you ever had someone ask you to give them a spot on the bench press, only to find that the guy has loaded three plates on each side, and then you realize that you won’t be spotting the guy, but rather barbell rowing the weight for him so he can look good?
It’s even worse if the guy wants to go for like 5-6 reps when he clearly isn’t adding anything to the lift at all. And, then he gets up and acts like he is the man.
I’m sorry, I just can’t do it. I know that the majority of people who ask for squats are being genuine and really just need someone to watch their ass. But those 5-percenters who make me regret spotting for them has ruined my desire to lend a helping hand.
Since I workout in my home gym, I never have to spot anyone ever again.
14. You Don’t Have to Talk to Anyone
For all you introverts out there who just want to go to the gym to work out, there is a better solution: train at home!
I’m definitely introverted. But I don’t even think it’s about being introverted or not… if you go to the gym on a mission, that mission likely doesn’t involve chatting it up with everyone around you.
Now, I have no doubt that there are a lot of cool people at the gym who are very interesting and who have a lot of cool shit to say… but I just don’t want to hear about it at the gym. I want to work out.
That’s it.
And, with a home gym I get to do that. There’s no distractions and no temptation to start talking about the game, or all of the hot chicks wearing yoga pants, or some guy’s personal theory on how to get big.
It’s just me and my workout.
15. You Won’t Get Any Requests from People to Train Them
If you’re one huge son of a bitch then the reason mentioned above might ring home even truer to you.
The bigger you are, the more likelier you are to have people come up to you asking you how you got so big, and asking if you would train them or give them advice.
You might be a really nice dude and you might really want to help others out. That’s great. But the more people that come up to you and interrupt your work out, the more of a pain in the ass it is to go to the gym and the longer your work out ends up taking.
Of course, if you just put on an intimidating face for the hour or so that you’re in the gym, that could do the trick as well.
But, training at home is another great way to avoid those kinds of requests during your work out.
16. Build Your Gym with the Equipment You Need
Have you ever wondered just what in the hell all that random-ass equipment is in your commercial gym. I mean, really, there are a handful of pieces of equipment you need to get in a legit workout… those are:
- A power rack, or something to save your ass if you fail doing heavy squats
- A set of Olympic weights and a barbell
- A set of dumbbells, or an adjustable dumbbell set
- A bench
(Technically, even that list is subjective as some people have gotten incredible fit doing body exercises and cardio.)
So, if those main pieces of equipment will give you everything you need in a gym, what are all of those other machines and pieces of equipment you find in your commercial gym?
Most of it is garbage, completely unnecessary, and less effective than other equipment.
But, if you build your own home gym you can get rid of all of those crap machines that are just sitting there, and fill your gym with only the equipment you use. You can tailor your gym specifically to your own fitness needs.
I guess you could always just avoid the crappy machines at the gym, but if you’re thinking about getting a gym membership, just don’t be wowed by the ridiculous amounts of equipment they have, because 90% of it you will never use.
17. Your Gym, Your Style
Another cool factor about having your own home gym is that you can set it up however you want.
I’ve already mentioned about how you can play your own music, but you can also paint it the way you want it to look, put up the posters that will motivate you, put mirrors where you want them, etc.
This goes back to the point that has been brought up all throughout the reasons in this post… the gym is yours and so you can put in to it and get out of it whatever it is that you want.
18. If You Have Family, You Save Even More Money
We earlier touched on the fact that you can save money in the long run if you workout in a home gym. But there is another aspect to building a home gym that will save you a ton in gym membership costs…
Family members.
If you’re a family man and your dedicated to fitness, it’s very likely that your family members will follow suit (or they may have been the one to get you to follow suit). Building a home gym for your family will likely cost even more up front, because you’ll either need more equipment, or a variety of equipment to suit everyone’s needs…
…but in the long run you will save even more money since you’re not paying multiple gym memberships.
Why Do You Workout in a Home Gym?
Agree with anything on this list? Disagree with anything on this list? See a reason for working out at home that needs to be added?
Comment in the section below and let me know if these reasons ring true for you, or if you think there are any other reasons why people should train at home.
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