Home Fitness Program Advantages and Disadvantages & Designing Your Home Gym Offers

You cannot get to the gym, you have no time, you can’t afford it, or the weather may not be suitable to get outdoors and exercise. A gym membership and a home fitness program are two options available to you if you want to start doing a fitness routine. While many health buffs swear on the effectiveness of going to the gym regularly, a lot of people are reluctant to go to the gym for various reasons and prefer to do their workout at home.

It is certainly possible to have a home fitness program going, given the fact that there are so many exercise videos and home exercising equipment available in the market today.Of course, the question that may come to your mind is whether or not engaging in a home fitness program is the right move for you. A home fitness program certainly has its advantages as well as limitations, and it may be helpful for you to understand them before you choose to do your workouts at home.

The Advantages of a Home Fitness Program

In many ways, a home fitness program has more to offer than a gym membership. For one, it is sometimes cheaper to buy your own exercise equipment rather than spend money on a gym membership contract that you may end up not using at all. Also, with your own exercise equipment at home, you do not have to worry about sharing equipment with other people, and so you do not have to think about dealing with other people’s germs and whatnot when you use them.Aside from not having to share your exercise equipment and tools, you can definitely be sure that your machines are in tiptop shape. Many fitness clubs are notorious for not maintaining their machines regularly in order to cut back on expenses and to make more profit. Thus, you know you will be safe when you use your own machines.More often than not, it is also more convenient to work out at home. You are guaranteed some privacy so you do not have to be self-conscious about other people staring at your flesh in admiration or in derision. You also get to save on time and on gas because you do not have to drive to the gym just to get your workout done.

The Disadvantages of a Home Fitness Program

Unfortunately, there are also some disadvantages to doing a home fitness program. In a home fitness program, you have to rely greatly on your own self-discipline to get any workout done. If you do not exert yourself, you will not get your routines completed, and you will never achieve your fitness goals. It can also be hard to get support and get motivated when you are working out at home. People living with you at home may not understand your need to exercise and be an obstacle to your fitness goals. Aside from that, there are just so many distractions at home that can take your attention away from your workout routines, such as chores, the demands of your family, the TV set or anything more amusing. Before you know it, your time gets taken up by something else other than exercising. Space can also be a challenge to setting up a home fitness routine. You may not have enough floor space in your house to put your exercise equipment. It is also possible that there simply is not enough room for you to get your workout done at home.Indeed there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing a home fitness program. But the question of whether or not it is effective or whether or not it is the right workout plan for you depends entirely on you. You can make any exercise program work if you have the discipline and the motivation to achieve your fitness goals, whether you use a gym membership program or work out at home.

Designing a Home Gym

If you decide that working out at home makes the most sense, the first consideration will be the location when it comes time to design your home gym. You may choose the basement. But if it is dark and damp, this is not an inspiring environment. Another consideration is an extra bedroom or part of a family room or den. You want an inviting location that is well ventilated and provides sufficient light. For those that like to keep up with the latest news or the soaps, a room with a television would be appropriate. If your home gym design is inviting, you will be more likely to use it more often.

If lack of space is a consideration, there is fitness equipment like folding treadmill or compact home gyms that minimize required space.

Selecting the Proper Equipment

In determining what fitness equipment to purchase, you need to define your goals and consider the type of exercise machines that can help you reach those goals. Numerous homes are littered with unused exercise equipment that substitutes for clothes hangers. Too often people buy infomercial equipment that is that latest fad. They discover that the exercise bores them, and that the equipment is poorly built and does not deliver on the promises.

Another common mistake is buying cheap equipment that provides an unsatisfactory workout and frequently requires repair. This is particularly true when purchasing a treadmill. A cheap treadmill is unstable, noisy and can be a shock to your joints.