* Please note: Several websites are offered in this article to aid the reader’s search for appropriate equipment and advice. The author is not associated with any of the recommended sites in any way, other than as a customer. In other articles I have discussed exercise options other than home equipment or club/gym membership. There are ways to exercise that accommodate any pocketbook.
The Dilemma
This morning when you arose, you looked yourself in the eye as you shaved or put on your makeup and resolved that this very day you would begin an exercise program. Congratulations, this is a big decision, one you shouldn’t make lightly. You’ve even gone so far as to plan out what kind of exercises you want to include in your new workout. The answer to the next question isn’t as simple as it seems on the surface… should I join a club or purchase exercise equipment for my home?
Now, there are many individuals who have access to excellent equipment due to their employment. Members of the military and their dependents, plus employees of universities, colleges, or gyms usually have free or discounted access to exercise facilities. Therefore, this question isn’t necessarily a concern for you. Enjoy the perks of your situation. For the rest of us however, this can present a real challenge.
The following recommendations are based not only on my professional training, but also from personal experience. The “simple” question’s answer includes at least two areas of consideration, your personality, and your willingness to invest financially.
My Personality?
Yes, your personality is the linchpin to this decision. There are several basic questions you must ask yourself before making a firm decision in favor or against the two choices. For example, many individuals who consider themselves out of shape are not comfortable exercising in an environment where they will be surrounded by “fit” people who may not be wearing very much. With this in mind, if you choose to join a gym, will you be able to arrange your workout schedule during slow use periods at the gym? Making comparisons with those we deem more successful than ourselves seems to be a fault of human nature. This comparison can cause us to cease beneficial activities because we don’t believe we are as good as someone else. Guess what? Chances are the person you’re comparing yourself to would actually be willing to help you and answer questions. If not, they’re too arrogant anyway and not worthy of the time you spend worrying about what they think.
Next personality question. . .are you a genuine self-starter? If you are able to adequately motivate yourself, then purchasing home equipment could be a good move for you. However, if you find it easy to suffer a “roll-over” when early morning exercise calls, then a gym AND workout partner would be better. By the way, a “roll-over” occurs when the alarm sounds, you reach up, turn it off, momentarily think about getting out of bed, and then roll-over, going back to sleep ignoring the original purpose of the alarm. Coupled with this question, are you willing to not only get out of bed, but get dressed, start the car and travel to a gym for your workout. Before you answer this question in light of a beautiful Spring morning, consider your answer about mid-January, especially if you live a snowy climate. Is your answer the same regardless of the season? If so, then you are well on your way to making that crucial decision.
Another personality piece related to the time required to travel to gym is this, is convenience important to you? Would you prefer to go to a club, shower there and leave immediately for work from the gym? Or, would you prefer to get up, go downstairs, or out to the sunroom, hop on the treadmill and run in your pajamas if you’re so inclined, have breakfast, shower in the privacy of your home, and then head off to tackle the day’s appointments? Once you have honestly assessed your personality traits specific to exercise, you are ready to consider the next question, money.
How Much Am I Willing to Invest?
Regardless of which direction you choose, home equipment or a club membership, you will be looking at a fairly substantial investment. This is a generalization, and as with all such statements, there are clear exceptions. Let us first consider the club membership.
When you purchase a club membership, you are really purchasing several unseen qualities that go with the gym. The biggest benefit associated with gym membership is the convenience of access. Quality gyms and clubs offer outstanding resistance equipment, aerobic equipment, and trained personnel to teach, guide and direct your exercise efforts. The gym management worries about maintenance and upgrades of equipment, you just go work out happily and leave without any additional worries. Another benefit can be comradery by associating with other equally motivated members. Often, when you hook up with someone at the gym you’re able to keep each other on-task and focused. However, if you socialize too much, the jaw muscles receive a greater workout than other body parts, and your gym membership can be considered quite a luxury.
Gym membership fees will vary greatly across the nation. In my home town, a typical annual gym membership fee is around $600 without any discounts for employment or offered specials. Your locale could be considerably higher or lower. Take the time to visit several gyms before you decide which club to join. Consider quality and quantity of equipment, and certification levels of their trainers. Ask for certification definitions, and do some investigation to find out if the certifying organization is reputable. A qualified trainer is an asset to you.
A gym membership offers these benefits, but it also requires monthly or annual payments and most likely, a binding contract. Carefully read any contract before you sign-on with a gym. Also remember, in many gyms, fees for one-on-one training sessions with a personal trainer are not included with your monthly or annual membership fees. Personal training fees can range from $25 to $75 per hour or more, depending on the exclusivity of your club.
When it comes to exercise equipment for the home, investment is the appropriate word. There are a multitude of exercise equipment manufacturers vying for your business. You can find exercise equipment on sale almost anywhere you look, walking the mall, infomercials on TV, or in almost any department store. When you are armed with solid information, you can make a wise and appropriate decision for you. I would like to offer five basic ideas for home exercise equipment.
The first is the easiest, purchase nothing. Instead, spend time walking to a local elementary school, then play on the playground equipment. You can do pull-ups on the monkey bars, work on balance crossing the moving balance logs, or even do mild plyometrics by playing a few games of hopscotch. Then, jog home from the school. If you have hills in your area, run up and down the hills at various speeds, always going downhill slowly and under control. Never try to run down a hill with a grade steeper than about 4 or 5 degrees. Doing so is dangerous. Previous articles discuss workouts that do not require any specialized equipment.
The second option is to purchase an inexpensive, very versatile, yet misunderstood piece of equipment. It has many names, stability ball, Thera-ball®, and exercise ball. Stability ball is widely accepted in gym settings. The stability ball offers flexibility plus low price. It is possible to purchase a stability ball for less than $40. This great piece of equipment is available at Wal-mart, K-mart and similar department stores. Additionally, an Internet search using the key words “stability ball” will yield several exercise equipment sites from which you could place an order. The stability ball comes in several sizes, 45 cm, 55 cm, 65 cm, and 75 cm. The sizes correlate to the individual’s height. For most individuals, the 55 or 65 cm unit is appropriate. If you want to be sure, look at www.power-systems.com. They post a height chart to make your selection specific to you. Several good video tapes are available to help you understand how to use this ball effectively. Mr. Paul Chek offers several videotapes specific to stability ball programs, www.paulchekseminars.com.
From this point onward, options three through five, the investment goes way up! There are only three types of home resistance or strength training equipment I would ever recommend. First, the Bowflex. Yes, it really does work. I own a middle model Bowflex and it is a wonderful. I carefully investigated home equipment options and selected the Bowflex. My entire family consisting of my beautiful wife, two older sons, and two teenage daughters, have enjoyed it for two years and it still works as well as it did just out of the box. Price ranges: $800 to $1600 depending on the model and accessories you add to the basic models. www.bowflex.com.
Next is the Total Gym. A ward member owns this and swears by it. She and her family use it and find it rather straight forward and simple to use. She is a firm believer, however I have not tried it personally. My decision to include this is based on her recommendation and close observation of the infomercial, keeping a careful eye towards biomechanically correct movements. The deluxe model is listed for approximately $1250 including shipping, www.totalgym.com.
Lastly, is the Pilates® system. Frankly, I had never heard of this product until my brother-in law called and asked me about it. He is challenged by MS and purchased a used system for personal use. He absolutely loves it. Interestingly enough, later that night on one of the QVC-type channels, there was the Pilates® system being demonstrated and sold. This too, looks to be a quality piece of equipment. www.stottconditioning.com lists the Professional Reformer for $2945. In addition, a wide range of training videos are available for order as well. Another site is www.pilates-studio.com. The “store” for this site was under construction, so I could not make a comparison for pricing.
Decision Time
Clearly, if you are willing to sit down and write out your objectives, analyze your budget, you can make an informed decision regarding which direction is best for you, a club membership or investing in home exercise equipment. The options are as varied as the individual. Make a choice based on your needs, personality, and ability to pay. Remember too, there are several reliable sources for used exercise equipment that can dramatically reduce your investment for home equipment. However, if you choose used equipment, you should take the time to actually use the equipment before you purchase. If you choose to purchase home equipment and would like some guidance to develop a personalized exercise plan, most personal trainers would be willing to come to your home for that very purpose. A discount could be offered as well since they won’t need to share the fee with the gym, if that is the professional arrangement they have with their employer.
Best wishes to you as you embark on the adventure that improves your life. If there are any specific questions you have, please feel free to contact me. And remember, you should exercise to live, not live to exercise.
