Hello everyone! I’ve been consistently working out for almost five years, primarily focusing on weight lifting at commercial gyms and strength training classes at a boutique gym. Recently, I started a new job with longer hours, and my love for fitness has waned a bit.
I want to simplify my schedule and be more mindful of my time, so I’m considering quitting my gym memberships to work out at home. This change would not only save me money over time but also reduce my daily time spent away from home. I plan to stop my gym memberships and stick to one yoga class a week at my current studio, plus invest in dumbbells ranging from 5-50lbs for at-home workouts. I really enjoy Caroline Girvan’s workouts on YouTube, and they’ve made me feel excited about exercising again after a slump.
So my question is, has anyone transitioned from years of gym workouts to exercising at home, and if so, do you have any regrets Did it help you prioritize fitness despite a busy schedule I’m open to hearing any and all opinions…
Has anyone else tried working out at home and ended up feeling worn out way more quickly? I have plenty of weights and equipment, but I get tired and fatigued so fast. I want to get started but then burnout happens. Any tips?
I was a gym-goer for about 8 years before opting for home workouts during the lockdowns. Initially, all I had were a rig with a barbell and some plates, plus my husband’s select tech dumbbells. It worked well at first, but eventually, we built a complete home gym with a pull-up bar, cardio equipment, leg press, and more. Since March 2020, I’ve only trained at home, but now I’m looking for an Olympic lifting gym because I miss the community and the competition aspects.
That being said, working out at home has really improved my quality of life. I have to be in the office at least four days a week, so if I had to go to a gym too, I would be out of the house constantly like I was before the pandemic. Now, I don’t pay for a gym membership, I never miss a workout due to bad weather (thank you Canadian winters!), and I can exercise whenever I have a little sniffle without feeling guilty about getting other people sick.
I typically lift in the morning. I can wake up, throw on some gym clothes, drink an espresso, and start warming up right away. After my workout, I can jump straight into my own shower.
I miss the community sometimes, but overall, spending more time at home has been worth it.
I made the switch last year. I loved my gym routine. It got me in the habit of waking up early, allowing my energy drink to kick in before heading to the gym for a solid 30-45 minute workout before racing back home to shower before my partner needed to get ready for work.
Then the whole family got COVID. I was upset as I thought all my gains and routines were gone, but thankfully we’re alright. After that, I struggled for a few months and found myself winded even after climbing a flight of stairs. I had to start my early morning habits all over again. I’ve followed CrossFit Linchpin workouts on Beyond The White Board app for about three years, and being able to do those from home has been great.
The tough part for me is resisting the snooze button or accidentally shutting off my alarm. Even with my alarm going off at 4:45 AM, I rarely hit snooze when I went to the gym. Also, I tend to get distracted by my phone and waste time scrolling. The best part? I save time not driving 30 minutes to the gym, allowing me to focus on my workouts. I don’t have a full garage gym; my equipment is limited, but I’m still making it work and haven’t outgrown my dumbbells yet. I’m not super social at the gym, which is also why I go so early. I just put on headphones, listen to some metalcore, and zone everything out. I still miss barbells, rowers, the dyno bike, and a dry sauna, but my membership is still active for my kids. I’m not sure if I will go back for workouts.
In short, I switched to working out at home, and I don’t regret it.
I experienced a big gap between regularly working out in a gym and then setting up a home gym. I really like the flexibility, especially as a parent of small kids. I get up early during the week and can easily head downstairs for my workout. It’s hard to make excuses that way! Conversely, there’s such a vast range of options for home workouts, and starting out involves some investment. Luckily, my husband already had three Olympic bars, a rack, a bench, and some heavier dumbbells. I have smaller ones, but I quickly outgrew them.
I used to hit the gym six days a week until the pandemic hit. I bought a house and converted my garage into a home gym, which has turned out really well for me.
I was very into CrossFit before, and I really miss the group classes and the social aspect of the gym, but the benefits of home workouts outweigh the negatives. Now, I train at home 90% of the time with some occasional drop-ins at the gym.
I often struggle (and still find it difficult) to stick to one workout because there are endless options at home. I’ve tried Streetparking, Stronger By The Day, Les Mills, Caroline Girvan, Sydney Cummings, Peloton, and iFit. I have subscriptions to several, but it still costs less than the $200/month I was spending on the gym. I find that doing something every day is better than nothing, and I like the variety. I really love the Peloton app, even if you don’t own the equipment. I’ve also enjoyed Les Mills for boxing workouts.
If you have the space, the possibilities are endless, even with limited gear. I attempted home workouts several times in my past but had trouble bouncing around in apartments or tiny houses. I think having enough space is key!
@Emerson
Have you checked out CrossFit Linchpin on Beyond the White Board? I follow them for workouts and if I have jumping exercises, I usually substitute with something else.
Marin said: @Emerson
Have you checked out CrossFit Linchpin on Beyond the White Board? I follow them for workouts and if I have jumping exercises, I usually substitute with something else.
If I return to CrossFit-style workouts, I’ll likely sign up! I find it hard to get hyped enough for those workouts alone anymore since I’m presently focusing on training for a half marathon.
I was still living at home and finishing up my degree when COVID struck, so I switched from the university gym to a home setup with cables, a leg extension machine, a leg curl, a bench, and a Smith machine. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it. Motivating myself to work out was tough without a proper barbell. When COVID restrictions eased, I moved out and got a gym membership, which I was really excited about. Now, I go around 6 AM or 7 PM to avoid the crowd, and yes, it’s slightly more inconvenient, but I feel excited about working out again. I also find it much easier to concentrate when I’m working out at the gym rather than at home, where I often zone out and start thinking about other tasks or let my rest times extend since there’s no rush.
@Stevie
Thanks for sharing a different point of view! Luckily, my workplace has a reasonably priced gym that I may consider joining to complement my home workouts and have access to some machines.
Yes. I used to attend a spin studio with strength and yoga classes for years before the pandemic. I then bought an Echelon bike, which I disliked. Later, I tried the Peloton digital app, which offers a lot of great content beyond spinning, including strength, yoga, treadmill, bootcamp, and outdoor sessions. I sold the Echelon and got a Peloton bike, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I’m the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been, and I genuinely enjoy it. I have dumbbells up to 30 lbs, which work well for me. I’ve progressed from doing 10 squats with 2x10 lb weights to lifting 25 lbs in about six months.
Stevie said: @Emerson
I love Peloton! If you don’t mind me asking, how do you integrate cycling with your other workouts? Going from 10 to 25 lbs is impressive!
I follow a modified version of the Hardcore on the Floor calendar in the morning and often add an extra ALWs class. I usually do all the strength programs as well. For example, I just started Rebecca’s new core program and Ben’s Full Body Strength. In the evenings, I like to use the outdoor content when I walk our dog or do a minimum of 20 minutes on the bike or treadmill. I aim to do one bike and one treadmill bootcamp a week, along with a hiking bootcamp when they release it. My job is pretty physical too, which helps. Last year, I dealt with a torn rotator cuff and two bicep tears, so doing physical therapy and strength classes with modifications has really helped me listen to my body and progress in weight.