When it comes to getting fitter, which is the better option: home workouts or gym workouts? Let’s find out using these eight metrics:
- Convenience
- Safety
- Effectiveness
- Exercise variety
- Cost
- Ease of maintenance
- Access to expert coaching
- Progression
Let’s get right to it!
Metric #1: Convenience
Obviously, working out at home is way more convenient than having to get dressed and making the commute all the way to a gym—where you’ll either have to wait for equipment to free up or only be able to workout if you adjust your schedule to match the classes.
Compare that with working out at home where all you really have to do is roll out of bed, warm up, and get started. And when you’re done, you’re already home. No need to worry about spending any more time on the road.
So, we’ll have to give this one to home workouts.
Score:
Home Workouts: 1
Gym Workouts: 0
Metric #2: Safety
At first glance, this should immediately go to gym workouts. After all, there are expert coaches there to guide you every step of the way. But that only really matters if you’re a complete beginner. If you’re an experienced lifter who knows how to check their own form, then you should be able to train just as safely at home.
Where gyms start to pull away is in the area of competent spotters. Obviously, unless there are other experienced lifters in your household, chances are you’ll have a much easier time finding someone who can spot you properly in a gym.
So, we’re going to have to give this one to gym workouts.
Score:
Home Workouts: 1
Gym Workouts: 1
Metric #3: Effectiveness
Here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter where you do your workouts. All that matters is you do them properly. As long as you can satisfy this requirement, you will be able to make progress regardless of where you train.
So, if you know what you’re doing, then feel free to train at home. But if you’re a beginner or feel like you need professional guidance, then it’s better to train at a gym.
And with that said, we’re going to call this one a tie.
Score:
Home Workouts: 2
Gym Workouts: 2