Is Working Out At Home Less Effective?
Struggling to fit the gym in? Trying to spend less on memberships? Not a fan of classes?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then you might be considering the option of doing your workouts from home.
Since the pandemic, home workouts have become more and more popular - but a question we are asked on a regular basis is if home workouts are as effective as being in the gym?
To help you decide, we’ve got some pros and cons to help you weight up if its the right choice for you…
The Benefits of Home Workouts
1. Flexibility
There’s no doubt that working out from home can make it easier to fit in exercise around work, particularly when you are short on time, cutting out the drive to the gym could make a big difference. If it means that you do some form of exercise rather than cutting the workout all together it’s a plus!
2. Reduced Spending
At a time when we are all having to think carefully about what we spend our money on, working out from home could be a good option rather than paying a gym membership. However, if you are going to work from home effectively then you will need to invest some money in certain pieces of equipment, so, it won’t cut spending all together!
3. It could make you feel more comfortable
If you worry about going to the gym because you feel self conscious, then home workouts might suit you well. Being able to exercise in a space that puts you at ease and where you aren’t worried about people around you, could mean you et a more effective workout in.
Disadvantages of Home Workouts
Lack of Accountability
Going to the gym makes you more accountable for your fitness. Being booked into a class or having a PT session scheduled makes you less likely to skip a session. Working out from home significantly reduces this and you are far more likely to pass over the session in favour of doing something else.
It’s easy to get distracted
How often do you get distracted at home by the doorbell ringing, a family member needing help with something, putting the washing on? It’s very easy to get sidetracked when your at home, which when you are exercising could not only reduce the effectiveness of your workout but could actually cause you harm.
When exercising you need to be focused on what you are doing to ensure the correct technique, at home if you get distracted you are less likely to do the work to your full capability or complete the full session.
You are less likely to push yourself
There’s no doubt that being in the gym around people makes you more motivated to push yourself. At home it is very easy to doing things at an 80% effort level rather than 100% or to stop a set early. Unless you are strict with yourself it is likely that you will end up not completing the session to the best of your ability.
Our Conclusion?
Your choice of gym vs home workout very much depends on how you exercise and how disciplined you are. If you are committed and don’t let distractions get in the way, then you could effectively workout from home and achieve some great results.
However, if you know that you sometimes skip the gym or it takes a lot of motivation to work out then going to the gym or a class will increase your accountability and be better for your fitness.
For us, nothing beats being around people in the gym as we encourage and motivate each other, but at the same time we also appreciate the flexibility of being able to do out workouts at home if we are short on time!
If you found this useful, you may like to take a look at the following:
Working Out When You Are Short On Time - https://www.elevatefitness.uk/blog/quick-workouts-for-when-you-are-short-on-time
Planning A Workout - https://www.elevatefitness.uk/blog/
