I can hear the gasps from the peanut gallery. “I don’t need to go to the gym to get fit! That’s ridiculous!” “Of course you need a real commercial gym to get really fit!” “Home gym equipment is inferior.”
This is sheer nonsense as professionals like Cathy and Lee Priest workout in a home gym. Lee points out working out at home improves his concentration which is key to achieving results.
Comments from Cathy and Lee Priest on their GYM AT HOME:
"The home gym is great. Powertec, Pro Spot Gym Equipment. It is the best! The Pro Spot machine is great and every gym should have one. At home it's quiet and you can focus much better than at a gym. No egos walking around screaming and yelling. I like it because you can do everything you want, any exercise, and nobody is around to stare at you! We are very pleased with the PowerTec equipment because sometimes in the gym the machines are too big (Lee is 5'4") and I can't use it. I like to train with someone so I call some friends to come over and train with me. Our gym is a good size. We have 20 machines so it is enough for us. When I am by myself I train on the Pro Spot machine so I am sure I will be safe. Our gym was good for me... at my last show I was in my best shape ever and some of my muscle was better too. I really have good concentration at home.”
Lee Priest Video
And of course the assumption circling the universe that commercial gym workouts are superior to home gym workouts is partly because gyms want your money. A commercial gym is only better if you’re one of those unmotivated types who needs peer pressure of other gym goers or a Pit Bull of a personal trainer to make you perform at the necessary intensity. If you’re any kind of a trouper or self starter a commercial gym and a personal trainer are probably just a waste of time and money.
Of course if you enjoy the commercial gym experience, driving to the gym, waiting for your turn on equipment, enduring other people's sweat on the equipment, wasting time between sets and exercises, taking three times longer to finish a workout, dealing with distractions like chit chat, showering and dressing in a public locker room, possibly having your stuff stolen, driving back home, and wasting money then a commercial gym is right for you!
Unless you’re bloody rich or one of the rare individuals that haven’t been affected in some way by the recent economic downturns, higher gas, grocery, and services prices (our satellite and water bills have raised their flat rate prices), and God forbid the mortgage fiasco, be my guest and throw your excess cash at you personal trainer and gym.
Home Gyms Versus Commercial Gyms
On the other hand why not bear with me and maybe just maybe save some time and money and get fit at home. What are some of the benefits of working out at home beside saving time and money? Convenience is a big one as you can workout when it suits you or fits your schedule. Another reason is privacy – you can do it in the nude! You can try new things and not worry somebody’s watching. There's no waiting to use equipment and you can blast out intense training in less time. You can take your after workout shower at home – alone – in the comfort of your own bathroom – WITHOUT PRYING EYES. Of course, if you look like a fitness model with a big ego and appetite for gawkers that might be a drawback.
Depending on your fitness level you can start a home gym for under $500, under $100, or even under $50, and I’ll show you how. (Of course you can spend upwards of $50,000 if you’re planning to go pro. Why waste the money if you're not Lee Priest?) I’ll also point out what not to buy because, no, you can’t get six pack abs by twisting on a RED barstool alone. Some home equipment is ineffective while others are prohibitively expensive. You can build an effective and versatile home gym that will get you fit, and you can build it over time.
Add together the cost of a year of a gym membership (the average monthly cost of gym membership is $50, according to a study done by industry trade group International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub), personal training (the normal rates for personal training can be anywhere from about $35 to $60 per session) sessions, and gas or transportation costs, and any of those amounts listed above are a deal. But you may have to change the way you think about working out, what it takes to get fit, and how you get and stay motivated.
Terrell Owens Home Gym - Terrell Working Out With Bands
Next up in part two, I’ll give you three examples of a home gym and equipment that is affordable and versatile and fits the lifestyle of an average Joe or Jane. Then we’ll look at setting up a workout program based on your fitness level that includes resistance training and aerobics that lead to muscle building and fat loss. Later we’ll look at nutrition and diet, as well as avoiding plateaus, using techniques like muscle confusion, and muscle mass training and diet versus training and diet for fat loss.
