Home gym or Gold's gym

[arcas]

Okay. So last year I begun changing my dress style to something more casual/business casual. Earlier this year I cut my hair for the first time in 15 years. Now, the next phase of Arcas' transformation is to start working out again. It's been a few years since I've had a gym membership.

In that time, my old smelly gym has since gone out of business leaving Gold's Gym as the only gym on this side of town. Now, I'll admit that I haven't yet toured their facilities but judging from the parking lot the place is usually packed. At my old gym, as long as you didn't go at 6am or 5pm on weekdays or at 10am on Saturdays you were fine but it seems Gold's is pretty packed around the clock. It's also fairly expensive at $50/month.

I know that if I sign up to a gym across town, my motivation to go 3-4 times a week is going to be almost nonexistant, especially if gas approaches $3/gallon again. So my choices are: Gold's or a home gym.

For "home gym", there are 2 categories: free weights (bar, dumbells, bench) or one of those all-in-one contraptions with pulleys, cables, etc. I don't have a whole lot of room for a home gym but Dick's had a couple in the $300 range that would fit and seemed decent.

Opinions?

 

[conehead433]

Hard to beat my local YMCA at $40 a month with a considerable amount of free weights and machines. But I like having a year round indoor pool and the basketball gym as well so I've pretty much ruled out having a home gym even though I do have a freeweight bench. If you didn't need or want the aforementioned you would be ahead of the game getting a work around station, which would give you a farily decent all around workout. And then there is the fact that going to the gym can be a social activity as well, I mean you're not going to meet anyone working out at home.

 

[vi edit]

I've got a home gym that consists of:

A) Bowflex ultimate ($900 used, but still in the box)
B) Quality treadmill ($1500)
C) Dumbells ranging from 5#-45# ($200)
D) Olypic bar, curl bar, and 300#'s of plates ($150)
E) "Power tower" for pullups, dips, abs, ect ($100)

I'll never be able to compete in a Mr. Olympia competition from my equipment, but it's more than adequate for getting into great shape. I use the weight stuff 3x a week, and between my wife and I, we use the tread another 6x a week.

It's well worth the convenience of having it in your own home if you have the dedicated space. I don't have to drive out of my way to get to it. I can go there any time I want. I have full cable access and can listen to any music I want. Plus I don't have to worry about picking up any funky rashes using the showers

 

[Descartes]

IMO, you need nothing more than:

1) A power rack. PowerTec makes great racks that have dip bars, chin-up bars, etc.
2) A good olympic barbell set
3) Dumbbells

You could even use the same olympic plates for the dumbbells if you so desired. That will give you everything you'll ever need to do, and you'll have the benefit of being able to safely focus on compound exercises.

 

[Sukhoi]

That's tough. I love the motivation of a real gym, but I can't stand it being too crowded. Definitely go tour the Gold's before you make a decision. Parking lot size can be deceptive.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: arcas
Okay. So last year I begun changing my dress style to something more casual/business casual. Earlier this year I cut my hair for the first time in 15 years. Now, the next phase of Arcas' transformation is to start working out again. It's been a few years since I've had a gym membership.

In that time, my old smelly gym has since gone out of business leaving Gold's Gym as the only gym on this side of town. Now, I'll admit that I haven't yet toured their facilities but judging from the parking lot the place is usually packed. At my old gym, as long as you didn't go at 6am or 5pm on weekdays or at 10am on Saturdays you were fine but it seems Gold's is pretty packed around the clock. It's also fairly expensive at $50/month.

I know that if I sign up to a gym across town, my motivation to go 3-4 times a week is going to be almost nonexistant, especially if gas approaches $3/gallon again. So my choices are: Gold's or a home gym.

For "home gym", there are 2 categories: free weights (bar, dumbells, bench) or one of those all-in-one contraptions with pulleys, cables, etc. I don't have a whole lot of room for a home gym but Dick's had a couple in the $300 range that would fit and seemed decent.

Opinions?

sign up at end of month. they usually have special promos during the last 3 days.

I signed up on 8/31:
$36/month, no initiation fee

Beware: ALL Golds gyms now charge a $25/year facilities fee on Jan 1.

so whatever you're paying, it's basically $2/month more.

edit:
And go inside at the times you want to work out b4 assuming stuff

 

[mrrman]

I have a Bowflex Xtreme 2 and cant stand public gyms...the waits, hassles og going there,clammy smell...much better at home plus I put on my own tunes and rock