Gym membership or elliptical at home?

My parents gave me the possibility to choose between getting a gym membership or buying an elliptical to have at home. Which do you think will help me the most? Which option would you choose?

Thanks a lot for your help ! :]

With a gym membership, there are so many options (various cardio machines, weights, classes, basketball court, swimming pool, sauna, etc).  Plus you can find a gym that is open 24 hours so you can workout whenever is best for you.

Which do you think you would actually use more though?

You have to look at the actual gym, but my vote is for the gym membership- especially if you have a YMCA handy- it gives you a chance to try out a lot of different things.

The previous posters have great points.

In the end it will depend on you. Do you like to do workout alone? Staying fit doesn't mean you "need" a gym.

Also, you'll want to check out the gym thoroughly. In some areas you're given time limits because the gym has so many members and not enough machines. This rarely happens, but I've had it happen to me.

Well, having the eliptical at home will make it easy for you to work out at any time.  The gym membership will allow you to do more than one cardio exercise, add weight training as desired; develop some friends who have like goals and gain motivation.  The whole idea of the gym is that you need to make time for it and commit to it.  Gyms make a load of money this time of year on people who join, have a montly fee drawn out of their checking accounts and go for about a week or two and the never go again but keep on paying by bank draft. $$ for the gyms and no progress for the people that signed up.

I commit 5 days a week at 5:00 AM because if I don't go then I'll put it off and find other excuses fornot going.  That is just me but I know myself and if I don't go then, I won't at all.  and it makes me more motivated to not over-eat on top of the workout.  I've be going steadily for a little more than 2 and a half year.

I don't know if that helps or I just had a rant. Anyway, I hope you hink about your options before you spend the $$ on either one.

 

I purchased an eliptical machine in my home last June and still love having it!  It's so convenient to get a work out and not have to leave the house! I hung a plasma TV w/a DVD player, so I rent TV shows on Netflix and treat myself to my favorite shows! 

It doesn't give a lot variety though - you know your workout today is going to be on the eliptical.  If you need variety, I'd go with the gym membership. 

Good luck! 

elliptical i have one and they are soooooo convinent id go for that.

I agree with people who say it really depends on you and your preferences. When I had a gym membership, I started off going all the time, but then the hassle of packing a gym bag, getting in the car and getting to the gym began to wear on me. As a reluctant exerciser, it became one more impediment.

 So I bought a really nice stationary bike. I used it religiously, six days a week for 48 minutes a day. Then I got lazy, but the bike was a constant, guilty reminder, so I started using it again. After two years with the bike, I added a treadmill. Now I use both, and I must say I love being able to exercise without having to leave my house or worry about how I look to other people. 

 

For me, buying a treadmill to use at home made the most sense. I tend to hop on it very late (8-9 at night), and gyms near me weren't open that late, especially on weekends. Now, if I were more of a morning person, the gym might have been the way to go, but it just didn't fit into my schedule. I do sometimes wish I had access to other exercise machines, or other weight machines (we have a pretty good dumbell set).

If you can do a trial membership at a gym, that might help give you an idea as to whether it would be a good fit for you. Several in my town give 2 week free trial memberships. Wouldn't hurt to check it out.

Good luck with your decision!

the gym has the elliptical machine plus more, that would be the route that I would choose

Wow, your parents are awesome. I've always had to pay for my own everything, from running shoes to healthy foods, haha.

If it was me, I'd choose the gym, unless your nearest gym was super far. You'll probably get bored of the elliptical sooner or later, and gyms not only offer everything you'll need for weight training, you'll also get stairmaster, a treadmill, a elliptical, a swimming pool, and a ton of stuff depending on the gym. I'm very thankful that my college gets me free access to an amazing gym that the Dallas Cowboys use every summer. I've never regreted having a gym membership. HOWEVER if getting to the gym is hard for you to do due to gas money, lack of liscence, time, or whatever get the elliptical.

I would go for the gym because you get a variety of gear. When I work out by myself, I go outdoors (running, cycling), where variety is provided by nature.  An elliptical at home would be the most boring thing in the world for me -- no pretty landscape,  and no chance to switch to the treadmill/ergometer/weight gear.

The more I read about fitness and weight loss, the more I understand how critical it is to do strength training.  Cardio-only fitness routines just aren't enough to keep your metabolism burning.  I would go for the gym membership so you can use the weights, stability balls, and resistance bands - then finish up your workout on their ellipticals.  Plus, you'll work harder at the gym - it's way to easy to slack off at home when you are alone. 

The Gym:I like the variety SOME gyms offer. Curves was the same old thing all the time. I ended up getting bored and I never lost more than a few pounds there.  Big gyms have the problem of being co-ed and full of kids. Do you want the six year old looking at you in the locker room then commenting on your boobs to her mother? Worse is when some Ding -bat brings her six year old SON to change with her! Do you want to remove 400 pounds of weights and a layer of sweat form the squat machine after Mr. Muscle finishes but refuses to re-rack his weights? How far away is the gym? If the round trip takes over an hour, are you willing to give up that much of your day? How busy is the gym at the time you want to use it? There is nothing worse than needing a work out and finding full classes, full machines, and a pool full of screaming kids making laps impossible!Are you social? If you like to chat as you work out then a big gym is a great spot for you.  Do you like to to take a daily sauna or steam? Again, the big gym will be an asset.

At Home:I've opted for a bench, free weights, and an elliptical at home.  I've placed free weights  and a full lenght mirror ( so I can check my form) by the TV.  Instead of sitting on the couch, now I work out at the times I would have been just watching TV. I can work out any time which is a bonus with my odd schedule. I also recommend having a dog as a work out buddy! I have to walk a mile and a half every day to keep my buddy happy! If you have Direct-TV check out channel 368. there are so many fitness shows that I never get bored with the same old routines.

 

I have had a gym membership for the past year.  The treadmills went on sale in November so I purchased a really good one thinking that I would NOT renew my membership at Christmas time.  Well I dont want to give up either.  I love having the option of going to the gym to do some cardio and then adding more in the evening at home if I have the energy.  I love being able to jump on my treadmill when it's really cold outside or just nasty weather in general.  IF i had to chose, I would pick, HOME option.  Just make sure you don't get lazy and start using it as a clothes rack.  I've had mine for 2 months now and it's due for maintenance already since I use it so much! :)

~H~

Unfortunately both choices depend solely on you. If you are committed and have a busy schedule, I'd go with the elliptical. I've had a treadmill for several years. When I was thoroughly committed, I used it almost daily. When I was struggling with exercise, I didn't use it. I've also had gym memberships in the past. The same goes with the gym. You'll either do it, or you won't! :) I love having machines at home (I also have a pilates machine), it allows me to work out ANY TIME!!!!!

Hope this helps! :)

Gym membership, hands down. With the elliptical at home, you can only do the elliptical, with the gym membership you can do everything else you need to. They're really not equivalent.

Another advantage to the gym membership is that if you got an elliptical at home and it broke, you would have to deal with it. You also have to find space for it. I used to use the elliptical at the gym all the time but now everything hurts my knee except the bike, so since I have a gym membership I just use the bike instead.