Success/Motivation at home vs gym

[MrChips]

Having been reading the transformation challenge thread since it began, it's really dawned on me that despite joining the gym back in September, I still struggle to motivate myself to go more than once or twice a week at most. I enjoy it when i'm there, it's a 5min drive away, and has a nice atmosphere etc, but more often when I want to go, my brain/body just can't be bothered.

So basically i've realised just how lazy/unmotivated I am currently, so having looked at the money i'm spending on the gym, I can buy a decent set of weights to go in the garage, and train at home.

Anyone done this with good success in terms of being more motivated as it's just "popping to the garage" rather than popping to the gym?
I'm not doing any cardio whilst I try to bulk up a bit, and having managed to put on a stone since July i'm now at a normal weight of 10st4 rather than the underweight frame that I had last year.

Anyone here with a reasonable home gym (in the garage rather than taking up a room in the house) and find it better than the gym?

[Mojooo]

Last summer I bought a barbell set and bench/rack and did it 3 days a week in my garden.

It saves a lot of time.

The key is having a good program, you want a program that will deliver results, otherwise its a waste of time.

I was following the "stronglifts" which might be good for you if you are a beginner. you only need a barbell set/bench and a squat rack.

I got good results, i nthe end had to stop as I had a seperate injury and then winter came so its been packed away, once we get around to march i will prob take it out again

in the meantime i have started using a kettlebell indoors, and just do some basics on that 3 times a week

with the gym i found i was motivated when i got there but it was geting there that killed me. the downside to the gym is the biggest upside to your home gym - you can work at whatever pace you want and take as long as you wnat on the equipment - which isnt possible at most gyms.

[Hoofy]

Have a goal. I train mainly at home. I go to a gym once a week subject to life and if I can't make it, I train at home instead. I will not miss out on a session. Focus on what you want to get out of the gym work, whether it's a slimmer you or to rival Arnie or just to maintain a level of fitness that you're happy with. If necessary, find a gym buddy. Gumtree can be useful for that. Or see if any of your friends are up for it.

Oh, I was actually training Christmas Day. I figured that if I'm going to eat all that meat, I might as well have a use for it.

Also, get hold of a copy of something like Men's Health or whatever magazine that has someone who has achieved the look you want (Flex?) and leave the magazine in clear view wherever you mostly hang out eg by your sofa or your desk at home.

Edited by Hoofy on Friday 6th January 00:47

[Lost_BMW]

MrChips said:

Having been reading the transformation challenge thread since it began, it's really dawned on me that despite joining the gym back in September, I still struggle to motivate myself to go more than once or twice a week at most. I enjoy it when i'm there, it's a 5min drive away, and has a nice atmosphere etc, but more often when I want to go, my brain/body just can't be bothered.

So basically i've realised just how lazy/unmotivated I am currently, so having looked at the money i'm spending on the gym, I can buy a decent set of weights to go in the garage, and train at home.

Anyone done this with good success in terms of being more motivated as it's just "popping to the garage" rather than popping to the gym?
I'm not doing any cardio whilst I try to bulk up a bit, and having managed to put on a stone since July i'm now at a normal weight of 10st4 rather than the underweight frame that I had last year.

Anyone here with a reasonable home gym (in the garage rather than taking up a room in the house) and find it better than the gym?

Yep, had a really good one and now a wet, cold and windy one but with most of what I need, but did train in gyms for many years. Have a look at the "Show Us Your Home Gym Thread" for various ideas...

To be honest, if you can't find the motivation to drive just 5 mins to a gym you describe as having a nice atmosphere that you are spending wasting money on then I don't think you'll do it downstairs/outdoors either. It's either in you or not, you are either driven or believe you need to do it or not etc. so in the absence of training partners or a pt or role models to encourage you you need to get over the tendency to quit on the idea.

Most of us go through lazy or difficult patches and enthusiasm and opportunity can falter but if you want to be bigger or stronger or fitter or whatever no one can make you do it but yourself. It's motivation you need not a new gym or equipment.

[surrey7er]

My 2p worth...

I always found gyms a bit crappy. Just didn't enjoy excersing in them enough, so rarely went.

I now have some kit at home and I use it all the time. Just prefer the privacy. I've put a decent telly in the gym and that helps loads; there's always a top gear re-run or sthg to watch.

The other thing ive done with a bunch of other blokes in my village is a 'bootcamp'. Saturday morning, in someones garden, we share the cost of a PT. It's great fun and I always go when I can. Good motivator....

[BettySwollocks2]

everyones different to be honest.. do YOU think youll be motivated enough if you do it at home. Personally I bought a home gym about 18 months ago and i must have used it all of 3 times... when it was in my garage I didnt push myself and always thought oh I cant be bothered whereas in the gym I smash it everytime.

not trying to put you off, just saying think to yourself will you be motivated more if its at home, considering you only have to drive 5 mins to get to the gym.

[LordGrover]

MrChips said:

Anyone here with a reasonable home gym (in the garage rather than taking up a room in the house) and find it better than the gym?

My garage 'gym' is pretty well equipped for what I need but quite limited by the average gym-goers standards. The kit is not cheap but lasts pretty much forever so will pay for itself over time compared to gym fees.


CF475 power rack (I don't have/need the cable attachment)


Olympic bar and plates


CF430 Bench


Shrug bar


Weight stand


My rather cramped garage

plus various accessories like dip attachment, chalk, bands, straps, flooring/matting, etc.

[Frankeh]

MrChips said:

Having been reading the transformation challenge thread since it began, it's really dawned on me that despite joining the gym back in September, I still struggle to motivate myself to go more than once or twice a week at most. I enjoy it when i'm there, it's a 5min drive away, and has a nice atmosphere etc, but more often when I want to go, my brain/body just can't be bothered.

So basically i've realised just how lazy/unmotivated I am currently, so having looked at the money i'm spending on the gym, I can buy a decent set of weights to go in the garage, and train at home.

I spent £400 odd on this lot:



The time since buying it has been the most consistent period of working out I've ever had, apart from a knee injury that took me out of action 2 days after buying it!

It's partly to do with it being right next to my bed, and it's part I spent £450 on it so I'm damn well going to get the most out of it.

Edited by Frankeh on Friday 6th January 11:02

[Ordinary_Chap]

I do agree with Lost_BMW either you are motivated or you are not. If you are not motivated then you'll most likely to end up either doing it halfheartedly or not at all.

I personally don't think it really matters where the gear is if someone is motivated.

I also think motivation can be taught if the person has even the slightest interest by figuring out what motivates you, is it the thought of going on holiday and having a good body or being a big dude or something else but if you can truly figure out what it is then you can use that to build motivation. I like to watch youtube videos, read magazines and surf forums for me that reminds me of what I'm trying to achieve and by polarizing my mind to it I end up with masses of motivation!

[Hiromitsu11]

On this note, anyone know what would work best to absorb dropping the bar to the floor (dampen the noise/protect the concrete and weights) when doing pendlay rows. I'm thinking some sort of rubber matting but thought someone on here may have a better idea

[Frankeh]

Ordinary_Chap said:

I do agree with Lost_BMW either you are motivated or you are not. If you are not motivated then you'll most likely to end up either doing it halfheartedly or not at all.

Not really. At my old gym there were lines for all the equipment I wanted to use and it would double to the time of my workout. I'd go at 1am instead so that I had the equipment to myself. So it's either spend hours in the gym, or go at an ungodly hour. Both are demotivating.
Even then I'd feel a bit self concious of people looking at me, etc.
At home I can pull faces, shout, swear, pant, do whatever the fk I want and no one is there to see it. I work out much more intensely at home.

Plus my gyms beside my bed where I spend a lot of my time. I look right and think 'I should probably do that because there's no reason not to..'

It's been working wonders for the past month and a bit.

[LordGrover]

Hiromitsu11 said:

On this note, anyone know what would work best to absorb dropping the bar to the floor (dampen the noise/protect the concrete and weights) when doing pendlay rows. I'm thinking some sort of rubber matting but thought someone on here may have a better idea

I use garage/gym matting with a few extras to put down for extra cushioning when/where needed.
e.g. click.

ETA: Found the one I use: Click.

Edited by LordGrover on Friday 6th January 12:39

[Hiromitsu11]

LordGrover said:

I use garage/gym matting with a few extras to put down for extra cushioning when/where needed.
e.g. click.

ETA: Found the one I use: Click.

Edited by LordGrover on Friday 6th January 12:39

Cheers. Not looking to cover the whole floor, just an area either side that the weight can be dropped on to so a couple of those tiles on top of each other should do the job.

[Frankeh]

My downstairs neighbours complained to the police for us having a party on NYE that ended at 10PM (We were going somewhere else for the rest of the night).
As such I've decided to forgo the effort of placing weights down gently during deadlifts.

I used to use 2 pillows which helped a little bit.

[Ordinary_Chap]

Frankeh said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

I do agree with Lost_BMW either you are motivated or you are not. If you are not motivated then you'll most likely to end up either doing it halfheartedly or not at all.

Not really. At my old gym there were lines for all the equipment I wanted to use and it would double to the time of my workout. I'd go at 1am instead so that I had the equipment to myself. So it's either spend hours in the gym, or go at an ungodly hour. Both are demotivating.
Even then I'd feel a bit self concious of people looking at me, etc.
At home I can pull faces, shout, swear, pant, do whatever the fk I want and no one is there to see it. I work out much more intensely at home.

Plus my gyms beside my bed where I spend a lot of my time. I look right and think 'I should probably do that because there's no reason not to..'

It's been working wonders for the past month and a bit.

I think you just proved my point that motivated folk will do it however they need to and going to the gym at 1am is pretty hardcore buddy!

Lee

[LordGrover]

Hiromitsu11 said:

Cheers. Not looking to cover the whole floor, just an area either side that the weight can be dropped on to so a couple of those tiles on top of each other should do the job.

If you can hang on till Tuesday, I'll be doing my first set of pendlay's on Monday night so can report back how those tiles stood up to a mild hammering. They've been great so far but no dropping as the pendlay row.

[Hiromitsu11]

LordGrover said:

If you can hang on till Tuesday, I'll be doing my first set of pendlay's on Monday night so can report back how those tiles stood up to a mild hammering. They've been great so far but no dropping as the pendlay row.

Yeah, nice one

Will just go with bent over rows for now

[maximus123]

As Lost_BMW and OC say it's all about motivation. If you think it would be easier to train at home and it helps you train then do it at home.

There was a guy from Africa who posted his pictures on line who trained with very basic kit. I'm talking a barbell, a few weights, a couble of boxes and rocks! He had an amazing physique. Why? not because of his equipment but his attitude. He trained consistanly, he trained hard and he ate right.

If you do start at home buy some used weights and bench (plenty on gumtree) and if you stick with it you can buy better stuff later.

Top tip: Buy a robust Zimmer frame/walker to do you dips on. I've got one that handles my substantial weight (17st) plus extra poundage and it's brilliant. They cost around £20-£30 compared to >£100 for a dedicated dip station.

[Hoofy]

Or if you're a real cheapskate like me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKa688mgZRU

[maximus123]

Hoofy said:

Or if you're a real cheapskate like me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKa688mgZRU

I used do those but found they weren't stable enough for when I wanted to do dips with my feet off the bench.