Should I join a gym or should I not?

If so, what gym should I join and what excuses should I tell myself for not being able to work out?

My answer to this question is based on working out in gyms, being a Personal Fitness Trainer for 5 over years, and a volunteer at Kaiser Permanente physical therapy.  The answer really is, It depends.  Yes I know, you wanted a definitive answer but is it really that simple?  Consider some of the following reasons that some people join gyms and see if you are one of them:

1. Some people join a gym because that is a place where they can go to get away from their home to release stress, get healthier, and become leaner.
2. Some people join for networking purposes.  For example, my Realtor friends like going to a gym to make potential clients.
3. Then there are singles who may go to find a date.
4. There are also people who just like to belong to a gym because that is a status symbol but they rarely, if ever, go there.

If you are able to join a gym, then Consider cost, place, and amenities as major factors in your decision-making process.

So, what about a home gym?

With my current situation, I chose not to join a gym because it is easier for me to workout at home.  I have made a little therapy workout room in my house in an area that we call our game room. I bought a recumbent bike from Overstock.com because my doctor instructed me to only engage in no impact exercises due to my ankle surgery.  The cost was below $200.00 (what a deal)!  My boys and I enjoy going on it to get a good workout; I use it three to five days per week and the boys use it when they have time.  As for my upper body, I bought weights from our corner store – Marshalls and a couple of stability balls from Ross.  My workouts can cause knots and so I bought a foam roller from a local discount sports supply store, which is also great for my son’s who play sports.  If you want to get fancy, you can also buy a message machine.  We have one but don’t use it very often.  The bottom line is that you don’t have to spend allot at large sporting goods stores to get started. Just get started!!

I suggest that everyone should own some form of exercise equipment, even if you do belong to a gym.  For instance, when the kids are sick or you just can’t get yourself to the gym then there is simply no excuse to not exercise . If you don’t have time to go to stores to shop, you can also buy from online at sports specialty sites such as Perform Better.

If none of that works for your then consider the advise of my healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente who believes in going for a walk 20-30 minutes a day.

Bottom line is that there are no excuses