Are Home Workouts as Effective as Gym Workouts?

Following the closure of gyms across the country throughout the UK’s sporadic COVID-19 lockdowns, many people have been forced to workout in their homes. Some prefer it, others hate it, but one thing everyone wants to know is, are gym workouts actually better for you than home workouts?

The first thing to look at is the key differences between the two.

Home Workouts

• No monthly subscription fee required: if you’re looking to save money or are on a strict budget, working out from home using nothing but your own bodyweight as a tool can be both physically effective and financially effective.

• No need to commute to and from the gym: for those who are short of time, work long hours or have the school run to do, travelling to a gym isn’t always feasible, but working out from home eliminates this.

• Can be completed at any time of day (or night): some gyms have strict opening hours, so if you work unsociable hours or prefer to work out at a specific time, it might not always be possible in a gym. At home, you can workout whenever is most convenient to you.

• Private: many people are self-conscious and don’t like the idea of people watching them work up a sweat, in which case the privacy and security of a home gym is best.

• Less equipment (if any): a downside of working out at home is that access to equipment is limited. You can also grab a snack at any point, fix up a smoothie using additions like whey iso, which you wouldn’t be able to do on site.

• Can be expensive to purchase machinery: if you do choose to buy equipment for your home gym, it can be expensive, although finance options are available, and it’s a one-off cost.


Gym Workouts

• Require a monthly payment: not everyone can afford to factor in a gym membership to their monthly budget.

• More specialised equipment: gyms are packed full of equipment, some more general, others more specialised to help you really tailor your workout to your goal.

• Access to fitness professionals who work at the gym: if you’re unsure how to use a piece of equipment or if you want some help with your form, those who work in a gym are on hand to ensure you don’t injure yourself and maximise your results.

• Attend targeted classes: not only do classes offer a social aspect, but they can be fun too and really shake up a regular solo workout.

• Motivation boost from other people in the gym: sometimes, seeing other people workout makes you want to work harder and keep going, in which case, a gym is highly effective for boosting morale.

Goals

Whether or not going to the gym or working out at home will be better for you will largely depend on your goals. If you want to build muscle, there is only so much you can do at home. Equipment like a leg press, LAT pulley and chest press are bulky and not always suitable for a home gym, but they’re incredibly effective at building targeted muscle and so if that’s what you’re looking for, heading to the gym to use theirs is the best option.

In contrast, if your aim is to lose weight, you can absolutely do this at home. Some of the best gym equipment to lose weight can be used at home, such as a treadmill, cycling machine, rowing machine and cross trainer. In addition, going on runs and extended walks will help aid weight loss, making it even more achievable without the need for going to the gym.

Summary

There are vast differences between a gym workout and a home workout, but it’s important to remember that results are possible with both, and choosing which one to go for is a highly personal decision that will be influenced by a range of factors far beyond getting fit.

Fitness Professionals