When we think about going to the gym it’s usually accompanied by thoughts of money. For example, how much money does a gym subscription cost, how many months do you plan to go for, is it sustainable, or would it be better to get your own gym equipment? Unless you’re loaded with money and you have the room to support a home gym, then chances are you’re probably thinking about giving it up because you simply don’t have the funds to support your fitness goals.
This is simply a defeatist attitude. Let’s face it, you’re not buying expensive equipment just to get a good workout, you’re getting it for the sake of convenience and to have an investment that will motivate you. When you spend hundreds on something like a treadmill and you don’t use it, you’re going to be constantly reminded of the hefty amount of money you paid for it and you’re more likely to use it based on that fact alone.
Buyer’s Remorse
Consider the price of a treadmill. According to the forums at bodybuilding.com, a good treadmill is usually around $1500. You might get computerised features, the ability to tilt the treadmill and other extra advantages, but at the end of the day, it’s a platform to run or walk on. Now compare that to a pair of $50 running trainers and simply running outdoors. That’s a huge difference in cost, and when you’re on your daily commute and you see people running outside to get their exercise, you might feel a little buyer’s remorse when you realise you’ve spent several times the amount of a pair of good running shoes just so you could run indoors.
Unless you are wealthy, you probably don’t have the funds to build a home gym and if you take out a loan or break into your savings account just to fund some expensive equipment, you might feel horrible after realising that you don’t use the machines as much as you thought you would.
Alternatives to Equipment
Even if you don’t want to spend the extra money buying a good pair of running trainers, you can get a great workout by just using your body. As seen in this article by buzzfeed.com, you can get amazing total-body workouts that don’t require a single piece of equipment. The only thing that could help is probably an exercise mat to make it more comfortable, but outside of that, there’s really no investment required.
You can also but cheaper pieces of equipment, such as a door gym from WePullUp.com. Pull-ups are great overall workouts that work your entire body, and door gyms can be used to assist in push-ups and sit-ups too. They’re cheap, versatile and very sturdy for the cost.
Don’t Spend a Fortune
Unless you have a good idea of what you need and you’re already a fitness guru, there is no point in buying expensive equipment. Sure, you can sell it later to other people if you don’t want the gear, but why not skip that hassle altogether and get used to working out without buying expensive equipment?
As always, happy lifting!