can i get effective results w/o joining a gym?

[bigboy0941]

here's my deal...money is a little tight but i joined the gym anway...i'm paying 50/month to keep from having a contract...i can get it for a little over 40/month but that's still more than what i want to spend right now. if you havent read any of my other posts then ill tell you im trying to lose weight...lots of it.
my question is...can i lose effectively just from doing plenty of cardio and having a really good diet? i know weight training is important and i'll be able to join the gym eventually... but for now i think id be better off financially if i were to buy a used elliptical machine for my apartment.

 

[ashley2212]

here's my deal...money is a little tight but i joined the gym anway...i'm paying 50/month to keep from having a contract...i can get it for a little over 40/month but that's still more than what i want to spend right now. if you havent read any of my other posts then ill tell you im trying to lose weight...lots of it.
my question is...can i lose effectively just from doing plenty of cardio and having a really good diet? i know weight training is important and i'll be able to join the gym eventually... but for now i think id be better off financially if i were to buy a used elliptical machine for my apartment.

No way... a gym membership is the best investment you could ever make (if you use it of course ). It's the weight training that's going to make the permanent changes in your body (ie, your metabolism, body shape, etc). Cardio and no weights makes bigboy a flabby dude. You don't want that

 

[jenscats5]

Well, you can get results without having a gym. Eating right & exercise can be done outside of a gym. However, weight bearing exercise is extremely important to getting fit & losing weight. IMO, you should incorporate weights in your routine. At home you can do routines using DBs, laundry detergent bottles on a broom handle, etc.

However, it will eventually come to a point where you "outgrow" your homemade devices and unless you have room in your home for a super-duper weight set, then your only choice will be do join a gym, as they will have the necessary equipment you need to "grow" in your exercise routine.

Now, if you are just starting out, I don't see any reason why you can't do a simple routine at home to start out with. Then, when you are more financially able, and also ready to "move up" in the exercise dept. then join gym.

 

[velvett]

Well, you can get results without having a gym. Eating right & exercise can be done outside of a gym. However, weight bearing exercise is extremely important to getting fit & losing weight. IMO, you should incorporate weights in your routine. At home you can do routines using DBs, laundry detergent bottles on a broom handle, etc.

However, it will eventually come to a point where you "outgrow" your homemade devices and unless you have room in your home for a super-duper weight set, then your only choice will be do join a gym, as they will have the necessary equipment you need to "grow" in your exercise routine.

Now, if you are just starting out, I don't see any reason why you can't do a simple routine at home to start out with. Then, when you are more financially able, and also ready to "move up" in the exercise dept. then join gym.

^^^^^ ditto


or you could also build your own home gym
providing you have the space.

 

[the-short-one]

I work out at home because the closest gym is 40 miles away. However, I have an ever growing set of free weights. (When the wieght I have gets too easy, I buy a heavier set of weights.) <----This might be a good idea for you because you don't have to invest all at one time. I also have a bench, weight belt, jump rope, ab thingy, eliptical machine, 14" step, a couple of bars and some plates. (When I list it all, I guess it doesn't look so cheap. )

I accumulated all this stuff over time. You could do the same.

 

[NJRipped]

Although I have a gym membership, I work out at home exclusively with just a full set of dumbbells and two cardio machines (Stairmaster and an elliptical). Don't even consider buying one of those cheap ellipticals - I did - returned it and bought a Precor.

I work out at home because the closest gym is 40 miles away. However, I have an ever growing set of free weights. (When the wieght I have gets too easy, I buy a heavier set of weights.) <----This might be a good idea for you because you don't have to invest all at one time. I also have a bench, weight belt, jump rope, ab thingy, eliptical machine, 14" step, a couple of bars and some plates. (When I list it all, I guess it doesn't look so cheap. )

I accumulated all this stuff over time. You could do the same.

 

[the-short-one]

I have a precor. cheap equipment = total frustration. I had a cheapie once and the bolts kept coming out of it.

 

[Drmemory]

You do not need to join a gym unless you are pretty advanced and going for the hulk look. There are many excercises you can do elsewhere. For example, I do chin-ups and dips at the local park (on the playground equipment) a wide variety of pushups at home, ab-work at home using a cheap rubber resistance band. Hill climbing on the local hills and trail biking on the local trails.

 

[ProtienFiend]

if youre overly obese all you probably need is to do is run/walk/diet... once you look like a human again you can start weight training to begin building a solid base (as you will probably lose any muscle you have from running/dieting)

 

[ashley2212]

You do not need to join a gym unless you are pretty advanced and going for the hulk look. There are many excercises you can do elsewhere. For example, I do chin-ups and dips at the local park (on the playground equipment) a wide variety of pushups at home, ab-work at home using a cheap rubber resistance band. Hill climbing on the local hills and trail biking on the local trails.

"Pretty advanced" and "going for the hulk look"? What percentage of people in the gym fall under those categories? Probably around 1%... if that.

I agree that there are many exercises that you can do elsewhere. However, very few people have the motivation to get in the workouts they need when they're not in the environment. Especially for this dude... he's just starting out, trying to lose some weight. People in those situations generally need the motivation from the gym atmosphere the most... at least from what I've seen.