That is the question! This is usually what you ask yourself when you first start working out or getting back to working out. Do I need a gym in order to work out?  The answer to that question is easy….No!!!  It is always an easy excuse for people to say, “I can’t workout because I don’t belong to a gym….I can’t afford a gym….I have small children and daycare is not available. This list of excuses goes on and on! Now don’t get me wrong, I love belonging to a gym but what if a gym is not an option for you?

Home workouts have many advantages.  Working out in the comfort of your own home without having to drive anywhere is wonderful! The easiest and most underestimated,  workout is walking!  Walking is very effective and it is right outside of your door! Whether you walk slow or fast it works.  The farther you walk the better, but any distance is better than sitting on the couch.  If you are a fast walker you may find you enjoy stepping it up a bit into a walk or a run.  A walk/run/walk pattern is a good way to begin if you desire to become a runner.  When I want to be near my home, I mark a half mile route and run that half till I add the miles I want to do for that run.  Just think of it as an outside treadmill!  This method can also be used for biking. Speaking of biking, pull out that old bike and jump on! Just remember your helmet.

For those cold rainy days when you can’t get outside, there are many wonderful exercise DVDs for any type of exercise you want to do such as aerobics, yoga, kick boxing and Weight Training.  You can also check out the health and fitness shows on cable TV. With today’s technology there are many videos on YouTube that you can download and work out with as well.

Investing in your own equipment may not be as expensive as you may think.  Resistance bands are an inexpensive way to increase your bone mass by doing resistance training.  Free weights can be bought for a nominal price and there are many different types to fit your needs. Stability balls, mats, etc. are also great to have for home workouts with little investment.  You can add equipment as you go along such as treadmills and ellipticals, if you have the space.

So, to gym or not to gym depends on your needs and/or limitations. The most important thing is you work out somewhere! So make your decision and start today!