When considering the convenience of a home gym versus the variety of going to a commercial gym, there are many factors to weigh in this decision. For some, this is an easy and clear-cut choice. There are those of us that would never set foot in a "big-box" gym and who prefer the solitude of a home gym. Others thrive on the assortment of machines and crave the interaction of a fitness center and could never see themselves training at home.

For others, the decision is not as clear. If we look at the pros and cons of each type of training, we can make an informed decision as to which type of training best suits our lifestyle and needs.

Training at home requires quite a bit of self-motivation. If you are interested in committing yourself to working out in the solitude of your own palace, then lets take a look at the advantages first:

· No waiting to use equipment. This is a big one – you can get your workout done much more timely if your not standing around waiting for Brutus to finish off "His Pecs".

· Your own atmosphere. You can blast whatever music you want as loud as you want – within reason, you don’t want the cops showing up at your door when you are still in spandex.

· Workout whenever! You can train anytime, day or night.

· Your perfect gym. You select the equipment that best suits your tastes and preferences.

· Save the drive time. You can get a great workout in the time it takes to drive back and forth to the gym.

Now for the drawbacks:

· Motivation – No one to inspire you, other than you.

· Lack of variety – unless you can afford to stock your gym with all the machines the gym has, you won’t have the same selection. Although, for some people this is fine.

· Weather – If you train in the garage it can be very hot during the summer and quite cold during the winter.

Training at a commercial gym takes plenty of patience due to the fact that you are "sharing" the facility with anyone who decides to join. Most gyms don’t have a limit as to the number of memberships they sell. Lets look at both sides of the gym debate, first the positives:

· Endless selection of equipment – there is always something to do.

· Most are open enough hours of the day to suit you.

· No cleaning up. Just workout and leave.

· Get away from it all. If you need to get out of the house for a while each day this is the perfect stress reliever.

· Motivation. Being around others who are in shape typically motivates us to workout harder.

Now let’s look at the flip side:

· Crowds - Gyms are known for being as crowded as the subway.

· Prices - Most gyms that are worthwhile are not cheap.

· Atmosphere – There is nothing more defeating then having to listen to music we hate while training.

These are just a few of the freedoms and obstacles that you will encounter either training at home or in a gym. For the sake of this article, we will say that money and space constraints are not an issue and that you will be able to stock your home gym with whatever equipment you want. If you are still unsure after reading the above pros and cons, go out and buy a pair of adjustable dumbbells and try working out at home for a few weeks. If it is not your thing, you can always use the dumbbells occasionally when you are running late and can’t find the time to get to the gym.

Please remember to keep it simple and always stay positive in reaching your goals.

Make sure to always consult a licensed physician before taking on any new fitness endeavor.

Lets Stay Fit Forever…