Well, my experience was nothing like that—but we did it—both H and I quit our bootcamp classes. I know that sounds crazy since last year we were going to class about 5 days a week, but it just wasn’t fitting with our lives and schedules anymore. The only class we can really go to is the 6:30 evening class and we felt too restricted to only be able to workout at that time of day.
H and I decided that the money we were spending on bootcamp (it was a lot!) was not really justified since we basically stopped going completely for the last few months. I think we’ve probably gone to five or six classes in the last four months.
We’ve both been busy with work and other obligations and we also felt guilty coming home all the time and leaving right away to go to the gym after our dog was home alone all day already. It was kind os hectic to get home, change right away and then drive all the way to class again We would have very little time to come home, make dinner and relax.
I think once you do something for a long time, you get eager to try something new (that’s probably why I’ve stuck with taking Bar Method classes about twice a week). I’m ready for new challenges for my body and I wanted to look forward to working out again. Once any workout I’m doing becomes like a chore and I’m no longer excited to go all the time, I know it’s time to move on.
(source)
I really have no excuses—we have two spare bedrooms I could use and my laptop can play workout videos anywhere in our home. Since I’ve worked out with a personal trainer and done bootcamp classes, I am also more confident in all of the moves and won’t feel so lost like I used to at the gym.
So tell me—if you work out at home—how do you plan your workouts and how often do you work out?
I will of course still be taking Bar Method classes twice a week but I’d like to work out another two days during the week and maybe once on the weekend.
I may look into more local classes to see if anything else strikes my fancy and we are still looking into getting bicycles for a little cardio action.
Please leave your tips for working out at home in the comments below!
xoxo,
Veronika.
I love all of Jillian Michael's workout DVDs. I recently just started her new kettle bell workout and it was awesome. I also did P90X a couple of years ago and got great results. I just don't have the same motivation right now so I'm doing the "easy" Jillian Michael's DVDs. ;)Good luck!
I subscribe to Women's Health Mag – they have a lot of workouts you can easily do at home (workouts are also on their website). I also really like Jillian Michaels' DVDs.
Love your blog – been reading since the beginning – but this is my first comment!
Katie G
Hi Katie, thanks for your comment 🙂 I also subscribe to Women's Health (as well as Shape & Self) I will have to check out their workouts!
Aww sorry to hear about your bootcamp breakup!! My boyfriend and I are trying to find something active for us to do together, but like you, time and money are issues. I do like to workout at home on my "light" gym days. I take note of what I read on blogs and see on you tube and kind of create my own bootcamp to do while watching T.V or something. Rachfit is one of the youtube channels I use. Another post of tips you pick up would be great!!
I always feel like if I am going to be sitting in front of the T.V anyways, I might as well be doing some lunges or crunches!
Good luck!
https://www.andrea-clare.blogspot.com/
I've recently started back up with p90x. The first week was tough, I didn't finish some of the workouts but strived to carry on and try my hardest. I'm in no rush to do it all in 90 days so I do the program, but if I feel like having a break day I do and then carry on the next day. In 3 weeks I've noticed improved fitness and I feel a lot healthier from it – I'd definately recommend giving it another go!
I did the same thing. I was not using my gym membership when I discovered an amazing yoga studio. I was only going to the yoga studio. Granted, it's more than the gym, but if I'm actually excited about going and I use it more, then it's worth it to me! I try to get cardio stuff done at home… pushing the baby in the stroller, on demand workouts, and my DVD collection. My husband just started P90X and I might dabble in it a bit! He's already lost 11 pounds and he's not overweight! Darn those men… better metabolism than us…
I second the J-Michael's dvds
I hardly ever go anymore, I need to quit mine.
michelle—find something you love to do and you will want to do it 🙂 that's why I quit, I just didn't love it anymore
Jillian Michaels!!
I hear good things about Jillian Michaels, P90x, and Insanity. My H and I have bikes, and when the weather's nice (or even not so nice), it's so fun to go on a ride together. We've found lots of fun paved trails where we live, and you can always go on roads. When H worked close, he biked to and from work. But for me, it's more of a weekend thing. But the time together is so fun, and good for us as a couple.
Do you have the on demand TV channels? There are literally hundreds on exercise videos on demand with our cable on the Fitness on Demand channel from belly dancing to weights to yoga to aerobics. At least on mine there's always Jillian Michaels videos too… which are my favorite. But this way I don't have to buy them knowing I will get of them.
I really love the Tone it up-girls and blogilates. I workout at home since late last year and I feel quite good with it. I also like the videos from Sarahfit.com.
I follow BodyrockTV since 2 years and started exercise regularly since 1 year. The results are stunning but sooo Hard work, sometimes I almost cried during the workouts for differents reasons. One of the thing is not good for me with bodyrock is that there are so many jumps and I live in an apartment where my neighbours are not happy with all those noises. Anyway Zuzana had put some really great workout even without jumps that I love so much. And another point that make me stop to workout everyday is that Zuzana didn't take videos anymore and I feel almost lost…I love her so much nothing can substitute her, I mean she was the reason that make me "jump" in workout at home, and generally anytimes again even if I haven't do regularly like this…since she left I diminishing significantly my workouts… well there are some other personal reasons like try to find a job and such that make my mind fly other ways…anyway I always wonder how people that works like you find the time to workout…keep strong!!
I quit the gym about 2.5 yrs ago since discovering workout DVDs. It has changed my life! Working out at home saved me time (no travel, no packing up makeup/clothes since I can shower at home). I like to work out first thing in the am so I can sleep longer knowing I only need to walk to my living room to get started. (sometimes I sleep in my workout clothes, too.) I like Tracy Anderson, Bob Harper, TurboFire, Michelle Dozois but there are HUNDREDS out there. You might want to check out http://www.videofitness.com. They have a forum and reviews of DVDs. Enjoy!
I quit thr gym when we moved to the new house and I got a treadmill and a elliptical. I workout almost everyday in the morning for an hour, 30 min cardio and 30 min Tracy Anderson metamorphosis DVDs. it works well for me and I like to start the day with energy! 🙂
My husband and I live in Houston and he does personal training in addition to his job as being the trainer/fitness director at a corporate fitness center.
I am going to try to put his LinkedIn with html, but I'm not sure if comments can contain html so I will put it just as a link below that 🙂
Ben Kopp's LinkedIn
If that doesn't work, here is the really long link:
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=30456530&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=n2Ma&locale=en_US&srchid=d9943bc4-b0a8-44de-80e9-1c0d6c825592-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=16&goback=%2Efps_PBCK_*1_Ben_Kopp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*2_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_*1_*51_*1_*51_true_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_name_link
I have two barre dvds that I do at least three times a week but on top of that, I just found Blogilates.com. She has a series of free youtube videos as well as tips and print outs you can do right at home with no equipment. The workouts are quick but effective. On days I'm not doing barre, I try to do two or three blogilates videos depending on what area I want to work out. It usually takes less than an hour.
Personally, I find I am much more motivated to work out at home than I have ever been at the gym, especially during winter in New York.
Brigid
https://www.overthethresholdblog.com
I'm also gym-less right now and loving it! I run outside when the weather permits, do a ton of the Tone It Up workouts, and then just do a lot of body weight exercises like squats, pushups, situps, planks, etc. – I think those are what get the best results anyway! I also take the occasional yoga or boxing class, but I will go to a really quality yoga studio and the boxing classes I take at an actual fight gym (so it's much more intense/better quality instruction than taking something like cardio kickboxing or whatever they have at regular gyms). Frankly I'm in better shape now than when I belonged to a gym b/c there it was too easy to just hop on an elliptical and do a half-ass workout for 45 min, and the classes I do take are much more rigorous!
I love the Core Fusion DVD's – you don't need a lot of equipment – light hand weights and a chair. I've been doing them for over a year and most recently to supplement my workouts at Pure Barre. Some of them are available for free on Hulu too!
I've always worked out at home. I tried P90X, but can't stick with it. I like ChaLEAN Extreme better – its the same concept as P90X, but geared more towards women and the workouts are shorter.
I also did Insanity, which was incredibly hard, but worth it. I had amazing results. I've done a few Brazil Butt Lift workouts, too.
My newest workout is Les Mills Pump, which is the home version of Body Pump. Check out my website for more at-home programs: http://www.coachamyp.com.
LOVE the Friends reference! The best part was when they wanted to cut them off at the source and then tried to "quit the bank".
I used to LOVE going to spin classes at the gym, and the times they offer them at just aren't convenient for me. I used to go on my lunch break when we lived up north(but my new gym doesn't offer them at that time)so now I can either go around 6:30 or 7:00 at night after work or early on a Saturday morning. Neither of which are "convenient". Like you, I enjoy coming home after a long day of work and don't want to rush right back out the door. So, now I go to the gym 3 days a week at lunch and do some cardio and some weights. Then on the weekend, I work out at home usually doing the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels or a Tae Boe dvd. I also do sets of 100 jumping jacks, 20 squat jumps, 50-100 crunches, etc.. while watching tv sometimes at night.. esepecially after having that piece of cake or bowl of ice cream after dinner.
We work out as soon as we get home. We go in the house, drop our things, and immediately change clothes and get to work. If we start messing with anything else, we'll never get to our workout. We get home fairly early around 5:30-5:45 (thankfully), so we are done well before 7 and still have time to cook, relax, and play/walk with the dogs.
We did the P90X for about 8 weeks straight, and it was amazing. BUT then the holidays hit and we haven't gotten back on track. We've been doing some of those workouts mixed in with others about 2-3 times a week. It's time to get back into it again!!
Good luck with your new routine, definitely keep us updated! You're a great motivator!
I have my own elliptical machine because that's all I would do when I went to the gym and I hated going to the gym! At least at the university rec center, where I would go, all the women would be in some weird passive competition with each other to see who could go fastest, hardest on the elliptical. That's not my style. I do abs and cardio from the comfort of my home while watching Netflix and listening to music 6-7 days a week. It works for me- been my routine for about 9 years.
I found quitting the gym to be so freeing. No more exercising on someone else's schedule; only my own.
I love being outdoors, so outdoors running is a must for me. Right now I run about three days a week with my dog (and sometimes with my husband and son, as well). Then I crosstrain two days per week with the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. (I get so much better results doing strength a couple days a week, rather than just cardio). To keep things interesting, I'm incorporating interval training into my running, and I'll probably try out some new videos after I complete the Shred.
Good luck with your new routine! I hope you find something you love!
I joined a gym about 6 months ago and it has been great for me, I am very competitive and so having other people around motivates me for some reason to push it harder. They also offer quite a few classes that I like so I can take a few different ones throughout the month to keep things interesting.
However– before I joined the gym I was running in our neighborhood after work for cardio and doing workouts I found in Women's Health. I stopped working out at home when my husband started traveling (a lot) more for work, I didn't feel as comfortable running with him gone- we live in a safe area, the chief of police for our city actually lives down the road from us, but I am majorly paranoid.
I didn't even need to read your first paragraph to automatically think of FRIENDS when I read the title of this post.
Gyms are definitely too much money in my opinion. Right now I am doing prenatal yoga through our Netflix instant queue. When I'm not pregnant, I love me some Jillian Michaels. She motivates me and pisses me off at the same time. lol.
I only work out at home! My goal is 3 days a week but usually I can do 4. I run/ walk on a treadmill while watching DVD's like old newlyweds and sex and the city. I also do both Bethenny frankel's yoga dvd's. I have other aerobic DVD's also like 30 day shred and p90x that I mix in as well. Whatever I feel like doing that day!
I walk/jog with the dog, play outside with the kid, and do yoga and pilates DVDs sometimes. I need to do some weights but I hate them, so I don't.
I try to include my dogs in any exercise (walking/running) I do outside the house. If I'm home, I like the workout options on Netflix! My husband and I are starting a ballroom dance class this month which is a great workout and fun!
I have a gym membership, and love it. But I also have a treadmil, resistance bands, and a stability ball in my basement. When I'm having a particilarly hard time staying motivated do a work out or find myself being bored I add new music to my iPod. I also like to switch it up by using the free on demand work outs from Comcast. They allow you to try new work outs with out having to pay for them!
that's bold to quit the gym… good luck with your next venture! I just had to join a gym because I was having trouble staying motivated at home. But I know it's do-able 🙂
wish you the best!
Hi Veronika, love your blog. I have been working out from my home for years. I love working on my OWN schedule. You do have to be disciplined, but it is like anything else, you make time for it. I have been TAE-BOing for the past 10 years and get the best results with this. I also have an elliptical machine at home I use on alternating days and switch up my DVD's from time to time. Recently got the Jillian Michael's DVD and like it although I always go back to TAE-BO.
-Ava
Have you and your husband considered running? It's a great form of cardio, it doesn't require a gym and it's free!
If you are not much of a runner or just starting out, try the C25K program.
stephanie–H and I both hate running (that's why we want to get bikes) but we did run as part of our program at bootcamp 🙂
I used to love P90X. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week now but sometimes I'll just stay home and do one of the P90X workouts – plyo is my favourite! I also try to do the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD once a week. Women's Health is a great source for workouts, both strength and cardio. They often have articles on interval workouts that incorporate strength moves with cardio you can do anywhere (jumping rope, mountain climbers, jumping jacks, burpees etc.)
Hi Veronika! What do you like about the Bar Method and have you noticed any body changes? I just moved from los angeles to new orleans and we do not have a studio close to me 🙁 i am thinking of buying the BM dvd, but curious as to what your review is so far? thank you!!
jill- I am obessed with bar method—it changes your body and is incredibly challenging. Your muscles SHAKE when you do it b/c it is so intense! You will love it 🙂
Thank you for your reply! I think i will jump in and buy at least one of the BM DVDs… 🙂 How long did you take classes before noticing any changes?
jill—within 3 weeks or so
I like Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30 DVD sets. I think there both great work outs because they incorporated BOTH cardio and strength training. I also love blogilates (https://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates). She creates awesome workouts. I especially love her HIIT workouts. There really intense but if you have a clean diet you'll start seeing great results and feeling stronger C:
CrossFit workouts are now the thing! Check out CrossFit.com to see what the daily WOD (workout of the day) is.
fitfashlife.blogspot.com
I quit the gym 3 years ago and never looked back! Same as you, I was paying for it but not using it. Now I work out at home to Jillian Michaels DVDs and I run outside. Works great for me! I'm training for a marathon in the fall!
Not sure if you're into yoga, but yogaglo.com offers unlimited streaming classes to your laptop for under $20/month. You can choose from quite a few different yoga styles, or choose a yoga practice for different purposes. I've been enjoying it but I must say, I have to actually set an alarm on my phone for me to remember to workout at home.
I have plenty of workout DVDs, and was doing Bodyrock for a while, but honestly, I just don't push as hard when I'm working out at home as opposed to going to the gym. That's me – I just don't. I'm more motivated to be in a class with an instructor screaming at me. It's hard with three kiddos thrown into the mix, so I have started getting up at 5 in the morning to take some 5:30 a.m. classes, which SUCKS, but still, it is GREAT to have them over with so early in the morning. If I had to go back to working out at home, it would deffo be with bodyrock, though I agree with a previous post that I don't like it as much since Zuzana left. Ah well!
Good luck with it!
Shannan
I love barre! It really changes the shape of your legs. I hope you're enjoying it 🙂 My golden rule for working out at home is to do it the exact same time everyday. Never squeeze it in otherwise when your busy it will get squeezed out! 🙂 Just like you would go to the gym or classes at a certain time, schedule a time to workout everyday and soon it will become a rigid part of your everyday schedule like any other task and not optional or moveable.
good luck!
Robin
Ruby Mines
I have worked out at home for the past 5 years, and it is what has finally helped me to make working out a permanent, daily part of my life, so I am definitely of the opinion that a gym membership is not necessary…if you want to, you can always take a pilates/yoga/other class at a studio!
Veronika, if you love barre/bar classes, you MUST try the Physique 57 DVDs if you have not done so already. They are life-changing 🙂 I also like Tracy Anderson, as I see some others have recommended…some of her workouts are on youtube so you can preview her style before buying…this is one of my faves
https://youtu.be/X7RDfw0NuZ8
(hope it's ok that i posted a link?)
Alissa
I work out every week day. I have my dance class on a Tuesday and every other day I do my Zumba dvds and on a Thursday I go to a Zumba class in a local school – the instructor is awesome, she always pushes us to do our best. I make sure I work out as soon as I get home from work or else I'm not motivated to do it or get distracted doing something else. I also try and change it up, when the new Zumba Exhillarate dvds came out I got those and I recently got a wii and have been using the Zumba wii game – which by the way is awesome, it encourages you to go harder to fill up the energy bar at the bottom.
My H and I started the Insanity workouts at home three weeks ago. I went from a couch potato to working out 6 nights a week. The workouts are 45 minutes or less and the whole program is supposed to last 60 days. I love that it's structured and we know which videos to do each night of the week. It also makes skipping a night less attractive because then you're forced to figure out how you're going to make it up. So our nightly routine now is come home, have a decent snack, play with our two-year-old for a couple hours, and then workout after he goes to bed (around 7:30-8). We eat a light dinner after our workouts.