Does home gym equipment ever get used?

[Frenchfancy]

We are thinking of turning a spare room into a home gym, but I'm worried it will just gather dust. Does anyone use theirs?

Depends I guess. I have just used the exercise bike, and sometimes use the treadmill. The rowing machine, punch bag and assorted ab trainer type things are gathering dust.

Depends how motivated you are to work out. I have 5kg and 8kg dumbbells and a yoga mat, bought at the start of first lockdown. I did 3 strength training sessions and 2 online yoga classes every week. I've been back to the gym since April but still use the dumbbells at home at least once a week and the yoga mat at least twice. So only you know how much you will use it really

Dont get a load of gym kit. Just get a kettlebell.

Yup. We use ours all the time. We have a rowing machine, weights and a barbell, kettlebells and we have it all in the garage.

The key is to buy stuff you enjoy using. I never use treadmills, so I wouldnt buy one. Dont just rush into it and buy generic 'gym stuff'. Have a think about exactly what you enjoy using/doing.

I also want to know.

I “invested” in terabands only because I was afraid of never using a rowing machine or trampoline.

I think it depends on how serious you are about exercising. If you but the flimsies bike/cross trainer to lose weight it has a greater chance of ending up being a towel drier. If you buy a mid-range machine because you like to exercise in privacy, it's more likely to be used well.

In my experience, it gets used, yes.

As a clothes horse.

I use my home weights four times a week. I’ll never go back to the gym now- unless things significantly change.

I wouldn’t use other equipment though as that isn’t how I like to work out.

DH uses the cross trainer regularly, I use the rowing machine somewhat infrequently as I much prefer walking unless the weather is dire. DD uses them a bit when she's here.
They're in the garage, DH has installed a TV on the wall. He's thinking of adding a bike.

We have a mat (rolled up when not in use), various weights, and flex band and Therabands. DH uses the weights quite often, I go through phases of Jillian Michaels . I do zoom Pilates twice a week using the mat and bands.

I often sit and sometimes lie across my fitball.

It’s about motivation. Some people buy home gym equipment and use it twice - but equally, people who take out a gym membership in January and go a handful of times and then never again are equally common. If you aren’t motivated to exercise / get fit / be healthy then it doesn’t matter where the equipment is; and if you are then likewise.

If you tend to procrastinate then a gym membership would probably be better than home equipment as you can at least force yourself to leave the house to go to the gym, whereas just keep putting it off if you feel like you can use it anytime (but never do.)

I used my dumb bells when the gyms were closed. But I would much prefer to go to a gym than work out at home.

Yep, we use various things. I've collected a fair few bits now. There's a lot you can do with resistance bands & a dumbbell. If you use them, then get more stuff.

It's taken a few years tho, was guilty of the clothes horse thing before.

My cross trainer makes a great towel rack...

We got a spin bike and rowing machine before Christmas. The spin bike has been used loads by both me and DH. The rower has been used less than the bike but has been used a fair bit. We got 2 machines so we could train at the same time but that hasn't happened. I also bought some resistance bands but they've hardly been used mainly as I'd never used them before so didn't really know what to do with them.

Good to hear people do use them. I was particularly thinking of a cross trainer. I have a bad back and it is very important that I stay active. I haven't been to a gym in 20 years, but exercise by dog walking and gardening. I would have no idea what to do with resistance bands or a kettle bell.

We have a gym in a summerhouse and I use it most weekdays for an hour in the evening. I've got an ancient treadmill that has followed me from move to move which has joined OHs elliptical and rowing machine. I usually warm up on the elliptical then run for a bit then do some weights for my arms and back. I must confess to finding the rower a bit boring but I'll sometimes do 10 mins at the end.
I really love it and it was my absolute salvation in the last (shitty) year. I've had gym membership and I know I won't go, knowing it's only outside the back door means there's no excuses. If you can put your kit on and your earbuds in, you're half done!

I’m currently on the bike as I write this. I’m one of those who in the past has paid for a gym membership and never actually went. Money taken from my account each month for no reason whatsoever, what a waste. I don’t think I’d ever sign up again as I’m not motivated to leave the house and arranging childcare to do so is another story. So this works for me x

I would have no idea what to do with resistance bands or a kettle bell.

I'm sure there must be dozens of YouTubes.

Resistance bands do have the virtue of taking up practically no space and being very cheap relative to other kit.

We use ours heaps - it's been absolutely essential throughout lockdowns etc. That said we're both very committed to our exercise and generally don't struggle with motivation.

I use the crosstrainer daily to either warmup on or do a full workout. I find it so useful - it's low impact but you can really push hard on it if you want by cranking up the RPM and/or resistance. Or you can do an low intensity endurance session and watch Netflix

We also have a treadmill which is great when the weather is nasty or it's dark or you want to do intervals and control the speed.

Our kettlebells and dumbbells also get used daily and are definitely worth investing in.

Between us, every day.
We have a Peloton bike, a treadmill and a weights bench. The Peloton is a game-changer (two stones lost and still going!).

@Frenchfancy I noticed you mentioned you have a bad back. Have you tried a crosstrainer before? They are low impact but can involve a bit of twisting which isn't always ideal depending on your injury. They can be really good but just wanted to make sure you've tried one before you commit.

We've had various bits over the years that have gathered dust. But now we have a gym room that does actually get used. The difference this time is we waited and bought what we needed.
We joined a gym 18 months ago and I've been seeing a PT now for 2 months.

We only have equipment that we absolutely need and know how to use in lots of different ways. My trainer shows me what to do at home and he knows the equipment that I have. We have a different set up than what we would have at the gym, but a few things the same.
I have TRX bands on the wall (these are awesome)
Various dumbels
Step block

DH has
Power rack
Bench
Large dead lift bar
Trap bar
Various weights
Spin bike

We've got 2 kids and I'm working really hard to lose weight, but with work and kids we can both only get to the gym 2 times a week each, so we set up the stuff at home. DH is much more knowledgeable about it than me, but my trainer helped me with what would be good to have at home for a different work out than in the gym.
Good luck!
We have a little sign on the door that says The Dwight K Schrute Gym for Muscles

I use mine all the time. I have a spin bike, small weights and kettlebells and have used them all several times a week since I got them a few years ago.