Gym or cleaner?

[Thisisjammmmhot]

Dd starts nursery in September, only part time, but will be the first time I’ve been alone without her in 3 years.
Need to lose 2-3 stone, can’t afford to keep my cleaner and pay for a gym.
I have an exercise bike and weights in the spare room, plus have a dog to take for walks (walking isn’t enough for me to lose weight though) in the last I had to work out a few times a week to be a size 10. If I paid for a gym and got all the gear etc, I’d be more likely to force myself to go, whereas at home after dropping Dd off, I might just slump on the sofa.
I adore having my cleaner, I forsake other things to afford her.
Which one would you pay for?

Both if you get cheap gym - The Gym is around £15 per month so if you went once per week plus one evening or weekend class it would be good value for money.

@Thisisjammmmhot

Those saying it’s mainly diet, my diet is generally v healthy and always has been. The only way I was ever the size I wanted to be was through exercise 3-4 times per week. Not long after I stopped that, weight piled on, I know that I need it, used to feel good afterwards, but also hate the thought of it 🙈 Ideally I’d love to keep me cleaner and just do sod all for a bit once I’m finally without Dd 🤣 Would I lose it the same just doing my old bike upstairs and weights as I would in a gym? Also have a normal bike and we do bike rides at the weekend with Dd, so could include that and longer dog walks without Dd I can walk more quickly and for longer.

I have some home gym equipment and it's pretty good, but it doesn’t work me to the level that the gym machines and gym classes do. Plus I don't have all the weights machines, or access to a pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

I know in theory you don't need to go to the gym to exercise but in practice, I do find it makes a huge difference to exercising at home. Plus it's just mentally nicer to be leaving the house and going to a different environment that feels more indulgent.

I don't mind cleaning and don't find it a massive chore. The gym enhances my life.

Cleaner.

If buying (presumably expensive?) exercise equipment hasn't got you exercising then I doubt the simple fact of spending a ton of money on gym membership and sportswear will either. Better to keep your lovely cleaner, and spend the time going for long walks, gradually building up your exercise if you want to, and learning to cook new things.

Cleaner.

Cleaner and workout at home

@dozer, must be. When I worked out, I didn’t even have to think of the amount I ate. Having said that, Dp says I hardly eat much 🤷🏻‍♀️I’ve just always needed to exercise

@MotionActivatedDog I’ve used them in the past, used to stick my headphones on and just buckle down and do it, then I’d do the weights and sit ups. Realise I need to get back to doing it and with Dd not there, there’s no excuse not to really 😬
Do videos on YouTube etc actually work?

I'd say if you can only afford one then you can afford neither.

Clean your own house and use equipment you already have and go the park or whatever

Cleaner and Less Mills subscription

The very fact you have a cleaner implies to me you are a bit lazy. With that said you should get rid of the cleaner. Paying for the gym means you are more likely to lose it. I doubt you have the motivation to go for runs outside.

@araiwa 🤷🏻‍♀️I see them both as fairly indulgent so can only justify to myself having one or the other

How about you keep the cleaner on condition that you do a workout in the time you would have spent cleaning?

Op when you bought the weights and bike did you not say the same thing, you’d be more likely to do it if it was just there?

Gym every time, cleaning doesn’t take that long and most people do it with a full time job and children. I’d go to work more and share the housework with DH.

I’ve used them in the past, used to stick my headphones on and just buckle down and do it, then I’d do the weights and sit ups. Realise I need to get back to doing it and with Dd not there, there’s no excuse not to really

So do that instead of wasting more money on good intentions with the gym membership. Give yourself a time frame. 3 months and at the end of the 3 months you have committed fully to exercising at home and eating well and haven’t lost weight then get a gym membership.

Cleaner.

The road outside is free, you already have gym equipment and losing weight is 99% what you eat.

Also by having a cleaner it frees up a few hours of your week which also makes the gum easier to find the Time to fit in

Doing the gym is very short sighted - you do not need a gym to stay in shape. As other posters mention you need to look at diet and exercise at home using body weight and dumbbells

Are you actually overweight op? Or do you just weigh more than you would like to?

Unless you use the classes at the gym, everything you do there you can do at home with your weights so I'd say keep the cleaner.

I agree with those saying that your diet is more important than exercise though - whether that's what you're eating or quantities.

I would put my exercise gear on, drop off my wee one then get into some exercise. If you dress ready for it first thing, you'll do it.

It depends how much they cost. I'd be inclined to see whether I could afford a cleaner once a fortnight and an exercise class once a week.

I get a bit narked by people saying diet is the issue. For some people, it is impossible to function on the kind of calorific amounts they'd have to keep to to be a size 10 if they have a largely sedentary day because they work in an office.

@Dozer

Cleaner.

Weight loss is primarily down to what you eat and there are lots of other, cheap exercise options.

This!! It's 80% about what you put in your mouth. The exercise will make you fitter and tone you up but less food = weight loss.

Cleaner

To lose body fat you need to be in a calorie deficit, you can do that for free, you can also use the equipment you have for free. Would couch to 5k be of any interest?

Keep the cleaner and do couch to 5k whilst she's in cleaning!

Gym! Health should be a prioirty.

Absolutely nothing would make me give up my cleaner. Pre-pandemic my husband lost his job so money was a bit tighter than usual. I cancelled sky and a few other things rather than lose my cleaner.

Try fitness blender for workout videos, they have lots of good programs and are really cheap.