It seems like we’re a nation divided, between the haves and the have nots. No, we’re not talking about the shocking inequality caused by 11 years of austerity, today.
Instead, we’re discussing whether or not you have a gym membership.
The coronavirus pandemic led to sweeping closures in the UK, and gyms weren’t spared the mercy of lockdown restrictions. While many pined for the bench press, squat rack, spin class and communal spirit of the gym, others found a fondness developing for working out at home. In fact, at the end of 2020, it was reported that almost half of Brits now preferred exercising at home and one in five said they would never return to the gym.
Whilst we can’t ignore the convenience and cost-saving which home workouts undeniably bring, it’s the gym where our heart beats most strongly – and that’s not only because we’ve been pushing really hard on the rowing machine.
Nope, for us, proper exercise equipment still plays a key role in helping us execute our workouts effectively. Let’s face it; whilst press-ups and sit-ups on your living room floor are certainly useful, such routines just can’t compete with the stuff found in the gym.
Of high quality and offering all the essential features necessary to maintain daily workout routines, proper equipment is the reason we’re so happy to be back in the gym. With that in mind, here are 5 benefits of using fitness equipment versus bodyweight home workouts.
ENHANCED RESISTANCE
Using fitness equipment for increasing resistance is important when you want to gain muscle mass and size. Bodyweight exercise alone cannot enable you to achieve the goal of increased muscle mass.
According to Alexis Colvin, M.D., an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at the Mount Sinai Health System, via Shape.com, ‘’If you’re used to lifting super heavy at the gym, grabbing barbells, or moving weight on machines, replicating that at home can prove somewhat difficult.’’
To truly maximise those gains, you need external resistance that is only possible with the effective use of fitness equipment. You will find various adjustable weights and weight-lifting machines that help in improving resistance significantly. Thus, it is essential to use proper workout gear and equipment to achieve the desired fitness outcomes.
IMPROVED STABILITY AND CONTROL
Working out with proper gear and equipment will allow you to have increased stability and control. Wearing the right gear prevents injury as it provides support and increases your range of motion, making you safe and secure during your workout.
Subsequently, this reassurance of your own safety enables you to push harder and lift heavier, knowing that you’re secure should you overextend yourself.
MUSCLE GROUP TARGETING
The layout and sheer diversity of the gym’s equipment is something even the most well-equipped home gym can’t compete with. Because you have the option of such targeted workouts in the gym, with a wide variety of ways to focus on, say, the shoulder muscle group, you can enjoy the benefits of isolating those groups.
At home, you’re more restricted to compound exercises, which are generally considered less effective in building muscle.
BOOSTS STAMINA AND ENERGY
Do you want to boost your stamina and energy? Of course you do; that’s why you’re here.
Gym machines like elliptical trainers, treadmills, and exercise bikes are the top three options for cardio training, and provide greater variety of workout than simply going for a run or a bike ride. Because of this, you can really up the intensity in the gym when performing cardio with a decreased risk of injury due to the predictable nature of the terrain and range of motion.
Regular use of these machines allows you to boost energy levels and stamina and helps in burning calories.
Read: 7 Gym Cardio Machines IDEAL for Weight Loss
MOTIVATION
It can be tough to get motivated when working out from home, with the decreased range of motion, space and exercise options. Strengthening your mindset for exercise can be tough with the sofa so close and no one to offer words of encouragement, and the temptation can be all too strong to simply give the working out a miss entirely in favour of a Come Dine With Me binge.
The gym, on the other hand, provides motivation both in the variety that the equipment provides – ensuring things never get dull or monotonous – and the peer-to-peer encouragement found on every adjacent machine.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Proper workout gear and equipment is the best way for you to workout efficiently and reach your health goals. Helping you increase balance, stability, muscle strength, and stamina, gym equipment still beats bodyweight exercises, in our humble view.