Ready to conquer your fitness goals but having trouble deciding between a gym membership and an online personal trainer? Choosing between the two can be confusing; both have pros and cons. To help, we’ve laid out seven important things to consider when picking between online personal training and a gym membership to help you determine which will fit in better with your life and give you incredible results fast. Check them out!
Where you’ll be working out with your online fitness coach VS the gym
Our first pro and con may seem self-explanatory; you’ll either be working out in a gym or the comfort of your home. However, taking a deeper look, we discover there’s much more to this choice. For some, it can be intimidating to go to the gym and be surrounded by other keen fitness enthusiasts, so working out in the comfort of your home or backyard is a great fit. On top of this, you know you’ll have plenty of your own personal space at home and not have to worry about others getting in your way.
For others, it can be hard to put away the distractions working out at home brings. Perhaps the house needs a clean, or children are getting into mischief. A gym has the added benefit of leaving life’s other distractions at the door, and for some, this is a necessity.
Making time for online group fitness training VS the gym
With both an online fitness coach and a gym membership, your membership won’t do the hard work for you unless you find time to dedicate to your fitness. When deciding which to choose, it’s essential to ask yourself which will fit better timing-wise with your life.
If the gym is close to your home or work, adding a gym session to your routine can be easy. You can schedule a lunch session or head to the gym before or after work. On the other hand, if you work from home or don’t have the luxury of having a gym close by, you could be losing precious time simply driving to the gym.
If you find you’re having a hard time fitting in the gym into your busy schedule, an online fitness coach is a great solution. All you have to do is block off 30 to 45 minutes of your day, and you can get a great workout in without leaving your home.
Online fitness equipment VS gym equipment
One of the largest differences between working out at home versus the gym is the equipment you’ll have access to. Unless you have a robust home gym set-up, chances are you’ll mainly be using your body weight for your workout. At the gym, you’ll have access to a range of equipment and weights.
When making the decision on equipment, it’s essential to consider how you like to workout and what you’d like to get out of your workout. If you’re someone who enjoys going for the big weights and working mainly on muscle tone rather than overall fitness, a gym membership may be a better choice. However, if you’re looking for a well-rounded workout that combines cardio, resistance training, flexibility and agility, your body weight will provide everything you need.
Social interactions with online group fitness training VS the gym
In the past two years, we’ve all become much more comfortable with Zoom calls and online meetings – and online group fitness training is much the same. All you need is a good internet connection and a few metres of space, and you’re all set. With a bit of time to chat with your trainer and other group members before and after class, you can still get your social fix in without leaving the comfort and safety of your home.
If you’re already spending a lot of time in front of the screen and prefer in-person training but aren’t interested in the gym, an outdoor boot camp may be the perfect option for you.
Workout while you travel with an online personal trainer VS the gym
The best thing about online fitness training – it can go wherever you go. If you’re someone who’s constantly on the road or enjoys keeping fit while on holiday, online fitness training is an obvious choice. As long as you have WiFi or data and a few metres of free space, you can workout wherever you are.
If you don’t have to travel for work and enjoy leaving the gym behind when you go on holiday, this aspect may not be as important for you. Either way, keep in mind that a cold beer on holiday tastes even better after a thirty-minute session, and you won’t lose all the hard work you’ve put in before the holiday!
The cost of an online trainer Vs the gym
The all-important question, do you get more bang for your buck with an online personal trainer or the gym. Answering this question isn’t entirely straightforward, as it does depend on your fitness habits, schedule, and what each option provides.
Gym memberships can be costly, especially when you add fuel to get to and from the gym. However, some gyms offer added benefits like saunas, classes, and an extensive range of equipment to use. If you’re going every day and taking advantage of these perks, the extra cost is worth it.
Online personal training tends to be less expensive, especially compared to a gym membership + a personal trainer. You’ll also get access to a range of benefits, will be given all the tools to enjoy an at-home workout even outside of your session, and you don’t have to worry about the added cost of fuel.
An online fitness coach is more than just a workout
Having a gym membership and heading to the gym is one thing, but if your fitness plan stops the moment you leave the gym, you’ll be lucky to see progress. It takes a lot of self-control to frequent the gym and focus on your nutrition before and after.
An online personal trainer will ensure you’re constantly being challenged and will help you incorporate a healthy diet into your life.
You can reach out to your online personal trainer when you have questions and you don’t have to worry about your workout getting stagnant with a range of classes to choose from.
The verdict: online personal trainer VS the gym
If you want flexibility, enjoy the comforts of your home yet like taking your workout with you, and want a well-rounded plan, online personal training is a great option. If you’re ready to conquer your fitness goals, reach out to Shane at Body Fit today to sign up for a personalised online personal training session!
With 18 years in the fitness industry and a former Commonwealth Games and World Championships competitor, Shane creates fun and effective body weighted exercise workouts so you can see results fast.