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Deciding where you will exercise is an important first step in reaching your fitness goals. Many factors go into this decision and each should be thoroughly evaluated before beginning an exercise program. Once a decision has been made on where you will work out, you can move onto deciding how you will work out.

Exercising at home has its definite advantages. One advantage is in the finance department. With today's gas prices, it is obvious that you will save money on fuel as well as ware and tare on your car by exercising at home. Gym memberships can often be costly and may include items that you don't really need such as child care or swimming facilities. You also don't have to be concerned with having the latest in exercise fashion or gear since you most likely would be working out by yourself at home.

Working out at home, however, does include a measure of financial obligation. Even if you will simply be running, it is imperative that you have high quality running shoes. Really, this statement applies to any equipment you may purchase to use at home. If you buy extremely low priced and low quality equipment, you may end up being injured or frustrated by lack of progress.

In addition to financial gains, exercising at home may also be helpful for those people who are too self-conscious to exercise in public. If you are worried about your appearance in gym clothes, it is comforting to know that the only person who has to be with you when you exercise is you. There are also time benefits when exercising at home because you don't have to spend time traveling to and from the gym.

If you are more motivated by being with people you know or come to know while exercising away from home, a gym will fit your needs better than working out at home. A gym becomes more cost efficient the more equipment you use. For instance, if you want to run on a treadmill for most of your work outs and cross train on an elliptical, it is much more economical to go to a gym. Not only would you have to make the initial outlay of money to pay for the equipment, you would also have to pay to maintain it if you exercised at home.

There are also some major benefits of joining a gym if you do need such services as child care and a swimming pool. If you are wanting to train for a triathlon, for instance, it is imperative that you have a safe, appropriate place to train for the swimming leg of the race.

Of course, gyms also offer classes that can be very motivating. If you start attending a class regularly, you may be motivated to continue so that you do not have to defend yourself when asked where you have been if you have missed classes. Strong friendships can form when people take the same class with the same people for many years. It is also motivating when those same people notice weight loss that can come from exercising.

In all, choosing between exercising at home and at a gym can be accomplished by looking at your personality and acknowledging what needs you have. Once you have completed this task, you will have set yourself up for success on your road to fitness. As always, the most important thing is to put yourself in an environment that encourages rather than discourages exercise.

Pepper Montero