This is a very common question as many people are taught they need to go to a gym to get the best results.
Well, I am here to say just the opposite. There's a lot of external "noise" that you get at commercial gyms. You need to know what you're doing (be knowledgeable) in order to filter out all of that noise.
Now, don't get me wrong, commercial gyms can be very good. You just need to know how to filter out noise and not get caught up with the wrong people or the wrong methods.
I highly recommend home gyms because you can do as well and even better with a home gym. Workouts at home ARE effective if you have the equipment you need.
Starting with body weight workouts at home is good, but body weight only isn't enough to continue getting amazing results. You need to start adding additional resistance if you want to continue to build muscle and strength. In other words, the same resistance over and over again isn't going to lead to continued results OR the greatest results.
Equipment is required to continue getting the best results.
You can start weight lifting at home with a low cost set of adjustable dumbbells if you don't have a couple thousand dollars to spend all at once on a home gym setup.
If you want to workout at home and build a home gym, this is what I recommend:
1. Power Rack
2. Chin Up Bar (power rack should have this)
3. Dip Bars (power rack may have this as an option)
4. Olympic barbell sets (at least 1 but 2 or even 3 is better)
5. Adjustable dumbbell set
6. Adjustable weight bench
7. Extra weight plates
That's about all you need to get workouts just as good as you'll get at any gym.
You might say: "Well, what about all those fancy machines?"
And I would say, stop wasting your time. You can't find ANYTHING better than free weights like dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells. Nothing. You don't need fancy machines.
So, to answer the question: YES, home workouts are as effective as gym workouts IF you have the right equipment.
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