Personal trainer or home rowing machine?

[Ed Anger]

I'm sorta shocked he didn't get one of those game machines with the workout games.

[Norgy]

If there was a Beat The 'Tard for Playstation Move or Kinect, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[Martinus]

If there was a Beat The 'Tard for Playstation Move or Kinect, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

You could always invite Slargos over. People won't realize he is gone until after weeks have passed by. 

[Slargos]

If there was a Beat The 'Tard for Playstation Move or Kinect, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

You could always invite Slargos over. People won't realize he is gone until after weeks have passed by. 

Alternatively, we could just hang you up and beat you like a Polish Rainbow Coloured Piñata.

[Martinus]

If there was a Beat The 'Tard for Playstation Move or Kinect, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

You could always invite Slargos over. People won't realize he is gone until after weeks have passed by. 

Alternatively, we could just hang you up and beat you like a Polish Rainbow Coloured Piñata.

We could have a Warsaw Gay Bash.

[viper37]

What would you say is more cost effective and better in instilling discipline?

assuming this is really about fitness and not some gay hookup thing here is what I think:
- Set your objectives first.  What do you want?  Simply lose weight or gain muscle? Do you have any medical conditions at all preventing you from doing sport as much as you'd like?  Do you have any old injuries lingering?
- How much time in a week are you ready to dedicate to your training?  How long will you maintain the training?

A personal trainer will cost you the price of the rowing machine for 6 months.  It's worth it if you have pre-defined, very clear objectives.  Using a personal trainer simply to lose weight is no good.  Especially if you're not ready to follow their crazy diet.

On the other hand, if you want to achieve something specific (regain tonus in your abs, get bigger arms, run faster&longer, etc), a personal trainer at the gym is the way to go.

If it's difficult for you to find time off your work or personal life to go to the gym at the specific hours it is open, than you might consider a rowing machine at home.  If you only work 35hrs/week, subscribe to the gym & the personal trainer.

Nothing prevents you from buying the rowing machine one or two years from now, once you have a good training method and good diet plan.

[Martinus]

LOL I work 50 hours a week. On a lazy week.

But yeah I definitely want not just to lose weight, but work on my abs and upper body/arms. I am thinking 2-3 hours per week. I will try it for a month or so and see how it works out.

[jimmy olsen]

Finding motivation on your own is harder than someone ramming it down your throat.

Motivation won't be the only hard thing getting rammed down his throat.

[Brazen]

You don't learn self-discipline by buying it. You learn it by getting up at 5am and working out on your own because you know you've got a 12-hour working day coming up.

Buy yourself some running shoes and a 12kg kettle bell and I'll write you a routine.

[Martinus]

You don't learn self-discipline by buying it. You learn it by getting up at 5am and working out on your own because you know you've got a 12-hour working day coming up.

Buy yourself some running shoes and a 12kg kettle bell and I'll write you a routine.

Sorry, it doesn't work this way.

[jamesww]

Martinus, why are you asking this question ?  You have a bicycle.

[Malthus]

I use a personal trainer. For me at least, it is the only way I'll get up at 6 am to work out.

I do mostly weight training. It isn't any good for losing weight, but at my age, it is work out or degenerate, muscle-wise.

"Home gym" equipment is worthless if you are like me, because you won't use it.

[Brazen]

Sorry, it doesn't work this way.

What doesn't? I don't see your problem. You said you wanted to instil self-discipline, do you in fact mean "I have no self-discipline, what will make me less likely to cop out?"

You'll get your exercise, yes, but you won't get the discipline.

[Martinus]

So, I'm having an appointment with my personal trainer tomorrow evening. His name is Artur. 

[Sheilbh]

So, I'm having an appointment with my personal trainer tomorrow evening. His name is Artur. 

This threat's worthless withou....

I agree with the consensus but would argue for a rowing machine too.  But you're best off doing exercise to some end.  Learn to play tennis, go rowing, go swimming or something grinding out your health in a gym is just sadmaking.