Breaking a sweat keeps you younger longer and helps you keep your weight in check. Not everyone can afford or benefit from pricey gym memberships though. Working out in the comfort of your own home actually provides several great advantages aside from saving you money on membership fees.

1) No Commute

Let’s face it, we already spend enough time in our cars driving back and forth from work, the kids’ schools, and running countless errands. Not to mention that gas prices have been astronomically high. Eliminating an additional road trip by working out at home can free up time and ease the pressure on your wallet.

2) No Germs

Being around other people who sweat, cough and sneeze is certainly one of the easiest ways to catch a cold. Even more so if your immune system is already weakened or compromised. As such, working out at home will spare you the unwanted exposure to fellow fitness enthusiasts’ germs and bodily secretions. It might even save you a flu shot this season.

3) No Waiting Your Turn

Time is money and most people are already squeezing their workouts into tight schedules. Waiting on other people for use of gym equipment certainly does not qualify as optimal time management. It does not take a brain surgeon to figure out that working out at home would be the best use of your time since there are no strangers hassling you in your living room.

4) No Prying Eyes

Even if you are not trying to lose weight, sweating while huffing and puffing during your workouts in front of other people is not everyone’s cup of tea. At home, on the other hand, you don’t have to worry about looking or smelling good for that matter, and can simply focus on pushing yourself past your fitness limits.

5) No Theft or Lost Items

Locker rooms are no safe haven and your belongings can be gone in the blink of an eye in spite of keys and locks. Instead of ending your workout on a sour note due to stolen items you can avoid this scenario altogether by using your living room as home gym. Granted, working out at home will require an initial investment in workout DVDs and equipment. But a recent study has found that people who work out at home are way more consistent than gym rats and more successful in keeping the weight off. Adding any online support tools like Beachbody’s free workout logging and forums further ensures long-term success for home fitness enthusiasts.