Training at home and home gyms...

[lorabeann]

How many of you train at home and what does your gym consist of? I am a little worried about next semester- I will be commuting back and forth from school and I really like working out in the morning. The problem is, I won't have a membership close to my house (and I am low on $).

I will try to fit in my weight training on the days I have more time at the University and use that gym, but I like working out in the morning! Cardio will be easy- I will have my best running partner around all the time- my dog. :D

I am adding more resistance bands and more weights to my collection, but I am so used to being in a gym. I guess it just makes me uneasy, so I wanted to see who has a home gym. :)

[Lauren730]

I switch between working out at home and at the gym. At home, all I have are freewights and a pilates ball. I'm planning on getting a DoorGym thing. When I add that third piece, I'll be able to do everything! I also do bodyweight-only exercises. Altogether, I can work out my entire body with minimal equipment.

If you're wanting to really bulk up and compete or whatever, what I do probably isn't enough. But I'm just working on a fit, muscular body in general.

[TurbulentFluid]

I'm switching to the home gym this week... I have 2 dumbbell bars and one barbell bar with a total of 60 kg removable plates, a decline sit up bench which I use as a decline/incline/flat bench for lifting, a pilates bar, and am installing a high bar for pullups.
I think all I'm missing here is a squat rack; but I think I'll construct holders so I can use them for squats AND for bench press...

Anymore suggestions, home gymmers? ;)

[amber_stone]

I've got a squat rack, a bench that now fits inside of my squat rack, an olympic barbell and weight set, plus some farmers walks handles I made, a tractor tyre, a sled made out of a full oil drum jammed inside of a tyre and a rope tied around it. I've also got some Coc grippers, some old plates I use for plate pinches and flips. I've got it all set up in my shed with an area clear for deadlifts.
I've built it up over the last year or so, buying second hand or making the majority of it. I got my squat rack off ebay. Most of the strongwoman stuff cost me nothing - the farmers walks handles were $25 to make them both.
I've got a treadmill I use in winter, but its a lot more enjoyable to run outside in warmer weather for cardio.

I really like my home gym, the proper gyms here in my town are kinda crappy - none of them have a power rack and you're not allowed to use chalk, so I actually have a better set up now at home. I do miss having a set time to workout everyday like I used when I went to the gym, but I like being able to fit in workouts whenever I have spare time.


OP - if you have a set of dumbells you can look up some kettlebell training as there is a lot you can adapt to dumbells, ie. Turkish getups, dumbell swings. Plus there is a good article on stumptuous.com about no weight training, things like sandbag and car pushing. Theres a surprising variety of exercises you can do with only free weights or dumbells.

[windsrprk]

I train at home with limited space and equipment and so far, so good! I have a treadmill, pull-up bar, Ironmaster Super Bench with dip handles, decline attachment, and leg extension attachment, calf block for doing calf work, two standard size barbell bars (one straight, one e-z), a pair of adjustable db's, 3 sizes of exercise bands, a Swiss ball, and some extra weight plates. The one thing I would like (no room for it) is a power rack.

I have a journal in the Over 35 Journals if you'd like to see what exercises I do. I may train at home but I train hard! :)

[lorabeann]

Thanks everyone! I am feeling better about training at home and will add to my collection of weights, etc.

You ladies all look great and it's inspring to know that you train at home!!!

[TurbulentFluid]

Bump... I'm so afraid of these 2 weeks of home training... :(

[deeyala]

You have very nice equipements so far.
Ideas about how to create your own squat rack :D

Get two chairs back to back and place the barbell between both, stand in between them with the barbell an inch behind you. and Voila! your sqauts rack !

Just make sure their backs are strong enough to bear the weights and that they're at a comfortable height for you to squat.

The most challenging thing I had to survive through my home-gym experience is actually to stop endlessly posponing it, since I am already "in the gym" and can "start any time".
Fix a time for your work out and everything will be fine.

http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/500020810/0/Dining_Chair.jpg
These chairs are standing opposite to how we want them. Make the seats face the outside so that you can have enough space to stand and squat between them.

[TurbulentFluid]

Yeah, my 60 kg barbell would LOVE to hang between two rickety chairs... :D :D :D No prob about the rack, I'm an engineer and they'll make whatever I draw in my mom's firm... as long as I pay for enough drinks! :D

Thanx about the tip for the time shedulting, it's exactly what I'm gonna do!

[TankNoob]

all i have are dumbells, bench and those gym balls.... gets boring a bit sometimes

[jackie_p_1999]

I have powerblocks, which are crucial in a very small apartment. It's one of those dumbell sets where you make the dumbbell as light as 5 pounds or as heavy as 50 pounds. A little expensive, but I found them on craigslist for half price. The really work very well. Only thing I wish I could do is squats with a heavy bar on my back rather than dumbells in my hands, but otherwise, I can do it all.

No need for the stand:

http://www.powerblock.com/

[lorabeann]

Hey all-

I have been considering a gym, but have been having a heck of a time finding one that is worth paying for... :mad:

I like the power blocks a lot. Those are nice and compact.

TurbulentFluid- since you are the other home trainer around here: how are things going? :)

[Patrese]

hey there, definitely get yourself a squat rack or power rack,I invested and am very pleased!

[ATCGal]

I have powerblocks, which are crucial in a very small apartment. It's one of those dumbell sets where you make the dumbbell as light as 5 pounds or as heavy as 50 pounds. A little expensive, but I found them on craigslist for half price. The really work very well. Only thing I wish I could do is squats with a heavy bar on my back rather than dumbells in my hands, but otherwise, I can do it all.

No need for the stand:

http://www.powerblock.com/

x 2! Powerblocks are AWESOME, and def worth the investment. And that way, you don't have to buy several sets of dumbbells!

[lorabeann]

My mom was going on and on about how much "all these weights cost". I got the: "how many weights do you need laura" speech and they are just outragous.

I don't want a bunch of dumbbells later!

[bubbytx]

Get two chairs back to back and place the barbell between both, stand in between them with the barbell an inch behind you. and Voila! your sqauts rack !

Possibly the single most stupid/dangerous idea I have ever heard.