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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: littleguns on February 12, 2011, 04:48:36 AM

Title: Home Gyms
Post by: littleguns on February 12, 2011, 04:48:36 AM
The days of going to the gym before/after work are over..married, kids, work etc...

Who has a home gym and what specifically do you have?
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Marty Champions on February 12, 2011, 04:53:56 AM
just use two heavy dumbells and do lunges with them in your yard
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Meso_z on February 12, 2011, 05:07:08 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: d0nny2600 on February 12, 2011, 05:18:45 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?
;D
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: mass243 on February 12, 2011, 05:24:58 AM
The days of going to the gym before/after work are over..married, kids, work etc...


LOL.. wut?

That's the case only if you've high estrogen levels (= small or average gay living inside you)  :-X
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: no one on February 12, 2011, 05:26:17 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?

just use two heavy dumbells and do lunges with them in your yard
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: MAXX on February 12, 2011, 05:27:33 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?
homegym is more expensive.

a powerrack alone costs 400$+

never mind the weights, barbell etc..

+you need room for it, a big garage or cellar which everyone doesn't have..
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: littleguns on February 12, 2011, 05:30:29 AM
Thx for the witty comebacks......My last job I was able to go to the gym during lunch, but now new job, no gyms around and only 1/2 hr for lunch..kind of hard.

I have competed in a former life and would love to train like I used to but us big boys have priorities/responsibilities.....unlike alot of you keyboard jockeys, wake up, go to HS, work 3 hrs at your local Taco Bell/Mcdonalds in order to keep gas in your Pintos/Chrysler K Cars....

Ahh fuck it
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: _bruce_ on February 12, 2011, 05:30:55 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: YngiweRhoads on February 12, 2011, 06:01:47 AM
Power rack, bench and tons of free weights.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: ManBearPig... on February 12, 2011, 06:11:09 AM
the recommendation i'd give you is to shop for weights local.  online with shipping costs you can end up paying 3x as much for the same stuff.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: hrspwr on February 12, 2011, 06:48:02 AM
Closest gym to us is 19 miles, you can buy all kinds of equipment used out of the local classified - cheap and usually in good shape. Good bench, squat rack, good running shoes and some hills.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dj181 on February 12, 2011, 06:57:25 AM
All you really need is a bar to do chins and a dipping apperatus with a belt to put around your waist to do weighted dips and chins, those 2 exercises will do wonders for your arms and torso 8) Legs? Well, just don't ask me about legs coz I'm gonna be entering the wheelchair divison of da Getbig Twink Championship ;D
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: oldtimer1 on February 12, 2011, 07:19:44 AM
You can get a lot accomplished with Ironmaster dumbbells and one of their super benches.  Powerblocks are another option.

 Holding two dumbbells at my sides doing strict deep squats are a great exercise.  Guys who use 400lbs in squats find doing deep reps with  two 100lbs dumbbells tough.

If you have more room get a power cage from Powertec.  Get an olympic bar, bench, cage and you're in buisness.  Maybe a pulley system for the cage.

Craigs list you can get some deals.

You can get a serious in shape body doing just bodyweight stuff.  Chins, dips, body weight rows, single leg squats, various jumps for power, single leg calf raises, ab work,, sprints and other exercises will get you ripped and in shape.  Go to Rosstraining.com and check out his book Never gymless.  You won't look like a drugged up bodybuilder but you will be able to hang with just about anyone using body weight exercises.  
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: The Apprentice on February 12, 2011, 07:24:49 AM
i do olympic lifting so all i need is a platform, squat stands, bar, and bumper plates.  with a self-made platform, the whole thing cost me about $3,500, later on i added another bar for a $1,000.  many places ship bars and plates for free, i got a free shipment on 730 lbs worth of plates.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Stark on February 12, 2011, 07:29:54 AM
My gym membership is paid in full by my job ;) - they pay for everybody who bothers filling out a form and giving it to HR
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: oldtimer1 on February 12, 2011, 07:46:58 AM
My job has various gyms in different towns but nothing beats a home gym. zero travel time.  The radio plays music I like.  No waiting for the woman doing 8 sets of leg extensions with 20lbs. that won't let you work in because she was there first.  If you are serious about training motivation won't be a problem with a home gym.

I do enjoy training in an outside gym. I find my adreneline is sky high when I'm around other people training and I want to do my best.  Hot women on treadmills. Always get the treadmill in the back for the best view.  I just can't take the partial rep clowns using weight that would crush them if they did a full rep. You know the ones.  They use incredible weight for leg presses, shoulder presses and others doing their half/quarter reps. They actually think they are strong. 
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dj181 on February 12, 2011, 08:03:43 AM
Hey oldtimer, what do you think about stationary lunges with dumbells in hand? I work out at home and I have a pair of adjustable dumbells that go up to 80 pounds per hand, and I've also got a belt that I can use to add extra weight on myself to add weighted dips and chins. I'd like to get to the point where I can get good clean full range of motion reps with 150 pounds added on the dips, and 80 pounds added on the chins. At the moment I'm using 80 added pounds on the dips and 25 added pounds on the chins.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Meso_z on February 12, 2011, 08:11:57 AM
Thx for the witty comebacks......My last job I was able to go to the gym during lunch, but now new job, no gyms around and only 1/2 hr for lunch..kind of hard.

I have competed in a former life and would love to train like I used to but us big boys have priorities/responsibilities.....unlike alot of you keyboard jockeys, wake up, go to HS, work 3 hrs at your local Taco Bell/Mcdonalds in order to keep gas in your Pintos/Chrysler K Cars....

Ahh fuck it
lol, i was kidding.  ;)
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: The Apprentice on February 12, 2011, 08:13:44 AM
lunges are fine, step out and back in with the same leg for one set, rest, switch to other leg.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Les Grossman on February 12, 2011, 08:17:45 AM
translation, who on here cant afford a gym membership?

Or....how many of you broke bitches live in 400 sf apartments and don't own your own homes?
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dj181 on February 12, 2011, 08:26:07 AM
So it's better to step into the lunges on each rep rather than staying in a stationary position? Yeah, I can see that that style of doing lunges would be more "athletic" but the problem is that I've had 2 surgeries on my left knee as the result of a kneecap dislocation from my old days of playing basketball.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: The Apprentice on February 12, 2011, 08:45:13 AM
do whatever your physical condition allows, no need to do crazy stuff given your knee.  but yeah, the way i was taught to do lunges is with a bar on your back and work one leg at a time, like in this video, but again i use a bar and step in and out straight, not at an angle.

Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dj181 on February 12, 2011, 08:53:30 AM
Thanks man, maybe I will give it a try. One last question, what do you think about front squats with a heavy dumbell held in each hand? Are they superior to lunges?
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: The Apprentice on February 12, 2011, 08:57:31 AM
no idea, i never squatted or did lunges with a dumbbell, maybe someone else can chime in.  but give both a try and see how it feels.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: splank on February 12, 2011, 09:44:06 AM
I have a nice home gym; however, about 3 months ago I joined the local gym again. I get a pretty nice discount through work. Something about the change in atmosphere that just gives me a little more motivation. It does suck that I now have a pile of money in equipment just sitting there, but it will always be there when I get tired of the gym scene again.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: funk51 on February 12, 2011, 09:57:38 AM
The days of going to the gym before/after work are over..married, kids, work etc...

Who has a home gym and what specifically do you have?
home gyms are better if your M-O-T-I-V-A-T-E-D, at least you weon't get diseases from useing equipment after some sweaty bastard gets done with it.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Grape Ape on February 12, 2011, 10:08:16 AM
Thx for the witty comebacks......My last job I was able to go to the gym during lunch, but now new job, no gyms around and only 1/2 hr for lunch..kind of hard.

I have competed in a former life and would love to train like I used to but us big boys have priorities/responsibilities.....unlike alot of you keyboard jockeys, wake up, go to HS, work 3 hrs at your local Taco Bell/Mcdonalds in order to keep gas in your Pintos/Chrysler K Cars....

Ahh fuck it

Start with an olympic barbell set and a rack that you can use for squatting and pullups.  Add an adjustable bench.  That covers the basics. 

Then just add stuff as you get money - JC bands, medicine balls, bosu  ball, etc, blast straps.....

Every year bowflex seems to put their adjustable 90s from 700 down to 350 for a few days.  After that, you can add a set of 100s or more if you need to.

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  But  with the big three exercises covered from the get-go, you won't need the gym.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: BB on February 12, 2011, 10:20:34 AM
Buy a good bar like the Texas Power Bar or on the cheap, but good end, the Jessup Powerlifting bar. Those two run in the $150-250,  many times with free shipping. If you plan on OLing a bit, you'll need to get up into the $400 plus range for a decent one. But don't skip on the bar, the difference in feel and confidence in your lifting is enormous when comparing a decent bar to a $100 sporting goods store version.

As for plates? Craigslist is decent. but try a used gym supply, you can pick up used York milled plates or milled Ivankos for $ .50-75/lb . Just a bit better class of plate. The old black ugly bumpers are still the best deal for a rec. OL'er though.

Buy a good multi-angle bench for $300-500.

As far as power racks go, it's pretty hard to screw one up, cheap or expensive. Just look at the height, hole placement, and how it mounts to the floor(free standing, does it need to be bolted to the floor, etc....)

Add in a few adjustable dumbbell handles, maybe a curl bar, and #300 or so pounds of standard plates bought off craigslist, etc.... for dirt cheap, and you'll have a lifetime of fitness.



Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: che on February 12, 2011, 10:23:05 AM
All you need is a power cage with lat attachment.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: The Apprentice on February 12, 2011, 10:55:28 AM
werksan runs a 'crossfit special', http://www.werksanusa.com/products.asp?dept=12 (http://www.werksanusa.com/products.asp?dept=12), i am not sure how good the 'crossfit bar' is but i love the feel of their competition bar
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: oldtimer1 on February 12, 2011, 10:57:44 AM
Hey oldtimer, what do you think about stationary lunges with dumbells in hand? I work out at home and I have a pair of adjustable dumbells that go up to 80 pounds per hand, and I've also got a belt that I can use to add extra weight on myself to add weighted dips and chins. I'd like to get to the point where I can get good clean full range of motion reps with 150 pounds added on the dips, and 80 pounds added on the chins. At the moment I'm using 80 added pounds on the dips and 25 added pounds on the chins.

Lunges are great with dumbells but I prefer them with a barbell.  If you can do dead hang pull ups and touch the bar to your upper chest with 80lbs for reps you must be incredibly strong. Dips for reps with 150lbs??  Wow! are you truly going all the way down?  I'm not that strong but I use on a good day 35lbs to 45lbs for dips and I can bench 300lbs.  You must be in the 400lbs plus range.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dj181 on February 12, 2011, 11:17:02 AM
Well, I never did dips with 150, that's just a goal that I have. My PR on dips was 125 for a triple, and at that time I could bp 255 with a strict pause on my chest, as I did that in a bp competition in the 148 class, making weight from 157. And yes, I take my dips very deep, but as far as the chins go I do then with a wide pronated grip and I pull up to chin level, but I start each rep from the dead hang position. My PR on chins was bodyweight plus 50 pounds for 6 reps.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: littleguns on February 12, 2011, 03:06:20 PM
home gyms are better if your M-O-T-I-V-A-T-E-D, at least you weon't get diseases from useing equipment after some sweaty bastard gets done with it.

The funny thing is when I lived in FL I had a nice set up on my lanai, smith machine with late pull down, pec dec, cable rows and db's 10-100lbs. I loved it, was motivated and I was at one of the bigger points of my life....I am now in Mass and working around limited space in my finished basement. Actually found this...can load up to 250lbs on each side....just need to be some attachments like rope, straight bar, v bar etc..

I won't be able to really squat but heck, knees are shot anyway....and if I pick up some DB's for lunches, presses etc

Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: johnnynoname on February 12, 2011, 03:39:31 PM
here is part of my current homegym

(http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg616/scaled.php?tn=0&server=616&filename=alygc.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640)

Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: dogbowl on February 12, 2011, 06:45:27 PM
homegym is more expensive.
a powerrack alone costs 400$+

Gym membership here is $400 for 5 months ($80 a month)

Exercise equipment for home is a very worthwhile purchase, as long as you use it.  It's very common to find secondhand bench-presses and such for sale that have "Been used once or twice" by people with good intentions but no motivation.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: LATS on February 12, 2011, 07:21:28 PM
 i got lucky.. i owned a gym for quite a few years.. when i sold it i took the equipment i could fit into my house.. so all commercial grade.. i re did the garage.. leveled the floor.. put rubber flooring down.. ran heat to it.. and here is what i have..

hammer strength decline press
hammer high row
dumbells up to 120
adj icarian bench
flat icarian dumbell bench
power cage with lat high low pulley
custom leg press (holds 30 45 labs plates)
1500 lbs of jade grip plates
flex standing leg curl
pro maxima plate loaded leg ext
hammer dip
standing dip
gerva sport chest press
body solid leverage plate load bench press
texas power bar
numerous attachments

 its cramped lol.. but works.. very lucky in regard to equipment i could bring into my house.. nothing beats a home gym.. dont miss the commercial gyms at all.. and to be honest i train late at night so i know that i would not train at all if it was not just a open door away..
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: Firemuscle on February 12, 2011, 07:33:54 PM
The days of going to the gym before/after work are over..married, kids, work etc...

Who has a home gym and what specifically do you have?

 I just have a cheap weight bench. Two dumbells. A barbell, and a bunch of weights.

 That's all you need.
Title: Re: Home Gyms
Post by: littleguns on February 13, 2011, 04:12:40 AM
for the good people, thanks for the advice.......I have some shopping to do...my other alternative which is a long shot is to bring my theatre room to the main floor living room but my gut is it aint gonna happen as this is also a plyroom for the kids...if anyone has pics of the home gyms, pls put them up..