Home gym equipment...help!
K, the gym situation here in PR sucks some serious monkey balls. Membership prices are WAY high (I do understand why but that doesn't make me like it any more), and equipment is shoddy at best.
The one reasonably priced gym I can find costs $38/month and they're open 24 hours on weekdays, closed on Sundays. That's not a bad deal, but the place is TINY and CROWDED and the equipment sucks ass. Old, worn out crap that doesn't work right. Like, the machines have a fair amount of "play" when lifting - you have to actually raise the bar or whatever an inch or two before you start actually lifting any weight. Lotta padding is worn off, ducktaped, etc. No room to stretch. Several dumbbells are missing. And the place is so crowded you always have to wait for stuff. Oh yeah, for $38/month, the only equipment they have is weights and a few treadmills. NOTHING else, literally.
There's another place that's nicer but they are severely lacking in equipment and due to location their fees are retardedly high. Best I could get outta them was $60/month. No thanks. For that kinda price I want plenty of workout equipment and space to use it, at LEAST.
So, I'm not working out because I can't find a decent place to do it. I wanna work out!!!
I have the space for some home gym equipment but have no idea where to start. Anybody have ideas or recommendations? Keep in mind I'm on a small Caribbean island and we don't quite have all the stores you do in the states. And shipping gets expensive. I'm hoping for stuff that's commonly sold so I have a better chance of finding it for sale here.
I'm liking the looks of this, but any other suggestions would be great!
TIA
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
For the days I can't make it to my gym (at $60/month...ugh), I've been curious to actually lay hands on a set of those also...my sister had a Bowflex system (the universal) and it worked well for her.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
my best investment ever was a TotalGym ... small size, but you can really get a very diversified workout using it in a hundred different ways. It's like 1/4th the cost of the cheapest Bowflex machine.
second best investment was a treadmill ... which I bought as a result of the local cops instructing me NOT to run along the side of the road anymore after the second incident of some horny asshole driving his car off the road. Supposedly the newer elliptical machines and 'stairclimbers' are even more effective, but they are also more expensive.
last and easiest are sets of dumbbells in different weights, like 2-3-5 pounds.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
The Total Gym is ok...we have one here and all. But, I find that it doesn't target as much as I like to target. I have a friend who has the Bowflex and it's kick ass. I wish we would have gotten that one instead.
If you're not into weight lifting (like some of my friends are...it's too manly, I guess) then the Total gym would be ok to do some toning.
If you prefer to weight lift (or something similar) to get more ripped...you should totally invest in the bowflex with all the options. There is just no comparison.
And free weights. If you are wanting free weights...no getting those little bitty ones. Shit, you lift more heavier objects on a daily basis than that (sorry Melonie!). You need 10, 15, 20, 25, and up. They have these weights that have plates...so you have 2 sets of bars and the plates click onto those so you don't have to have 20 free weights lying around. If you want more info on those, I'll go find them.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I LOVE our total gym. My boyfriend is a competitive lifter, and he loves it too....it targets exactly the muscles he wants,a nd is always challenging.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I get a pretty complete workout with just 5lb and 8lb weights, a exercise ball and a copy of Body Sculpting for Women. I take all of these with me when I travel for work too. I do all sorts of squats and lunges with my weights, situps, and arm moves.
I'm interested in adding a kettle ball to this soon.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Mel:
That is hilarious .
Brid :
I have had a treadmill forever and may swap it for a recumbant bike soon ( the kind you sit in with legs in front ). This is only so I could read . It's too hard to read on the treadmill .
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Melonie
second best investment was a treadmill ... which I bought as a result of the local cops instructing me NOT to run along the side of the road anymore after the second incident of some horny asshole driving his car off the road.
:rotfl:
I think I should clarify what type of workout I do. I am a moderate-heavy weight lifter (heavy for my size I guess). Lightest I use is 5lb for my weakass shoulder ::) Use up to 40lb dumbbells on some things. I mostly like freeweights, which is why I was looking at that bowflex dumbbell thing. I do have an exercise ball at home. The main thing I use machines for at the gym is legs. I do squats with dumbbells but most everything else, I need some kind of machine. I like doing leg curls and extensions, and use benches for several exercises too.
I found , which looks good for my leg and bench exercises. I just have no idea about the quality of that brand, or if something comparable and better is available in another brand. I really know nothing about home gym equipment, especially what brands are good and which should be avoided.
Also, I like doing lat pulls, rows, vertical knee raises, and roman situps. I would LOVE if I could get all the fancy gym stuff for all that, but I don't have that much space or money to spend.
I'm liking the look of too, for knee raises and replace lat pulls??
I use weights for roman situps, but if I go for a rack for that too, I'm looking at a lot of different pieces already. I don't wanna have to change my current workout too much but was hoping for a more complete unit? Or is this too much to ask? Gah!
???
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I too am kind of mystified at getting a workout out of 8 lb weights. I can literally lift that with one finger. (Lots of heavy bags of groceries in single trips up to my third-floor apartment.) I mean, lift what you can lift, as long as it's a challenge. But it should always BE a challenge, and for that you may need heavier weights. Over a period of four months of regular lifting, I doubled a lot of my max weights. And women in particular can gain a LOT of strength in their lower body--our strength potential in our legs is equal to that of a man's, despite the lower body mass and smaller muscle development. Don't be too surprised if you buy a set of 10-pounders for squats, and then a month later you need to move up to 30 or 40.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Have you ever tried resistance bands? I like them and there is nothing more portable.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I too am considering buyin home equipment. there is a store in my town that has a half price sale on cross trainers at the min so im thinkin of gettin one and gym ball,(aleready have a small set of dumbells) and try and swim when i can make it.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I have tried the bands and didn't like them. Maybe I got the wrong kind, or didn't give them enough of a chance, but I tried them a couple times and never picked them up again.
I think I'm gonna start with the Bowflex dumbbell set and look for a good bench dealie that I can buy locally, and go from there.
Thanks for the input!
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Free weights work best because you utilize lots of little muscles in stabilizing yourself and the weight. You do get an ab work out if you do dumbbell curls standing up as opposed to sitting down.
Personally, I hate the Bowflex. My uncle has one and I've tried it several times and just cannot feel anything. I can't feel a pump during any of the exercises except for chest flyes. I'm definitely a free weight advocate. I want a home gym myself and the first thing I'm getting is a rack, bar, bench, and plates. That's a majority of what you need right there.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AmazingKat
I get a pretty complete workout with just 5lb and 8lb weights, a exercise ball and a copy of Body Sculpting for Women. I take all of these with me when I travel for work too. I do all sorts of squats and lunges with my weights, situps, and arm moves.
I'm interested in adding a kettle ball to this soon.
YES get a kettlebell, I love them. It's so easy to get an amazing workout with one, just get the right weight for you, I bounce between a 26 and 35 right now.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I have a Bowflex, a treadmill, a stability ball, a heavy bag and freeweights. I also love my Rodney Yee yoga DVD's..didnt think yoga would do anything for me but it really does!
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Yes, I was going to suggest a treadmill too, but after working out together I know that wouldn't be enough! You are STRONG for such a tiny frame!!! I would try to find a used bowflex on craigslist or something and invest in some handweights. Your boy will have to help you move the bowflex and you'll have to borrow a truck but they really are great machines.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cameron_keys
I have a Bowflex, a treadmill, a stability ball, a heavy bag and freeweights. I also love my Rodney Yee yoga DVD's..didnt think yoga would do anything for me but it really does!
I LOVE Rodney Yee. I've only tried the meditation/relaxation ones and I was totally skeptical of them (I'm not usually a workout vid person) but I actually use and love them. They really help me chill out. His voice is soo soothing.
Re: Home gym equipment...help!
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Re: Home gym equipment...help!
I have to go the gym. I’m too much of a hermit. Id never see people if I didn’t go to a gym.
To each their own. I can’t see myself doing a good workout at home unless it was a designated space.