home gyms

lanes · Post by **lanes** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:58 pm

how will i be able to build muscle i dont like gyms how can i build muscle in own home can i use free weights or would a home gym be any good ? also does a home gym work every muscle like in a proper gym as it seems pretty small and compact to me

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:50 pm

Home gyms are pretty cack. Unless you like good shoulder development and legs like a Kenyan distance runner, and then you look like some sort of Salvador Dali painting, then they're everything a guy could need, for all of about 3 months.

They can take up too much space, unless you keep detaching bits and storing them away, and if you get any problems with a bust cable, you might have problems getting them replaced, which impedes your workouts for a few days.

Use free weights, it's a better proposition, and you get more ability to progress, and customise your resistance experience.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:46 am

all you need is one of these (not a smith machine, one of these):

http://www.gymcor.com/powerracks.html

an adjuatsble bench, db's, bb's, wt plates and you're set

com34x · Post by **com34x** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:56 pm

Swanso, what are those at that link you gave us? Power Racks? Never heard of it. Looks exactly like a Smith to me. They aren't expensive either. Can you tell me more about what that does.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:12 pm

it's nothing like a smith...it has oins on either side so that if you miss a rep you can just drop the bar down on the pins so very safe..not as expensive as a smith either...there's nothing you can't do on one of these baby's...and the fact you haven't seen one shows how soft some gym's are as everyone should have one although 2 gym's that i work at doesn't but i have the same sort of thing in lounge room so i squat at home

benjamteal · Post by **benjamteal** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:45 pm

The power rack is probably the best invention in weight lifting ever. Self spotting, full range of motion (not locked into the smith range of motion), relatively cheap, and space efficient.

I am going to call it. Best. Invention. Ever.

com34x · Post by **com34x** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:35 am

Thanks for explaining that. I was trying to look at the picture to see how it worked. Makes complete sense. In fact, its nothing special or complicated. Just a great idea. Can you lay a bench under that and do bench presses? Im assuming you can only use something like this for barbell exercises?

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:03 pm

precisely with the bench...yes you can only do bb exercises but you can do chin ups as well, inverted rows, upright dips oh the possiblilties are endless...if you want to get big you've got to get strong and this is what you need to do it i think in a safe envirnment ecspecially if you train at home and/or by yourself

XQH000AD0001 · Post by **XQH000AD0001** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:28 pm

Whatever you do, do not purchase a Bowflex or any of its copycats. For one, they're very expensive. I got one years and years ago and only went so far with it. I decided to get a gym membership and strength and size improved noticeably. I don't think I could have attained the same results had I continued with the Bowflex.

No offense to fans of Bowflex, though. It's a pretty nice piece of equipment, really good for beginners. If you really want to get big, hit the gym or have the same exact equipment at home like a gym would (barbells, dumbells, lat machine, etc.).

com34x · Post by **com34x** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:16 pm

I second that with Bowflex! Not only do I agree you can get better results with traditional equipment, but I hate the company. I had bought one of the originals and then they came out with better stuff right after. I asked if I can do some sort of switch and they said no. Horrible service and way too expensive. Rip OFF!

fitburnfat · Post by **fitburnfat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:07 am

i bought a http://www.totalgym.com/ and i love it. you can work every muscle and switch up your routine at any time. work to a plan or go freestyle and work your whole body. best investment for me as i dont have time or ambition to go to the gym everyday

dugo

com34x · Post by **com34x** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:24 am

I believe Total Gym is limitied to your own body weight. I could be wrong though.

Steveski · Post by **Steveski** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:13 pm

I recently bought and inexpensive home gym and find it useful for basic exercises I could not do at home, such as lat pull downs, various cable rows, etc. It has a small footprint, which I needed, and serves me well for needs as I'm not looking to build much size, just tone and build strength...BUT, that being said, I still realize the need for some free weights in routine using an EZ curl bar and dumbells. I also use an adjustable dumbell bench and get creative with the high and low cables to target various back/shoulder muscles.

jbeach · Post by **jbeach** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:01 pm

swanso5 is right. A powerrack is a great tool. But if you are low on free space like me, maybe just pick up a barbell and weights. If you're not going to be attempting heavy squats, then just a simple barbell can give you a lot of mileage. Deadlifts, squats, cleans, jerks, presses... all the good stuff. Throw in a pullup bar and you got all you really need

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:16 pm

a power rach (although i haven't actually seen on for a while is probably only 2 x 2 with with another 1 x 1 needed each side and you can do most exercise in it so for space issues i think it's also pretty good although not real attractive but bloody effective