Creating a Home Gym

[Shaolin Temple]

I know some of you have a home gym, or a semi-home gym.

Things I am going to get (*i already have)

*Pushup bar
*Dumbbells
*Plates - but will get more
Wobble Board
*Stability (Fitness) ball
Medicine ball - yo, where can I find this cheap (8 pounds is like $35 and 10 pounds is in the $40s)
Heart Rate Monitor


What are other equipment that I should consider getting?

BTW - I don't have room for a bench and barbell.

Also, other than dumbbell rows, what other back exercises can I do?

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

But what exercises do you intend on doing at your home gym??

I think it will be tought for you to do much since you don't have space for a bench and barbells. I am assuming you also don't have space for a power rack for squats, deads, BB shrugs, olympic lifts and etc. It seems to me that you are extremely limited to do some decent variety of exercises.

[Shaolin Temple]

But what exercises do you intend on doing at your home gym??

I think it will be tought for you to do much since you don't have space for a bench and barbells. I am assuming you also don't have space for a power rack for squats, deads, BB shrugs, olympic lifts and etc. It seems to me that you are extremely limited to do some decent variety of exercises.

I am very limited. No question about it. But as an alternative to the gym, I want to change my workouts a bit. I do not intend for this to be the sole workout room or anything like that.

What exercises I intend on doing are as follows:

Stability Ball Crunches
Stability Ball Dumbbell Press
Wobble Board Biceps Curl
Seated Stability Ball Biceps Curls

Stability Ball (on wall) Squats
Wobble Board Squats
Straight Leg Dumbbell Deadlifts
Bulargian Squats w/bed and board
Dumbbell Shrugs

Wobble Board Bent Over DB Rows
Wobble Board Shoulder Press
Seated Stability Ball Shoulder Press
Wobble Board Front Raises
Wobble Board Lateral Raises

Push Ups with Handle Bar
Push Ups with Medicine Ball
Close-Grip Push Ups (change angle)
Dips (on Chair or Bed)

There are quite a lot I can do, and it's a nice change of pace. Obviously I cannot go as heavy as I can at your normal gym.

[Big H]

I just couldn't bring myself to working out at home. Theres just something about the gym that makes me love the place; plus doing the home gym thing is f*ckin expensive! especially if your lookin for quality equipment. For some reason, most people I know who go with the home gym get lazy and don't even workout with the sh*t they have. I'm Pro-Gym in this case.

But, you can do a lot of exercises you just mentioned at home with limited space and funds. The biggest problems I see with home gyms are space, funds, and limitations (advancements). The limitations are the biggest in my opinion; wanting to move up will result in more money and less space.

[whoa4]

If I get to the point where I an't go to the gm as much as I want, I'm gonna purchase one of those bowflex sh*ts and call it a day

[Shaolin Temple]

I just couldn't bring myself to working out at home. Theres just something about the gym that makes me love the place; plus doing the home gym thing is f*ckin expensive! especially if your lookin for quality equipment. For some reason, most people I know who go with the home gym get lazy and don't even workout with the sh*t they have. I'm Pro-Gym in this case.

But, you can do a lot of exercises you just mentioned at home with limited space and funds. The biggest problems I see with home gyms are space, funds, and limitations (advancements). The limitations are the biggest in my opinion; wanting to move up will result in more money and less space.

Yeah I agree with you and khalid - there will be limitations. But as a change of pace I do not think it's a bad idea. I am not spending loot on expensive equipment, for instance I found the same wobble board for $22 that sells in stores for $45 or $50. Plates, I got the 50 cents per pound rate at Olympia. Need to get some more.

Whoa, aint the bow flex expensive as fuk. And it's not free weights. If I spend that much loot, it'll have to be free weights.

[Big H]

Bowflex is straight garbage. They claim its better than free weights but its complete bullsh*t. Bowflex is fine for people who want to stay in shape by doing something other than nothing, but for the serious lifter its worthless. Don't be fooled by them commercials either; the people they have working out on the Bowflex got those results using free weights and an actual gym.

[Shaolin Temple]

I plan on purchasing a bench now. After much thought, what is the point of doing half workouts at home. I need to make room first. Plates I can find for no more than 60 cents per pound. I found a great deal.

Peep this Bench (http://www.olympiasports.net/product/index.jsp?productId=1205433&cp=710956.710958.1170115)

[Big H]

I plan on purchasing a bench now. After much thought, what is the point of doing half workouts at home. I need to make room first. Plates I can find for no more than 60 cents per pound. I found a great deal.

Peep this Bench (http://www.olympiasports.net/product/index.jsp?productId=1205433&cp=710956.710958.1170115)

Nice bench, always check for the Olympic ones. If you get a bench with a solid Olympic 45 lbs. bar and a decent rack of weights you can do PLENTY with that alone. Chest, Biceps, Triceps, Back, Shoulders, Legs, pretty much all the major movements with that Bar.

[Shaolin Temple]

Nice bench, always check for the Olympic ones. If you get a bench with a solid Olympic 45 lbs. bar and a decent rack of weights you can do PLENTY with that alone. Chest, Biceps, Triceps, Back, Shoulders, Legs, pretty much all the major movements with that Bar.

yeah man. A little research can take you a long way. I found an olympic barbell with a plate set (300 pounds) that is $120 or $130 total.

If I recall correctly I believe the breakdown is as follows:

45 pounds X2 90 pounds
35 pounds X2 70 pounds
25 pounds X2 50 pounds
10 pounds X2 20 pounds
5 pounds X4 20 pounds
2.5 pounds X2 5 pounds

Include the 45-pound bar and that makes 300 pounds

The Standard Barbell is a joke. First, it's 35 pounds and it cannot support more than 150 pounds. It starts to bend. It's a terrible purchase. Olympic barbell is the way to go

[soulsimplistic]

If I get to the point where I an't go to the gm as much as I want, I'm gonna purchase one of those bowflex sh*ts and call it a day


Actually...the bowflex is not bad for cutting and defining. If you want a lil bulk, or to increase your strength....Bowflex will unfortunatly only take you so far.

[whoa4]

Actually...the bowflex is not bad for cutting and defining. If you want a lil bulk, or to increase your strength....Bowflex will unfortunatly only take you so far.
I didn't plan on using it for major strength gains. Just if I go home and really can't lift as mush as I would like. PLus it would be cool to have for my mother and sister. I heard it supposedly goes up to 400 in weight, thats good enough for my house.

[khalid a.k.a Genocide]

I plan on purchasing a bench now. After much thought, what is the point of doing half workouts at home. I need to make room first. Plates I can find for no more than 60 cents per pound. I found a great deal.
Peep this Bench (http://www.olympiasports.net/product/index.jsp?productId=1205433&cp=710956.710958.1170115)


That bench looks sweet. I agree with Big H on purchasing an olympic bar(45lb.), such a BIG difference compared to a standard bar. Purchase some chalk too just incase you going big on deadlift(with no straps). Check Inzernet.com for that. They also have some sweet weightlifting accessories, however they might be a bit pricey on some items. I bought a nice powerlifting belt from there, some inzer t-shirts and chalk(for heavy deads, no straps).