Do you guys have any suggestions on a home gym? I personally have my heart set on the Titan. What do you guys think and have you heard of it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twB1lKOEh_k&NR=1
Quote from: OwnyTony on July 25, 2008, 03:33:09 PM
Do you guys have any suggestions on a home gym? I personally have my heart set on the Titan. What do you guys think and have you heard of it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twB1lKOEh_k&NR=1
I use a pair of asics, a stability ball and the floor(for pushups). Frankly, I don't know anyone who has one of those all-in-one gyms that actually uses it. I like my workouts to be free and non-cluttering.
I have a Total Gym and I do use it regularly (yes it's the Chuck Norris one [cheeky]).
Mostly I do jogging and bicycling though.
eliptical machine, stair master machine, multi-position "flat" bench, crunch bench, Nautilas multi-weight dumbells, bicycle, and an 80 lb. heavy bag. okay, so only my wife uses the stair master... that thing is evil. we looked at the all-in-one machines but the maintenance/assembly is daunting. I like the design of this one though. And it's pretty cool how Titan Boy turned into a girl during his/her workout.... you don't get that option on every piece of equipment. [cheeky]
personally I'd advise against buying a home gym. why? cause its too easy to skip your workout at home. Initially you think you'll workout more cause its convenient, but there ends up being too many distractions and you don't work out at all and it becomes a storage rack. YMMV
otoh, that one looks pretty cool. bet you it has a huge easy referance wall chart to configure to the workout [laugh]
I have set of dumbells that can be adjusted from 20 to 50 lbs + a physioball. The physioball really taxes the muscles since platform is unstable.
I had a home gym in my first house with the following:
-bench that converted from flat to incline to decline.
-400lb Olympic weight-set, including a 45 bench bar and a 25 bar for curling
-20 & 45lb dumbells
-dips stand
-cable machine for curls, tricep extension, back rows, pull-ups, lat pull-downs and a few other exercises..also used as squat rack!
-jumprope
-rubber power bands
Everything was from Play-it-Again and cost me only a few hundred bucks!! It only took up 1/4 of the garage so the bike and a car fit in perfectly.
I used a power cage at home for many years.
http://www.nextag.com/power-cage/search-html (http://www.nextag.com/power-cage/search-html)
Works great and it is much cheaper. Nothing beats free weights.
Quote from: silentbob on July 25, 2008, 06:01:24 PM
I used a power cage at home for many years.
http://www.nextag.com/power-cage/search-html (http://www.nextag.com/power-cage/search-html)
Works great and it is much cheaper. Nothing beats free weights.
At first, I was looking at a decent power cage. Then a smith machine. Then some sort of hybrid that had multiple workout accessories. Then i stumbled upon the Titan. I really like the "small" foot print relative to all the different muscles i can work out on it.
what are your goals?i
f you are dead set on a cage, the racks on the top row have been abused by a number of strength athletes
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/powerracks.html
a good oly lifting bar
http://store.wfwclub.com/plates.html
used plates can be found for less. for li guys in the market
http://www.fitnessplus.com/servlet/the-385/USED-Olympic-Plates/Detail?sfs=955c2532
you could also get a lot out of less/no cost items like military duffel bags filled with small stone or sand (contractor bags inside duffle), heavy but liftable stones can be found for free, smaller stones could be used as shotputs and held for time to work your grip, and gripwork can be done with protein cans filled with rice or sand to lift or hand grab/extentions inside. if you could get used 5/8 chain, 29 links average 20lbs and that number links is used as standard for most trainers that use them, they can be added to bars with a 1/4" chain or caribinered to d rings and used as db's and put over shoulder for weighted dips. there is a ton of low cost, low space alternatives that will kick your butt and build muscle. not to mention lifting outside is very nice [thumbsup].
Quote from: DanTheMan on July 25, 2008, 04:42:58 PM
personally I'd advise against buying a home gym. why? cause its too easy to skip your workout at home. Initially you think you'll workout more cause its convenient, but there ends up being too many distractions and you don't work out at all and it becomes a storage rack. YMMV
Yes, they make great places to dry clothes. :)
Having gotten into Olympic lifting, I'd say all you need is a platform (that you can make yourself), a bar, some bumper plates and a squat stand. Simple, space efficient and probably the best at making you strong and fast.
Otherwise, all you need is a power cage with a pull up bar attached to it. Add in a bench if you really want and that's pretty much all the equipment you'll ever need. You can do more with a barbell than you could ever get out of cables and machines.
Adidas trailrunners, speedrope, hill for sprinting, flat spot for burpees...looking to add a tractor tire and a 12# sledgehammer. Once I get a nice garage, I want to add a Thai heavy bag and a couple tatame mats.
Quote from: Sinister on July 28, 2008, 07:58:52 AM
Adidas trailrunners, speedrope, hill for sprinting, flat spot for burpees...looking to add a tractor tire and a 12# sledgehammer. Once I get a nice garage, I want to add a Thai heavy bag and a couple tatame mats.
burpees!? ... this sounds like my Saturday evening, post working in the yard, cool down exercise next to the fridge. What's it look like when you do it?
This all sounds pretty excessive. Granted my goal is to stay lean with a build not get huge, but push ups can be done in about a thousand varieties. Find some good running routes with good hills. Sit ups are another thousand variety exercise. Get some 25 lbs dumb bells and you can do arms with them lots of reps for the muscles that can do more and a low enough weight to where you can exercise about everything.
Im pretty partial to my Wieder free wieght setup that I got at Costco about 10 years ago for 280 bucks. Basically its an adjustable back bench with a leg curl/extention attachment and a slot for a removable arm curl pad. It's complete separate from the rack that has can be used for bench presses, seated military presses and its tall enough to put the bar up for squats. on the back it has a holder for the included curl bar and its at flat bench height for tricep extentions. It came with a full 310 lbs of olympic plates (the real deal), 45lb olympic bar and an olympic curl bar. I've bought about 200 lbs of mixed weight solid hex dumbells too. I've have a roman bench too for ab work. The only things i wish i had are a lat pull station, a veritical leg press and a calf raise station. But I dont have the room. When i last wieght trained for a full season of bicycle racing, I based my routines around the 3 core lifts and I had all I needed for a great workout in my basement.
Quote from: c_rex on July 28, 2008, 03:26:13 PM
burpees!? ... this sounds like my Saturday evening, post working in the yard, cool down exercise next to the fridge. What's it look like when you do it?
Burpees: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/henkin18d.gif (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/henkin18d.gif)
I do 'Ultimate Burpees', which add a pushup to the ground portion. Burpees, according to all practictioners, suck...they are also an AWESOME way to increase your cardio, burn fat, and up your VO2Max
that burpee gif doenst show him jumping as high as he can ( which is how it should be done no matter what people say)
And gym equipment is for muscle defintion. If you want to build raw strength nothing beats sandbag workouts, cross fit workouts and kettles.
Not this crossfit nonsense again. [roll]
My .02 are: Buy free weights, a door bar to do push ups and P90X (kick ass workout video that will show you what to do).. you don't need any bulky equipment to stay fit. Maybe an elliptical or treadmill machine for cardio, but that's it. Oh.. and don't forget to eat enough [bacon] after your cardio.. your fat cells will thank you for keeping them alive [laugh]
Quote from: He Man on July 28, 2008, 10:18:24 PM
that burpee gif doenst show him jumping as high as he can ( which is how it should be done no matter what people say)
And gym equipment is for muscle defintion. If you want to build raw strength nothing beats sandbag workouts, cross fit workouts and kettles.
there popular among prison inmates
Quote from: someguy on July 28, 2008, 10:21:28 PM
Not this crossfit nonsense again. [roll]
baconfitt?
Quote from: He Man on July 28, 2008, 11:23:27 PM
baconfitt?
Lifting sacks of bacon is the way to go.
Quote from: Sinister on July 28, 2008, 09:34:02 PM
Burpees: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/henkin18d.gif (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/henkin18d.gif)
I do 'Ultimate Burpees', which add a pushup to the ground portion. Burpees, according to all practictioners, suck...they are also an AWESOME way to increase your cardio, burn fat, and up your VO2Max
ahhhh... we do those in my taekwondo class sometimes. I think they call them mountain climbers or somesuch thing. thanks for the clarification!
I think you can do pretty much every exercise you need with an exercise ball (large size) and a set of adjustable weight dumbbells.
Quote from: Triple J on July 29, 2008, 12:16:16 PM
I think you can do pretty much every exercise you need with an exercise ball (large size) and a set of adjustable weight dumbbells.
Don't you just bench press your dogs?
Quote from: Sinister on July 29, 2008, 01:36:48 PM
Don't you just bench press your dogs?
[laugh] Nah...they squirm too much.
Quote from: Triple J on July 29, 2008, 01:52:52 PM
[laugh] Nah...they squirm too much.
Yeah, I tried to curl one of mine. It didn't work out that well. Squats with the baby work, though.
i just did a shitload of burpees last night
Quote from: Ash on July 29, 2008, 01:58:39 PM
i just did a shitload of burpees last night
Nice! I try and finish off whatever workout I'm doing with a set.
Quote from: Sinister on July 29, 2008, 02:36:07 PM
Nice! I try and finish off whatever workout I'm doing with a set.
keep in mind this is after i hyperextended my knee and then was required to do two roomlengths of squat/front kicks.
i'm hurting today...
Quote from: Triple J on July 29, 2008, 12:16:16 PM
I think you can do pretty much every exercise you need with an exercise ball (large size) and a set of adjustable weight dumbbells.
those exercise balls are dangerous! my wife and 6 year old daughter each have one and try as I might I've come close to knocking myself out doing simple sit ups on them.
Quote from: c_rex on July 29, 2008, 11:38:43 AM
ahhhh... we do those in my taekwondo class sometimes. I think they call them mountain climbers or somesuch thing. thanks for the clarification!
burpees are squat thrusts with a jump at the stand up. mountain climbers are when you are in the push up position and alternate bending one knee like your going between sprint starting line position.
Quote from: msincredible on July 25, 2008, 03:58:58 PM
I have a Total Gym and I do use it regularly (yes it's the Chuck Norris one [cheeky]).
Msincredible's tears cure cancer. True story.
Quote from: oldschoollion on August 01, 2008, 10:13:03 AM
burpees are squat thrusts with a jump at the stand up.
Ultimate Burpees add the pushup.