*** The 2015 Gym Rats Thread ***
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Soldato
I need some advice regarding the purchase of a simple home gym to get me going. I wasn't sure where else to post this so thought this would as good as any.
I did go the gym for a couple of months end of last year but I only like to go in the morning as I have two children, 13 and 2. I can't always rely on my eldest to get her sister ready so we had a few issues with lateness and I had to stop going.
But, I really miss the work out and determined (at 37) to do something with my appearance. I've never been happy as I'm quite skinny and would like a bit more definition. I don't eat loads, probably too little so don't really have a weight issue.
So anyway, to my question. Could I get some ideas on what I should be looking for when buying my first home gym? Something that can keep me going until I'm able to get back into the gym proper.
Any help would be really appreciated!
I did go the gym for a couple of months end of last year but I only like to go in the morning as I have two children, 13 and 2. I can't always rely on my eldest to get her sister ready so we had a few issues with lateness and I had to stop going.
But, I really miss the work out and determined (at 37) to do something with my appearance. I've never been happy as I'm quite skinny and would like a bit more definition. I don't eat loads, probably too little so don't really have a weight issue.
So anyway, to my question. Could I get some ideas on what I should be looking for when buying my first home gym? Something that can keep me going until I'm able to get back into the gym proper.
Any help would be really appreciated!
Man of Honour
Man of Honour
How much money can you spend?
Whatever you do, don't buy anything that is called a "home gym". It is almost guaranteed to be awful.
Whatever you do, don't buy anything that is called a "home gym". It is almost guaranteed to be awful.
What's a WNBF pro...would it be safe to assume if someone is one they'd have a good idea of what they're talking about with regards to working out?
Just someone i've met at the gym previously without realising how advanced they are until getting a recent facebook add. The guy is ripped and solid and someone I aspire to in "real life"...not someone straight out of a magazine. He also competed in the natural olympia this year I believe, coming top 5.
Just someone i've met at the gym previously without realising how advanced they are until getting a recent facebook add. The guy is ripped and solid and someone I aspire to in "real life"...not someone straight out of a magazine. He also competed in the natural olympia this year I believe, coming top 5.
WNBF is a natural bodybuilding organisation, so you'd hope if he managed to get his pro card he's pretty clued up. But then I know people who have managed to get a pro card in their first year because they're just so gifted and genetically blessed, knowledge wise they were clueless.
Man of Honour
A world natural bodybuilding federation pro, it means there's a good chance they know what they're on about or it could mean they have a very good coach , genetics and are very good at doing as they're told.
Cool, he's quite a humble guy and it shocked me to see the level he was at when I browsed his FB. I've seen him helping a lot of others in the gym and he's really approachable.
I couldn't speak for his genetics or coaching though. He told me he's been at it about 10 years or so. He's not mutant big and you can't tell when he's not topless that he's got the body.
Bit of 'mirin going on from my side, lol.
Soldato
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Definitely no machines / "home gyms" - they do not provide the same range of motion that free weights do, are often more expensive, take up significant room and very hard to upgrade when you out grow them.
The homebuilding thread is a great read, and / but I would suggest getting a Bodymax CF415 (assuming you have space, although it can be taken apart for storage), a bar and some weights. You need to decide how long you think this could go on for - investing in Olympic weights is worth it in the medium / long term. There are deals to be had on the bay for weights if you can collect them. If space is an issue you don't need a bench - overhead pressing the bar is a very effective exercise alternative to bench press. Without the CF415 squat rack however you will struggle to work legs.
Saw a brofessor go full fail today.
Cap on wrong way round, partial squatting 60kg, facing wrong way so he can 'mire in the mirror. Trys to rack the weight backwards on to the supports, traps his finger/thumb (due to silly wide grip) and rips skin off.
Session over.
Cap on wrong way round, partial squatting 60kg, facing wrong way so he can 'mire in the mirror. Trys to rack the weight backwards on to the supports, traps his finger/thumb (due to silly wide grip) and rips skin off.
Session over.
Soldato
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But he was "squatting" at least!
This is what I miss about going to an actual gym...
Hope he was ok, though, as that stuff can HURT.
Soldato
Thanks guys, will go into the thread for a nose.
Another vote for the cf415. If you can add a bench and Olympic weights then so much the better.
Soldato
Youch. Even lightly trapping fingers in between weight plates whilst putting them back on the rack can hurt a little. Can't imagine how much that must've hurt.
Man of Honour
Currently just doing a couple of weeks of random exercise to get myself back into it after the Christmas break. AGVT I think again for a few months just to load up a bit of volume, and I'm going to be less strict with my diet, I don't mind creeping up to teen %age for bodyfat as I can get down to low teens/12ish fairly well. I just want to predominantly keep my strength up - so will go back to some big ass squats and deads after this.
Had a bit of a harsh session yesterday, tapering up to 160kg squats for 4 sets of 8 reps. That was harder than I was expecting but after 3 weeks off I wasn't too upset. The GHRs after that were humbling. Then sled sprints with 90kg sled was nausea inducing!
I may even give Smolov a go after AGVT see how that helps out with my squat - shoulder is still donald ducked so it's going to be a while until I'm benching over 150kg or even attempting to rep near that. Up to 120kg is fine and relatively easy.
Ultimately I need an op on it, but that would put me out of action for a while and I don't know if I could cope with that
Had a bit of a harsh session yesterday, tapering up to 160kg squats for 4 sets of 8 reps. That was harder than I was expecting but after 3 weeks off I wasn't too upset. The GHRs after that were humbling. Then sled sprints with 90kg sled was nausea inducing!
I may even give Smolov a go after AGVT see how that helps out with my squat - shoulder is still donald ducked so it's going to be a while until I'm benching over 150kg or even attempting to rep near that. Up to 120kg is fine and relatively easy.
Ultimately I need an op on it, but that would put me out of action for a while and I don't know if I could cope with that
Soldato
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I wish my shoulder could only do 120 bench!
Does anyone read any fitness mags? Mens Health and mens Fitness seem pointless - their "great new programme" is usually squat, bench, chins. Food articles tend to be a huge picture of a fruit and 15 words on that is has vitamins in it. I'm quite liking muscle and fitness though - more scientific approach to nutrition and exercise impact, more interesting interviews and some great strongman stuff recently. Flex however just looks like a step too far into the BB darkness
Does anyone read any fitness mags? Mens Health and mens Fitness seem pointless - their "great new programme" is usually squat, bench, chins. Food articles tend to be a huge picture of a fruit and 15 words on that is has vitamins in it. I'm quite liking muscle and fitness though - more scientific approach to nutrition and exercise impact, more interesting interviews and some great strongman stuff recently. Flex however just looks like a step too far into the BB darkness
Man of Honour
Too much broscience in a lot of those magazines unfortunately, with unrealistic goals, and heavily photoshopped pictures which doesn't help.
I wish my shoulder could only do 120 bench!
Does anyone read any fitness mags? Mens Health and mens Fitness seem pointless - their "great new programme" is usually squat, bench, chins. Food articles tend to be a huge picture of a fruit and 15 words on that is has vitamins in it. I'm quite liking muscle and fitness though - more scientific approach to nutrition and exercise impact, more interesting interviews and some great strongman stuff recently. Flex however just looks like a step too far into the BB darkness
Not generally, however...
Too much broscience in a lot of those magazines unfortunately, with unrealistic goals, and heavily photoshopped pictures which doesn't help.
One recently ran a very interesting interview on teh training modality of the ex-sprinter, Ruth Dales...
You know when you've had a good evening workout when you wake up the next morning and struggle to get out of bed. I feel like I've been run over
This is the only way to fly...
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