Weight bench and weigts for £200?

Soldato
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Hey,
Just received my bonus at work and thought I would treat myself to a weight bench plus weights. I have a couple of dumbells at the moment but have pretty much outgrown them and they are of fairly poor quality.

I'm looking to spend in the region of £200, wouldn't mind spending a 'bit' more but only if its really worth it.

Space is an issue so a folding bench would be handy but not a necessity. I am only small 5'7 and weigh about 9 stone and will be mainly using it more to keep fit rather than heavy bodybuilding.

Am mainly looking at Argos as they can deliver fairly quickly although wouldn't mind looking at other places as long as they don't have the old 28 day delivery as I would need to book the day off work and haven't got much choice beyond the next week or so due to christmas holidays.

Appreciate any help.

Thanks.
 
Thanks for the offer, would prefer to go the first hand route but I may take you up on it if I can't find anything.

Anyone else got any recommendations?
 
Right no replies :p

Have been looking at this
http://www.ukfitnesssupplies.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/UKFitnessSuppliesLtd/MWBPRO

Has anyone got/used this bench? Opinions?

Next up is weights, remember only 5'7, 9 stone so won't be benching incredible amounts. Is 50kg enough to start with? It seems to be that the price difference between 50-100kg is a big leap, bearing in mind I won't be doing bodybuilding its more for fitness.

Thanks (Hopes for some replies).
 
I'd decide what exercises you would want out of it first dude then go from there.
Bench press, squat, pull ups/downs, legs etc

I'm guessing it would be an all over work out?
Something like this maybe
york-powerlifting-rack.jpg

There are loads of exercises available with the above and you simply just have to add the bench.
 
You weight 57kg, I wouldnt be surprised if you couldnt lift 60kg if not immediately with practice. I would say 50kg weights is for kids tbh. Cause u have a small frame u will find that u don't need so much muscle to shift weights that a lankier person would.
 
Thanks, as i've stated i'm not serious about lifting as in bodybuilding, just general fitness. I work in an office so need most of the help I can get. The bench is to just go in my bedroom hence the £300 you mentioned being above budget and kinda huge lol

Thanks anyway, any other opinions on the bench welcome.
 
If your not going to be lifting for size/strength how about a basic folding bench with a set of dumbells (don't wanna get trapped under a bar without catchers!!) and with the change get a decent set of running shoes. Running will improve your fitness more than lifting.
 
I do play american football, football and badminton, so cardio isn't really a problem.

Mainly i'm wanting to build up my shoulders and chest but not excessively just a couple of inches here and there, reason for this being that I have recently looking to purchase a suit and they all seem slightly to big on the shoulders! I own a set of dumbells but think I have outgrown them to an extent they are 15kg.

With regards to my diet unfortunately I still live at home (not by choice). I have a high metabolism and am currently on a protein shake in the morning, sandwich or wrap (usually chicken) for lunch and main meal for dinner, have been pushing lately for chicken, steak etc but other times pasta.

I know people on here get quite edgy about people's diets but please remember I am not trying to be a bodybuilder just add a bit of muscle and definition.

I hope this explains my situation a bit better.
 
I know people on here get quite edgy about people's diets but please remember I am not trying to be a bodybuilder just add a bit of muscle and definition.

I'm afraid even those "couple of inches" will require dedication and focus.

The emphasis on diet is not to give us something to say to noobs its honest, quality advice learned from experience and disappointments!! ;) Your diet defines your potential growth, eat to add 1 inch and no matter how much you train you'll only add an inch. Eat to add two inches and you'll have the opportunity to add those inches.

I'll not tell you exactly what to eat you can read all about that in the Gordys sticky (and countless other threads) but I'll say this.......would you rather add a couple of inches in 6 months with a properly planned diet and routine or make small, almost imperceivable gains over 12, 24, 36 months?
 
The thing is about 6 months ago I weighed about 10.5 stone, got ill and now down to 9. So I know the weight isn't hard to add back on but I just want to make sure I go about it the right way if you know what I mean. I would rather add the weight to the right places. Unfortunately as I said, I don't have the luxury of planning the 5-6 precise meals each day due to living at home.

I am aware I need to consume more calories than use, which is why I have started with the protein shakes. Unfortunately the one I got, bodyfortress, has to be consumed within 20 minutes which is annoying as ideally I would like to take a flask of it to work with me to consume throughout the day.

As I do a fair amount of cardio I am really wanting to buy a weight bench just so whatever protein I do have goes to the parts I would like (yes I know you can't magically point it in the right direction but at the moment my legs are building up more than my upper body).

Also I have ordered the Marcy bench and 70kg weights. Thanks to everyone for the help, I realise to some of you it may be like banging your head against a brick wall but its just to me I know I will put on at least 0.5-1 stone naturally (My illness meant I ate almost nothing most days hence the weight loss). If I was in a different situation, lived by myself etc I would really ask for every piece of advice I could :)
 
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The thing is about 6 months ago I weighed about 10.5 stone, got ill and now down to 9. So I know the weight isn't hard to add back on but I just want to make sure I go about it the right way if you know what I mean. I would rather add the weight to the right places.

right places? all over is the right places. please do not think that you are just going to add inches to chest and shoulders :/

Unfortunately as I said, I don't have the luxury of planning the 5-6 precise meals each day due to living at home.

that seriously is not a good excuse for having a meal plan :]

I am aware I need to consume more calories than use, which is why I have started with the protein shakes. Unfortunately the one I got, bodyfortress, has to be consumed within 20 minutes which is annoying as ideally I would like to take a flask of it to work with me to consume throughout the day.

get your protein from quality sources if you can, no need to start with shakes, you should use them as a supplement.
Also, take the shakes dry, then add water in work, its what i do.

As I do a fair amount of cardio I am really wanting to buy a weight bench just so whatever protein I do have goes to the parts I would like (yes I know you can't magically point it in the right direction but at the moment my legs are building up more than my upper body).

so no training legs then?
 
Right, I have been trying not to get defensive as I know people on here are very into these things and know what they are talking about but it is starting to grate slightly.

I simply asked for recommendations on a bench and weight set. I really figured it could not do any harm (assuming I don't over do it etc).

I did state in my post that I know you cannot pick a specific part, I did not ask how to do this, I stated I know it isn't possible.
I work full time and have a lunch break and am not allowed to eat at my desk, I know I need to work on eating more when I wake up so I don't mind trying to improve on that, lunch yes I am sure I could put more effort in but I am not asking for meal plans as I know they are available all over the net and these boards. And yes when I get home I have what the family is having. In all fairness I have no doubt that you need to really concentrate on your diet to achieve a 'perfect body' but I also know you do not need to do this just to gain a bit of mass. My dad, and half brothers all worked doing manual labour and bulked up, sure they were not incredibly defined but they bulked up.

This is the reason why I thought a weight bench would be a good idea. Just to get a bit more physical labour out of the day.

The shakes I have state that you have to add milk, I didn't see any mention of water, is it ok to do this?

And lastly the legs, as you have quoted it you obviously read I do a fair few sports that involve my legs and also the bench I was considering has things for legs on it (I am not an expert I don't know exactly what they are called).

I have been trying to really be tolerant, but please don't pick apart my posts pointing out all of the errors I have made.

Btw I have cancelled the order for the bench and weights as I think a folding bench would be more appropriate for me and the weights as I simply won't need them until I decide what bench.

Thank you for trying to help, any recommendations of a folding bench are appreciated.
 
while it might not do any harm, it also might not build you any muscle or provide you with any benefit.

manual labouring is not easy, coupled with a typical labourers diet you will get bigger.

In future, i will praise you and not tell you where i think you might be doing something wrong, that way you will not know where things could possibly be improved for your own benefit.

:]
 
Heh, looking for the bite I see. Well, in all fairness, I didn't ask for any fitness questions aside from what bench and amount of weight etc. I didn't ask for a diet and you started picking my posts apart. I have no doubt you know way more than me on this subject but the fact is you are trying to force it upon me when I said first I just want to get a bench as it wouldn't do any harm.

I also didn't ask for praise anywhere.
 
Easy boys

Morba is just offering constructive criticism,

If you want the best success then you really need to have a good all over workout, plenty rest and a good diet
 
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