Weights at home

Itchytrigg

Itchytrigg

Itchytrigg

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Joined
27 Jan 2009
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1,947
Location
Oxfordshire
Skip to the last paragraph if you want me to get to the point instead of giving my life story!

Over the last 3-4 months I've been on a campaign to get fit again. I'm 32 and 6ft2, and when I started this I was 16st 2 (this time last year I was 17st).

Initially, I just started cycling while half heartily watching what I ate. This was at least once a weekend and 1-3 times a week 20 mile round trips to work. Over 2-3 months that got me down to 15st 2.

Then 3 weeks ago, thanks to reading various threads in here I started using my fitness pro to actually log my intake and with a view of losing 1.5lbs a week, this put me on 1700 calories a day + exercise. This has been eye opening and excellent to use.

At the same time I started running, pretty much daily now. Only days I don't run are when I go for a bike ride, or the 2 days at hospital for me 2nd son being born (slacker I know). I tend to do 2+ miles a day, yesterday I pushed myself to 5 miles, and in a few days I will push that out to 10k.

I'm now 14st9, and I think I want to start adding in weights, however, with a young son (and also a 3 year old), I don't really want to spend too much time away at a gym especially with work thrown in as well. So I'm thinking of starting weights but from home.

TLDR; any recommendations on what to get and from where? Or even alternative advice? I'm happy with my weight lose and intake (even if not fully healthy yet).
 
Hmm hadn't really realised on how expensive this could get.

I've seen you and others talk about Strong Lifts 5x5 would sounds good, but I don't think I'm going to be able to stretch to a power rack in the short term. Space I don't think will be an issue as I'm going to be making a workout space in the garage.
 
Thanks for the details, I have a couple of dumbells already which have been gathering dust for about 8 years to get me started.

2 4.5 KG "plastic" dumbells
1 14" spinlock dumbell bar with 2 X 2.5 kg, 3x 1.25 kg and 3 .5 kg weights

I have no idea why I have 3 of each of those, maybe I lost some over time, better than nothing I suppose.

So what should I concentrate on first? A bench or just some weights/dumbells to get me started on something basic before progressing?

I wonder if my wife would let me use the conservatory instead of the garage.....
 
Picked up some weights, replacement dumbbell bars, a barbell and matting yesterday to get started. Nothing expensive but it's compatible with the weights I already have and the bar despite being only £20 feels pretty solid, guess we will see as I add weight, but for £20 I don't care if I need to replace later on.

Still hunting for a bench though to add soon, but first need to lose the old table from the conservatory to make space.
 
Thanks! Did my first 5x5 yesterday with it, did the barbell hack squat you suggested as I couldn't see a way I could manage a normal squat without a cage or rack.

I think I probably started too low on the weights, only did 10kg, but then tomorrow I will just up it.

If I am combining this with cardio, is it better I do the weights first or after a run/cycle?
 
Yeah I'm going to ask my wife to check my form next set to make sure I'm not going to astray, but was taking it slow on each rep to concentrate on my posture.

I stupidly was doing bar bench presses from the floor yesterday (not sure why I thought that was a clever idea), I think I'm going to swap that to db benches before i drop it on my neck!

I use to hate cardio, but for some reason I've just really got into running now. Usually 2-3 miles daily, but yesterday I only went for 1.5 miles so I could instead concentrate on upping my pace. Not going to break any records but was happy to get a 7.30 mile.
 
Yeahhhhh I'm not exactly setting the world on fire with lifting so not needing to spend a massive amount just yet, I'm not in the league of you guys and probably wont be for some time!

2nd day today (only lifting every other day) and did 1x5 20kg deadlift, 5x5 15kg squat hacks and 5x5 15kg overhead press....the overhead press was the only one towards the end I was struggling on.

I'm at the start of lifting here, as you can tell by the weights, my goal at the moment is to continue to get my weight down (aiming for 14st, maybe 13.5) and build by strength. Right now a Gym really isn't an option due to fresh newborn.

Next year I will probably be joining a gym, but for now I want to continue on my fitness journey and not lose momentum, I just feel really great about myself for the first time in probably 10 years and don't want to lose it.

To the question of 1700 a day, this is if I have a rest day with no exercise. Today for instance I consumed 2247, but did 763 worth on my bike after my lifts, so my allowance would be 2463.

That said, I think I will up it. My aim was 1.5lbs a week, but I am actually currently hitting 2.6 (lost 8lbs in 3 weeks). This is because today is pretty typical of the last 3 weeks in that I am coming in ~100-200 under target once you add on my cardio.
 
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