Best Home Gym?

[ZONA]

I have been going to a gym for awhile years but now that I am building a new home, I will have a dedicated workout room but I have no clue as to what are some of the top home gym's to buy. I already have a Total Gym thing which is good for the wife and we will probably get a recumbant bike but I need something more for weight training. I need to be able to do bench press, fly's, shoulder shrugs, lats, legs, etc. I could to with a bench and some dumbells but not sure. I still would like to know what others thing about some of the home gyms out there.

[BABronco]

Not too sure about gyms, but ab lounges are simply amazing. Certainly worth the money.

[Spider]

Best home gym ? Kids ...Spend a day changing , Chasing , feeding , Picking up after them ;D

[-Slap-]

Pacific Fitness makes quality home gyms at affordable prices. I owned one about 20 years ago and the company is still going strong.

[yerner]

Power rack with cable pulley and pull up bar. Olympic weight set. dumbell's, either adjustable or reg set depending on space. there you go.

[Cito Pelon]

My "home gyms" have been ridiculous. I put about $400 into one and I don't have time for it at home. I get a better workout in the garden.

[OregonBronco]

I have a BowFlex Xtreme II...I like it a lot. The only thing it's not good for is leg curls. They run about $1400 new with the extra weight rod, but I bought mine off a friend for $650. It takes some getting used to, but it definitely provides a good workout.

[DenverBrit]

Pacific Fitness makes quality home gyms at affordable prices. I owned one about 20 years ago and the company is still going strong.

I agree. Excellent value and smooth. I wouldn't trade mine.....and it's useful for drying clothes too. :thumbsup:

[Jesterhole]

I have a Bowflex Power Pro that I've had for 4-5 years now. Still get a great workout, and taking 20-30 minutes to get a great workout instead of 1 1/2 - 2 hours to get to the gym really adds up.

[Traveler]

Zona,

Are you looking to use metal plates? Or are you wanting more resistance types machines?

I went the resistance machine route only because I didn't want or have the room store all the weights. Guess it depends on how much space you are going to dedicate to your new gym.

[ZONA]

Zona,

Are you looking to use metal plates? Or are you wanting more resistance types machines?

I went the resistance machine route only because I didn't want or have the room store all the weights. Guess it depends on how much space you are going to dedicate to your new gym.


I wanted to stay away from bands and things like Bowflex and go with something that resembled what you saw in a gym like LA Fitness. Something with stacked plates. I mean, I've looked on the net and there are tons out there but I was looking for feedback on some stacks or something close to that.

[scorpio]

Power rack with cable pulley and pull up bar. Olympic weight set. dumbell's, either adjustable or reg set depending on space. there you go.

^^^

Absolutely. Thread over. If space is an issue then switch out a pair of Powerblocks (http://www.powerblock.com/) for the dumbell set.

My advice is to pass over Bowflex, ab lounge, total gym, or anything that you've ever seen on a TV commercial. The model promoting Bowflex on the commercials certainly did not achieve his physique using a Bowflex.

[Cito Pelon]

What about a heavy bag, medicine balls, pullups, pushups, situps, hill sprints, stairsprints? One modern method I like is this airfilled dome you stand on and play with the dumbells or medicine ball at the same time. Whatever that thing is called, it works. I started playing around with that thing at the gym, and I don't even have to stretch my calves and hams anymore.

[Los Broncos]

Not too sure about gyms, but ab lounges are simply amazing. Certainly worth the money.

Can i use ab lounge to lose some weight?

[Cito Pelon]

I wanted to stay away from bands and things like Bowflex and go with something that resembled what you saw in a gym like LA Fitness. Something with stacked plates. I mean, I've looked on the net and there are tons out there but I was looking for feedback on some stacks or something close to that.

Well, stacks suck, unless you're a straight power-lifter. If you want real fighting power you'll need a more varied workout. Dumbells are better than bars since you have to work both arms etc equally. If you want to have strong and agile legs, run stairs or hills. Sprint them. A heavy bag is a cheap and efficient workout for stamina, punching power and movement. If you have a partner to work out with, the medicine balls will increase your fighting power a lot.

[StevetheBronco]

Nothing works better that pushups, situps and running up and down the staircase with ankle weights around your ankles.


STB

[Traveler]

Didn't want to deal with the plates anymore. Shoulders are shot. But Steve the Bronco does have a point.

[Traveler]

Did a cross section of both free weights and straps. Also have the Ab Lounge and a free weight bench (not pictured).

[ZONA]

Yeah, I suppose I could go ala Rocky 3 or whatever and lift some rocks over my head and lift carts full or birdseed or punch some slabs of meat but I'm a working man with little time and these machines of stacked weights do just fine for me. I can build good muscle with them. Just looking for something that offers quality. I've had a few gym's and some of them were made very poorly.

I found these and they look awesome. That Titan thing is impressive but it's $3000. Some of the Bodycraft stuff looks good.

http://www.fitcore.com/products/strength/Titan_T1.htm

http://www.bodycraft.com/gyms.tpl

[scorpio]

Yeah, I suppose I could go ala Rocky 3 or whatever and lift some rocks over my head and lift carts full or birdseed or punch some slabs of meat but I'm a working man with little time and these machines of stacked weights do just fine for me. I can build good muscle with them. Just looking for something that offers quality. I've had a few gym's and some of them were made very poorly.

I found these and they look awesome. That Titan thing is impressive but it's $3000. Some of the Bodycraft stuff looks good.

http://www.fitcore.com/products/strength/Titan_T1.htm

http://www.bodycraft.com/gyms.tpl

The Titan is AMAZING. If you have the money it's definitely worth it.

[sixtimeseight]

Nothing works better that pushups, situps and running up and down the staircase with ankle weights around your ankles.


STB


umm yea, unless you want to build your biceps, triceps, upper back, lower back, calves, hammies, etc... Some people want to have a balanced body, not just abs, uneven pecs and quads.

OP, get a squat rack, plates and some dumbells and you'll be set.

[tsiguy96]

please do everyone a favor and dont support the bloated fitness industry by buying a bowflex or anything else thats equally ridiculous, they dont work. you need a power rack a bar and weights, thats it.

[ZONA]

Damn - found this thing just now. It looks frickin amazing. Can do almost all the exercises. Great price too. No ruberbands or stacked weights. Wish I could find out what kind of quality it is, get some reviews. I'll look for those next.


http://fithouse.biz/inc/sdetail/1250

[Victor]

The best home gym is no home gym.

Body weight exercises are the way to go. Check out this link:

www.transformetrics.com

This is a forum for the publisher of Pushing Yourself to Power, and Flexercise.

You can build and tone muscle and lose weight using only bodyweight exercises that include pushups, squats, isometrics, etc.

Don't buy the machine and let it collect dust. One man's opinion (and I have the machine and weights collecting dust in the basement.)

[Beantown Bronco]

Only 12 and 16 ounce curls are allowed in my patented strength and conditioning program.

[mosca]

The best home gym is no home gym.

Body weight exercises are the way to go. Check out this link:

www.transformetrics.com

This is a forum for the publisher of Pushing Yourself to Power, and Flexercise.

You can build and tone muscle and lose weight using only bodyweight exercises that include pushups, squats, isometrics, etc.

Don't buy the machine and let it collect dust. One man's opinion (and I have the machine and weights collecting dust in the basement.)
I got Pushing Yourself to Power a year or two ago... some good info, but I found that it relied a little too much on isometrics. Still, some good info for beginners. Another guy's stuff that I've found to be really good if you're into bodyweight exercise is Ross Enamait. He's got several books out and they're all chock-full of exercises and routines. Never Gymless in particular is excellent if you're trying to work out at home. Check out his site at RossTraining.com (http://www.rosstraining.com)

[yerner]

Speaking of adjustable dumbbells, I have these and like them. There is a number of little plates to get up to 120lb on each but nothing overwhelming. looks like they just put out a home gym too. Guys have been cool and helpful.

www.ironmaster.com (http://www.ironmaster.com)

[Cito Pelon]

Yeah, I suppose I could go ala Rocky 3 or whatever and lift some rocks over my head and lift carts full or birdseed or punch some slabs of meat but I'm a working man with little time and these machines of stacked weights do just fine for me. I can build good muscle with them. Just looking for something that offers quality. I've had a few gym's and some of them were made very poorly.

I found these and they look awesome. That Titan thing is impressive but it's $3000. Some of the Bodycraft stuff looks good.

http://www.fitcore.com/products/strength/Titan_T1.htm

http://www.bodycraft.com/gyms.tpl

Well, what do you want to accompish? Do you want to be Mr. Universe, be intimidating enough to avoid fights, or be able to win most fights? Each requirement requires different approaches, different workouts.

[Cito Pelon]

umm yea, unless you want to build your biceps, triceps, upper back, lower back, calves, hammies, etc... Some people want to have a balanced body, not just abs, uneven pecs and quads.

OP, get a squat rack, plates and some dumbells and you'll be set.

Pushups, pullups, situps, dips, windsprints, hillsprinting are the best workout there is for individuals. For zero dollars. If one has a workout partner then you add in wrestling, judo.

[Cito Pelon]

please do everyone a favor and dont support the bloated fitness industry by buying a bowflex or anything else thats equally ridiculous, they dont work. you need a power rack a bar and weights, thats it.

Chuck Norris is gonna F you up, dude. You better hide yourself. Jeez, what were you thinking

[broncosteven]

^^^

Absolutely. Thread over. If space is an issue then switch out a pair of Powerblocks (http://www.powerblock.com/) for the dumbell set.

My advice is to pass over Bowflex, ab lounge, total gym, or anything that you've ever seen on a TV commercial. The model promoting Bowflex on the commercials certainly did not achieve his physique using a Bowflex.

I bought a cheap bench and then paid for the 300lb Olympic weight set. I will lose my space for it soon and will be relagated to Garage but it is worth it.

I have Olympic plate dumbells for $40.00 also.

Only thing I would recommend is get the right bench to start, mine was a cheapy that said it holds 300lbs but is not really for Olympic bars.

Also get the Whey Protein supplement from GNC, I lost 8 lbs because I was not eating enough.

[ZONA]

Well, what do you want to accompish? Do you want to be Mr. Universe, be intimidating enough to avoid fights, or be able to win most fights? Each requirement requires different approaches, different workouts.

What the hell does weight lifting have to do with winning a fight? And who the hell even said this is about fighting? This is about being and looking fit, feeling healthy and strong. Not about feeling like I want to go intimidate somebody because I have a complex about myself. Sheesh. :strong:

[ZONA]

I bought a cheap bench and then paid for the 300lb Olympic weight set. I will lose my space for it soon and will be relagated to Garage but it is worth it.

I have Olympic plate dumbells for $40.00 also.

Only thing I would recommend is get the right bench to start, mine was a cheapy that said it holds 300lbs but is not really for Olympic bars.

Also get the Whey Protein supplement from GNC, I lost 8 lbs because I was not eating enough.

I'm good on the suplements bro. I take both whey and soy along with this new kind of ph balanced creatine.

[elsid13]

^^^

Absolutely. Thread over. If space is an issue then switch out a pair of Powerblocks (http://www.powerblock.com/) for the dumbell set.

My advice is to pass over Bowflex, ab lounge, total gym, or anything that you've ever seen on a TV commercial. The model promoting Bowflex on the commercials certainly did not achieve his physique using a Bowflex.

I go with the PowerBlocks even if space isn't an issue. I actually prefer them* to the regular dumb bells that I have in the gym.

* expect for curls

[scorpio]

I go with the PowerBlocks even if space isn't an issue. I actually prefer them* to the regular dumb bells that I have in the gym.

* expect for curls

Yeah, I'm a fan (and owner) myself. I looooove me some powerblocks. There are a couple exercises you can't do, like overhead single DB extensions, but otherwise they are fantastic.

The Ironmasters are good too, I went with the Powerblocks because I got a good deal and had read a lot of favorable reviews.

[broncosteven]

I'm good on the suplements bro. I take both whey and soy along with this new kind of ph balanced creatine.

Creatine scares me, I eat Edamame when I can get it from Sushi place or at the Market. How much soy are you supposed to have?

[scorpio]

Creatine scares me, I eat Edamame when I can get it from Sushi place or at the Market. How much soy are you supposed to have?

Creatine is one of the most-studied subtances in the history of human nutrition. It is absolutely safe unless you have pre-existing kidney conditions. Also, I would stay away from soy as it has been shown to aromatize into estrogen. Use whey or casein if you need protein supplementation.

[broncosteven]

Creatine is one of the most-studied subtances in the history of human nutrition. It is absolutely safe unless you have pre-existing kidney conditions. Also, I would stay away from soy as it has been shown to aromatize into estrogen. Use whey or casein if you need protein supplementation.

I think I am cool with Whey for now. Just looking for power for softball and the ability to pick up my kids as they grow. Not looking to have physique of Jay Cuter, not the QB...

[elsid13]

Creatine is one of the most-studied subtances in the history of human nutrition. It is absolutely safe unless you have pre-existing kidney conditions. Also, I would stay away from soy as it has been shown to aromatize into estrogen. Use whey or casein if you need protein supplementation.

Only thing I would add If you go with Creatine make sure you go with the pills vs the powder. I went with the powder after a long time debating whether I want to use the stuff in the first place and decide I made a mistake after reading additional information about absorption issues with the powder.

[BABronco]

Can i use ab lounge to lose some weight?

probably not. but it works out your entire abdominal area like no other

[9mmbhp]

I agree with the various posts recommending a quality power rack and bench;
skimp on the bar and weights if necessary, but not on these two items.

If you're into strength (as opposed to bodybuilding) and are serious about it,
check out www.ironmind.com

If you don't want to invest in a lot of equipment or don't have the space, check out
kettlebells. Lots of info here:

http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode2/Kettlebells

[ZONA]

Also, I would stay away from soy as it has been shown to aromatize into estrogen.

So you are saying I'm gonna start growing man boobs like Phil Mickelson and my kickstand will begin to shrink? Hell with that. I don't do alot of Soy anyway.

I use 2 huge scoops of whey (without aspertame), a banana, tsp of flax oil, 5 strawberry's, 3 tbs of penut butter, 1 cup soy milk, 1 cup water in my protien shake every morning. Then I have 3 or 4 eggs middle morning with ham and cheese on them. Lunch I usually have turkey sandwhich or rice and chicken bowl. Dinner I normally eat some kind of meat again, chicken fish or steak. I know I probably need more protien but it's hard to eat that much.

[Los Broncos]

probably not. but it works out your entire abdominal area like no other

I need to get off of my lazy booty and lose weight. Or i can just be big sexy

[scorpio]

So you are saying I'm gonna start growing man boobs like Phil Mickelson and my kickstand will begin to shrink?

http://www.hot.ee/rihosims/22.jpg

[Cito Pelon]

What the hell does weight lifting have to do with winning a fight? And who the hell even said this is about fighting? This is about being and looking fit, feeling healthy and strong. Not about feeling like I want to go intimidate somebody because I have a complex about myself. Sheesh. :strong:

Back off. All I did is ask what you wanted to accompish. Jeez. If you want to pump up that's one thing and a certain type of workout, if you want to fight and win different sort of fights, that's a different type of workout. I can advise you on either one, just asking. Seems like you have testosterone already. Sheesh.

[broncosteven]

So you are saying I'm gonna start growing man boobs like Phil Mickelson and my kickstand will begin to shrink? Hell with that. I don't do alot of Soy anyway.

I use 2 huge scoops of whey (without aspertame), a banana, tsp of flax oil, 5 strawberry's, 3 tbs of penut butter, 1 cup soy milk, 1 cup water in my protien shake every morning. Then I have 3 or 4 eggs middle morning with ham and cheese on them. Lunch I usually have turkey sandwhich or rice and chicken bowl. Dinner I normally eat some kind of meat again, chicken fish or steak. I know I probably need more protien but it's hard to eat that much.

That sounds like a hell of a lot of Protein right there. I always hated eggs but eat them on weekends after my workouts.

It is fun almost having abs for the 1st time in my life! Plus the fact that I am now a solid singles hitter & not a sure out in Softball, it is good being 40 & sort of in shape!

[Cito Pelon]

So you are saying I'm gonna start growing man boobs like Phil Mickelson and my kickstand will begin to shrink? Hell with that. I don't do alot of Soy anyway.

I use 2 huge scoops of whey (without aspertame), a banana, tsp of flax oil, 5 strawberry's, 3 tbs of penut butter, 1 cup soy milk, 1 cup water in my protien shake every morning. Then I have 3 or 4 eggs middle morning with ham and cheese on them. Lunch I usually have turkey sandwhich or rice and chicken bowl. Dinner I normally eat some kind of meat again, chicken fish or steak. I know I probably need more protien but it's hard to eat that much.

ZONA is a whey boy, nanananananaaaa. J/K Zona, relax. I like that flax and cod liver oil. I gulp olive oil like crazy also. I like how it tastes in the morning, but I catch a lot of ridicule for it.

[tsiguy96]

the amount of idiocy and misinformation in this thread is scary.

[-Slap-]

the amount of idiocy and misinformation in this thread is scary.

Except my post, which totally kicked ass all over the place.

:kungfu:

[2KBack]

the amount of idiocy and misinformation in this thread is scary.

That pretty much sums up the personal health and fitness. What works for one person doesn't always work for the next, so a lot of counter suggestions get passed around.

[Cito Pelon]

Except my post, which totally kicked ass all over the place.

:kungfu:

Yeah, I noticed how much attention it received. I marked it for review, provided I can recover from the initial impact.

[Kaylore]

Use free weights. They force you to use your smaller muscles to stabilize and maintain balance during your workouts. That means more fibers worked and that means better tone and strength. They are also low maintanence as there are no moving parts, and they'll last you forever.

Most supplementation is unnecessary and excessive. You can get all the nutrients you need from eating healthy (lots of fruits and vegetables, low fat animal protein) and a multivitamin.

Glucosamine and chondroitin can be good for bad joints. If you really want to help your knees, make sure your shoes fit well and maybe get some orthotics. Always stretch before and after you work out and drink lots of water throughout the day. If you do these things you'll have a stong, fit body in a matter of months.

[yerner]

the amount of idiocy and misinformation in this thread is scary.

please, by all means, share some of your obvious genius on the topic of home gyms.

[-Slap-]

Yeah, I noticed how much attention it received. I marked it for review, provided I can recover from the initial impact.

Feel free to incorporate it into your training regimen for winning fights.