Home gym making a comback

[robblok]

Been exercising in a commercial gym for a while, but as we all know they are closed now. So I am back to the home gym. Its good though I do miss a bit of the social contacts. Will be hard for all those people who made nice progress in gyms and now can't train for a month or more. 

 

I must say even though I was used to exercising in my home gym its still a switch as I had more options in the commercial gym. Still its far better then nothing. 

 

For those who look for cheap and good home gym equipment look at decathlon the online shop. 

 

The powerrack for 16000 bath is a steal. Add a bar and bench and find some weights on lazada (decathlon weight for 50mm are expensive as they are bumper plates)

[brokenbone]

i really do very few basic exercises if im up for it,

and socializing in a gym ?!

if i had it my way and could do it, i would workout at home

and never contemplate a public gym

[robblok]

6 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

i really do very few basic exercises if im up for it,

and socializing in a gym ?!

if i had it my way and could do it, i would workout at home

and never contemplate a public gym

I have a chat with Thais or foreigners after a workout or between exercises. So there is some socialising and I like it. It can also be motivating to see other people.

 

But my homegym is great it has most things still it can never have all the stuff a commercial gym has. I am mainly missing out on leg exercises, and i loved the weighted abb machine and some other stuff. Sure I can make due in my home gym. I have for years and grew some muscle in it too.

 

But recently i just switched just to be "out" for a while and the gym was like 5 minutes on the motorbike from my home. So not too far.

 

But now in lockdown I am happy to have my home gym still. 

[brokenbone]

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have a chat with Thais or foreigners after a workout or between exercises. So there is some socialising and I like it. It can also be motivating to see other people.

 

But my homegym is great it has most things still it can never have all the stuff a commercial gym has. I am mainly missing out on leg exercises, and i loved the weighted abb machine and some other stuff. Sure I can make due in my home gym. I have for years and grew some muscle in it too.

 

But recently i just switched just to be "out" for a while and the gym was like 5 minutes on the motorbike from my home. So not too far.

 

But now in lockdown I am happy to have my home gym still. 

i can empathize with the need for a change in many areas,

but if i had the stuff i need for my workout,

which is really just dumbbells, two benches of which one

can be set in angles, and a T construction with a rope for triceps, i would be content. that plus a pain free back

[VBF]

10 minutes ago, robblok said:

I have a chat with Thais or foreigners after a workout or between exercises. So there is some socialising and I like it. It can also be motivating to see other people.

 

But my homegym is great it has most things still it can never have all the stuff a commercial gym has. I am mainly missing out on leg exercises, and i loved the weighted abb machine and some other stuff. Sure I can make due in my home gym. I have for years and grew some muscle in it too.

 

But recently i just switched just to be "out" for a while and the gym was like 5 minutes on the motorbike from my home. So not too far.

 

But now in lockdown I am happy to have my home gym still. 

For leg strength, IMO, you cannot beat walking, especially up and down hills. 

In normal times, I'm a Rambler and we usually do 8-9km once or twice a week. I'm still doing it but alone and, as you say do miss the social aspect.

But for now......

[robblok]

16 minutes ago, VBF said:

For leg strength, IMO, you cannot beat walking, especially up and down hills. 

In normal times, I'm a Rambler and we usually do 8-9km once or twice a week. I'm still doing it but alone and, as you say do miss the social aspect.

But for now......

Oh I am not saying i can't improve my leg strenght I mean squat is perfect for that.  Its just that in a commercial gym there are more ways to train legs. Its more that legs are often trained with machines most other parts of the body i can use free weights. Legs can be done with free weights but machines are great too.

 

I did some trekking a while back.. that was fun. But the 10km took us 5 hours. (still think it was more then 10k). The guide even lost its way a few times with a hand held gps unit. My legs were cut open by undergrowth but i liked it. Too bad I live too far from something like that. 

 

I mainly do workouts in the gym as its something I am good at and like doing. 

 

I miss the times when i really worked out with a training partner... that was always really motivating.

[VBF]

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

Oh I am not saying i can't improve my leg strenght I mean squat is perfect for that.  Its just that in a commercial gym there are more ways to train legs. Its more that legs are often trained with machines most other parts of the body i can use free weights. Legs can be done with free weights but machines are great too.

 

I did some trekking a while back.. that was fun. But the 10km took us 5 hours. (still think it was more then 10k). The guide even lost its way a few times with a hand held gps unit. My legs were cut open by undergrowth but i liked it. Too bad I live too far from something like that. 

 

I mainly do workouts in the gym as its something I am good at and like doing. 

 

I miss the times when i really worked out with a training partner... that was always really motivating.

Completely understand. For me, a 2 hour walk through the countryside (in good weather, anyway) is more enjoyable than going to a gym. That's my limitation as I've never developed the attention span necessary to persist in a gym. Walking, though I actually enjoy.  Each to his own, eh? 

 

And also, I'm doing it just to get/stay healthy, whereas gym people tend to want to be fit to do sports etc. I think there may be a difference.

[brokenbone]

that walking would be optimal for strength goes against theory altogether.

optimally for strength, assuming tendons and stuff hold,

is heavy duty squats and then just eat and lay down and rest 3 days no walking period, and then go back to squats, rinse, repeat

[VBF]

1 minute ago, brokenbone said:

that walking would be optimal for strength goes against theory altogether.

optimally for strength, assuming tendons and stuff hold,

is heavy duty squats and then just eat and lay down and rest 3 days no walking period, and then go back to squats, rinse, repeat

We cross-posted - would you agree with my comment "I'm doing it just to get/stay healthy, whereas gym people tend to want to be fit to do sports etc. I think there may be a difference."?

[RickG16]

Here's an alternative to the OPs advice... if you usually do weights in the gym, take advantage of a chance to switch up your routine (and save money), by buying a simple exercise mat and doing bodyweight exercises.

 

When you return to the gym in a few weeks, you might feel better for the switch and a bit stronger in the core muscles (while maybe being smaller in the 'beach muscles')

[torturedsole]

37 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Here's an alternative to the OPs advice... if you usually do weights in the gym, take advantage of a chance to switch up your routine (and save money), by buying a simple exercise mat and doing bodyweight exercises.

Then in a few weeks when this is all over, your new exercise bike won't be left to collect dust.  

 

Good advice, RickG16.  Take a run around the block and do some press ups and star jumps.  Fills the gap.  

[robblok]

9 hours ago, VBF said:

Completely understand. For me, a 2 hour walk through the countryside (in good weather, anyway) is more enjoyable than going to a gym. That's my limitation as I've never developed the attention span necessary to persist in a gym. Walking, though I actually enjoy.  Each to his own, eh? 

 

And also, I'm doing it just to get/stay healthy, whereas gym people tend to want to be fit to do sports etc. I think there may be a difference.

I don't do it for any other sports, i do it to keep in shape and for health reasons andyes for each his or her own. 

[robblok]

7 hours ago, torturedsole said:

Then in a few weeks when this is all over, your new exercise bike won't be left to collect dust.  

 

Good advice, RickG16.  Take a run around the block and do some press ups and star jumps.  Fills the gap.  

That is all good and nice fortt the average person not for people who have build up some muscle. Still its a lot better then nothing.  Plus I don't advice people to buy a home gym (just those that are truly fanatic). I used my home gym for years. I think i broke even a long time ago. Otherwise its just too expensive. Assuming this virus does not stay long.

 

But i know quite a few serious gym goers that hate it that they can't do a think body weight exercises are nice but not for everyone. I think they will be great for most older people. For me pushups are nothing and dips (bodyweight) i need to ad 20 to 30 kg to make them heavy. Squats with just body weights don't do much if yo normally add 100+ kg. 

 

So it kinda depends who you are and what point you are at. I advised a powerrack that is only for people with experience. I mean you need to know what to do to get the most out of it.

 

Bodyweight is nice for people who are not as trained yet.

 

Again to each his or her own.

[robblok]

9 hours ago, brokenbone said:

that walking would be optimal for strength goes against theory altogether.

optimally for strength, assuming tendons and stuff hold,

is heavy duty squats and then just eat and lay down and rest 3 days no walking period, and then go back to squats, rinse, repeat

Sure that is for strenght but nothing wrong with walking at all. Especially if it goes up hill. We all got different goals. My goal is no longer to get stronger. It gets hard at 46 but to keep the muscle i have and not get fat. For some reason when i train my diet is better too. 

[Kennycrossfit]

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

That is all good and nice fortt the average person not for people who have build up some muscle. Still its a lot better then nothing.  Plus I don't advice people to buy a home gym (just those that are truly fanatic). I used my home gym for years. I think i broke even a long time ago. Otherwise its just too expensive. Assuming this virus does not stay long.

 

But i know quite a few serious gym goers that hate it that they can't do a think body weight exercises are nice but not for everyone. I think they will be great for most older people. For me pushups are nothing and dips (bodyweight) i need to ad 20 to 30 kg to make them heavy. Squats with just body weights don't do much if yo normally add 100+ kg. 

 

So it kinda depends who you are and what point you are at. I advised a powerrack that is only for people with experience. I mean you need to know what to do to get the most out of it.

 

Bodyweight is nice for people who are not as trained yet.

 

Again to each his or her own.

So you think doing pushups is nothing, I personally think its a great movement, and yes I can bench press heavy. 

[Kennycrossfit]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

Sure that is for strenght but nothing wrong with walking at all. Especially if it goes up hill. We all got different goals. My goal is no longer to get stronger. It gets hard at 46 but to keep the muscle i have and not get fat. For some reason when i train my diet is better too. 

Walking Is a great way to stay lean, I average 15000 steps a day. 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Kennycrossfit said:

So you think doing pushups is nothing, I personally think its a great movement, and yes I can bench press heavy. 

Yes i do think pushups are nothing and im sure you can do bench press heavy. Push ups never been much of a muscle builder. I have yet to see the first bodybuilder that got his pecs from pushups.

 

If your a crossfit guy you know as well as I do that increased overload builds muscle and that is far better to do with weights then pushups. There are rep ranges that promote muscle growth and for me to do pushups i need to do far to many to ever promote growth. 

 

At the moment I am staying away from heavy bench pressing. Doing DB presses as my left shoulder is acting up a bit. DB presses gives more freedom of movement. 

 

Be honest do you think pushups alone or say DB press alone what would give you more muslce and strenght ?. We are not talking about beginners here but people who have been working out for some time. 

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, Kennycrossfit said:

Walking Is a great way to stay lean, I average 15000 steps a day. 

I stay lean because of a good diet. exercise as such can never copete with a good diet. Walking for me is trekking and that is fun. Normal walking does not really do it for me. Far to low intensity. I do farmer walks then with 20 or more KG in each hand going rounds in a park. 

Again we all got our preferences.

[brokenbone]

14 minutes ago, robblok said:

For some reason when i train my diet is better too. 

its because motivation, you know there is progress if you stick to it, its hard to be motivated without the payoff

[brokenbone]

6 minutes ago, Kennycrossfit said:

Walking Is a great way to stay lean, I average 15000 steps a day. 

yes, this is about the only purpose for which walking is fit,

i know a very successful bodybuilder that when the time

comes for burning fat ahead of a competition,

-he walks fast pace for long periods of time

[brokenbone]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

At the moment I am staying away from heavy bench pressing. Doing DB presses as my left shoulder is acting up a bit. DB presses gives more freedom of movement. 

im just loving db, a fixed piston always hurt my shoulder horribly

but them db smooth and adjust to the way my shoulder has to go

[Kennycrossfit]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yes i do think pushups are nothing and im sure you can do bench press heavy. Push ups never been much of a muscle builder. I have yet to see the first bodybuilder that got his pecs from pushups.

 

If your a crossfit guy you know as well as I do that increased overload builds muscle and that is far better to do with weights then pushups. There are rep ranges that promote muscle growth and for me to do pushups i need to do far to many to ever promote growth. 

 

At the moment I am staying away from heavy bench pressing. Doing DB presses as my left shoulder is acting up a bit. DB presses gives more freedom of movement. 

 

Be honest do you think pushups alone or say DB press alone what would give you more muslce and strenght ?. We are not talking about beginners here but people who have been working out for some time. 

DB press because u can overload the muscle with more weight like you said, but pushups are good for just maintaining the muscle you got. I'm doing various forms of pushups at the moment as no gyms at the moment, I'm not going to be gaining strength or muscle, but it's better than nothing. 

[jadee]

Really love this thread robblok! I agree that Decathalon is a great place to look for good quality equipment. A few months ago, I bought a pullup bar there and think it's awesome! It expands and holds itself in place with no screws and can support up to 100kg. It also comes with screws and plastic 'nubs' to bring the capacity to 130kg, for those that need it. In the shop, i didn't believe that it would really stay up with no screws but I've had it a few months now and it's really solid. It's great for anyone who's renting or worried about damaging the woodwork. 
Initially, I wanted to buy a power tower for dips/pullups but when I saw them in the store those things are huge. They're really solid though. 

[robblok]

13 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

im just loving db, a fixed piston always hurt my shoulder horribly

but them db smooth and adjust to the way my shoulder has to go

Before last year  I never had any problems doing heavy bench presses and all of a sudden i developed a problem. Age is showing. So i just switched and hope it goes away. My other side had it it went away now this side and ill be good as new. 

 

Been doing great at a time this year going heavier eating more. But no more extra muscles. Need to accept I am at my limit. It was not that I wanted to be bigger I think im big enough. Its more that going for a goal is more fun than staying stagnent. 

[robblok]

12 minutes ago, Kennycrossfit said:

DB press because u can overload the muscle with more weight like you said, but pushups are good for just maintaining the muscle you got. I'm doing various forms of pushups at the moment as no gyms at the moment, I'm not going to be gaining strength or muscle, but it's better than nothing. 

Yes that much is for sure its far better then othing and I probably would be doing push ups too if i had no other stuff. Its about making due with what you have. Yes there are quite a few forms of push ups. I am not gaining any muscle any more either. But at my age and my training history i should not expect much more. I might be able to train some weak points.

 

I like those abb wheels too, cost little but give the core a nice workout. 

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, jadee said:

Really love this thread robblok! I agree that Decathalon is a great place to look for good quality equipment. A few months ago, I bought a pullup bar there and think it's awesome! It expands and holds itself in place with no screws and can support up to 100kg. It also comes with screws and plastic 'nubs' to bring the capacity to 130kg, for those that need it. In the shop, i didn't believe that it would really stay up with no screws but I've had it a few months now and it's really solid. It's great for anyone who's renting or worried about damaging the woodwork. 
Initially, I wanted to buy a power tower for dips/pullups but when I saw them in the store those things are huge. They're really solid though. 

I got one room dedicated to fitness. I live in a home owned by me (in a way). I have one of those pull up racks (dips)  but one with a counter weight. It helps me to do wide grip pull ups with better forms. I have always been weak at that. I tried a lot it mainly failed. I can force out 4 x 8 without help but the form is not nice then. Close grip is easier to do and can do a lot more of those. 

 

But I am really home bound havent moved home from 14 years or so. Would hate to disassemble all my gear and more it. 

[baansgr]

41 minutes ago, Kennycrossfit said:

So you think doing pushups is nothing, I personally think its a great movement, and yes I can bench press heavy. 

Changing incline and stance can work different muscles...combine with varying abs excercises you have almost a compete upper body workout...not perfect but keeps the muscles tense.

[robblok]

13 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Changing incline and stance can work different muscles...combine with varying abs excercises you have almost a compete upper body workout...not perfect but keeps the muscles tense.

With push ups you target the pecs and shoulders triceps too. But i think you need something like pull ups too to make it a total upper body workout.  Still changing the angles is a good idea. I have done push ups i liked those push up stands so you can go deeper and its easier to do at angles ect. 

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Sure that is for strenght but nothing wrong with walking at all. Especially if it goes up hill. We all got different goals. My goal is no longer to get stronger. It gets hard at 46 but to keep the muscle i have and not get fat. For some reason when i train my diet is better too. 

So how long without exercise but TRT levels T before you start to lose muscle? (the horror of bodybuilders). At 56 I still have good (actually bodybuilder type) muscle definition in arms and legs, but since 53 it became a losing battle to keep weight off the middle.

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, mokwit said:

So how long without exercise but TRT levels T before you start to lose muscle? (the horror of bodybuilders). At 56 I still have good (actually bodybuilder type) muscle definition in arms and legs, but since 53 it became a losing battle to keep weight off the middle.

I have no idea to be honest, its not as if I check that much or am able to precisely measure it. I don't use tape measures. I did a 2 month stint without training and i lost some muscle (was injured) but got it back after a few months of training again. But to be honest i was also really lean then. Its just really hard to gauge. 

 

To be honest the not getting fat part is easier to gauge and more a fear then losing some muscles. I seem to hold on to them relatively ok. I am sure the TRT has something to do with it plus my build.