Home gym

[Druss]

A decent bench, free-weights, and unlimited dedication.

If you're not willing to make it a permanent part of your lifestyle, don't even waste your time trying. If you feel the need to be supported, or encouraged by others, forget it. The drive comes from inside, not outside.

[eskimo2]

I go to garage sales all the time and I see tons of exercise equipment, most of it looks brand new but dusty, like DREDIOCK so eloquently described.

I bought a super-duper-awesome $1,400 home gym two years ago; I only paid $25 for it at a garage sale though.  It’s not dusty because we hang crap all over it and my five year old climbs all on it like it’s a jungle gym.  Right now my bike is leaning against it; my helmet and Camelbak hang on it as well.  Yesterday after work I put 25 miles on that bike.  Earlier in the week I’ve put in another 25 mile ride and a 17 mile ride.  I also have a few kayaks and a rowboat that get used regularly.  

My advice; choose something that you will WANT to do.  Choose something fun.  Get a bike, boat, rollerblades or whatever.

[rabbidrabbit]

Originally posted by eskimo2
I go to garage sales all the time and I see tons of exercise equipment, most of it looks brand new but dusty, like DREDIOCK so eloquently described.

I bought a super-duper-awesome $1,400 home gym two years ago; I only paid $25 for it at a garage sale though.  It’s not dusty because we hang crap all over it and my five year old climbs all on it like it’s a jungle gym.  Right now my bike is leaning against it; my helmet and Camelbak hang on it as well.  Yesterday after work I put 25 miles on that bike.  Earlier in the week I’ve put in another 25 mile ride and a 17 mile ride.  I also have a few kayaks and a rowboat that get used regularly.  

My advice; choose something that you will WANT to do.  Choose something fun.  Get a bike, boat, rollerblades or whatever.

Like deer wrestling?

[Mark Luper]

Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
Like deer wrestling?

Naked deer wrestling at that!!:rofl

Good on rabbidrabbit:aok

Mark

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I have this WEIDER, paid $300 at Sear. For the price, good enought for me.

[Halo]

Just go to a yard sale and get a Nordic Track.  Doesn't take up much room and provides a decent cross country skiing approximation.  

Thirty minutes every other day plus some stretching exercises and dumb bells (e.g., 5- or 7-pound) will give most people the core exercise they need.  

We've had our Nordic Track 16 years and it remains by far the favorite exercise device for both my wife and me.

[LePaul]

I thought about getting my own equipment a few years ago.  

I heard the pros and cons:  Why waste money on a gym membership when you can use the money on weights/equipment at home?  Or, what if you get lazy and just dont go yet paid a membership, etc?

For me, I opted to hit the local gym.  Not only did they have a lot of new equipment I could never afford, but they have trainers onsite you can schedule with.  For $30 (1 hr session) they can develop a program for whatever goals you have: tone up, loose weight, muscle building, etc

If just getting out of the house is an issue...and you have a lot of kids...  home gyms might work out for you.  I've heard good things about the Bowflex gyms.  Back in my UPS days, the number 1 item people would refuse were the home gyms.  What seemed like a good idea at the wee hours of hte morning to order quickly changed when big metal pieces started to arrive  

I still have a few home things.  An Ab Longue, some free weights, a medicine ball and exercise ball.  There are days Id like a treadmill, especially when its too late to hit the gym or the weather is nasty.  Like Eskimo, I'll have my girlfriend keep an eye out for one in the yardsales.

[LEADPIG]

Originally posted by Halo
Just go to a yard sale and get a Nordic Track.  Doesn't take up much room and provides a decent cross country skiing approximation.  

Thirty minutes every other day plus some stretching exercises and dumb bells (e.g., 5- or 7-pound) will give most people the core exercise they need.  

We've had our Nordic Track 16 years and it remains by far the favorite exercise device for both my wife and me.

Too many people think by working out just on weights, that your going to lose weight. It's best to do some resistance as well as cardio training. I have a Nordic Track as well,  one of the best exercisers ever. It not hard on the knees and gives a hell of a workout. 20 to 30 minutes, 3-4 times a week is all you need. It also tones your muscles because you can get somewhat of a strength workout.

I know exercise. I was a runner for a number of years. Used to run anywhere from 3 miles to 7 or 8 miles a day. I hurt my knees however and started using the Nordic track, and it's just as good a workout. I've lost about 30 to 40 pounds on it twice.  

Also look into the new elipse machines they're great and are the new generation Nordic Track cross country skiing type exercises. The elipse is more like running in that your legs follow an eliptical motion around like running. Great exercise, consider these along with your resistance workout regimine and you should lose the fat that will be hiding those developing muscles from the resistance training.

[Joker]

Originally posted by myelo
Olympic weight set
Power rack
Bench

You're good to go.

Amen to this. I have tried Bowflex, but did not like it. The free weights are superior IMO, partly because you can obtain a more even resistance through the range of movement.
These guys have some good gear:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/

Joker

[Halo]

Regarding elliptical machines, to me they're interesting and provide a lot of motion, but they also take up a lot of room and seem to stress the knees too much.  My wife has to be particularly careful since she had surgery on one of her knees.