Calling All Weightlifters

[gave20]

I'm in the market for a home gym but I've been out of the exercise/lifting routine since college 6 years ago. After looking at most of the gyms, all are right around 200 pounds of weight; when I stopped lifting I was benching 250lbs, most of the gyms I 've looked at have weight stacks ranging from 160-200 pounds. I don't want to buy a gym that in 6 months I'll out grow, and short of going to Dicks and actually doing sets I need some help on what size and brand gym to buy.

[cerbomark]

what s your budget on this ?

[Rocco715]

I've got a nautilus bench with front leg attachment and adjustable seat with a 7 ft olympic bar (50#) and 300# of weights got it for around $600.00 and the quality is very good. Make sure you look at benches that can support your weight plus the weight of what your lifting or else they'll break on you

[Nytemare]

A good nautilus home gym with 200 lbs would be fine. You are using totally different muscles when lifting on a machine than you are when lifting free weights.

 

If you start feeling like you are out growing your gym start doing ladder workouts, start with 1 rep and a medium weight, than work your way up the ladder adding a rep every time until you hit the top of the ladder, usually around 5-8 reps, than work your way back down to 1 rep. It will feel light for the first few sets, but after you hit the top you have done 36 reps, and you still have another 28 to do. it is a great way to get usable, sustained working strength. You wont be a body builder, but you will be strong and look good. Every month add 10 lbs, to the weight, and every week add 1 rep. That way, you start the weight off small, with 5 reps, you get to 8 and change weights, drop back to 5 reps and start over.

 

You don't need lots of weight to get into good shape, you only need lots of weight if you wanna be a freak like me. I do power lifting, its hard on the body, and at 28 years old I feel like I am 50 when I get up in the morning. Light weight will allow you to concentrate on the movement and not the "oh god I'm gonna get crushed" thought.

 

What ever you do, don't waste your money on a bow flex.

[jsn0801]

If you like free weights. I bought a Golds gym set for $150. The set includes; bench w/leg ext/curl, rack w/movable pegs for bench or squat, a trolley to load free weights on that connects to a high and low pully. I bought the 300lb weight set with the standard 45lb bar for $100. I also bought a couple extra 45lb plates for $20ea. (after about 205lbs its a pain to put on all the little plates to add up to what you need). $250 total to get started with unlimited expansion potential. Purchased at Dunnahm's sporting goods.

[Silverado4x4]

I use free weights and dont like the machines for that reason. Also get a curl bar when doing your arms. Your right nytemare I lift heavy also and iam 44 sometimes feel 64 getting out of bed in the morning and I have been lifting since I was 20.

[gave20]

Thanks for the replies, my budget is up to $1000, I think I should be able to get a good gym for that price. I prefer the machine over the free weights because I feel I get a better workout from the machine. I'm not looking to get huge so I like the idea of increased reps to compensate for lighter weight. My job keeps me outside alot but not doing alot of physical labor so I'm really just looking to keep fit, now I just need to find a good quality gym.

[Silverado4x4]

The other problem with machines as I forgot to mention is that it doesnt help your weak side (everybody has it) say doing bench presses on the machine because everything is connected as one on the machine so your weak side will stay weaker then your left or right. Free weights prevent this as it forces your weak side to build and be the same as the stronger side.

[antig24]

Free weights also help build stabilizer muscles that machines do not. If you can "bench press" 300lbs on a machine you will not be able to bench press 300lbs with free weights. But if you can bench 300lbs with free weights the 300lbs on a machine will be easy. I would recommend purchasing a powerrack, adjustable bench(no uprights), and a 300lb olympic weight set. With this combination there's basically no exercise you cannot do. Just put the bench inside the powerrack to do any bench press variations and remove it to perform squats or standing military presses for an example.

[Genuinefine409]

I use a bowflex ultimate 2.

 

http://www.bowflexshop.com/bhg_microsite/p...+2+Home+Gym.jsp

 

Would I be better off using free weights? I was under the impression this machine is about as good as they get. I have about 300lbs of free weights in my basement that i haven't touched since i got this machine.

[Nytemare]

I use a bowflex ultimate 2.

 

http://www.bowflexshop.com/bhg_microsite/p...+2+Home+Gym.jsp

 

Would I be better off using free weights? I was under the impression this machine is about as good as they get. I have about 300lbs of free weights in my basement that i haven't touched since i got this machine.

It's not a point of being better, its Different. Bowflex gradually adds weight as you go through the range of motion. It doesn't help with your explosive power or help you in the starting of a movement.

 

No matter what you use, its better than doing nothing. If you like using it, stick with it, thats half the battle won right there.

[jsn0801]

+1^

The advantage to a machine is the ability to change weights or exercises very easily. With out that convienence alot less people would exercise. Free weights do give you more of a full body work out with fewer exercises.

[BigJayDogg3]

One thing I have found (may just be the group I was around when I worked out) but free weights allow you a more through workout. Let me explain. When I was doing my thing at first I worked exclusively on machines. And while I would build some muscle mass, my uncle was building way faster than I was. He used free weights, and told me the big thing isn't so much the weight you use, but that you control it, and that machines would allow you to "cheat" easier. When I would do free weights, I would work out in the mirror, and that got me to slow down alot and let me see where mistakes, especially in form, were being made.

 

It also made workouts more fun since I could look at my handsome mug the entire time.

[ws6_guy]

I always used free weights and have been having great results with them. I'm not a massive builder, and I cant bench 300, but i'm very fit and very tough and I didn't use any machines. I did use an ab lounge for awhile, then I was reading up that the floor crunches and techniques are the better way to go, so I got on youtube and looked some up and tried them and I am getting even better results. I followed a few workouts before and felt the build pretty well. I have my own routine that I do and as the months pass feel stronger and look better. I only have about 250lbs or weights though, I can bench 200, not too bad, working my way up.

[Nytemare]

I always used free weights and have been having great results with them. I'm not a massive builder, and I cant bench 300, but i'm very fit and very tough and I didn't use any machines. I did use an ab lounge for awhile, then I was reading up that the floor crunches and techniques are the better way to go, so I got on youtube and looked some up and tried them and I am getting even better results. I followed a few workouts before and felt the build pretty well. I have my own routine that I do and as the months pass feel stronger and look better. I only have about 250lbs or weights though, I can bench 200, not too bad, working my way up.

 

Benching 300+ and other high numbers is great, But it comes with a price.

 

I bench somewhere in the 425 area, squat 500 and dead lift 475, Like I said in an earlier reply, I'm almost 28 and I feel like I'm 50 when I first get up in the morning. All my joints are stressed out, I have a very limited range of motion and have some serious problems running. I can jog all day, but when it comes to running fast I'm screwed.

 

Stick with the light weights man.