Home Gym Vs Joining a Real One

Dr Galen

So its finally here, 2008 will be the year that I finally get fit and toned again.

As a youth i was fit as hell, ran lots and well, regularly worked out and was in good condition and generally felt great but now as in the late 20's I'm out of shape and to be honest, I'm slim but blubbery joined a gym last year, nice place, lated 3 months or so, picked up an injury and never got my routine back.

Here's the plan.....

1) Give up the smokes (starting tomorrow)
2) Cut the booze right down
3) Buy the right foods and eat well everyday with only the occasional "treats"
4) Get back running......thinking that'll take care of the cardio
5) Get some weight work done

And here's where I need the advice. Once I get in a routine of going out running again, I know I'll get back enjoying it so that bit I feel i can get sorted fairly quickly. Was thinking of rejoining a gym for the weight training aspect. Like I said I'm actually quite slim in general, just have a beer belly kind of thing going on, so I'll actually be looking to bulk up a bit as things prgress. Have been looking around and have been tempted in buying one of those home multi gym machines. The likelyhood of me using that following a day at work is much better than heading to the gym.

What are the general opinions on these machines? Would I be better just buying a set of weights and a bench and working away on that? Is it a case that you really need to spend big bucks or else your getting crap stuff and stuff thats not worth the money?


cheers

baz

unreggd

why stop smokin tomorrow? No time like the present!

Really depends on your level of discipline

I made a home programme ages ago but never stuck with it

so joined the gym

and since i paid for it, i had it in my head that if i didnt go, i was wasting money, and it made each visit cost more

You could meet great friends at a gym, and the staff are there if you have any questions, and your progress is monitored

good luck

Dr Galen

thanx for the reply,

i went through thinking last year about how paying for the gym and only going for a bit of swim or half an hour on a treadmill was a waste of money, but it was on a direct debit and i just ended up passing it off.

I actually think I'd be better suited to having the bits and pieces at home. I think I'd probably do more and better quality workouts. maybe it was just the gym I joined, but the staff weren't that great I thought and as for making friends that was doubtful, seemed to be mostly full of ripped Eastern European blokes lifting a lot of weight in front of the mirror

Colm_OReilly

There's no better return on investment in terms of real fitness than weights, just a barbell and some steel.

Here's a good set - http://www.irish-lifting.com/product_info_equipment.php?cPath=1_15&products_id=259

I wouldn't advice going lighter as you'll actually progress past the lighter sets quickly enough.

Here's a nice beginner's routine you can start at home that shouldn't take too long

If you feel you're seriously lacking in strength, the workouts at www.startingstrength.net/workouts will help with that aspect.

Of course, if you want to join a real gym, we're not too far away on the M50!

Any further questions, please just ask!
Col

Dr Galen

cheers Colm for the advice

will check out the links

*edit*

the crossfit stuff looks very interesting Colm, actually work in and around the area so might be handy for me actually and as you say the M50 makes getting over fairly easy alright

when it comes to buying the weights, that kind of thing is looking much better value than one of those mulitgym type things. from what I've been reading and have done before I could pretty much work on the bits i want with them ( i.e chest, arms, shoulders), add in crunches etc for the abdo area, and use the running for the cardio and legs stuff.

Like i said, I'd look to bulk up a bit, I'm about 5ft 8 and 10.5 stone. but that i can probably do quite quickly with the right diet etc, then it'll be toning up and muscle building from then on.

I'd really just like to get fit and healthy again, especially in my line of work. I've found I'm not as energetic as I used to be and the other day where I had to do a bit if running around when a patient decided to get all sick on me i was puffed!

Roper

Good God for the love of christ stay away from the multi gyms!

Personally, I'd go do something in a group, but I've had that debate on here before! Best of luck in whatever you do.

Colm_OReilly

Well we're only a stone's throw away from the hospital*

Barry - the group feel is what I strive to create in the sessions. It's nice when people chat about their workouts and then the conversation moves on to their weekend, movies, sports etc. Working out with friends definitely makes it easier to stick with and more enjoyable.

Colm

*stone's throw for a crossfitter, the globogymers wouldn't clear the car park

rubadub

I have a standard 1" weights sets at home with about 150kg of plates. I have a chinning bar and gymnastic rings on that. I no longer use my cheap bench. I do flyes and dips on the rings and find them much better.

I only train really to keep my weight/fat levels in check, so really I could probably make do with only the rings, they can give a great all over body workout- thought squats & deadlifts are the big boys for muscle gain. If I did only have rings my legs would at least get some workout cycling. You dont even need a chinning bar for the rings, you can get a square bit of wood and span it across and attic hole and loop them through it, or use them outside on a crossbar, think Colm used a tree.

Khannie

Just one piece of advice.....

nurse_baz wrote: »

Here's the plan.....

1) Give up the smokes (starting tomorrow)
2) Cut the booze right down
3) Buy the right foods and eat well everyday with only the occasional "treats"
4) Get back running......thinking that'll take care of the cardio
5) Get some weight work done

With the exception of quitting smoking (congratulations btw) none of those goals are measureable....by that I mean that you'll never know when you've actually hit them. Try changing them for something with numbers.

e.g. for "cut the booze right down" substitute "have a maximum of 2 bottles of wine a week" or whatever, for "only occasional treats" maybe change it to "at most two treats totaling no more than 400 calories per day" or something like that. That way you'll know that you're actually hitting your goals. I'm sure you get my drift.

Vegeta

Roper wrote: »

Personally, I'd go do something in a group, but I've had that debate on here before! Best of luck in whatever you do.

Yes we have

ended well though

firstly I wll say use free weights as others have said forget those multi gym things, utter crap really

if you will be training alone at home then I wouldn't bother as you'll have no-one to spot you or check your form or keep your motivation up.

I train at home with my brother and friend so there's a great buzz when we train, pushing each other and helping each other

I think training with others really helps bring you on so if you cant do that at home then look to something like Colm offers, good all round approach to fitness

Dr Galen

cheers for all the replies lads. much appreciated.

so the home gym solution seems blown out of the water alright with good reason it seems too. I'll probably look into a real gym again then, Crossfit and what it offers seems like a good option though so i'll see what pans out on that front. and as Khannie suggests I'll be setting my goals in a much more measureable way tonight.....without the aid of a smoke!

Dr Galen

hey all

just wanted to say thanx for the advice over the course of this thread. have sat down and worked out a few goals and targets for myself, and started the ball rolling.

just a question on the crossfit......i've discovered i'm more outta shape than i first thought will i need to get going a bit first before going?

Dr Galen

nurse_baz wrote: »

1) Give up the smokes (starting tomorrow)
2) Cut the booze right down
3) Buy the right foods and eat well everyday with only the occasional "treats"
4) Get back running......thinking that'll take care of the cardio
5) Get some weight work done

these were my original aims.......on advice now its more like this

1) KEEP off the smokes....day 3 today
2) Alcohol cut down nights out (about 3/4 per month)
3) bought half of Dunnes veg section in past few days. pre-made meals for work are in the freezer......no more crisps and sandwich work lunches. have also added more balnced meals and fruit/nuts as snacks
4) by end of next week I'll be running (walking right now )
5) within 2 weeks I'll have the weights that Colm suggested plus am looking at attending a structured thing like Crossfit

Vegeta

well done dude

keep up the good work

Colm_OReilly

just a question on the crossfit......i've discovered i'm more outta shape than i first thought will i need to get going a bit first before going?

Lord no. What's posted on CrossFit.com and CrossFit.ie are what we call "gold standard" workouts, so the weights/reps will seem very challenging.

We scale the workouts down depending on people's fitness levels and ability. CrossFit can be challenging regardless of your current fitness.

For example, on Monday the weight we posted for Overhead Squats was 45Kg with full pull ups. Ruairi OHS 35Kg and reduced the amount of pull ups, and he's pretty fit. Others dropped the weight down and did jumping pull ups.

For a pure strength workout like yesterday's Front Squats, as long as the form remains intact we keep upping the weight, so everyone can do this. As a beginner, you'll be getting the form down and using "light" weights, but controlling the form is enough of a workout as you begin. Soon enough, you notice your numbers start to increase as you gain control.

If you've any questions post here, PM me or give me a call,
Colm

Dr Galen

cool stuff

will prob drop over to the open day then if I don't get over before then, then after payday most likely I'll be joining up.

again thanks for the help mate. mucu appreciated

Lockstep

I spent ages trying to work from home but it was too hard, too many distractions.

I joined a real gym and once I'm there, there's no distractions.

As I'm getting a proper programme from the staff, the results are much better.

You can see my pecs through a Tshirt now:D