I am thinking about discontinuing my club membership and working out at home. I would be adding a bike and I have a quality treadmill, a flat bench, and some free weights. Willing to add more free weights, but wondering if I really need anything else.

Can I do everything at home with this equipment over a long period of time? I am mostly concerned about my legs since I can't do squats, I don't know what I can do to replace them. For my legs I use the bench press now and the machine that you do leg curls (not sure what it is called) sitting as well at lying down. I also have PTherapist exercises like straight leg lifts and can use ankle weights. I use a few machines now like lateral pull down and a seated row. Can I simulate those with free weights?

I also wonder..does a recumbent bike work different muscles than an upright bike? I can use either without any problem.

I would appreciate any advise you can offer. Can I really accomplish my goals at home with limited equipment? My goal is to get a well toned body and loose weight as well as improve my heart health. I don't intend to be a be a body builder, but I'm in this for life. I'm addicted now

I know this is a lot of information and I hope it makes sense. I look forward to your advise. I just found this site and I love the video clips some of you have shared, it is wonderful to have a visual.

I have never stepped foot in a gym. I work out from home as well. I started with the same equpiment you have, except the bike. As time went on and I progressed, I slowly added things. I could not live without my adjustable bench, it has a rack to put a barbell on (for barbell chest presses, incline presses, etc)...which I also use as a squat rack...lol And, it has a preacher curl platform and at the foot it has the necessary attachment to do leg extensions and leg curls. It cost about $60 at walmart and it is the one piece of large equipment I would advise you to get. I would also advise:

Barbell and some weight plates

Adjustable dumbbells...like barbells, but dumbbells and you can use the same plates for both.

I can't answer your question about bikes as I don't have one yet but I am looking into one so I will be interested in what people say.

As for back exercises....I now have a home gym which was only $150 and still in the box...lol but I do bent over rows with barbells and dumbbells. You could also buy a chinup bar that you put right in your door. Mine came with two sets of anchors and you can move the bar to either. I have one set high for pullups and one set low for reverse pushups...both work your back really well. It cost $20.

I hope that helps a little. I am sure others have really great ideas as well. I am here to tell you that you do not need to go to a gym to workout. Over time you will accumulate more things. I find doing it in small steps hurts the purse the least.

I would suggest replacing the bike with an elliptical. I've had both at home and much prefer the elliptical; I get a MUCH better cardio workout on it and it gives you more room to progress and grow. I also think it's a better leg workout, since that's one of your concerns, and I've always read to go for the cardio in which you also have to support your body weight while doing it, which discounts the bike somewhat and favors the ellip. I would advise you also to consider the 1-step adjustable dumbbells carried by walmart and the sports boxes.

I would also suggest an elliptical over a bike.

You can have a successful home gym with a weight bench and dumbells but I do find the hardest thing for me to get in is legs. Although there are squats, lunges, leg raises, etc that you can do. Eventually, when we get a big enough place, we will be buying a complete home gym but for now I make do with what I have. Oh and I still maintain my gym membership mostly because it is ultra cheap and I am talking DH into going for leg days there.

Hi,

I have a treadmill and a rower for cardio, a flat bench that I use for a lot off stuff, and dumbells & a barbell. I also have and very much recommend a stability ball. it's great to do abs stuff on, and you can also use it for different stretches & seated exercises. i have a stability ball DVD which gave some more inspiration.

I also have modified my open straircase so I can do chin-ups & reverse push-ups, and a mat for ground work, and a mirror. i also use the stairs for one legged squats.

I would recommend getting a barbell, a stability ball & a mirror & see if you can borrow the occasionsal DVD from the library if you get bored. BTW, womens weightlifting (krista) also has great tips on home gyms.

Good luck,
Rabbit

Thank you for all the responses. Why do I need barbell? I have not used one other than when I started working out. I use dumbells for most of my exercises now.

I am not sure what I do for back exercises??? I use the machines to pull and squeeze back muscles now. I was thinking rows would be one exercise.

Unfortunately, I can't use an elliptical it is painful on my knees. The bike is the way to go for me. I am debating what kind though.

Versabelles are the adjustable weights I was thinking of before. Someone on this forum got them online from walmart.

Upright rows with db's are good for the back, as is a dumbbell overhead lift while lying. You can see them demo'd on exrx.net.

I'm laughing bc I myself just learned why one needs a barbell. You may get to a point where you can squat more weight than your arms can support in dumbbells, and you'll want a barbell to do heavier squats, or to do things like Good Mornings.

For back, you can do bent over rows and you can do dumbbell pullovers. I highly recommend checking out www.exrx.net and/or www.abcbodybuilding.com to get an idea of exercises to do for your back.

As for the cardio equipment, I guess we are all different. I have bad knees and I love using my elliptical. If you do get a bike, I recommend the recumbent bike. I have read that it works more muscles than the upright bike plus personally I think it is more comfortable.

To update HRBabe, I just got VersaBells from Gately online. They are dumbbells that allow you to quickly adapt weights from one range to another, There's 5-25 lbs ones and 25-50 lbs ones. A set of the 5-25# cost me 135 and I got free shipping and a seasonal discount. I can't rate them more highly--they are versatile, real free weights, keep your space organized, easy to adapt, have a good feel, and really work you out. You can do everything you need with bar/dumbells and don't need anything more than them and a bench. Cardio--I have a professional grade treadmill and do aerobic tapes. Don't need a ton of stuff. A good routine can be found in Body For Life for Women by Pamela Peeke.