I'm curious what the proportion of "gym" lifters vs "home" lifters there are here.

I found I didn't use my membership when I had one and it's easier for me to work out at home. Over the last couple years I've built up a pretty decent basic set up in my basement - an adjustable bench, barbell/dumbbells and about 150 lbs of plates, a smattering of fixed-weight dumbbells, high and low steps, and a few non-lifting bits (heavy bag, elliptical, TV/DVD setup). I've also got a door-mount pullup bar, but it's been ages since I've actually been able to use it!

So, how many here lift at home? Anything you'd add to my "gym" to give myself a little more variety? I'm itching to buy myself a new "toy" but I can't find anything that wouldn't just be a waste of money.

(I posted about this in the general exercise forum about a week ago, but it didn't get a whole lot of traffic. Hopefully it's more appropriate here?)

I do!


I don't have even as much equipment as you.

You could get one of those bands to do an assisted pullup. I have been using a regular resistance band but there are special bands that are made just for that. Even with the band I still can barely do them but it is more gratifying to do 2-3 rather than just hanging there and praying.

I only have the pullup bar and some dumbells. There is so much you can do with just body weight alone. Though I need to get a barbell soon.

I lift at home and at a private gym. Until two weeks ago, I only lifted at the gym, but I no longer work there full time so it's more onvenient to lift most days at home. I do my heavy leg day at the gym- I'll never have enough equipment to be able to do legs well enough for me at home.

I have dumbbells up to 35 pounds, an olympic bar and 300 pounds of weights (lol, no...I don't need all that!) an adjustable bench with a rack, a bosu ball, a stability ball, a couple of different weight medicine balls, 2 reebok steps, a fairly light and semi-useless resistance band, a giant 1" rubber band, an elliptical, a recumbent bike, and a treadmill. A few more heavier dumbbells and a pullup bar and I could do just about everything. But I still like doing legs at the gym. I also miss the cable machines- I really enjoy using cables.

Mel

I used to lift at home, but I couldn't squat properly because I couldn't press the bar over my head for a back squat.

So now my gym is 5 minutes walk from work which is even more convenient since I am at work more than I am at home *sigh*

I do ... I have a bench, dumbells, a ball, a step, a band. If I ever enroll in a gym, it'll be for cables and a squat machine.

I have dumbells and some DVD's that I use on Sundays, but mainly I lift at the gym (which is closed on Sundays).

I lift at both home and at the gym, but more and more at home. I have a squat rack, bench, hex dumbells up to 50lbs, a 7' and 5' olympic bar, 2 oly dumbell handles, an EZ curl bar. 450 lbs of plates. A club step with extra risers, a large and medium stability ball, a stability disk, an ab wheel, a stationary bike, an 8lb medecine ball, 2 full sets of jumpstretch bands, a jump rope, and various other resistance tubes. Oh and some large mirrors so that I can keep a close eye on my form and some rubber flooring so that if I do fail and it comes to dropping the weight on the floor or onto my head, I don't have to even give a second thought to the floor. Damn! never realize I had collected so much stuff! Of course, what I really want for my home gym, I haven't been able to get, a HIGHER CEILING. I would love to trade in my squat rack for a full-scale power rack w/ lat tower but ceiling is just too low for that.

Wow Depalma! That's quite a set-up! I would love a power rack with a cable tower and rubber flooring as well. I have very low pile berber carpeting in my workout room, and was surprised to discover that I can't deadlift as much weight on a carpeted surface (even the very low pile) as I can on a hard surface. Duh. Makes perfect sense, but I'd never actually tried it before last week.

For anyone who has an olympic bar, here's a great way to make a t-bar row:

Take a BIG towel or old blanket and place it folded up into a corner on the floor.
Take your bar and wedge one end of it into the blanket (protects the wall).
Put an appropriate size plate on the end away from the corner (I start with a 45). Get a smaller towel, a large piece of rope, or and actual double grip handle and place in just below the ridge that holds the plate from sliding down the bar. Stradle the bar in "athletic stance", grab an end of the towel or rope in each hand, and do rows. You can lighted it up and do one arm rows standing next to the bar, stand in front of the bar and row upwards (hits back and chest and shoulders), or stand closer facing the bar and do single arm presses. Very versatile position for that bar!

Mel

Oh gosh, just reading this made me think about my BIL. He was a serious bodybuilder in the senior division, and has what looks to me like a full weight room in his "gym" - which used to be the garage! Also has some cardio equipment and a TV, but the funniest thing he considers "equipment" is a small George Foreman grill! He actually grills his boneless/skinless chicken breasts while he works out! Does several days worth over the course of a workout. Otherwise, he's pretty normal.

I'm definitely a gym person. It's a really good place with all the equipment I could need and a very supportive environment. I do have an exercise bike though.

Hi,

I lift at home as well, but not regularly.
I have a rowing machine, a trweadmill, a stationary bike, and a barbell, dumbells and some plates to ge with those, and a bench, stability ball, tubes and bands, and i use my oipen staircase to the attic to do assisted pull-ups. I also have a couple of DVDs that I can use in my living room.

I like working put at home, but i find that I have less excuses if i go to my pre-set classes at the gym. Especially my friend that goes to power class with me on monday is a strong motivator for me to actually go.

And I count gardening and home renovation also as cardio.

Rabbit