Home Gyms

[donas]

Originally Posted by uscmatt99

I was never a fitness guy other than outdoor activities, never really worked out in a gym, and decided to give resistance training a try starting about a year ago. Our kids had outgrown the playroom, and we'd always intended to equip the space for us. After several months with some adjustable dumbbells and a bench, decided to get a squat rack and barbell setup as well. These things can take up a ton of space! But I wanted to get the model with weight storage that can also accommodate a cable system down the road. Really enjoying it now doing a beginner program.

The open space in the front isn't as big as it appears in the photo, but it works. My wife really likes doing landmine workouts in that space, so I got her a lady's bar so she doesn't jack up the sleeve on mine. I do my deadlifts out there too. Then we can swap out the rower and our road bikes on a trainer in that space as well while "earning" the hour of TV time. I usually work out alone early in the morning, but I have to say it's fun working out with her as well. We even put the kids on a little program using dumbbells and the pullup bar, so it's still technically a play room

Home gym by uscmatt99, on Flickr

Thats a nice looking squat rack! Is that an Iron Master bench? If so, regular or Pro and what's your opinion of it, particularly the height.

[uscmatt99]

Originally Posted by donas

Thats a nice looking squat rack! Is that an Iron Master bench? If so, regular or Pro and what's your opinion of it, particularly the height.

Thanks! It's the Ironmaster Pro bench. I really like it. Very stable, comfortably firm pad, and easy to move around even on carpet. The height is fine for me when flat. The seat definitely feels low for incline positioning, even on the higher setting. Not sure who would use it on the lower setting to be honest. It's also a bit weird as the seat is always 90 degrees relative to the back. That said, I do love that it has no gap. I got the crunch add-on which is nice for decline benching and ab stuff. I wish I would have purchased the hypercore too. I did overbuy initially when I got this with my adjustable dumbbells (fantastic by the way), and got the dumbbell spotting stands. They are okay, but it's a kludge to set up and kicking the weights up works just fine.

The rack is from Rep Fitness. They've gotten some bad press recently after a couple of stumbles on new releases and price bumps, but I love their stuff so far. Was initially going to go Rogue but my ceilings barely allowed clearance without cutting down the uprights a bit, and the Rogue cable attachment looks like a design disaster that also wouldn't fit my space anyway. I have 30" of space in the rack which is probably more than I need but feels just perfect. I would have gone with the Rogue RML-490c if the Rep hadn't become available, also a great piece of equipment, with the benefit of being made in the US.

[Ricklovessport21]

I have a rowing machine in my house, but, unfortunately, I am too lazy to start doing exercises

[stockae92]

At home, I do push ups, and setup indoor cycling smart trainer with Zwift to get myself going. I am also a runner which I do outside (I just run *away* from people nowadays)

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Tonal installed
Updating so I’ll report back after I use it.

Do love the small footprint.


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Originally Posted by droptopman

Another great workout this morning. Really digging the Tonal so far. Will continue to follow their routines for a week or two, then I will make some custom routines up. The quality of the equipment is excellent. Really solid and easy to use. Wife is using it too and she is not "techy" but has had no problems using it. Must say I am really impressed. LOL, I should add, I am sore as ****

Thanks, we just ordered our Tonal last Saturday and have a 10-12 week wait.

We need to go back for our assessment, but we were impressed with what we saw at the store. Looking forward to getting it installed.

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Thanks, we just ordered our Tonal last Saturday and have a 10-12 week wait.

We need to go back for our assessment, but we were impressed with what we saw at the store. Looking forward to getting it installed.

Awesome. Hope you dig it as much as we do. So many different options and they keep adding more stuff all the time. Tony Horton the PX90 is on there now. I am currently following Radical Muscle Rock which I do 2 days on then Yoga on the third day, then repeat. Doing exercises I have never done before. Different than the weight training I have done most of my life. I lost some weight which I really do not want to, but I am in better shape overall. I added about a full iron of distance in golf in the winter, so that may be 2 clubs come summer. The combination of single limb movements, yoga, more flexibility and different strength is good for the golf swing!

Good luck and hope to hear what you think.

[coucher]

I’ve had a home gym for the last 5 years. If you need motivation then the Peloton and Hydrow are great choices. I really like the rower because it’s s full body workout and easy on the joints. If you don’t need motivation get a Concept 2 rower for half the price and no subscription fee plus you don’t need to buy fancy pants and shoes.

[uscmatt99]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Awesome. Hope you dig it as much as we do. So many different options and they keep adding more stuff all the time. Tony Horton the PX90 is on there now. I am currently following Radical Muscle Rock which I do 2 days on then Yoga on the third day, then repeat. Doing exercises I have never done before. Different than the weight training I have done most of my life. I lost some weight which I really do not want to, but I am in better shape overall. I added about a full iron of distance in golf in the winter, so that may be 2 clubs come summer. The combination of single limb movements, yoga, more flexibility and different strength is good for the golf swing!

Good luck and hope to hear what you think.

Any particular cable movements that you feel are contributing to your iron distances? I need all the help I can get

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by uscmatt99

Any particular cable movements that you feel are contributing to your iron distances? I need all the help I can get

Good question. I think it is a combination of the routines. Lots of single limb work. So one handed/legged. Good for core and balance. More specific to golf are some of the lateral pull moves across the body. Both up to down and down to up. Core work daily. Doing Yoga every third day. My range of motion has improved quite a bit. Plus I am doing more quick burst type exercises so a combination of more flexibility and speed. It actually messes me up a little on the course. I have been pretty dialed in distance wise with irons and wedges all year. So hitting a full lob wedge 10 yards farther is a big adjustment. That is where I am noticing it the most is in the short irons. But no question longer through the bag. My homies have noticed for sure. Especially since we are playing when it is in the 30's or low 40's.

[TK-710]

I figured I’d update this post based on some outstanding help I’ve been getting through pm from Donas (Wade). So the home renovation finished up last month. I’ve got the gym about 85% complete. Researching the right power rack right now due to low ceilings. After that just adding more plates and attachments for the rack.

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[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by TK-710

I figured I’d update this post based on some outstanding help I’ve been getting through pm from Donas (Wade). So the home renovation finished up last month. I’ve got the gym about 85% complete. Researching the right power rack right now due to low ceilings. After that just adding more plates and attachments for the rack.

Attachment 1246632

Attachment 1246633

Wow! That is awesome!

[4 Aussies]

Lots of sweet gyms in this thread! Wade, insane space, and job well done! I have this Inspire FT2, love it, check it out, nothing you can't do, and smooth as butter.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by TK-710

I figured I’d update this post based on some outstanding help I’ve been getting through pm from Donas (Wade). So the home renovation finished up last month. I’ve got the gym about 85% complete. Researching the right power rack right now due to low ceilings. After that just adding more plates and attachments for the rack.

Attachment 1246632

Attachment 1246633

It looks great!

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by mailman

It looks great!

Thank you Paul. You were there to help when I first got started so to express my appreciation I’m going to let you start your gym membership with a low introductory friends and family discount: your first month will be free, that was August, and then 19.99 for each month after. But wait there’s more! Your first payment isn’t due until October 1, 2021!

[donas]

Originally Posted by TK-710

I figured I’d update this post based on some outstanding help I’ve been getting through pm from Donas (Wade). So the home renovation finished up last month. I’ve got the gym about 85% complete. Researching the right power rack right now due to low ceilings. After that just adding more plates and attachments for the rack.

That's a nice workout area, definitely enough to stay motivated at home. I was picturing something much smaller the way you described it. I'm going on two years of solely working out at home. I do miss some of the misc machines at a commercial gym but not the 30 min drive to and from. Having everything you need at home really makes you feel like a lazy piece of crap when you skip a workout...so there's that

[Blansky]

I think every home gym should have a hidden door, so you don't feel guilty when you walk by it day after day and don't feel like going in.

You can just pretend it's not there.

[donas]

Originally Posted by Blansky

I think every home gym should have a hidden door, so you don't feel guilty when you walk by it day after day and don't feel like going in.

You can just pretend it's not there.

Just like my kitchen needs a time lock door!!

[BroncoOne]

That is an awesome dream gym!

Originally Posted by donas

Working out has always been a big part of mine and my wife's lifestyle. About a year and a half ago we moved into a house with a huge unfinished room. Over the last 18 months or so, I have constructed the best home gym I could ever want.

If anyone is wondering the size, it's roughly 26x60 feet. Our house is built into a hillside and the previous owners built this room merely to set the house on the hill at the desired elevation. It has sat empty and unfinished for 16 years.

To answer the question of what to add to a home gym, I get the best workout from my rower, assault bike, and battle ropes. The single best all body workout and cardio combined would hands down be battle ropes (in my opinion).

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Wow! That is awesome!

Thank you

[rmlovett1]

I’ll update here as well. Haven’t posted the gym I set up since we moved….



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[donas]

Originally Posted by BroncoOne

That is an awesome dream gym!

Thanks

[mailman]

Originally Posted by TK-710

Thank you Paul. You were there to help when I first got started so to express my appreciation I’m going to let you start your gym membership with a low introductory friends and family discount: your first month will be free, that was August, and then 19.99 for each month after. But wait there’s more! Your first payment isn’t due until October 1, 2021!

Darn it. I was going to ask if you would take a Polar on trade for a lifetime membership. Guess I missed out

[Mjbull23]

I went with a Peloton and free weights. Works great for my situation and goals.


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[TK-710]

Originally Posted by mailman

Darn it. I was going to ask if you would take a Polar on trade for a lifetime membership. Guess I missed out

Well I figure at $19.99 a month I’ll have the money for a polar long before I can find an AD with one to buy.

[donas]

Originally Posted by TK-710

Well I figure at $19.99 a month I’ll have the money for a polar long before I can find an AD with one to buy.

If I did the math properly, it would require roughly 25 cents a month to collect the amount needed by the time the AD called.

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by donas

If I did the math properly, it would require roughly 25 cents a month to collect the amount needed by the time the AD called.

True. At $19.99 a month I’ll be looking at platinum day dates by the time I get the call.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by TK-710

Well I figure at $19.99 a month I’ll have the money for a polar long before I can find an AD with one to buy.

I'm only willing to pay $9.99 a month

[GeoffEff]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Thanks, we just ordered our Tonal last Saturday and have a 10-12 week wait.

We need to go back for our assessment, but we were impressed with what we saw at the store. Looking forward to getting it installed.

Space in our home will be limited for us in the next few years once kids enter the picture. This has me seriously considering a Tonal.

[Blansky]

Seeing some of these home gyms, I just cringe. Not that they aren't beautiful, it's just that I have this thing where I go. ...."damn, what happens when I move and have to try to pack this stuff up and move it".

When I moved from Canada to California it took years before I would look at someone's driveway that was steep, and wonder how the hell are they going to deal with that in the winter.

I know....it's just me.

[trippinjimmy]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Seeing some of these home gyms, I just cringe. Not that they aren't beautiful, it's just that I have this thing where I go. ...."damn, what happens when I move and have to try to pack this stuff up and move it".

When I moved from Canada to California it took years before I would look at someone's driveway that was steep, and wonder how the hell are they going to deal with that in the winter.

I know....it's just me.

I’m pretty sure that’s the mover’s problem!


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