grahamc Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Looking to setup a bit of a home gym for me and the missus. I currently have a bench which goes from flat to raised back, etc. A barebell with weights. And a set of dumbbells. However, they are the ones that you have to manually change the weight on. As well as a wing chun wooden dumby. I am looking at getting a 4/5ft punching bag, along with a set of 5 - 17.5kg weights (individual weights) and a cardio machine of some sorts. Anything else? What cardio machine? What brand? Thinking of a rower for space and the fact that I HATE running. Any other suggestions? Would like to get a "bob" at some stage as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Dont think the 'gym' experts will approve but I set up a gym in my summer house with all my equipment from Decathlon, they have a huge range at very good prices and they deliver, I have a cross trainer, exercise cycle, free weights bench/sit up bench, free weights and a multi gym, all in it was less than a grand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 I am not looking to pay silly money or open a professional gym, just home based equipment, so that sort of stuff is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3354825/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500011615.Sports%2Band%2Bfitness%3EC%24cip%3D1500011656.Home%2Bgym%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D1500011659.Weights%2Band%2Bdumbbells.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=96343 we might sell our multi gym the white one if your interested has every work out and the weights stack over 100kg its not a cheap machine you buy from argos:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=96343 we might sell our multi gym the white one if your interested has every work out and the weights stack over 100kg its not a cheap machine you buy from argos:) no thanks. Only use machines for cardio, prefer free weights for everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 You have much the same as me Graham. I also invested in a tricep bar as there are quite a few exercises you can use these for. The major problem I find is that with a basic bench system you have no option for pull down exercises. I'm resigned to the fact that I need a multigym with a pulley system to get a proper home gym. Without it you'll be missing some key muscle groups. Exercise bike and rowing machine is plenty for the cardio side. Don't forget to install a TV and/or hifi system If possible also get a bench/multigym that allows you to do decline bench lifts, these are very important to build lower pecs. Without a decline press it's difficult to build pec muscles proportionately. It's another thing I'm missing on my gym! Good luck with it Graham, it can be extremely addictive (and rewarding) once you get into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 used to do it a lot... been out of it all for 5 - 6 years. used to train properly when I was doing thai boxing, but a hernia knocked me on my butt. 6 months of no training and never got back into it all, a shame really. I was weighing 72kgs... now I am closer 86kgs some good advise though, thanks mighte missing 1 or 2 of those... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 If it was me, and i had to have a home gym. i would invest in a decent pulley machine with adjustable positioning and pull up bars attached, along with a few different accesories to go with it(different handles and straps). You can get a full body workout from those machines quite easily. Accompany that with a good selection of free weights a barbell and weights + a bench and you have a solid workout there. Depending on what you are trying to achieve will determine what weights you need to get. If its strength training then 17.5 kg's wont be enough for free weights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 If I were to buy just one cardio machine, it would definitely be an elliptical cross-trainer. They're not compact which might be an issue, but I think they give a much better cv workout than say an exercise bike. Using them at the gym, I find it easier to boost my heart rate up using the cross trainer than either the bike or the treadmill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 If it was me, and i had to have a home gym. i would invest in a decent pulley machine with adjustable positioning and pull up bars attached, along with a few different accesories to go with it(different handles and straps). You can get a full body workout from those machines quite easily. Accompany that with a good selection of free weights a barbell and weights + a bench and you have a solid workout there. Depending on what you are trying to achieve will determine what weights you need to get. If its strength training then 17.5 kg's wont be enough for free weights. I agree about the pulley system, however the space is an issue, free weights are simple. I already have a barebell with about 45-50kgs of different weight plates... If I were to buy just one cardio machine, it would definitely be an elliptical cross-trainer. They're not compact which might be an issue, but I think they give a much better cv workout than say an exercise bike. Using them at the gym, I find it easier to boost my heart rate up using the cross trainer than either the bike or the treadmill. I do like the x-trainer, but once again space... they are generally quite big and bulky. The reasons I am looking at a rower, is that they are small and thin, quite easy to store against the wall. Also they REALLY get my heart rate up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoliathJay Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 You will very quickly surpass 17.5kgs dumbells. I use up to 50kgs. Depends how serious you are really. I train 3 times a week, and have been doing so for 3 years. Membership of a gym and a good training partner is better than a home gym. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 You will very quickly surpass 17.5kgs dumbells. I use up to 50kgs. Depends how serious you are really. I train 3 times a week, and have been doing so for 3 years. Membership of a gym and a good training partner is better than a home gym. I learnt to train alone. But yes, gym and training partner is better. I am moving to contracting and will more than likely be moving about a little, so home gym seems the best option. I will get some more weights, but it seems like a good place to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Rowers are good, i prefer a bike tbh plus they are cheaper. Rowing will get you very fit tho. Sounds like you pretty much got everything tho, you shud get some bigger weight plates for deadlifting as thats one of the muscle builders you wanna be doing. York do a 2 in 1 bike and rower, dont know whether it will be up to much but worth a look. Also for the missus id invest in some exercise bands/tubes, dont know whether youve seen them but they are great as they are cheap and take up hardly any space, you fix em in dorways temporarily and there is all sorts of exercises you can do with them. The bands are great to take on holiday too for a quick workout. They come in all sorts of resistance. Also great for the missus is an exercise ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Rowers are good, i prefer a bike tbh plus they are cheaper. Rowing will get you very fit tho. Sounds like you pretty much got everything tho, you shud get some bigger weight plates for deadlifting as thats one of the muscle builders you wanna be doing. York do a 2 in 1 bike and rower, dont know whether it will be up to much but worth a look. Also for the missus id invest in some exercise bands/tubes, dont know whether youve seen them but they are great as they are cheap and take up hardly any space, you fix em in dorways temporarily and there is all sorts of exercises you can do with them. The bands are great to take on holiday too for a quick workout. They come in all sorts of resistance. Also great for the missus is an exercise ball. I have seen the bands before... I use one to warm up for archery! Very good things to have. There are a couple of exercise band type things that I have seen that I used to like. And now you have reminded me of them, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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