training at home w/ little equipment

[smr91481]

i've always worked out at the gym at my college b/c it's free to students. problem is that being free it seems like all 15,000 students go there. i'm giving up on that place b/c it's way too crowded all day long and b/c i get intimidated when i gotta work out around all those huge guys.

here's what i want to know...i have a cheap adjustable bench, adjustable dumbbells, and an ez bar....can i still get pretty good workouts using this stuff?? i think i can if i use some methods of adding intensity like supersets, compound sets, forced reps, drop sets, partial reps, etc...

what do u guys think?

 

[teen1216]

I would suggest picking up a regular barbell, and then you can do pretty much anything. I train with a barbell, adjustable dumbbells, an ez curl bar, homemade wooden squat stands, and a 0 - 90 degree bench w/leg attach. I can do almost everything with this equipment. The only things I don't have access to are machines, most of which are crap. Just train hard.

 

[jeremys]

i do it..thats a good idea, i'm gonna get some adjustable dumbbells. thanks

 

[skaman607]

I use adjustable dumbbells, the threaded ones with a screw on collar, and they are really convienent

 

[DrBones]

I'd sugest buying an olympic barbell as well... with a pile of weight...
I worked out for a solid year at home and had great gains....
You can do
Bench Press
Incline Bench Press
barbell curls
Eazy bar curls
dumbell curls
Deadlifts
Squats
Cleans
Bent Over rows
Yates rows
Shoulder presses
Reverse Curls
Single arm dumbell rows
Close grip bench
Flyes
Calf raises
Skull crushers
Stick a bar between rafters and you can do chins

You might have to build a couple little things with wood, but I'm sure these excercises can put a TON of mass onto your frame.
There are A TON of other excercises that i didn't list but I'm sure your aware of...
Have fun at home!

 

[erickthegreat11]

I made a power rack out of 2x4s and some large bolts to hold the bar. I could put about 300# on the pins and jump on the bar and it would still be steady as a rock. Problem was, it wasn't as adjustable as metal, so I recently (within 5 months ago) bought a metal power rack and it's much nicer. Cost me $40 in wood and what not, $80 for a very good 45# olympic bar and about 200# of weights for it. I used a bench from an old vinyl weight machine that didn't work to good, but you can get a used one for prob 20-30 bucks, and go lifting.

 

[b fold the truth]

If you want to lift...you can find a way. Just keep looking. You may have to get a little old school..but you can do it.

B True

 

[Citruscide]

make sure to buy a hammer strength machine for each body part! j/k

I used to workout with stupid weights made out of concrete when I was in college and at home over the summer. I also carried those concrete masonry blocks while I walked fast for 100m's. And used my dad's crates from the farm to do plyometrics on...

If you build it... well... then you can do it!

C-ditty

 

[Hannibal]

If you can afford it invest in a power rack...or ask for one for Christmas. You can get a decent one from newyorkbarbell for less than $300.