What do you think of this gym

[caligirl]

an idea:

here is your home gym:
set of free weights 10, 12, 15, 20, 25 lb dumbells or you can get the adjustbile set
1 Oly bar @ 45 lbs and 2x5lb, 2x10, 2x25 plates to start.
1 swiss ball
1 step or Plyo box 18" high
1 cardio machine, elliptical, spin bike.... you can get a smokin deal off ebay or craigs list maybe. just research what type you want befor hand.

Hire a personal trainer for one session, beforehand TELL them you want to learn how to train with free weights show him your equipment and have at it.
you will get more use and variety out of this stuff than you ever will out of a machine. You will use stabilizer muscles and you WILL change the shape of you body. After you become experienced, you will want to move toward freeweights anyway, it's a natural progression. You get FAR more from freeweight!!! You can do more than just squats with the equipment I listed, you need someone to show you how.
I would estimate you can get all this stuff for under $500.00 INCLUDING the session w/ the trainer. Sounds funny, but grage sales are a great place to buy fitness equipment, weights, balls mats. I got a Precor at a grage sale for 200 bucks and ALL of my bumbells for under $15.
anyway, just an idea.

 

[getnfit06]

caligirl, sounds doable. I have a treadmill, and 3 sets dumbells...5's 8's, 10's, a barbell with plates. I just can't use it though for squats it kills my neck. I am more comfortable hip joint wise with the bar doing squats then i am with dumbells though. I also have a stability ball. I have an old step from years ago but it aint that high though.
ThaNKS!!!! I'll be checkin ebay.

 

[caligirl]

caligirl, sounds doable. I have a treadmill, and 3 sets dumbells...5's 8's, 10's, a barbell with plates. I just can't use it though for squats it kills my neck. I am more comfortable hip joint wise with the bar doing squats then i am with dumbells though. I also have a stability ball. I have an old step from years ago but it aint that high though.
ThaNKS!!!! I'll be checkin ebay.

When doing squats the bar should not be resting on your neck, more your traps.
I really think a session with trainer would do you a WORLD of good! There are SO MANY alternative exercises to squats, though squats are king, you could do many other things to get leg size/strength. You could also learn how to do a front squat. Wish you luck!

 

[Sassy69]

Honestly another alternative for squats is to use the bar & get some heavy quality resistance bands. The whole setup ends up being something like BodyPump, but those resistance bands add some really great weight bearing to the exercise w/o using the heavy plates.

Also as stated above -not sure what it means "the bar really kills my neck" -- if your form isnt' right, the exercise will hurt you before it will help you. Get a good personal trainer or even a practicing powerlifter to show you the right form on the eqpt and you are 10 steps ahead of 80% of the people at the gym.

 

[getnfit06]

Maybe it's not my neck, but my neck always hurts anyways. It is difficult to get it over my head and it makes my upper shoulder area sore. The weight is heavy and the bar is bumpy-like texture. It just hurts! After i've finished and am a little worn, it is really difficult to get it back off my shoulders. I have several muscle mags and a book so I know my form is pretty good.
I have some hip and knee issues , and the bar seems to be less aggravating than the dumbells for some reason