OK, guys, I got an email today from a reader named Art. Actually I got three.
Art says he looks like the "before" picture in one of those get-in-shape informercials and he's sick and tired of it. Art's 41 and he writes he's at least 50 pounds too big. He works crazy hours at night and getting to the gym isn't possible. So he wants a home gym.
He asked me what I thought about several different products. I thought it might be better to pose the question in the blog and see what folks out there have to say.
Art is interested in a cardio machine and a weight training machine and says he'll have to do payments to get it but figure he can spend at least the $100 he would spend per month for, say, a YMCA family membership.
So Art is open for some suggestions and I'm curious myself.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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8 comments:
Langston grate topic and i'm leaving the boring Lakers game to post.I am thinking of Weider Cross Bow or a Bowflex or even one of those home gym steel thingies at Dicks. Would love to know what folks think. -- Melvin F.
A Bowflex is $800 and up to nearly $3G. Who has that. Get yourself some Perfect Pushups and an Iron gym, then do some wall squats for thighs and calf raises -- all for less than $100!
Tell Art that before he considers spending a ton of ton of money on a home gym he will probably never use... check out a real gym first. Regardless if he works late, plenty of gyms are open 24 hours. Are there none of those near his house? Can he not go after or before work at a decent hour?
The majority of the time people use the "impossible" excuse for getting to the gym it means they just aren't motivated. 3k of equipment sitting in your house with your computer/tv/etc as distractions aren't as effective as a gym regardless unless you have tons of motivation.
Interesting topic. I'm curius do you all think the benefits (fixed costs) outweigh the ongoing costs of gym membership? I've been a member of the Y for 15 years at $60-98 per month.
Seems like I could outfit my basement for a few grand, which is a lot, but have a permanent solution, privacy plus no more monthly payments (after awhile)
While a home gym can be more convenient, a fitness center offers many more benefits. Exercise and lifting routines need to be varied from time to time. Equipment like a Bow Flex may offer a lot of exercises but cannot compare to the choices of a real gym. The cardio choices are also more numerous. Also, paying a monthly fee will motivate you to use the membership. I'd be willing to bet most home gyms and exercise equipment get used for maybe a month and then turn into places to hang laundry. Best advice for Art - get a bare bones gym membership and find a used treadmill or eliptical on Craigs List to supplement the days he can't get to the gym.
I have both a bowflex and an elliptical trainer at home. I am a mother to a 5 year old and I work full time. I found after my daughter was born, I was short on free time. I can spend 30 to 45 minutes on the elliptical or bowflex with my ipod blaring and my daughter dances and plays while I work out. If I had to go the gym every night I wouldn't go because I would never see my daughter. I really think if you have the time, going to the gym is great because you can get variety but having a home gym does work for me. One tip, put your equipment where you see it everyday. By having my equipment visible, I am both accessible to my daughter and it serves as a daily reminder to work out!
I agree with 12:37am: Get an Iron Gym pull-up bar, Perfect Push-ups, and Bodylastics T.O. Strong Man set, and a Swiss ball. When it all gets too easy, buy a weighted vest (or weight plates in a Backpack) and get it going!!! For cardio, get treadmill and a punching bag. Raw strength beats cable machine strength anyday of the week.....
www.iwantsixpackabs.com has a great 16 week program. Also, www.menshealth.com, search "Bodyweight 200." This is a killer 200 rep bodyweight routine.
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