Bench or Ground?

[CrazyShortGuy]

If this is a stupid question, I apologize in advance. I use dumb-bells for strength training. All the advice I have read says to use a bench. My question is this: If you live in a place where you cannot find a bench are you screwed for life? I mean, is there any conceivable way to safely and properly build my chest muscles lying on the floor and using my weights?

The reason I do not have a bench or use barbells is the same -- lack of space. Going to a gym or a park is not an option for me -- at least not for the next 6 months or so. My job timings have changed and by the time I get back from work the parks are closed and I am too fed up (not physically tired) to change and drive and then change back and drive back and doing all that it takes to hit the gym. Besides, all the people at the gyms close by are built like super-models while I am 5'7" and 189 lbs. My target is to hit 129 lbs. by March 30, 2009. I weighed 129 lbs when I was 27, so that is not a pie-in-the sky weight I just pulled out of nowhere.

So, any advice?

Thanks for all practical suggestions.

 

[malkore]

you can't bring the weights low enough if you're laying on the ground.

Look at this little animation: Barbell Bench Press

see how low he goes? if you aren't using the same range of motion, you're not effectively working the chest, and that means miserable gains.

you'd be better off with push-ups, and weighted push-ups because you get the range of motion.

or get a bench.

 

[JTM]

You can put weights in a backpack and do push up variations, dips etc.