Greetings! I am sure this has been discussed before here but I am unable to locate information specific to my situation. I am new into strength training and strength training will not be all I am doing. Here's my story.
I'm 30 years old and was a very active child. Once 20 hit, I began working in the office with little outdoor activity and no regular exercise. Obviously, I would have things here and there that were strenous, but nothing regular. I am not overweight (actually a tad on the skinny side). I do not have genetics in the family for major body building, nor the desire.
My desire is to simply get back in shape with a little definition. This has to come four-fold for me (not in order): 1. Strength Training, 2. Cariovascular, 3. Flexibility and 4. Diet. My wife is pretty good with #4, but she's reading more about that as we speak and trying to learn as much as she can. We have two daughters and want them to think of health as a lifestyle not a chore so we are doing our best in that area.
I take my daughter on bike rides and continously notice she always has more energy. That's probably to be expected, but my lack of it is not good. By the time it's done my heart beat is high, mouth dry, thighs burning, etc... Not normal for someone my age.
So, my goals are to simply get myself into shape in those four areas and keep myself in shape. My question is should I purchase I home gym or dumbells? I had originally intended on a home gym ($300-$500 range) but when shopping I ran across a gentleman at a fitness store who took quite a bit of time with me and sounded like he really knew what he was talking about. He really urged me to stop shopping for a gym, pick up a book on exercising with dumbells and consider a bench w/some dumbells. He said after researching that, then start shopping again.
I have began that research but I would like some input from other people who have more experience than I do. What do you think? I am not against learning and am not expecting fitness to be handed to me on a platter next week with a miracle machine but I do want to get the most for my money and not waste time (pet pevee about wasting time, it's just, well, a waste
).
Oh, in regards to strength training, I want to deal with my entire body. I'm not just looking for abs, pecs or thighs, I want my body to be in good shape.
Thanks for any comments,
Jeremy
I'm 30 years old and was a very active child. Once 20 hit, I began working in the office with little outdoor activity and no regular exercise. Obviously, I would have things here and there that were strenous, but nothing regular. I am not overweight (actually a tad on the skinny side). I do not have genetics in the family for major body building, nor the desire.
My desire is to simply get back in shape with a little definition. This has to come four-fold for me (not in order): 1. Strength Training, 2. Cariovascular, 3. Flexibility and 4. Diet. My wife is pretty good with #4, but she's reading more about that as we speak and trying to learn as much as she can. We have two daughters and want them to think of health as a lifestyle not a chore so we are doing our best in that area.
I take my daughter on bike rides and continously notice she always has more energy. That's probably to be expected, but my lack of it is not good. By the time it's done my heart beat is high, mouth dry, thighs burning, etc... Not normal for someone my age.
So, my goals are to simply get myself into shape in those four areas and keep myself in shape. My question is should I purchase I home gym or dumbells? I had originally intended on a home gym ($300-$500 range) but when shopping I ran across a gentleman at a fitness store who took quite a bit of time with me and sounded like he really knew what he was talking about. He really urged me to stop shopping for a gym, pick up a book on exercising with dumbells and consider a bench w/some dumbells. He said after researching that, then start shopping again.
I have began that research but I would like some input from other people who have more experience than I do. What do you think? I am not against learning and am not expecting fitness to be handed to me on a platter next week with a miracle machine but I do want to get the most for my money and not waste time (pet pevee about wasting time, it's just, well, a waste
).Oh, in regards to strength training, I want to deal with my entire body. I'm not just looking for abs, pecs or thighs, I want my body to be in good shape.
Thanks for any comments,
Jeremy