One piece only?

C

callmeskinny

New member
I don't mean a bathing suit!

I was looking for a suggestion if you could have only one piece of equipment/cardio or free weight in a home gym, what would it be?

Maybe I should have "2"?

Thanks.
 
A barbell with some weight plates.

ETA: This really isn't possible though, b/c to do things right, you'd also need a bench and rack.
 
I know you said only one...or maybe two...:doh: but for me I'd get a couple sets of dumbells (at least 3, each 10lbs higher), a step bench with a couple of risers, a swiss ball and a pair of leg resist. bands......not budget shattering and all stuff that can be easily tucked away but I think I could get in a pretty good strength/cardio mix at home with that.
 
If I were going the DB route, I wouldn't get ANY DBs that are set weight. I'd get DBs that you can change the weight on. Either bare bars that you put the plates on or something different.

Progressive overload is and always will be the primary concern for the lifter.

You can't do that with stationary weights.
 
yea, I was thinking too about the dumbells that you can change the weight on by turning a dial-like thing on side - I've seen those but have no idea what they're called .... I've never seen any dumbells with any type of plate load though???
 
Yea, you can get DB that are basically a very miniature BB. Gyms generally don't have them but you can find them on the web, I'm sure. It's actually what I started with in my parents basement way back in the day.
 
DB's

I will look for DB's that will fit the budget and available space. I will get bands from friends who are PT's I will start low resistance and work my way up.

I have an exercise ball -

I need to stay focused - I want good health and to extend my life, be fit to keep up with my children and most importantly though it is not #1 I want to be a smaller size. The number on the scale doesn't mean all that much to me, I actually don't even own a scale.

I am considering hiring an in-home trainer for both my husband and myself. Even to get 10 weeks of training will help us work towards good health if we can afford more we would do it but it isn't a cheap service. We don't have the gym time right now with me going back to school and the kids hockey starting up life is sure to be crazy which I think having someone come to the house will keep us accountable in this crazy time and allow us not to lose our focus.

thanks for the advice about the equipment I am hoping to read more from both of you throughout my journey.

CAL
 
Stairs.

Different sized plastic jugs (from laundry detergent, pet litter, what have you, filled.)

I'm not kidding - they work great on a budget and there's unlimited routines to be had with the above. It's limited, however by the size of container - after awhile you end up having to get those big buckets (like the industrial sized square buckets) and they can be cumbersome. They also look really really goofy.
 
Personally, I would go for an olympic bar with ball bearings and a matching set of rubber weights up to at least 350 kg. But that would be mostly for power training for my chosen sport. For a more normal routine, id go with a squat cage that has adjustable catches, olympic bar with weights, and an adjustable bench. Probably would never run out of effective workouts with that set-up, and the cage with adjustable catches helps make it safer if you are working out alone most of the time.

Although benching with a barbell always has a certain amount of risk to it if you dont have an adequate spotter. There are a few unconventional techniques you can use to save your ass in a dire situation. Someone really needs to invent a self spotting system for benching, lol. Perhaps a rack that has hydraulic supports that can lower up and down to catch the weight, lol. i am rambling on a tangent now tho...

ok, my real suggestion for the normal person falls in line with what most others say: adjustable dumbbells and a bench. Don't even have to get all that creative to make that work for every body part.
 
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