Build Home Gym for MS3?

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GalenAgas

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Any thoughts on building a Home Gym for MS3? I can't live without lifting and going to my preferred gym is a 2-2.5 hour affair with showering, preparing and eating pre/post-nutrition, and driving time included.

Anyone build a home gym for MS3? Worthwhile or will I be too busy. I already have most of the equipment I need. I just need to buy 2-3 expensive pieces of equipment to complete my gym and need to know if it would be worthwhile.
 
Jeez, if you have the room, money and don't mind moving it for residency then go for it! From what I've heard some rotations will leave you no times and others will leave you enough time for a life, but YMMV
 
What the hell do you mean by "building" a home gym? If you don't have the time or motivation to make a trip to the gym, it isn't hard to workout at home. That's how I do it. Get a good quality pull up bar, some dumbbells, a barbell set with however much weight you usually lift and a bench and mat if you feel you need it.

All that takes is some shopping, not building. And if you need more than that for a home gym, you're doing it wrong.
 
erutha95 said:
Power rack/squat rack

safety first
Click to expand...

Thats what id like to do man. Where are you thinking of putting yours? Do you already have a bar and plates? Ive been assuming i could hopefully come across some on ebay or craigslist for relatively cheap.
 
Great idea, driving back and forth to the gym is a waste. I would suggest looking on craigslist or similar sites for the equipment. I got an entire set of dumbbells from 5-55# with a rack for $150...

Survivor DO
 
So I'm not much of a "lifter" in the sense that i don't repetitively do squats, bench press, repeat. BUT, I will say that I invested in Bowflex adjustable dumbbells and they are well worth the investment... great quality, great value. They come as 5-52.5lb or 10-90lb.

Additionally I have an adjustable bench, Pull-up/dip station, and 40lb weighted vest that completes my collection. Affords me a wide variety of exercises for my personal fitness goals, plus running everyday which doesn't require any set up lol.
 
oceanillusion42 said:
So I'm not much of a "lifter" in the sense that i don't repetitively do squats, bench press, repeat. BUT, I will say that I invested in Bowflex adjustable dumbbells and they are well worth the investment... great quality, great value. They come as 5-52.5lb or 10-90lb.

Additionally I have an adjustable bench, Pull-up/dip station, and 40lb weighted vest that completes my collection. Affords me a wide variety of exercises for my personal fitness goals, plus running everyday which doesn't require any set up lol.
Click to expand...

+1 for adjustable dumbbells

Saves TON of space.
 
Your power rack is your squat rack and if it has little handles on the bottom it will hold your bar when you put weights for deadlifts. get an adjustable weights to save space, adujastable bench and you can curl in your squat rack.
 
I don't have a picture of just my rack, but this is the setup in my garage. The rack stands over 7 feet tall so make sure it fits in a basement or your apartment. Everything's economical but it still ran me about $700, but the time wasted waiting for someone to get out of a rack is irrecoverable. Completely worthwhile...
 

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olecranon4 said:
I don't have a picture of just my rack, but this is the setup in my garage. The rack stands over 7 feet tall so make sure it fits in a basement or your apartment. Everything's economical but it still ran me about $700, but the time wasted waiting for someone to get out of a rack is irrecoverable. Completely worthwhile...
Click to expand...

That is a nice set up man. I really want to get my own power rack but I'll likely be living in apartments for a while 🙁. Anyway may your Deadlifts always be heavy and your squats ATG.
 
Blais said:
+1 for adjustable dumbbells

Saves TON of space.
Click to expand...

I got the Bowflex SelectTech 1090s. Wow, absolutely fantastic pieces of equipment!

I'm a pretty big fan of Bowflex. Nautilus definitely knows how to make some high quality equipment. I have the original Bowflex Power Pro, and it's very good for full-body workouts. It's great having a home gym so I can work out if I need a break in-between studying, without needing to drag myself out to the gym.
 
Planes2Doc said:
I got the Bowflex SelectTech 1090s. Wow, absolutely fantastic pieces of equipment!

I'm a pretty big fan of Bowflex. Nautilus definitely knows how to make some high quality equipment. I have the original Bowflex Power Pro, and it's very good for full-body workouts. It's great having a home gym so I can work out if I need a break in-between studying, without needing to drag myself out to the gym.
Click to expand...

I can't emphasize enough how well made these things are. I have friends who have other brands of adjustable dumbbells that may be a bit cheaper, but the Bowflex is DEFINTELY worth the extra $$.
 
You can find free weight benches / bars on craigslist depending on the city and how far you are willing to drive. That's how I got mine. Superb bench and then I bought the bar / weights used from craigslist as well.
 
oceanillusion42 said:
I can't emphasize enough how well made these things are. I have friends who have other brands of adjustable dumbbells that may be a bit cheaper, but the Bowflex is DEFINTELY worth the extra $$.
Click to expand...
+1 had my select techs for 3 years, still going strong.

A good flatscreen TV and p90x/x2 wouldn't hurt either. I find the videos keep me motivated, almost like I'm working out with other people.
 
Bangersandmash said:
All that takes is some shopping, not building. And if you need more than that for a home gym, you're doing it wrong.
Click to expand...
I need a glute-ham raise, and nicer weight rack, but other than that, I pretty much agree. I've got a cable machine that lets me do seated rows and triceps extensions that's nice to have too.

olecranon4 said:
I don't have a picture of just my rack, but this is the setup in my garage. The rack stands over 7 feet tall so make sure it fits in a basement or your apartment. Everything's economical but it still ran me about $700, but the time wasted waiting for someone to get out of a rack is irrecoverable. Completely worthwhile...
Click to expand...
those pins on the front of the cage - where did you get them? I've got a squat rack with one set of pins, but I'd like some for the front, to put on the first set of plates for deads, if I could.
 
Oly or standard weights?

I have a few standard plates (1" diameter and they don't rotate with lifts) already but I need a proper set of plates up to 400 pounds so this will be an investment.

Thoughts? For most lifts I probably wouldn't care/notice that the plates can't rotate.
 
firedoc14 said:
+1 had my select techs for 3 years, still going strong.

A good flatscreen TV and p90x/x2 wouldn't hurt either. I find the videos keep me motivated, almost like I'm working out with other people.
Click to expand...

I had the select techs as well (got stolen!!) They are a sweet piece of equipment especially for apartments. I did find them a little bit bulky (very long) on some settings but that is inherent in what they are trying to do. If you are living in an apartment you really can't beat p90x and select techs.

Survivor DO
 
I did this workout I still do it, in fact.


It's mostly body-weight exercises, but for this reason, you can do it anywhere. I finish in 30 mins, shower, breakfast, 45 mins total. No driving to gym.

This might not suit your goals. If you want to be a big beefcake, this is not for you. But it will definitely keep you strong and functional, and looking good (depending on your diet).

At first I scoffed a little, since i thought it wouldn't be a sufficient workout. But then I realized, that the 'ideal' gym workout was one that I would almost never be able to do during clinical year. I didn't want to let the perfect become the enemy of the good. The barrier to doing this workout is much lower, and therefore, I did it much more. Compromise.

But as for other stuff to put in the house, depends on how much space you have, and how much money you're willing to spend.

I did get myself a squat power rack and put it in the garage.
This article will help
 
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