 Stephen Adéle 
Is It Possible to Train at Home (and Still Achieve Results)?
by Stephen Adele | Editor-in-Chief
Q: I've been considering putting together a small gym in my house, but I'm worried I won't achieve the same results as I do at my local gym. Plus, I'm on a pretty tight budget and can't afford much in the way of fancy equipment. Can I have it both ways—a reasonably priced home gym and results in my physique I can still be proud of?
A: Over the years, I've tried just about every weight-training machine, gadget, and gizmo you can think of. But when I want results, the kind that can only come through hard work and proper technique, I always seem to come back to good ol' fashioned dumbbells
and barbells.
In fact, for the safest and most effective equipment for packing on muscle or re-shaping your body, look no further than a pair of quality dumbbells.
So, to answer your question: yes, you can put together an excellent home gym at a reasonable price. All you need is a quality set of dumbbells and a sturdy, basic exercise bench. Usually, you can get both of these items for an investment of around $400 to $500.
Considering that's likely what a year's dues would cost at your local fitness center, and compared to one of those fancy home exercise machines that can run thousands of dollars, this is quite a bargain and a smart investment to say the least. But first, in order to dive into whether you really want to invest in a home gym, I'd like to take a few minutes to mull over the following questions here...
How Much Room Do You Have?
The first thing you'll want to consider is exactly how much room you want to dedicate to your gym. You'll likely want to keep it simple, yet effective, and it will require at least the amount of space as a small bedroom. I've been lucky enough to talk my wife into using the majority of our basement for a nice, sizeable home gym. However, if your gym accessories can fit into spare bedroom, an unfinished basement, or even in the garage... you're good to go!
Do You Like to Train with Dumbbells?
What's interesting about dumbbells is that they will permit the greatest possible variety of exercises, and they take up the least amount of space. And even if you're not familiar with a particular exercise, most can be learned and performed quite quickly and easily on dumbbells. Plus, dumbbells make the exercise safer and more effective because they don't control your movement like machines. Instead of being "forced" and guided by a machine, they permit an individualized movement with your hands, wrists, and elbows in a more natural position.
For the ultimate in convenience, I recommend you go for the PowerBlock dumbbell. One stand with a set of adjustable dumbbells, which fits in the corner of a room, is like having 20 pairs of dumbbells in the size of 2 shoe boxes. It takes up only a 2-foot by 2-foot area, and
because you can very easily change the resistance by simply moving a pin and selecting your desired weight, you can move from 10 lbs to 90 lbs in seconds, without changing collars or lugging free weights (plates) around. The guys who invented PowerBlock, Intellbell, call it the world's best dumbbell, and I couldn't agree more.
Didn't Think You Could Go Without a Bench, Did Ya?
You'll want to throw in their adjustable bench too. It's not only one of the sturdier ones I've come across, but it moves from a 90-degree, upright position to completely flat, with a few degrees in between. An adjustable bench is essential for performing a variety of exercises with your dumbbells.
Can You Shell Out a Few More Clams?
Last, if you can afford it, I'd highly recommend a few more items—well, they're more like accessories that will accentuate your workouts. You can find them at your local sporting goods store, or you can buy them online. A good-quality Swiss ball, like the one from Valeo or Reebok. Next, an easy-curl bar. And last, a jump rope. These last essentials will allow you to perform an even greater variety of
exercises, and with the jump rope, you've got your cardio covered. (Now you don't need to spend an extra $1,500 on a treadmill or stationary bike!)
Home Gym Put "to the Test!"
I had to "test-drive" the home-gym concept... To be honest, I'd often wondered if training from home, with nothing more than a pair of dumbbells, could offer the same results as training in the gym... so I put it to the test. Since I normally train at my local gym or at the
office, I knew this would be a tough change. Starting last January, and for the next 12 weeks, I trained at home using only the PowerBlock dumbbells, an easy-curl bar, and a jump rope, and I made phenomenal gains! I found that my workouts were faster, more efficient, and I could feel the overall aerobic and cardiovascular benefits of the workout by staying more intense.
Another startling result was that because I went back to more "basic" exercises (like bench press, rows, presses, etc.), I found that it contributed to my total body development by focusing on the more primary movements. Interestingly, even though my 12 weeks passed long ago, I still find myself working out at home, with the very same equipment, a couple of times per week. I enjoy working out in the gym at my office on the other days, not only for variety and its ambience, but because all my favorite CD's are there to listen to (on a much better sound system!).
To achieve great results, you also need a great program. NOW YOU CAN GET OUR "MAXIMUM GROWTH" PROGRAM ABSOLUTELY FREE! This breakthrough Program, which is great for home use too, contains a 4-week weight-training program and a bonus CD to maximize your gains in strength, size, and power...
But don't let the word FREE fool you. This is an extremely valuable program. MAXIMUM GROWTH is a full-sized (8 1/2" x 11"), 56-page color book, including a 25-page, day-by-day, 4-Week Blitz Weight-Training Program; The 10 Secret Laws to Gain Strength and Build Muscle; nutrition meal plans; and even easy-to-use journal sheets and strength tests to measure your progress. And as a special bonus, this book also contains a 48-minute CD interview with Anthony Almada. Click this link: Maximum Growth Free Book! for complete details.
Fill out the no-obligation form below to TAKE your free issue of the printed version of Real SOLUTIONS Magazine now! Still not sure? Click here to listen to a special audio welcome from our editor, Stephen Adéle. |
