Newbie seeks advice

"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight
training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

Yes, buy a kettlebell, the kettlebell book, and the kettlebell DVD. If
you're into competition powerlifting or having a big bench press, this
won't do, but if you're after excellent strength and conditioning, it's
just the ticket and it'll cost you about $150. For that money or less,
you can also choose dumbbells and see http://www.stumptuous.com and get
good dumbbell-only workouts there, but kettlebells are fun, take very
little space, travel easily in a car, and offer a wider variety of
exercises than a dumbbell.

See the site in my sig below for more about kettlebells and kettlebell
training. Once you follow the links to the DragonDoor site, see the
discussion forum there and ask any questions you may have.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

A barbell, weight plates & tree, and some dumbbell handles for the
weight plates?

Use the barbell for deadlifts, and use the dumbbells for all the
overhead moves: bench press, shoulder press, even squats. (I like swiss
ball squats wiht dumbbells.)

When push comes to shove, uh, pun intended, you can do bodyweight exercises.

Dally

Steve Freides said:

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight
training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

Yes, buy a kettlebell, the kettlebell book, and the kettlebell DVD. If
you're into competition powerlifting or having a big bench press, this
won't do, but if you're after excellent strength and conditioning, it's
just the ticket and it'll cost you about $150. For that money or less,
you can also choose dumbbells and see http://www.stumptuous.com and get
good dumbbell-only workouts there, but kettlebells are fun, take very
little space, travel easily in a car, and offer a wider variety of
exercises than a dumbbell.

Your prejudices are showing. I'm sure if I was feeling creative, I
could come up with just as many novel movements to use with dumbbells
as Pavel can dream up for kettlebells. And kettlebells come in one
weight per kettlebell. Dumbbell handles weigh five pounds and can be
increased by plates up to about 80 pounds in five-pound increments.

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

There is a solution, though not the optimal one.

Adjustable dumbbell handles
Plenty of iron plates
A 65cm anti-burst exercise ball
A heavy rubber mat, about 3' X 5'

the first three can be purchased somewhat cheaply at one of the major
sporting goods franchises. The final item is best found at a farm
supply store; the good ones are used in horse stables.

You can perform a lot of lifts with this setup: dumbbell bench press
on the exercise ball, squats holding dumbbells in both hands with the
exercise ball between your back and the wall (weighted Swiss ball
squats), straight-legged deadlifts with dumbbells in boths hands, plus
the usual dumbbell exercises. For seated exercises, use the exercise
ball. The exercise ball is also good for crunches and reverse hypers.

You could get a decent workout with just that equipment. However,
there's one preliminary question: Will you actually use it? The
setup will be compact, but will it just sit in corner, unused?

Only you can answer that question.

--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

On 14 Apr 2006 18:34:17 -0700, "Steve" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

Free weights, a cheap bench.

Steve Freides said:

Yes, buy a kettlebell, the kettlebell book, and the kettlebell DVD. I

Ignore this stupid [censored] and his "kettlebells". Go to his site and
have a gander at the 5' tall, 120lbs of punk that's recommending this.

just ignore them. most of the people here are decent, yet often we get
commnets like this. welcome...

v

---------------------------------------------------------
Random Link:
http://www.sapdictionary.com
---------------------------------------------------------

"Free weights, a cheap bench."

Yeah, I totally second this. You can do everything basic with just free
weights and a bench. When you get to the point when you know more,
you'll know what to buy.

Cheers

Brahma said:

"Free weights, a cheap bench."

Yeah, I totally second this. You can do everything basic with just free
weights and a bench.

It doesn't do much for legs, does it?

"JMW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

There is a solution, though not the optimal one.

Adjustable dumbbell handles
Plenty of iron plates
A 65cm anti-burst exercise ball
A heavy rubber mat, about 3' X 5'

the first three can be purchased somewhat cheaply at one of the major
sporting goods franchises. The final item is best found at a farm
supply store; the good ones are used in horse stables.

You can perform a lot of lifts with this setup: dumbbell bench press
on the exercise ball, squats holding dumbbells in both hands with the
exercise ball between your back and the wall (weighted Swiss ball
squats), straight-legged deadlifts with dumbbells in boths hands, plus
the usual dumbbell exercises. For seated exercises, use the exercise
ball. The exercise ball is also good for crunches and reverse hypers.

You could get a decent workout with just that equipment. However,
there's one preliminary question: Will you actually use it? The
setup will be compact, but will it just sit in corner, unused?

Only you can answer that question.

--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

I've gone through periods where I worked out on my own. Many of my MA days
were on my own doing kicking drills, bag work...anything. Running and
biking, same. But I've found that I like the social setting of a gym, and
enjoy the company of others of like health-minded goals. That alone is
worth the $40 per month.

Larry Hodges said:

"JMW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

There is a solution, though not the optimal one.

Adjustable dumbbell handles
Plenty of iron plates
A 65cm anti-burst exercise ball
A heavy rubber mat, about 3' X 5'

the first three can be purchased somewhat cheaply at one of the major
sporting goods franchises. The final item is best found at a farm
supply store; the good ones are used in horse stables.

You can perform a lot of lifts with this setup: dumbbell bench press
on the exercise ball, squats holding dumbbells in both hands with the
exercise ball between your back and the wall (weighted Swiss ball
squats), straight-legged deadlifts with dumbbells in boths hands, plus
the usual dumbbell exercises. For seated exercises, use the exercise
ball. The exercise ball is also good for crunches and reverse hypers.

You could get a decent workout with just that equipment. However,
there's one preliminary question: Will you actually use it? The
setup will be compact, but will it just sit in corner, unused?

Only you can answer that question.

--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

I've gone through periods where I worked out on my own. Many of my MA days
were on my own doing kicking drills, bag work...anything. Running and
biking, same. But I've found that I like the social setting of a gym, and
enjoy the company of others of like health-minded goals. That alone is
worth the $40 per month.

My own gym is like a club and there is a great friendly atmosphere
among staff and clients. It is a really good environment in which to
train and we all thoroughly enjoy it; I have made many good friends
there.

Have a great weekend Larry; I'm back to target weight and back to
enjoying myself following my annual bant, so I am in the middle of a
good one - it being the extended Easter Bank Holiday long weekend! ;o)

On 14 Apr 2006 22:37:34 -0700, "Brahma" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Free weights, a cheap bench."

Yeah, I totally second this. You can do everything basic with just free
weights and a bench. When you get to the point when you know more,
you'll know what to buy.

Cheers

I personally think frreweights are the only way to go.

JMW said:

It doesn't do much for legs, does it?

Run.

Larry Hodges said:

But I've found that I like the social setting of a gym, and
enjoy the company of others of like health-minded goals.

ie: gym [censored].

Charles said:

It is a really good environment in which to
train

Someone ask the limey [censored] what he is "training" for? The stupidass
is NOT traing, he's working out. In order to be "training" you need to
be traing FOR something, and since Chuck is an old fart has-been, we
know he's not.

"JMW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Freides said:

Steve said:

I'm as uneducated as they come where weights and gym equipment are
concerned. I want to buy a weight bench or SOME sort of weight
training
equipment that will take up very little space in my cramped
apartment
and still afford me a reasonable workout. I considered getting a
used
soloflex machine, but they're too big. I need something small. I
just
don't know whether anything out there takes up so little space while
still affording a real workout. Maybe this just isn't realistic.

Any thoughts?

Yes, buy a kettlebell, the kettlebell book, and the kettlebell DVD.
If
you're into competition powerlifting or having a big bench press, this
won't do, but if you're after excellent strength and conditioning,
it's
just the ticket and it'll cost you about $150. For that money or
less,
you can also choose dumbbells and see http://www.stumptuous.com and
get
good dumbbell-only workouts there, but kettlebells are fun, take very
little space, travel easily in a car, and offer a wider variety of
exercises than a dumbbell.

Your prejudices are showing.

Yes, absolutely, but if you want to get into semantics here, "prejudice"
means to pre-judge or otherwise form an opinion without sufficient
knowledge or facts, which is not what I'm doing. I've experienced many
kinds of weights, I've lifted enough to collect three age-group deadlift
world records in AAU powerlifting, and I've formed a judgement, not a
pre-judgement, based on my experiences. Kettlebells aren't the only
things I train with - my online training log shows exactly what I do
every day - but for someone like the OP here, looking for an effective
workout in a small space, the kettlebell starter package DragonDoor
sells (one kb, one dvd, one book) is, based on what I know and what I've
experienced, an excellent idea.

Quoted message said:

I'm sure if I was feeling creative, I
could come up with just as many novel movements to use with dumbbells
as Pavel can dream up for kettlebells.

Yes and no. There are movements that one can do with all three -
barbell, dumbbell, kettlebell - with relatively minor differences, and
there are movements where the form of the weight really does make a
difference. There is, e.g., nothing I can think of that gets you ready
to lift heavy stones, strongman style, that you can do with any of the
three implements I listed. Some things are pretty specific. The
kettlebell swing is _the_ basic kettlebell movement, and it doesn't work
as well with anything else. You can do swings with a dumbbell but it is
really not the same, and I have yet to meet a single person who has done
both who disagrees. And you can get a great workout, increasing overall
strength, explosiveness, helping with weight loss, etc., by doing
nothing except swinging a kettlebell every day.

Quoted message said:

And kettlebells come in one
weight per kettlebell. Dumbbell handles weigh five pounds and can be
increased by plates up to about 80 pounds in five-pound increments.

Yes, this is a disadvantage of kettlebells, I agree. I own several
Olympic barbells and a pile of weights, and I use them daily. I own
several kettlebells and I use them daily as well. I also own both 1"
and Olympic dumbbell handles and they sit for months at a time untouched
in the corner of my basement. If I had $50, I'd get an adjustable
dumbbell set. If I had $150, I'd get the kettlebell starter kit. If I
had more money and more room, I'd get, in this order, an Olympic 300 lb.
starter set, rubber floor mats, the kettlebell starter kit, and a power
rack. The kettlebell starter kit isn't my first choice, an Olympic
weight set is, but if space is limited, it moves to the head of the
list.

My training log may be seen here for anyone interested.

http://www.kbnj.com/log.htm

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 10:55:15 -0400, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

I've experienced many
kinds of weights, I've lifted enough to collect three age-group deadlift
world records in AAU powerlifting, and I've formed a judgement, not a
pre-judgement, based on my experiences.

In all fairness, those records are relatively meaningless. You'd have
to pull well over 500 to set them in the USAPL. The best guys in your
age and weight class in the USAPL will open with a weight higher than
your "world record".

"John Hanson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 10:55:15 -0400, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

I've experienced many
kinds of weights, I've lifted enough to collect three age-group
deadlift
world records in AAU powerlifting, and I've formed a judgement, not a
pre-judgement, based on my experiences.

In all fairness, those records are relatively meaningless. You'd have
to pull well over 500 to set them in the USAPL. The best guys in your
age and weight class in the USAPL will open with a weight higher than
your "world record".

John, "in all fairness," I trained, I showed up, and I lifted. My
opener of 150 kg broke the previous record, and so did my other two
lifts, so the record is now 165 kg. They're the world records on the
books until someone else in my division (raw, 148 lbs., 50-54 years old)
lifts more.

All of which is my 'relatively' nice way, from one lifter to another, of
saying f--- you, buddy.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Steve Freides said:

John Hanson said:

On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 10:55:15 -0400, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:

Quoted message said:

I've experienced many
kinds of weights, I've lifted enough to collect three age-group
deadlift
world records in AAU powerlifting, and I've formed a judgement, not a
pre-judgement, based on my experiences.

In all fairness, those records are relatively meaningless. You'd have
to pull well over 500 to set them in the USAPL. The best guys in your
age and weight class in the USAPL will open with a weight higher than
your "world record".

John, "in all fairness," I trained, I showed up, and I lifted. My
opener of 150 kg broke the previous record, and so did my other two
lifts, so the record is now 165 kg. They're the world records on the
books until someone else in my division (raw, 148 lbs., 50-54 years old)
lifts more.

All of which is my 'relatively' nice way, from one lifter to another, of
saying f--- you, buddy.

He's right, Steve. Stating your numbers is fine. Dragging out an AAU
World Record is another thing all together. You lifted 148# raw,
right? I just checked the records. I will be in the same age class
in about 7 months. Bench press is my best lift. If I was to compete
next year in the raw category for my normal powerlifting weight
(198#), the current world record bench press for that subclass is just
eight pounds more than the lift I completed the first time I laid down
on a bench in a USAPL meet.

An AAU World Record is great to have in a frame at home. Be careful
about flaunting it in this newsgroup.