Re: Starting my first challenge on Sunday

[Guest guest]

I would bet that almost half the people here workout at home. That's not a

problem at all if you have enough weights. The ball makes a great bench until

your weights start getting really heavy, then the danger of losing your balance

and clocking yourself in the head goes way up. :-) A mat on the floor or even a

sturdy coffee table can also sub as a bench.

Check out the exercise and muscle directory anytime you want to change up your

routine:

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

Over on the right there are links to exercises for every muscle group. Each one

of them has dumbbell and barbell options. That should give you more than enough

variety to get a great workout at home.

The BFL site also has video exercise demonstrations. They don't require any

machines.

http://www.bodyforlife.com/vid_exercise.shtml

Starting my first challenge on Sunday

-- Hi all,

I've been lurking here for about a week, I haven't quite finished the book

yet,

but I plan to finish it by Sunday and start my new life on Sunday. I probably

don't have enough weights at home right now to last long, I'll have to invest

in more. I don't have the time or money to join a gym, I work two jobs, and

the

first starts at 7 in the morning. Does anyone work out at home? I'm hoping I

can get by with my limited space. Is it possible to use a resistance ball as a

weight bench (not for legs, but for upper body). Any advice anyone can give

me,

I'd truly appreciate it.

anjee

[Guest guest]

Definately you can use a swiss exercise ball for doing upper body

weights (puncture resistant one recommended to hold more weight tho)

plus there are alot of other exercises you can so on them - great

for balance, strengthing your core and doing wall squats with them

too! Here is an example of that plus a few other exercises:

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/rehab/ball/ball02.html

Also you can find more exercises here:

http://www.lifestylesport.com/swiss_ball_exercises.htm

<<joni>>

*a diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job*

[Guest guest]

Hi! I am new here and have been lurking for a bit. I am on the 2nd week of my

first challenge.

I priced gyms in my area and they were all too expensive for me...$50 a month

and wanted $10 extra a month for the nursery!!! So I went to walmart and bought

a 40 lb dumbell set with plates. I ended up going to Dick's to get more of the

smaller plates 2.5 lb and 5 lbs to add to what I got from walmart.

I didn't have a bench, but I did have a Reebok step with risers, it works

perfectly for me (I am 5'4 " ). There are 2 reebok steps, the kind that are in

gyms (i think they are over $50) and the one I got at walmart which was $30. I

know there are benches out there that fold away for easy storage. Check your

Goodwill stores and Salvation Army stores, chances are if you check often, you

can make a home gym from the items you can find there!

I would get some weights to take you up to the 15lb to 20 lb like renee said,

you will find that if you challenge your self and try no to be afraid to lift

heavier weights as you go on, you will need the extra weights. There is no way

you can look too muscular unless you are on some kind of steroid.

Muscles are sexy anyway!!

Good luck!

Paige

Starting my first challenge on Sunday

-- Hi all,

I've been lurking here for about a week, I haven't quite finished the book

yet,

but I plan to finish it by Sunday and start my new life on Sunday. I

probably

don't have enough weights at home right now to last long, I'll have to

invest

in more. I don't have the time or money to join a gym, I work two jobs, and

the

first starts at 7 in the morning. Does anyone work out at home? I'm hoping I

can get by with my limited space. Is it possible to use a resistance ball as

a

weight bench (not for legs, but for upper body). Any advice anyone can give

me,

I'd truly appreciate it.

anjee

[Guest guest]

This is slightly off topic, but Anjee, if you're at all into aerobics

or step-aerobics, on days that I can't get to the gym I do a step-

aerobics tape for my cardio and then on my upper/lower body days, the

step-bench makes a great weight bench for dumbells and if you don't

have dumbells the bench is great for adding new twists to sit ups and

push ups, tricep dips, etc...I've actually been doing about half of

my workouts at home the last couple of weeks because my car is all

wonked out, and it's been a blessing in disguise because I discovered

I can get a VERY effective workout at home AND it was good for my

body to change things up! Just my two cents added. Good Luck!!!!!

-Ruth