This is the most important advice here. I've skimped on benches before. You will hate them from the moment you begin using them. The feeling of stability on a well-engineered bench is worth the extra money you fork over.
If you're considering getting SOME of your own equipment, go for it. No faggots or government to say "you're not allowed". You'll be happy when most of your lifts can be done at home.
Best thing i ever did was get a home gym set up. Picked up quality pieces over time. I absolutely love being able to go when i want, no stupid fees,stupid people, no waiting to get on equipment, i can crank whatever news, music. Great freedom.
[ - ] dassar 1 point 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 22:40:54 ago (+1/-0)
Yes, get a good quality mid priced (preferably second hand or go brand new on sale/ clearance) incline/ decline bench with leg curl - bonus points for built-in squat rack - with or without preacher pad and lat pull down attachment - buy a couple bench bars and couple of sets of dumbbells with enough free weights, so you can set them all up without having to continually swap/ add the plates each exercise. Then add an Ez or super curl bar and triceps bar later on, and an over the door pull up accessory.
Anywhere from $300-800. Well worth the investment - esp if just getting the basic and adding to over time.
A simple non-adjustable bench can double as a seat. Cheap, simple, good utility.
Inclined benches basically just start to eat space.
Sets reps
It depends what you are aiming for. I'm no Arny. I won't give you advice about anything I haven't achieved. But if you want to get tone, mass, and compliments, lift heavy. Find your 1 rep max for press, curl, and deadlift. Figure something you can do 10 reps with for each as well. Bam. There you go. Increase the reps if it gets too easy. Do your maxes once a day as a baseline to remind your mind-body connection that you need that strength. You basically want to try to make sure you always have a pump going. That might mean once a day is good enough, but other days you might feel drawn to hit it harder. The whole purpose to lifting is to reinforce mind-body connection. The more connection and the more your body understands the expectations, the better. But you need to listen to your body too. Rigidly counting sets and reps can sometimes make you miss what your body is telling you.
[ - ] Reunto 1 point 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 09:44:13 ago (+1/-0)
That can be the right fit for some people. I'll point back to listening to your body.
There's that whole bit supposedly in the literature about giving 72 hours between muscle groups for max results. I get it. But, it's not as though rest days are an absolute absence of using those muscles. There is still a eu-stress applied to promote bloodflow etc. A single 1 rep max deadlift per day (if your body is feeling it) probably is not going to hinder gains.
You are right though. When your body needs rest that's an important part of the equation.
Rigidly counting sets and reps can sometimes make you miss what your body is telling you.
I've purposely set up everything so that it is time based, and I don't get to see the counter. So I've got a wrist watch that vibrates every minute, then a desk timer that lights up after 12 minutes. It's an incredibly better set up on the mind as you aren't torturing over how much is left, you're just enjoying endlessly going in to it.
That might mean once a day is good enough, but other days you might feel drawn to hit it harder. The whole purpose to lifting is to reinforce mind-body connection.
I've sat and thought what is the purpose of lifting, how does it "work" (aside from the ripping muscle and it coming back stronger, or that you're just burning energy). Basically you are telling your body, the new "normal" for how much strength it is needing is what you're currently forcing it to exert.
Going to the gym 30 minutes every other day doesn't seem to get this message to it best, in fact it's as peak opposite as you could get. The best way to get this message to a blind "dumb" body is to be forcing it to exert at the level you want throughout every day.
Which is why I was thinking an at home setup was "best" that you could very quickly jump in to as you can reinforce that message to the body on the spot all day every day so to speak.
Snag a good BowFlex rig for pennies in the classifieds. I have an XT(450lb) something or another that was $3800 new and I give the lady $100 to haul it off. It will put a burn on you inside one hour.
Thing is I've actually got a gym within walking distance in just 7 minutes. So my main goal isn't a full workout, just one I can grab at any moment or offset 1 to 2 to 3 of my 10 minute routines that I would normally do at the gym. Ie now I do a 10 minute workout where I switch every minute between back rows with the dumbbells and simply taking the dumbbells from the floor in squat to the ceiling (squat / biceps / deltoids / tricepts). Main goal of the routines is time based no breaks hiit style workouts but with weights.
However I'd like to have a close tight loop on pecs as well however it'd end up being a bench just for one workout, and the place is pretty small with no closet space left lol.
I purchased a very nice weight cage with a pull up bar. I fucking love it and within a few months, it changed my physique.
Pull-ups are fucking easy and fun. You walk up to the bar, knock out a few, and you’re done. Sometimes you just want to hang for a minute. Maybe do some leg lifts.
[ + ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey
[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 0 points 2 weeksApr 17, 2025 00:13:08 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] pickingrinninspittin
[ - ] pickingrinninspittin 3 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 20:25:48 ago (+3/-0)
[ + ] CHIRO
[ - ] CHIRO 2 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 20:31:11 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] VitaminSieg
[ - ] VitaminSieg 1 point 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 22:03:51 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] CHIRO
[ - ] CHIRO 0 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 23:43:30 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] bobdole9
[ - ] bobdole9 2 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 22:16:43 ago (+2/-0)
If you're considering getting SOME of your own equipment, go for it. No faggots or government to say "you're not allowed". You'll be happy when most of your lifts can be done at home.
[ + ] Leveraction
[ - ] Leveraction 2 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 22:45:58 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] dassar
[ - ] dassar 1 point 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 22:40:54 ago (+1/-0)
Anywhere from $300-800.
Well worth the investment - esp if just getting the basic and adding to over time.
[ + ] Reunto
[ - ] Reunto 0 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 01:43:27 ago (+0/-0)
Inclined benches basically just start to eat space.
It depends what you are aiming for. I'm no Arny. I won't give you advice about anything I haven't achieved. But if you want to get tone, mass, and compliments, lift heavy. Find your 1 rep max for press, curl, and deadlift. Figure something you can do 10 reps with for each as well. Bam. There you go. Increase the reps if it gets too easy. Do your maxes once a day as a baseline to remind your mind-body connection that you need that strength. You basically want to try to make sure you always have a pump going. That might mean once a day is good enough, but other days you might feel drawn to hit it harder. The whole purpose to lifting is to reinforce mind-body connection. The more connection and the more your body understands the expectations, the better. But you need to listen to your body too. Rigidly counting sets and reps can sometimes make you miss what your body is telling you.
[ + ] Osmanthus
[ - ] Osmanthus 0 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 02:42:01 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Reunto
[ - ] Reunto 1 point 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 09:44:13 ago (+1/-0)
There's that whole bit supposedly in the literature about giving 72 hours between muscle groups for max results. I get it. But, it's not as though rest days are an absolute absence of using those muscles. There is still a eu-stress applied to promote bloodflow etc. A single 1 rep max deadlift per day (if your body is feeling it) probably is not going to hinder gains.
You are right though. When your body needs rest that's an important part of the equation.
[ + ] CoronaHoax
[ - ] CoronaHoax [op] 0 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 13:18:48 ago (+0/-0)
I've purposely set up everything so that it is time based, and I don't get to see the counter. So I've got a wrist watch that vibrates every minute, then a desk timer that lights up after 12 minutes. It's an incredibly better set up on the mind as you aren't torturing over how much is left, you're just enjoying endlessly going in to it.
I've sat and thought what is the purpose of lifting, how does it "work" (aside from the ripping muscle and it coming back stronger, or that you're just burning energy). Basically you are telling your body, the new "normal" for how much strength it is needing is what you're currently forcing it to exert.
Going to the gym 30 minutes every other day doesn't seem to get this message to it best, in fact it's as peak opposite as you could get. The best way to get this message to a blind "dumb" body is to be forcing it to exert at the level you want throughout every day.
Which is why I was thinking an at home setup was "best" that you could very quickly jump in to as you can reinforce that message to the body on the spot all day every day so to speak.
[ + ] ButtToucha9000
[ - ] ButtToucha9000 0 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 01:05:25 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] texasblood
[ - ] texasblood 0 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 21:24:24 ago (+0/-0)
I have an XT(450lb) something or another that was $3800 new and I give the lady $100 to haul it off.
It will put a burn on you inside one hour.
[ + ] CoronaHoax
[ - ] CoronaHoax [op] 0 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 22:11:27 ago (+0/-0)
However I'd like to have a close tight loop on pecs as well however it'd end up being a bench just for one workout, and the place is pretty small with no closet space left lol.
[ + ] Trope
[ - ] Trope 0 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 20:56:34 ago (+0/-0)
Pull-ups are fucking easy and fun. You walk up to the bar, knock out a few, and you’re done. Sometimes you just want to hang for a minute. Maybe do some leg lifts.
$300 ish on Amazon. Very good purchase.
[ + ] Weredawg
[ - ] Weredawg 0 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 20:00:55 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Cantaloupe
[ - ] Cantaloupe 0 points 2 weeksApr 13, 2025 19:59:41 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] big_fat_dangus
[ - ] big_fat_dangus -1 points 2 weeksApr 14, 2025 03:11:26 ago (+0/-1)