Newbie with equipment question - JP Fitness Forums

Jo'mamma · 12-26-2007, 07:14 AM

I gave myself the New Rules of Lifting for Women for Christmas and it looks great. What equipment do I need to get started? I'm a single mother and work full time so I'll have to workout at home. I have several sets of dumbells-the heaviest 15 pounds, 2 kettleblells(13 and 18 pounds) a club step, and a door way pull up bar my son uses. NONE of these items are pink...

What are gotta haves for equipment?
Ann

Lou Schuler · 12-26-2007, 08:14 AM

Hi Ann,

First off, I think you have to have a barbell. You could substitute DBs for a while, but I think you'll find it impossible over time to get equivalent results on exercises like squats and deadlifts using DBs instead of a bar.

Ideally, you'd want an Olympic barbell set (with a 7-foot, 45-pound bar), but I know how difficult that can be to use and store in a home gym. Standard barbells are lighter, cheaper, and somewhat easier to use and store between workouts, although the downside is their lack of versatility -- they aren't compatible with Olympic sets.

I like Fitness Factory as a one-stop online store for workout gear. But Sears might be cheaper and more convenient. (Sears has a 110-pound Olympic set, which might be a good starting point.)

In a perfect world, you'd also have a squat rack with a cable setup, like this one, but that's a lot of money and takes up a lot of space.

You didn't mention a bench; if you have one, it would certainly help, as would a Swiss ball. But I think you can train around those problems with push-up variations and other simple substitutions.

So, to answer your question, I'd go for the barbell first, and do without the squat rack and cable for now. A bench or Swiss ball would be the next priority.

Jo'mamma · 12-26-2007, 10:02 AM

Lou, thanks so much for your answer, and for writing the book for women. I'll add the barbell first, so nice Sears is having a sale! I do have a swiss ball.

I also noticed that Walmart has a bench that promises to give women long muscles so I'll be sure and get one of those, LOL!

Ann

Aoife · 12-26-2007, 02:23 PM

Never forget that (in the US) Craigslist can be awsum for this kind of stuff. We got our entire current set, including power cage and >500# of weight for $500 from some dude on craigslist. That and Play It Again Sports and other places like that have weight and bars for cheap, even if not other equipment.

What's wrong with pink? Here were awfully fond of pink weights. They make GREAT paperweights.

Welcome

Jo'mamma · 12-26-2007, 02:54 PM

Aoife, I live in a very rural area, about 90 miles from the nearest craigslist "center". Too bad, there seem to be some great deals. And it's another 5 months till yard sale season.
Ann

Lou Schuler · 12-26-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

I also noticed that Walmart has a bench that promises to give women long muscles so I'll be sure and get one of those

Ha! I guess I'll have to wait for the bulky-muscle benches to go on sale.

Cynic · 12-26-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo'mamma

Aoife, I live in a very rural area, about 90 miles from the nearest craigslist "center". Too bad, there seem to be some great deals. And it's another 5 months till yard sale season.
Ann

Some online places offer free shipping. However, this stuff is not your $50 flat bench. My rack was $350, free shipping. The bench was $299, free shipping.

The weights I got at a sports authority, the bar was decent enough to start me for a year. I got Powerblock adjustable DBs, but for the budget minded, ordinary std DB bars, 4x2.5lb, 4x5lbs plates and the remainder as 10lbs plates from "Play It Again Sports" would be very economical.

Aoife · 12-26-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo'mamma

Aoife, I live in a very rural area, about 90 miles from the nearest craigslist "center". Too bad, there seem to be some great deals. And it's another 5 months till yard sale season.
Ann

Well that sucks. You could still give it a try for a "wanted" post I guess, but yeah, an hour can be a bit much for a drive.

Well, also check out (if you have one in the vicinity) a Costco/BJs/Sams as We got our FID bench there (Costco) and at the time for only $50, including a small set of adjustable db. (It started at 200, by the time we got it had dropped to the 50).

Walmart can be ok, certainly iron is iron, but a lot of their other stuff is suspect, so be sure you actually see out something you may buy (since once we didn't, and it was a (cheap) mistake).

Cynic · 12-26-2007, 06:08 PM

Additionally, try not to buy the weights themselves online. You'll pay double to ship them. Take the time to go buy them in-store.

I like Lou's suggestion for fitness factory. That is where I got my rack and bench. My two pieces also have a lifetime warranty. Good to know, in my eyes.

Jo'mamma · 12-27-2007, 05:56 AM

On a whim I checked craigslist and a town closer has been added. They have some benches with weights but thy're too big for the space I have right now. I may get the barbell then keep an eye out for a bench on craigslist. The olympic barbell looks good but I measured and the room I'd like to use is 10x12...a 7 foot bar is a bit big.
Ann

Aoife · 12-27-2007, 06:08 PM

Our exercise room is around 10x12 and we have the bar fitting just fine the short way, it's just a bit of a squeeze to load it. Not super-roomy, of course, but really you can do it in 10 feet.