Need for weights - not sure what to do - JP Fitness Forums

jesca · 03-24-2008, 02:16 PM

I'm progressing a little faster than I intended, and I'm almost out of weights to lift. I'm happy that I've gotten this far, but now I'm not sure what to do. I was looking into buying an OLY bar, but they are huge and while I have the space to use it, I'm afraid of busting something in our house in the process

(I'm really clumsy)
I already have some dumbbells with the twist locks, so I could purchase more of those plates or I could buy and OLY bar or I could buy a smaller barbell - but I'm worried about the quality of smaller barbells. The weider ones look ok, but I wanted to get some input. Anyone have any recs about where to go here. I'm doing Stage 1 A7 tonight, and I will be able to make it through Stage 1 with what I have, but moving forward I will def. need more weight.
The max I'm using right now is 57 lbs. on an exercise.
Thoughts?
Thanks!

MuscleMom23 · 03-24-2008, 02:40 PM

Check out the other stages. I think most of them use dumbbells if I am not mistaken, and I can be mistaken LOL!

I suspect this is true since I just ordered an oly set LOL!

Lisa~ · 03-24-2008, 03:13 PM

I'd suggest that you buy more plates for your DBs. You'll need those one way or the other. I hope you'll go ahead and buy the Olympic bar too. But if you can't afford it all right now, then get the plates first. When you get ready to buy a bar, go ahead and get the big Olympic bar. Don't bother with the smaller bars. You'll outgrow them very shortly too and wish you'd gone ahead and bought the real deal.

beospenser · 03-24-2008, 06:23 PM

I'm in somewhat of the same position---I am rapidly outgrowing my equipment.

I'm trying to put together a very basic home gym for myself. I unfortunately can't fit a full "cage" (do I have that name right?) into my basement due to ceiling height, but I am going to invest in a very good squat rack and olympic barbell.

My question is what other key pieces of equipment do I need? I'm thinking a lat machine (which I think I can squeeze in between the ceiling rafters). Anything else to take me through this entire program?

(I already have a stability ball and a treadmill and a huge assortment of dumbbells going up to 50 pounds.)

Debbie

jesca · 03-24-2008, 06:52 PM

My only issue is that the plates that I would have to get are the threaded ones and don't OLY bars use spring clips? I would really really rather have dumbbells that have spring clips too. Do they have dumbbells that have spring clips and plates that would fit on dumbbells and the OLY bar so I wouldn't buying doubles of everything?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge, but I was a machine junky when I went to the gym for all those years!
Thanks for the help.

Hey Debbie - dumb question but do you have a bench? I just didn't see it on your list of stuff. I guess you could do bench stuff on a full size step "bench". I have an adjustable reebok step bench, but it's definitely now replacement for my real weight bench.

Beckwa · 03-24-2008, 07:04 PM

I may get laughed off here, but couldn't you make do with some tubes hooked to your door for a lat pulldown at least until you can get equipment that is more appropriate? There are different resistances of tubes and I think you could make it fairly tough, especially if you change the grip of your hands farther up the tubes...just an idea, but again, I may get laughed off here.

MuscleMom23 · 03-24-2008, 08:05 PM

Jesca, the oly dumbells that I found "empty" are 13 lbs and are longer. I opted to buy another set of DB's that are standard with screw on ends. I have the ones you were thinking with the spring clips in standard size also. I like the screw ons. It just seemed that when I added more weight the clips were flimsy. Could be my clips. The cost of iron is going up. I would check around for some deals NOW!

I am just going to start adding the 10lb plates when I need things heavier. I am already up to 40# on some things with 5's and 2.5's. I use wrist weights at 2.5 lbs each when I am in between wts, to increase them incrementally. 5lbs is a big jump sometimes.

jesca · 03-24-2008, 08:57 PM

Yeah, I was thinking of doing the wrist weight thing to help move up in weight. Right now I'm holding one dumb bell over the other ones (dumb/dangerous - I know I know) which is why I'm desperate to get more. I guess I will stick with our screw on ones, but get bigger plates. The largest I have is 5lbs, so if I could find some 10s, that would help tremendously. I do have 4 3lb weights which is great, but having the wrist weights would help a lot because it's a lot easier to take those off than it is to unscrew the 3s between super sets. Also you can add whatever weight to each hand/arm without only adding it to one side of the dumb bell and getting all off balance.

MuscleMom23 · 03-24-2008, 09:04 PM

I have some old leg weights from aerobics class that I have little inserts also. I never tried them on my arms but I think they go up to 10 lbs also a little at a time. They might slide more. It's a pain to change the wts for the workouts in the supersets.

Sheesh gotta get creative around here LOL!