Got the book last night, and.....

[mmarrero5]

I'm a 30 year old single mother of one that is already fairly healthy. The diet detailed in the book is close to what I'm already eating (minus the wheat b/c of a Gluten intolerance). I'm stoked to start lifting.
My issue is resources and money. As a single mother, I cannot afford a gym membership. My apartment has a fitness room with dumbbells and bars and some other lifting and cardio equipment. So I plan on using that. Here are my questions:

1. I've never used a bar. I won't have anyone to help me learn. Should I stick with dumbbells?
2. There isn't a stability ball at the fitness room. Can I do the jackknifes differently? Is there a way to do them w/o the ball?
3. Has anyone else had success with limited resources?

Thanks everyone!!

[realcdn]

I work out at home, with limited resources. I use a barbell without any issues. Just practice the movements first with the bar only. Then add your weights. When you're doing squats you should probably do front squats unless there's a rack that you can use. I'm not sure about substitutions for the prone jackknife and crunches, but you might be able to purchase one (don't leave it in the fitness room though) fairly cheaply. ie. Canadian Tire (just checked) has them from 7.99-9.99.

Good luck, and welcome!

[missjane]

If you don't have a squat rack, then you really can't use the oly bar, so you'll have to use dumbbells; though, I think you'll find yourself outgrowing them rather quickly.

Buy a ball and take it with you.

[photochick]

1. I've never used a bar. I won't have anyone to help me learn. Should I stick with dumbbells?

The bar is easy to learn to work with. I was intimidated at first, but I watched a LOT of youtube videos, studied a lot, and watched myself in the mirror. it wasn't until I'd been doing it while that I found someone to critique my form and then found that I'd done a pretty good job of getting it by myself. Not that I would recommend to anyone that they attempt something new w/out guidance - I just know *my* risk tolerance and what I was comfortable with.

2. There isn't a stability ball at the fitness room. Can I do the jackknifes differently? Is there a way to do them w/o the ball?

I don't know about doing them w/out because I have access to the balls, but I wanted to say that you can get one at WalMart or Target for not a lot of money. I find it nice to have my own because I can take it with me to the workout area, or use it at home to do crunches etc. I also sometimes use mine when I'm sitting at my desk for long stretches - instead of my desk chair.

.

[realcdn]

Jane, I'd suspect if it's a fitness center in an apartment building it's not an olympic bar. Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm remembering the workout rooms in places I used to live.