No gym

[duck]

Hello all! I've just finished the book and am totally jazzed about getting started. However, I don't belong to a gym and I simply don't have the means to do so (in other words, I'm broke). I have a tall box and weights ranging from 5 to 15 pounds, and can get the next couple increments of free weights and maybe an Olympic barbell, but don't have the money for more. Is it even worth going through the program with these limited means? I really want to make it work and am willing to work hard for it--if it's worth waiting until I can get a more complete set of free weights before I start, I'll do that (by scrimping over the next few months).

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

[wendyr67]

I think it's definitely worth getting started with what you have at home. The book gives some alternative exercises for those that call for cable equipment. You can always find ways to adapt what you have to work for you. For example, you can hold more than one weight in each hand or find something heavier to lift for exercises such as a bent over dumbell row (substituted for the cable row)...

[Aoife]

It's doing something, so it's worth doing. Will you get as much out of it as your could? Prolly not, as you'll not be advancing much. But, you can also manage for some things to make weights. Milk jugs filled with sand will work for weight, and are adjustable (amount of sand) so there's stuff to make it work. (Such a hack will work for some dumbbell work, stepups, lunges, etc, for instance.) You can continue to get creative with sandbags and whatnot as well.

Check craigslist or post for weight, maybe someone has something to spare or sell for cheap. Check used sporting goods stores, they may have some deals.

If you can't manage it, there's other programs out there that would better suit your limitations, and you can return to the book when you have more stuff/cash/a membership.

But again, in the end, you'll be limited but you could do it. You just won't progress, because you won't be pushing yourself with more than what you have.


Welcome.

[LisaS]

I'm not sure that you can really do NROL4W as written without heavier weights.
There's no harm in trying it out - but if you don't have a bar and 40-60-80 lbs for example to use for deadlifts, you really are not going to be doing deadlifts - if you see what I mean. But have a look a craigslist - you can sometimes get real bargains there if you keep watch.

You'll just need to work out what you will do for some of the exercises in advance. For example, what will you do for Lat Pulldowns - do you have a chin-up bar? Can you go to a playground nearby or will you just be skipping that movement?

If you are willing, you can make a pretty good sandbag with 50 lbs of playground sand, some ziploc bags, duct tape & an old duffle bag - then you could deadlift it or hug it for squats.

As a first start, you might be more satisfied using a program designed for bodyweight exercises or for non-barbell home use and complete it and then move on to NROL4W when you have more equipment at home. But its really up to you.

[duck]

Thanks so much, guys! This really helped!

[voodoo32]

I am doing the same thing, working out at home I mean. I found my weight bench, bar and dumbbells on craigslist for $120, and it was in great condition. I'm really glad I bought it as a set, I use it so much and it's not one of those wimpy skinny bench sets. Have a look around on craigslist or in the local paper! You will be happy you spent the money if you are serious about doing NROL4W.
I'm almost done with stage 2, and I can't believe I deadlifted 90 lbs today! I started out at 45, so it really is worth having a big range of weights.

Good luck!