Training at Home

[kh848]

I have not yet started this exciting program but I'm ready to go. I do not have access to a gym. I am interested to know if anyone else is training at home and how easy or difficult it is to get the same results using free weights and bands. I am open to buying some equipment but have limited funds. Any suggestions?

[bekkilyn]

I just started my third week of this program yesterday, and I'm training at home. Currently, I have adjustable dumbbells, barbell, and various sizes of weight plates, a weight bench, a pullup bar that installed in the doorway (haven't had to use yet), a stepstool that I've used for step ups, and a swiss ball. You could probably get away without the weight bench for stage one, though it looks like it's used more in later stages.

The only real issue I've come across so far is that since I don't have a squat rack, I need to modify the squats to use a dumbbell or dumbbells instead of a barbell. Since I wanted to work on my form, I've been just using bodyweight lately though.

In a gym, you're going to use mostly free weights anyway, so there isn't too much difference doing the program at home with some slight modifications.

I don't have bands, though I've wondered if using bands attached in a doorway would work better for the pulldowns than doing pullovers with a barbell or dumbbell.

So far as getting the same results as in a gym, I don't know. I'm still at the beginning of the program. Results would also vary depending on the individual. Some people get too distracted and lose focus at home, and others get too distracted in a gym environment and would do better at home.

[karozel]

I completed NROLFW and am now doing NROL at home.

I have a spare bedroom set up for my home gym. I have a treadmill (that is rarely used currently), a weight bench, weights (dumbells, barbells, and plates), an aerobic step, swiss ball, and a chin-up bar.

There are a few things that have to be modified, but it is very doable. I'm not even that bothered by not having a squat rack. I do front squats and goblet squats, and they are plenty challenging.

I'd rather have a cable/pulley system for doing lat pull-downs and seated rows and such. But I make do with bent-over rows and pull-overs and such.

What I love about working out at home, is not having to wait for equipment, being able to head directly for my private shower, and being able to mix up a protein shake right after a workout.

[TheWookie]

I have pretty decent equipment at home (dumbbells up to 20 lbs, a two-armed cable station, some plates & bars) and I did some of the earlier workouts in NROL4W at home. I was actually pretty psyched to outgrow the weights I had, which forced me to the gym

There's no reason why you can't do the workouts at home if you're willing to invest in the right equipment & ready to heavy-up when the time comes.

[all4love]

I completed the program at home as well. We have adjustable weights, swiss ball, bars, bench, dumbells. Nothing too fancy, just basic items. We don't have a squat rack, but I work out in the early morning so I had hubby assist me with heavier lifts and assisted pull ups. I like the flexibility of being at home and we can add to our gym a little at a time without investing too much at once. We have gotten lots of our weight plates at thrift stores or Play it Again stores. Our next investment will probably be a bench that has the lat pull down and squat station. Lots of good deals on those to be had on our local Craigslist.