No power rack..feel like crying:(

Suzd1976

Hi ladies,
I was all set to start strong lift after a lot n lot of deliberation but today I went to the gym to check it out and it doesn't have a power rack......I am so so upset. I was all charged up but now wondering what to do coz my gym has a smith machine and I know medhi is so against smith machines
So what can I do? My husband has very sweetly offered to help me and said he will be my spotter...will that suffice? I don't have the option of changing gyms
Please please advice...

6550mom

Spotter on the Smith machine or? Are there squat stands- is that what you are talking about for a spotter?

If so, that's what I use at home without a spotter and it works just fine. My gym has only one rack and I can often not get it due to they are idiots and have only one rack in a GIANT gym.

Suzd1976

Basically what my husband is saying that he will help me to pick up the barbell...like instead of power rack he will help me in picking it up. God I don't know if I am being able to explain it properly. I am so new to all this..I didn't even know that there was a word called spotter..lol
I don't want to use smith machine. I do have a rack which has all the barbells stacked up..don't know what's it called.

lwoodroff

this is a squat rack: http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/product_images/prd{FE0A59CC-3F8A-4E34-9383-66CEB6F66A24}.jpg

does your gym have something like this?

I agree to avoid the smith machine, you only really need a squat rack for squats although it's very helpful for OHPs as well. Bench you will have a bench for, and the deadlift and row are from the floor..

6550mom

And, these are squat stands. These are the ones in my home, actually. They are a little more inconvenient at the gym because you will likely need to adjust the height, but they do work for squats and overhead press.

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Athletics-Inc-BD-Storage/dp/B002ME5J3A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382299839&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+stands

Did your gym at least have these?
When the rack is occupied, I sometimes sneak in the training room of my gym when no one is in there and 'borrow' their stands like these. They actually don't mind now because, I guess, I complained enough about them only having one rack.

Anyway, look for this type of thing as a more than adequate backup if you really don't have a rack there.

SezxyStef

And, these are squat stands. These are the ones in my home, actually. They are a little more inconvenient at the gym because you will likely need to adjust the height, but they do work for squats and overhead press.

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Athletics-Inc-BD-Storage/dp/B002ME5J3A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382299839&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+stands

NICE...I love these...

emjaycazz

We only have a Max Rack and 3 Smith machines in my gym, so I ended up getting this squat rack for our basement workout area (similar to the squat stands but already aligned/connected):
http://www.amazon.com/TDS-C-93132-W-Squat-Rack/dp/B001HS3KI8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382374409&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+rack

Then, I got a couple of sawhorses and placed them where you would normally have safety bars--if you're going this route, make sure the height of them is suitable for you.

If you have space, it will be totally worth it. I cringe when I see people doing squats in the Smith machine.

6550mom

And, these are squat stands. These are the ones in my home, actually. They are a little more inconvenient at the gym because you will likely need to adjust the height, but they do work for squats and overhead press.

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Athletics-Inc-BD-Storage/dp/B002ME5J3A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382299839&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+stands

NICE...I love these...

They are great because when I want to use the space for something else, they are so easy to pick up and stash in the closet. They fit because they aren't attached to each other. Some reviews say that they aren't as stable after having about 300 pounds on them, but somehow, I don't think that will be a problem for me.

zanyzana

And, these are squat stands. These are the ones in my home, actually. They are a little more inconvenient at the gym because you will likely need to adjust the height, but they do work for squats and overhead press.

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Athletics-Inc-BD-Storage/dp/B002ME5J3A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382299839&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+stands

NICE...I love these...

They are great because when I want to use the space for something else, they are so easy to pick up and stash in the closet. They fit because they aren't attached to each other. Some reviews say that they aren't as stable after having about 300 pounds on them, but somehow, I don't think that will be a problem for me.

Those are pretty much the same as mine. I've been wondering if they'd hold my weight for doing reverse rows (like this only not so stylish or controlled - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PptNLk820TQ ). 300lbs is about 130kg (give or take a bit). I'm too heavy plus 15kg = less than 100kg, so maybe they will hold me? Hmmmm... Maybe I should give it a go and see whether I get squashed?

girlie100

Zany, I have used squat stands for reverse rows. I just loaded weight plates on the bottom of the stands to stop them toppling over and use on lowest setting

SezxyStef

So I checked on the Canadian Amazon site an the individaul squat rack bars are 129$ and I was all excited..then I saw the 80$ in shipping...blah...

Hubby is back to building me a rack. Birthday is coming so that's what I asked for...I don't care how I get it just get me my rack gdit.

hehe...

ETA: son is a welder so he's gonna help too.

Leadfoot_Lewis

And, these are squat stands. These are the ones in my home, actually. They are a little more inconvenient at the gym because you will likely need to adjust the height, but they do work for squats and overhead press.

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Athletics-Inc-BD-Storage/dp/B002ME5J3A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382299839&sr=8-7&keywords=squat+stands

I'm strapped for space so that's what I have and they work great! Would love to have a Power Rack but no room unfortunately.

girlie100

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Elicur

I have this problem, currently I use my bed for leverage lol That will work until I go back to work from maternity leave and get my free gym membership

vendygirl

I'm curious as to why the smith machine has so much hate? What is wrong with it?WE have one power rack at the gym and 2 smith machines. Plenty of benches so I know I'll just have to fight to get into the Rack.

vendygirl

Never mind. Found a varied of reasons on a few different articles.