ideas for strength training if u don't have a gym membership

Claire594

Hi there,

I would like to incorporate some strength training into my exercise routine but don't have a gym membership so can't just do heavy lifting in machines.

Any ideas for stuff I could do at home? Would doing some kettlebell training count as strength or is that still cardio? In case u hadn't already guessed I'm a newbie when it comes to exercise. LOL

mmapags

bump. I'd like to know this too!

Blanche76

I don't go to the gym, I use dumbells they are pretty cheap at the stores. Do some push ups, even using household things would work, like gallon of water, can of soups.

Hummingbird82

There are tons of strength training exercises you can do at home using your own body weight. Examples: Pushups, tricp pushups, lunges, squats. These are all strength exericses using your own body weight. If you have kettle bells you can use this by with compound exercises. I would google some strength exercises using kettle bells. Also,
I highly recommend ANY of Jari Love's Get Ripped videos. She is amazing and I love doing her videos in the comfort of my own home. All you need is a set of light to medium hand weights as she does high reps. Hope this helps!

LorinaLynn

Improvise! :laugh:

odusgolp

Improvise! :laugh:

SHUT UP! *LMAO*

Nopedotjpeg

Improvise! :laugh:

That is awesome.

Jeff92se

Bands would work. Especially if you can get them in various thickness

rammsteinsoldier

The weight of the cat would put me over the top. That is a great picture!

Fit_and_Healthy

Google "calisthenics"

MJ7910

get some free weights. do some weight videos... they do have a lot of good ones on amazon. lunges, squats with weights... lots of good ideas out there

Espressocycle

I bought a bowflex on craigslist for $100; it's working really well for me. For less space/money, I hear great things about resistance bands.

swycoff17

Push ups are AMAZING for your body. So are planks. You can do squats, lunges, and calf raises with just your body weight. Same goes with tricep extensions (using your couch as the edge to lower your body) Wall sits also help to build leg muscles, and if you google ab work, you can find about 1,000,000 different ways to work your abs at home as well.
You may need to do a lot of repetitions, but it does the job.

samanthakre

I use dumbbells and bench press with just the bar for now.

If you 'browse all' in the exercise/strength training portion of mfp, you'll see a lot of exercises that can be done with dumbbells - just google them and see how to do them.

That's how I got started strength training at home!

Squidgeypaws007

Improvise! :laugh:

LOVE the cat's face in this photo.....like omgwtf xD

srathfelder

Here is a you tube site with good instructional weight training videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1qLRlpxqwM

judybrim

Good for you for joining mfp and for working out at home! You can do amazing things at home and have fantastic results! I agree, there are so many excellent dvd's and so much info online to help you get going. I've used several of Jillian Michael's dvd's and have lost 45 lbs and 8" off my waist! Just do some research, read other people's reviews and you'll find something that will work for you! Have fun! It's great to work out at home - I love the time flexibility! Good luck and stay in touch with mfp! .... Judy

LorinaLynn

LOVE the cat's face in this photo.....like omgwtf xD

I have seven cats and six litter boxes, and use clumping litter. The REAL strength training is cleaning those suckers!

chu604

Push-Ups
Dips
One arm bent over row or just a bent over row with two hands (kettle bell)
Crunches
Leg lifts
Lunges
Squats
Stiff leg deadlifts & Single leg deadlifts (kettle bell)
Supermans
Planks
Glute bridges
Wall sits

** I dunno how heavy your kettlebell is or If you have more than one.

You can really do alot just with a set of dumbbells or a good quality exercise band
Lateral raises
Rows
Curls
Chest & shoulder press
Flys

etc etc...

hesn92

Ok... So... I don't know if I should be posting a link to sparkpeople or not... but here it is anyway:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercise_demos.asp?exercise_type=core

They have examples of a bunch of different kinds of exercises for core, upper body, lower body, and stretches. Some use body weight, some use dumbells, some use resistance bands, and then some use other things like an exercise ball, medicine ball, etc. I'm sure you can find some with what you have.

jonski1968

Get yourself some resistance bands...The ones i use go up to 60lb...Numerous excercises you can use them for...Amazon uk around £14.00

heybales

Hi there,

I would like to incorporate some strength training into my exercise routine but don't have a gym membership so can't just do heavy lifting in machines.

Any ideas for stuff I could do at home? Would doing some kettlebell training count as strength or is that still cardio? In case u hadn't already guessed I'm a newbie when it comes to exercise. LOL

Pick a muscle, any muscle.

In the list is body weight type exercises, as well as dumbbells, which water filled milk jugs can duplicate.
And proper form in doing them.

girls - http://www.exrx.net/Lists/WtFemale.html

boys - http://www.exrx.net/Lists/WtMale.html

StacyBMe

Bump to read later

Claire594

Thanks for all the great responses. The picture with the cat was class LOL. Getting lots of ideas now. I am doing jm 30 day shred. I didn't realise planks etc was strength training, d'oh.

plhv19

bump

LittleElephant

Bump for ideas

zeepotafb

I bought a used power rack and a barbell set from the craigslist at a huge discount and I don't miss a gym membership a single bit. I can save the time for the travel and waiting. And the cost was roughly a year's membership. If you don't have enough space, you can get a half rack.