We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

strength training program

mitsimr
mitsimr Posts: 194 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I was going to join a local gym here so I could do the SL program. Well due to circumstances beyond my control I cant. Does anyone have any program suggestions that call for less expensive equipment? I was thinking of a kettle bell program maybe. Anything that would give comparable results in both strength and physique is what I would like.

Replies

  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    There's "You are your own gym" and "Convict Conditioning". They require no equipment. If you don't like those there are other body weight programs out there.
  • mitsimr
    mitsimr Posts: 194 Member
    I am currently doing the nerd fitness beginner body weight program. Does the body weight programs give comparable results? I have seen tons of before and afters from heavy lifting but never any really from bodyweight training. Vanity wise I want to look great naked. Strength wise I am incredibly weak and would like to just be able to change my own tire, help the hubs when he is moving something, take care of heavy lifting jobs in yard work etc. without waiting for the hubs to take care of it for me. There is much more but this covers the basics.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    There are ways to make body weight exercises progressively difficult. Your results with either body weight or heavy lifting are going to be unique to your genetics, your adherence to diet, and your effort while exercising. I've seen people with good body composition through body weight only programs. If you can slowly start investing in your own personal gym you can start adding in some other resistance type programming.

    As for kettlebells, I know there are some good programs out there for them. Many of them tend to be a bit more of a cardio type exercise, but the addition of extra weight is going to help. Sandbag training is another good way to get cardio with weights.
  • mitsimr
    mitsimr Posts: 194 Member
    Maybe kettle bells wouldn't be the way to go for me then. When I weight trained in high school I loved just getting lost in the focus of the motion, if that makes any sense, I am not sure I could get that from anything combined with cardio. That is one of the reasons I stay away from dvds like Jillian Michaels and such. I even have P90X and I just am not into it. I am cool with what I am doing now as far as bodyweight and plan on switching things up to something more difficult as soon as I am able.
  • loulamb7
    loulamb7 Posts: 801 Member
    I'm sure there are some folks on here that have had excellent results with body weight work. Google "body weight workout results". You may also want to consider TRX resistance-band training.
  • mitsimr
    mitsimr Posts: 194 Member
    I thought of trx but have heard mixed things about resistance v free weights. I haven't read much on it though. Maybe I should do a bit more research into it.
  • LessthanKris
    LessthanKris Posts: 607 Member
    Not sure how much you have to invest. I have ChaLean Extreme and was able to get by with getting some adjustable weights at Walmart a couple years ago for pretty cheap. The set can be adjusted to 8, 15, and 20 lbs and you can get additional plates to get 13 and 18 lbs and 20+. I bought them years ago and as I was able to go heavier with that program, I was able to just buy the weight plates to add more weight and I know have them up to 45 lbs each. You could probably gets those to start gaining strength.

  • KDar1988
    KDar1988 Posts: 648 Member
    mitsimr wrote: »
    I thought of trx but have heard mixed things about resistance v free weights. I haven't read much on it though. Maybe I should do a bit more research into it.

    I have a TRX and I really like it.
  • questionfear
    questionfear Posts: 527 Member
    Kettle bells can build strength for sure, but they can get pricey.

    You Are Your Own Gym is phenomenal and requires no equipment. I lost about 20lbs and built a lot of strength working the beginner and intermediate programs.

    I am currently doing a kettle bell program and now that I've spent some time building a good base I am combining it with convict conditioning. I think that CC by itself doesn't offer enough exercise time for me-i have found that 30-45 min per workout is my sweet spot for mental and physical benefits.

    And fwiw, I am 35 and female, and after 9 months of mainly bodyweight and kettle bell training, I can knock out 20+ good form full floor push-ups. Not bad for a nerd who couldn't do one half-assed push-up a year ago! So yea. Bodyweight workouts definitely work, but you get out what you put in...be consistent, find a progressive program, and kick some butt!
  • cecsav1
    cecsav1 Posts: 714 Member
    I also really like my suspension straps.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories