Strength Training at Home, Any good or waste of time?

Hi, I workout at home and have a range of dumbell weights from 3kg up to 45kg and you can definitely get a good workout with those! If you can't afford to buy single held dumbbells then you can buy adjustables ones to increase the weight as you progress so as you get stronger you can continue to increase your weights and challenge yourself. I do a mix up of workout routines weekly that includes 2 upper body dvds from the P90x range which targets back, chest, shoulders,arms and abs, I run 2-3 times a week and also throw in a Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper DVD. To be honest with you I'm in better shape now than when I went to the gym. You just have to make sure that you're challenging your body and always progressing with the weights to see improvement. My next buy is a bar bell so that I can do heavier squats and deadlifts. There's a mass of moves and workouts you can find on the internet for programs etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

Ps. I think if you wanted to seriously get into weight lifting or body building then I would think you would need to go to a gym for the really heavy stuff!

I haven't been to a gym in yeeeeears....

I've done all my strength training at home.

I miss out on some of the equipment, but talk about convenience.

It takes a few quid to get the set up right, but you'll make that back in a year of not going to a gym and no one ever is on the squat rack when you want it.

But you're right - those tiny weights aren't helping at all. if you can physically do more than 12 reps then the weight is too light.

I work out at home. I've been following the strength training program in the book "You Are Your Own Gym." It's almost entirely body weight exercises. I've gotten great results. It's definitely possible to develop strength at home - for example, you eventually should progress to the one legged squat, one arm pushup, etc. Body weight exercises can be very intense.

Hello, I'm not sure where you are from, but if you are from the UK, I just bought some adjustable dumbells for £25 from argos that go up to 18kg. after that you can buy heavier weights to put on them if you wanted.

You can do tons of stuff with bodyweight excercises also. Check out You Are Your Own Gym from your library for lots of ideas to get started.

You get out of any workout what you put into it. I have a tiny little weights collection, but I work to muscle fatigue and am seeing results, which means sometimes 8-10 reps, or 15-20, depending on the weights and particular muscle exercise. To work out at home and have success takes mental strength and the ability to be accountable when no one is looking. Find your inner Rambo. Work till you feel that intense burn in the last three reps.

Love your hair in your profile pic, BTW!! Adorable.

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committed P90x-er, reformed gym rat...

You do not need to go to a gym to increase your strength and muscle definition. But you could probably make the case that a gym would be best for increasing muscle size (given the amount of weights, free weights and specialized benches etc.).

P90X does include a good deal weight exercises and to get the most out of them, you should have a beefy set of dumbbells with enough weight to make you struggle on the last 3 reps of each weight set (I have had to buy additional plates twice and I need a few more now as I have progressively gotten stronger).

The real killer in my opinion however is how Tony Horton uses body weight exercises. I have never done so many variations of pull ups and push ups and chair dips in my life. I don't care how much you can bench press in a gym if you can do 10 strict corn cob pull ups, or 25 strict (burpee style) prison push ups, I will be impressed...

I have the best solution for you -dont bother with the gym. You need a kettle bell. Dont take my word for it. Anyone who uses one lots will tell you the same thing. My gf uses one she ****ing loves it and it makes you firm and way stronger. It's amazing for endurance and works the full body for sure. I recommend watching some Pavel Tsatsouline videos on youtube or if you know how to download movies free and stuff you can type his name in the search browser. He swears by them and is the world champ and highest authority when it comes to kettle bell. If you can learn the exercises from watchmaking that's the best. The results are awesome. If youre super strong use a 15-20 kg. I use a 20 kg and a 24 kg [Im a man so I can use little more] Dont underestimate these things -just because theyre affordable and basic doesn't mean they suck. Theres so many things you can do with it. All the good excercises are easy to find on youtube. Theyre amazing and you cant beat a kettlebell workout. Let me know how it works out for you

^^^^^THIS!!! I do a Kettlebell Circuit at the gym which I found online (Womens Health) and I also go to a Kettlefit class. I'm considering buying one for at home too! I use a 6kg for the class but an 8kg at the gym unless deadlifts which is a 16kg. I would recommend starting with a 4 or a 6kg depending on your strength and then get a heavier one as you progress (and you can sell the lighter ones on ebay!).

Lots of things can be done at home. Just get an Ab roller wheel, and a door gym. It's what I use on days that I can't go to the gym. So many things can be done with just you body weight as well. Lot's of youtube videos on that. Best of luck!

I workout from home. My schedule (and my purse) really doesn't allow me to go to the gym.
I've been building my home gym slowly. So far lots of DVDs, Eliptical, weight bench, bands and a couple of hand weights.
I've picked out the weight set I'm going to get so that should get me close to done.

The gym doesn't really interest me, I really hate working out in front of people and I really only use a couple of the machines and the weights anyway. The cost of the eqipment is probablythe cost of a year membership at the gym.

It all depends on how you get motivated. If the you think you might get demotivated by staying home, then it is a waste of time and money. It works well for me, I am more likely to find an excuse not to drive to the gym. No excuses for me if all I have to do is get my rear out of bed in the morning and walk down the stairs lol

Good luck with your journey!

I do a combination of hand weights (10 lbs - 25 lbs); kettle bell and my own body weight... Its all up to you and how much effort you are willing to put in. Strength training (in my opinion) should be considered an important part of your workout routine. I've completed P90X and pushed myself, because of that I'm now doing straight leg pushups. I'm so proud of myself and so is my husband.

I've done absolutely ALL of my working out at home! I love it and couldn't imagine doing it any other way!

I've never stepped foot in a gym. I have free hand weights that go up to 30 lbs. I do a combination of P90X / P90 and Jillian Micheals. I've definitely got some muscle tone. Just make sure you challenge yourself!