Comments on Cranky Fitness: Cheap Ways to Create a Home Gym

You can buy very inexpensive equipment these days....

2010-03-21T18:25:58.130-04:00

You can buy very inexpensive equipment these days. Most people think that you have to run out and buy everything to have a good home gym.

All you basically need are the basics!

Health clubs and gyms are great choices and offer ...

2009-10-15T07:48:41.216-04:00

Health clubs and gyms are great choices and offer a social environment and inspiration. However the time wasted driving to the club or waiting in line for equipment, or the recurring membership fees may be costs you can avoid by exercising at home.

I forgot to add the pullup bar that I picked up ne...

2009-09-16T07:23:20.418-04:00

I forgot to add the pullup bar that I picked up new for $10 to the list of equipment.

A copy of Starting Strength, a power rack, an olym...

2009-09-16T07:21:13.340-04:00

A copy of Starting Strength, a power rack, an olympic barbell set, and a flat bench are all you need for strength training. All of these can be found used for a fraction of the original price. My whole setup cost about $300 and was pieced together by making requests of craigslist. Add a pair of comfortable shoes for a daily hour long walk after dinner and you will be in shape for the rest of your life.

Have any of you guys thought about trying a Total ...

2009-09-04T19:33:39.935-04:00

Have any of you guys thought about trying a Total Gym? It's really not as expensive as you think and it's backed by all sorts of physical therapists. A yearly gym membership can cost between $348 to well over $1,200. Here's a $100 coupon code off. It shows up when you check out.

http://www.totalgymdirect.com/?key=sca

Great tips on home exercising, but not for me. I l...

2009-09-02T21:55:00.552-04:00

Great tips on home exercising, but not for me. I like to run away from my children and go to the gym. Everytime I exercise at home I find my children stare, point, laugh and generally ridicule me. Not good for mummy's esteem! :)

The two most important (actually, only) tips I can...

2009-09-02T20:51:20.131-04:00

The two most important (actually, only) tips I can come up with are:

1. Non-slip flooring is essential. My workout/utility/laundry/cat room is floored in the finest-quality plywood at the moment, and it's a comedy of errors every time I work out.

2. If you're going to buy a treadmill, drop the bucks on a good one, whether used or new. I spent *insane* amounts of money on mine, but it's gotten a lot of use, and is of good-enough quality that I can do wind sprints and interval training and not kill my knees. Obviously, this isn't an option for everybody, but buy the best you can possibly afford.

Ruth's back! Woo hoo! :)

2009-09-02T18:30:54.740-04:00

Ruth's back! Woo hoo! :)

Personally, I use an ancient (maybe 10 years old) ...

2009-09-02T18:14:30.879-04:00

Personally, I use an ancient (maybe 10 years old) Bowflex.

The hubby bought it, and it was a display model, so he got a discount AND it was already assembled. It was a little dinged up, but good nough for us.

Actually, it was years before I "caved-in" to using "the machine".

But now, it's working for me.

But personally, Crabby, I think you should hold on to the dream of the umbrella drinks, hot instructors, and uber-cool equipment.

It's nice to be back. And I'll probably never shut up now ;-)

Do you think you only got 20 comments (so far) bec...

2009-09-02T17:59:34.992-04:00

Do you think you only got 20 comments (so far) because you stressed that part about 'Smart Readers?'

I almost didn't comment but then I thought I'd throw that out there to irritate the crap out of anyone who happens to read after I post.

Well, it was hard for me to get past the first cou...

2009-09-02T14:58:03.596-04:00

Well, it was hard for me to get past the first couple paragraphs cause I am so wanting to be wherever that is with all the personal chef, trainer, island & such but no, I did not win that big mega million jackpot here in CA. DARN!

Lots of great advice from you!!! I would add that as you walk, jog or combo of that outside, you an always do lunges along the way, stop & do push-ups against a wall or on the ground or bar/fence if that is available, lunges/squats off the curb or toe raises for calves. Even bring along your exercise band & use that along the way for all kinds of resistance moves.

Oh, stairs or bleachers are great workouts!!!!

Ok, great advice. Just be careful of warranty info on more expensive cardio equipment just in case!

I just keep telling companies that I write a healt...

2009-09-02T13:04:48.783-04:00

I just keep telling companies that I write a health and fitness column, and ask them for free equipment to review! Some of them have actually sent me some! I think there is a P T Barnum quote that applies :-)

I would just talk about body weight workouts and p...

2009-09-02T12:38:20.981-04:00

I would just talk about body weight workouts and possibly a pair of dumbells or a pullup bar

Great ideas - I'd forgotten about looking at the r...

2009-09-02T11:45:23.678-04:00

Great ideas - I'd forgotten about looking at the resale shops (and we have a Play it Again Sports here in town) for equipment. Will have to go check them out for free weights - I'd like a motorized treadmill, but that ain't happening anytime soon, unfortunately.

Starting to set up a "mobile" personal training, a...

2009-09-02T11:26:27.646-04:00

Starting to set up a "mobile" personal training, and I'm getting creative.

A gallon milk jug filled with water is a 8# kettleball. Add sand to increase the weight.

PVC pipe, filled part way with water and capped, is a challenging (sloshy) weight that really challenges the core.

Love all these things. And re-sell shops like "Sell It Again, Sam" are wonderful.

I'm a huge fan od exercise DVDs that have workouts...

2009-09-02T10:58:27.547-04:00

I'm a huge fan od exercise DVDs that have workouts for bellydance and my exercise ball...and my bike and feet :)
We just broke our elliptical (it gave it's life for 4 years for us...sniff) so I'm looking to see if we should fix it or invest in a new one.
Currently I'm doing the "up and down the ladder constantly with a paintbrush in my hand" outdoor workout. Both I and my house get to look better :)

Have you heard about Body Togs, wearable weights y...

2009-09-02T10:26:10.473-04:00

Have you heard about Body Togs, wearable weights you wear on your legs and arms all day under your clothes? A great way to increase calorie burn, build muscle and bone density. Check them out at:
http://www.womenspersonalfitness.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=76&zenid=ad6f215e817641e5ca9e9ae011e53d26

Hi Crabby, My Cable TV carries a station called ...

2009-09-02T09:58:27.537-04:00

Hi Crabby,

My Cable TV carries a station called Fit TV and they show lots of great 1/2 hour exercise programs (including belly dancing, pilates, yoga, etc.) and lots of healthy cooking/eating shows. I try to watch something helpful every day. I also will turn it on and just jump along for a few minutes when I don't have time for a full half hour work out.

And it comes free with the cable (which, of course is far from free.)

Terrie

Tip #1: start first, get organised later. just MO...

2009-09-02T09:35:00.051-04:00

Tip #1: start first, get organised later.

just MOVE. even if you have to do 300 lap of your own clothes line because you can't afford a treadmill, do it. and THEN buy a treadmill. Do pushups if you can't get a weights bench. Do situps.

go for a ride on a crappy bike if you don't have a whizzbang carbon fibre frame road bike.

just start moving.

sort out the details later.

I'd say free weights and an exercise DVD go a long...

2009-09-02T09:13:33.809-04:00

I'd say free weights and an exercise DVD go a long way.

I'm much more in favor of Miz's approach :)

2009-09-02T09:12:47.634-04:00

I'm much more in favor of Miz's approach :)

Leah's solution sounds a bit drastic... I think I ...

2009-09-02T09:12:19.229-04:00

Leah's solution sounds a bit drastic... I think I could face something more mild, like ransacking my mother's spare closet. All my siblings seem to think that 'donating' their exercise equipment to her is a good idea, and she's always glad to share :)

Throw yourself into your housework or gardening if...

2009-09-02T09:04:05.074-04:00

Throw yourself into your housework or gardening if you have one. I don't throw myself into housework so I am only speaking theoretically. I've heard it's good, though.

I don't really have any input on how to get stuff ...

2009-09-02T09:00:17.178-04:00

I don't really have any input on how to get stuff cheap, but I do think that a yoga mat, stability ball and dumbbells are good investments. They are versatile pieces of equipment that give you a lot of bang for your buck and don't take up a huge amount of space.

What about the staircases??

2009-09-02T08:56:15.418-04:00

What about the staircases??