Confidence and Success > Fitness/Diet

Advice on home gyms

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jusbnme:
What's up sly bros.?  I've been using a cheap utility bench and some dumb bells to workout for about the past 2 months.  I've noticed a little change in my waist line and other places but I feel like a may be hurting myself more than helping.  Especially where I have no clue about working out.  This is really my first time trying to get serious about working out due to trying to become a fireman.  I have done a lot of research on the web recently on home gyms and noticed that most reviews give a thumbs up to weight machines for safety and basic maintenance for the body.  Which is all I'm looking to do...I don't want to be "buff" or build to much muscle.  I just want to maintain and firm up what I have.  I read that the stackable home gym weight machines are supposed to give you better performance than a resistance home gym such as a bowfles or something like it.  Does anyone have an opinion, or good advice, on which brand or style of weight machine I should purchase? 

schro:
Do you remember from the mid-90's there was a home gym called the Healthrider? Well, we've had one since 1997 and we have moved twice and refuse to part with it. It uses your own body weight as resisitance and you pull on the handles and simultaneously push on the foot pedals. By changing you hand position, you can work biceps/triceps, and all upper body muscles. If you put the handle in the position closer to your seat, it becomes a pure lower body/ab workout. There's three height positions for increased intensity (I've never put it above the lowest setting and still get a pretty good workout). It is a great toning machine and you can get them cheap on craigslist or Ebay. If I haven't used it in a while, I'll get on it, go for 20 mins (changing hand and handle positions every 4 minutes....5 sets) and the next morning I'm pretty friggin' sore.

I'd consider one of these if you can find one. The don't take up a ton of space. Good Luck.

Tyler:
My brother used to have a weight bench that had a leg machine and pull down bar attached.  It used stackable weights and was a great machine.  You may want to consider some adjustable dumbells as you can also get some great workouts with just dumbells.

Robmeister:
I've always been intrigued by the Bow Flex stuff....

Also been intrigued by the Total Gym endorsed by Chuck Norris and Christy Brinkley...

But we belong to a very reasonably priced gym that's nearby so that's workin' just fine.

SlickCountry:
I had a Total Gym and loved it.  It comes with a book that shows different workouts.  It doesn't take up much space and does a good well rounded workout.  I recommend it.

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