Many bodybuilders believe that they’re too advanced to train at home. They think it’s for beginners-the little guys and gals with pea-size biceps who haven’t graduated to heavy iron. This common misconception is far from reality, however.
Take Bob Paris and Lou Ferrigno, for instance. They often train at home. No doubt they have made outstanding progress. Bob Paris was one of the top IFBB professionals, At 320 pounds of solid muscle, Lou Ferrigno was one of the biggest bodybuilders in the world.
Granted, their home gyms are more elaborate than a bench from Kmart and a few cement-filled barbell plates. The point is, these champion athletes do train at home.
Nevertheless, trying to train at home isn’t for everybody. Some people love the commercial-gym atmosphere. After all, the socializing, the sounds, and the smells are enticing. If you’re one of them, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider a home gym. A home gym can make your training much more successful by giving you workout flexibility.
The following types of bodybuilders should consider the home-gym alternative:
Train At Home – Is It For Serious Bodybuilders?
With even a basic home gym the serious trainee has the option of working for smaller muscle groups at home. Many advanced bodybuilders prefer double-split training. This is where they train one or two body parts in the morning. Then they go back to the gym in the afternoon to work another body part or two. If these people had home gyms, they could do one of their workouts without leaving home.
If you train at home, rrm work is probably the easiest to do. That’s because you don’t need tremendous weight. All you need is a basic bench, a barbell/dumbbell set, and some extra weights. Then you can blast your biceps and triceps as good as, or better than, you can in a commercial gym. The overall improvement in concentration alone is worth the investment in equipment for even the most advanced trainees.
The Bodybuilder With A Family Can Train At Home
Are you like most Americans? Do you work hard? Chances are, you don’t have all that much time to spend with your family. Are you a bodybuilder who goes to the gym a few nights a week after work? Then the time you spend with your family is even more limited. A home gym can change that. You don’t waste time driving to and from your workout and you’re close at hand in case of family crisis or problems. You can even get your spouse and/or children involved in training. That can turn your workouts into quality family time.
The Bodybuilder On A Tight Budget Can Train At Home
The initial equipment expenditure for a home gym isn’t cheap. A good basic setup-including bench, weight set, and a few extras-will run you about $400 to $600. Remember, however, that this is a long-term investment-this equipment will last you a lifetime. With no more yearly fees at the local commercial gym, your home gym essentially pays for itself in one to two years. It’s like buying a car instead of paying for a taxi whenever you want to go somewhere.
What Is The Ideal Home Gym?
Do you train at home and are a serious lifter? There’s some basic equipment you should have. Invest in a power rack. It will last a lifetime. Not to mention, it allows you to train in complete safety. Next, get an adjustable bench and a lat pulldown machine. Or, at least a pulldown attachment for your rack. From there, it’s up to your budget and space. You can invest in any bar or attachment. You can buy virtually any piece of equipment you want. Go big or go basic – it’s up to you. Yes, it’s worth it to train at home!
The Bodybuilder That Doesn’t Live Near A Gym
This is rather obvious. What most small-town bodybuilders fail to realize is that there are other lifters in the area who have the same problem. No commercial gym! Put an ad in the paper, get together with these bodybuilders and pool your equipment. I once heard about a couple of industrious bodybuilders who rented out a storage unit and converted the space into a gym. Each trainee had a key and could work out whenever he felt like it.
When I was training in a small south Texas town where there was no commercial gym within 200 miles. A friend of mine built an air-conditioned 15-by-15-foot building. He equipped it with the basics. This included a heavy-duty bench press, homemade power rack, Olympic set, dipping bars and a few pairs of fixed dumbbells.
At one point there were eight people working out there. Not all at the same time, obviously-and each one contributed equipment. A Mr. Texas winner even trained there during a couple of summers while he was home from college. That brings us full circle, back to the idea that advanced bodybuilders can’t make progress if you train at home. Hogwash! Every bodybuilder can benefit from having a home gym. The rewards include more variety, better concentration and a new sense of freedom when it comes to pumping iron. Can you train at home and make great progress? You betcha!
by Steve Holdman