For those of you considering a home gym option...

[GrimmReaper]

It is truly amazing. About 3 months ago I decided to go with this home gym...

Amazon.com: Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System with Linear Bearings: Sports & Outdoors

added about 500 lbs of plate weights off of craigslist and some dumbells, ez curl bar, olympic bar, dip/pull up station, and a bathroom mirror.

Set me back about 1300 with everything. 1300 is a lot up front but when you think of all the money you are saving over multiple years it makes financial sense.

I can do anything I have needed on this machine that I would have otherwise done at Gold's gym except for a leg press.

No more smelling other people's body oder, wiping up someone's ass sweat on a seat, waiting on machines/weights, nasty old men walking around in the locker room, people not putting weights back, listening to people grunt while lifting are just a few that I no longer deal with in my garage.

Took me 20 mins to get to the gym, and 20 back but now all I have to do is walk into my garage.

[GrimmReaper]

Anyone else use a home gym for majority of their workouts?

[Times Roman]

It is truly amazing. About 3 months ago I decided to go with this home gym...

Amazon.com: Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System with Linear Bearings: Sports & Outdoors

added about 500 lbs of plate weights off of craigslist and some dumbells, ez curl bar, olympic bar, dip/pull up station, and a bathroom mirror.

Set me back about 1300 with everything. 1300 is a lot up front but when you think of all the money you are saving over multiple years it makes financial sense.

I can do anything I have needed on this machine that I would have otherwise done at Gold's gym except for a leg press.

No more smelling other people's body oder, wiping up someone's ass sweat on a seat, waiting on machines/weights, nasty old men walking around in the locker room, people not putting weights back, listening to people grunt while lifting are just a few that I no longer deal with in my garage.

Took me 20 mins to get to the gym, and 20 back but now all I have to do is walk into my garage.

I did a home gym most of my life. but let's look at your situation

I pay $30/mo for 24hour.

If I were in your shoes, it would take me 4 years to break even, and then it wouldn't have the diversity my gym has.

Plus all my equipment took up half my patio.

I hope it works out for you mate

[kelkel]

I work out at home exclusively and have for about 10 years now I guess. I'll gladly pay for the equipment. No one ever factors in how valuable their personal time is. Just think about the cost of gas for over a year of driving to and from the gym, etc. Hell, my workouts are even on company time. The only thing I miss from a gym are the sights. Other than that, I don't need fancy equipment to make solid gains, just basic equipment and personal motivation.

[GrimmReaper]

I agree, saving all that time driving to and from the gym in one week was a big selling point for me. As well as the savings after a few years.

[RipOwens]

I can go at home if necessary, but damn, my garage can get hot!!

[kelkel]

I can go at home if necessary, but damn, my garage can get hot!!

Time to invest in a "large" floor fan. My equipment is in the basement so it stays nice and cool.

[austinite]

Time to invest in a "large" floor fan. My equipment is in the basement so it stays nice and cool.

Mission Impossible: Sneak into kelkel's basement and install a treadmill. Iron railed into concrete.

[RaginCajun]

Mission Impossible: Sneak into kelkel's basement and install a treadmill. Iron railed into concrete.

bahahahaha, count me in!

[austinite]

bahahahaha, count me in!

Once inside the basement, there are 3 security systems in operation whenever the technician is out of the room. First is sound sensitive; anything above a whisper will set it off. The second is temperature-sensitive. Even the body heat of an unauthorized person inside the basement can trigger the alarm if the temperature rises just a single degree. And that temperature is controlled by an air conditioning vent 30 feet above the basement floor. That vent is guarded by a laser net.

[RaginCajun]

Once inside the basement, there are 3 security systems in operation whenever the technician is out of the room. First is sound sensitive; anything above a whisper will set it off. The second is temperature-sensitive. Even the body heat of an unauthorized person inside the basement can trigger the alarm if the temperature rises just a single degree. And that temperature is controlled by an air conditioning vent 30 feet above the basement floor. That vent is guarded by a laser net.

my joints crack too much so I might have to just be the look out until the security system is disabled

[kelkel]

Everybody's a comedian....


Close Call - Mission: Impossible (5/9) Movie CLIP (1996) HD - YouTube

[GrimmReaper]

My gym is in the garage where is is blazing hot. Got a remote control rotating fan at walmart for 30 bucks, problem solved.

[johnC80]

Been talking with my wife about this for a while. We are planning on moving out of state soon to start a family, so will definitely look for a house that has the room to put in a home gym.

[Euroholic]

Been talking with my wife about this for a while. We are planning on moving out of state soon to start a family, so will definitely look for a house that has the room to put in a home gym.

What do you mean moving out of state? How can you move out of state? If you move from one state your still in another state?

[kronik420]

It is truly amazing. About 3 months ago I decided to go with this home gym...

Amazon.com: Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System with Linear Bearings: Sports & Outdoors

added about 500 lbs of plate weights off of craigslist and some dumbells, ez curl bar, olympic bar, dip/pull up station, and a bathroom mirror.

Set me back about 1300 with everything. 1300 is a lot up front but when you think of all the money you are saving over multiple years it makes financial sense.

I can do anything I have needed on this machine that I would have otherwise done at Gold's gym except for a leg press.

No more smelling other people's body oder, wiping up someone's ass sweat on a seat, waiting on machines/weights, nasty old men walking around in the locker room, people not putting weights back, listening to people grunt while lifting are just a few that I no longer deal with in my garage.

Took me 20 mins to get to the gym, and 20 back but now all I have to do is walk into my garage.

i don't like those multi gym things...

rather just get a squat rack, an adjustable bench, and some dumbbells... what more do you need?

[baseline_9]

Lets see some home gym pics guys,...

[yosimitesam]

Congrats on your home gym. I decided to invest in my own last year. Times has a point about return on investment, but mine was merely out of frustration. Couldn't find gyms that were big enough to fart in, let along workout in. No gyms in sight that catered to or encouraged any powerlifting movements. The amount of people either occupying floor space, equipment space or trying to get my ear space made my workouts longer and less effective. In addition, the only 24-hour gyms I had in my area locked up a room that had the power rack and lifting platforms. Of course, if I could make it during the day, the employees were doing their cross-fit on both platforms, so there you have it.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. No waiting, my people wanting to chit-chat, and best of all, I get to pick the equipment I work out on. I just got my squat safety bar, but also have other specialty bars for prehab/rehab and alternative movements. Can play whatever songs I want without having to stick ipod earphones in, while trying to keep the wires out of my way. No driving to and from, and it's a 24-7 gym.

Not everyone has this luxury, so I feel really fortunate. Of course I'd love to have more space and money to add even more ancillary items to variate my workouts even more, but I still feel mission accomplished. I can still do my base workout with enough assistance exercise items to never give the places I used to pay to work out a second thought.

[kelkel]

Not much but it works for me. Up front is a plate loaded extension/seated curl machine. Much better than I thought it would be. On the left is a vertical leg press that I love. Less space and less plates needed than a 45 degree = nice. Just picked up a seated calf machine cause who doesn't need bigger calves. Olympic bar in the corner for T Bar rows (still the best way to do them imho.) The Smith machine has a high and low pulley with a good size weight stack with the ability to add as much weight as you want to it. It's amazingly versatile if you use your imagination. Working on getting some used powerblock dumbells (125lbs) that I recently located. Negotiations under way....

[yosimitesam]

Not much but it works for me. Up front is a plate loaded extension/seated curl machine. Much better than I thought it would be. On the left is a vertical leg press that I love. Less space and less plates needed than a 45 degree = nice. Just picked up a seated calf machine cause who doesn't need bigger calves. Olympic bar in the corner for T Bar rows (still the best way to do them imho.) The Smith machine has a high and low pulley with a good size weight stack with the ability to add as much weight as you want to it. It's amazingly versatile if you use your imagination. Working on getting some used powerblock dumbells (125lbs) that I recently located. Negotiations under way....

That looks great and sounds even better. What's funny is that's more than enough. So many gyms have so many machines that do very little, if anything at all, yet the free weight area keeps getting more and more condensed. I appreciate being able to focus on the tools I need to train, rather than guess whether this or that machine or gadget might be good for something.

Above all that, just the fact people aren't there to get in the way and put me in a bad mood makes the investment worth it.

[yosimitesam]

Not much but it works for me. Up front is a plate loaded extension/seated curl machine. Much better than I thought it would be. On the left is a vertical leg press that I love. Less space and less plates needed than a 45 degree = nice. Just picked up a seated calf machine cause who doesn't need bigger calves. Olympic bar in the corner for T Bar rows (still the best way to do them imho.) The Smith machine has a high and low pulley with a good size weight stack with the ability to add as much weight as you want to it. It's amazingly versatile if you use your imagination. Working on getting some used powerblock dumbells (125lbs) that I recently located. Negotiations under way....

PS: I love my powerblocks. My biggest regret is they only go to 50 lbs. I don't think I can add more weight to those. I used to have the Bowflex Selectech dumbbells, but they were very long and awkward to use. I still may invest in the heavier Powerblocks and let my wife use the smaller weight ones.

[clarky.]

I've got a home gym love it just like probs everybody that's got one I was fed up of traveling there and back stuck in traffic and gym fees I spent about £300 building a big garage out my back and spent £1000 on equipment got everything I need plus I can make quite a bit of equipment my self

[bdos]

What do you mean moving out of state? How can you move out of state? If you move from one state your still in another state?

How are you still alive??? Lol

I was going to set up a home gym but we have another house mate moving in and took my spot

[kelkel]

PS: I love my powerblocks. My biggest regret is they only go to 50 lbs. I don't think I can add more weight to those. I used to have the Bowflex Selectech dumbbells, but they were very long and awkward to use. I still may invest in the heavier Powerblocks and let my wife use the smaller weight ones.

Yeah I've been dying to get a heavy set as my current dumbells limit me greatly. The 125's would be good. Glad to hear a positive comment toward the powerblocks. If the guy comes down in price a bit I'm on them.

[GrimmReaper]

Those powerblock dumbells look pretty awesome but the price is pretty steep. Where is best place to get them used? Craigslist?

[yosimitesam]

Those powerblock dumbells look pretty awesome but the price is pretty steep. Where is best place to get them used? Craigslist?

That would be the first place I would look. You can also try ebay, where sometimes you can get deals on new ones. They are pretty pricey, but convenient as hell, and still much cheaper than acquiring multiple pairs of dumbbells.

[GrimmReaper]

anyone look into the bowflex 1090 set?

[yosimitesam]

anyone look into the bowflex 1090 set?

I used to have that set. I liked them fine. Especially if you get the stand for them. I sold them back when I was living in an apartment and had decided to join a gym. Fast forward a few years, I ended up hating that I sold them, but when faced with what to do for dumbbells and still consolidating space, I went with the powerblocks.

Having used both, I actually prefer the powerblocks. They are a lot more compact, and you can upgrade them to ultimately hold more weight. At least if you opt for the set that starts off with more weight (the ones I have only go to 50 and you can't upgrade).

Switching is easy on both of them, but if I had to start over again, I'd still return to the powerblocks. Just with the heavier capacity. Having said that, if you can get a deal on the bowflex, 1090 set, there's absolutely nothing wrong with going that route.

[GrimmReaper]

Thanks for the insight yosimite.

[yosimitesam]

Thanks for the insight yosimite.

No problem my friend. Enjoy your home gym. It ended up being the best decision I made. I love being able to add specialty bars and working out whenever I want without having to worry about whether it's going to be crowded, closed or if a station will be available.

[GrimmReaper]

No problem my friend. Enjoy your home gym. It ended up being the best decision I made. I love being able to add specialty bars and working out whenever I want without having to worry about whether it's going to be crowded, closed or if a station will be available.

Cheers to that, it is a great feeling being a gym owner (even if I am the only member)

[yosimitesam]

Cheers to that, it is a great feeling being a gym owner (even if I am the only member)

Well, the good news is you won't have to post gym rules, and if you happen to break them, you won't need to worry about being thrown out!

[GrimmReaper]

hahaha very true yosimite

[V-ROID]

I bought that exact gym a couple years back from Academy. Loaded up on plates from Play it Again Sports and no complaints. Though the wife uses it more than I do (I am addicted to deadlifts) it does all the exercises I need to do safely when working out alone.

[GrimmReaper]

I bought that exact gym a couple years back from Academy. Loaded up on plates from Play it Again Sports and no complaints. Though the wife uses it more than I do (I am addicted to deadlifts) it does all the exercises I need to do safely when working out alone.

Yeah, it's been a while using and it's been great so far. Smith bar is great for alone exercises, but I have an free olympic bar I prefer for most of my lifts.

Did you have to put wd40 on the backrail that the weights hook on for cable use?

[V-ROID]

No WD-40 or lubricant and very little resistance. The universal gym that this one replaced was greased all to hell and still was not smooth. Used to always get grease on me somehow every time I used it. That is one of the reasons I went with this Marcy, it is extra smooth even at low weight. Wife sometimes does 20lb cable presses and still glides smoothly. I prefer using the free bar as well and it is great that is has a vertical holder for it. I do use the rack for squatting always and I don't even try to squat crazy weights, I just like the motion and safety. Got rid of VKR to make room for this so sometimes I wish there was a place to do pull-ups but I have a door bar for that. I am not a madman with working out like a lot of folks here so this machine and a couple free-weights does not get boring to me.

[GrimmReaper]

I think it must be the linear bearings that make the cables so smooth. I am very impressed with the machine.