Time Between Sets at Crowded Gyms

Training Bodybuilding
21

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
Professor X wrote:
dmanor wrote:
It is possible to get as big from working out at home.

Doubtful. Unless your home gym looks something like Ronnie Coleman’s (which is truly impressive by the way aside from the lack of air conditioning), I just don’t see a person making the same progress as they would with access to everything.

You’re a smart guy, I’ve seen numerous of your posts, but what is making you believe you need 300 pieces of equipment and 5000 pounds of iron to make way more than satisfactory progress? If I was training for the olympics or a bb contest I probably wouldn’t be able to limit my training to my basement, but I’m getting good solid resistance work that leaves me pumped, sweaty and growing. It may not be as convenient as just moving to a different area, but if you plan ahead you can cruise through a thoroughly productive workout on a fraction of what is in a commercial gym.

–Tiribulus->[/quote]

I am not trying to make “satisfactory” progress and I am not referring to “satisfactory” progress. I don’t think the progress I have made this far has been “satisfactory”. I doubt that I would have made the same progress with a limited home gym. Now, if you have the money for a state of the art home facility, then more power to you. I hope to build one eventually. However, I am very doubtful that someone will MATCH the serious gains of someone who trains like they just might compete one day by training at a home gym that cost less than 10 grand.

Hopefully that was specific enough for you.

22

I also don’t have to wait in line for no one and I also have no excuses for missing workouts.

[/quote]

Do you also order Groceries ONLINE? Have a light Box to get your “sun”? Have a real doll sitting in the corner?
Have a home based business?
Sounds like a recluse?

kidding, but I do think that motivation is comprimised.Joining a gym does offer benefits that outweigh the small times that its busy. (there are always smaller gyms you can join)

23

Rocky didn’t have access to a commercial gym in Rocky IV…when he trained in the mountains of Siberia.

I think that ends THIS conversation!

24

[quote]Shortest Straw wrote:
I also don’t have to wait in line for no one and I also have no excuses for missing workouts.

Do you also order Groceries ONLINE? Have a light Box to get your “sun”? Have a real doll sitting in the corner?
Have a home based business?
Sounds like a recluse?

kidding, but I do think that motivation is comprimised.Joining a gym does offer benefits that outweigh the small times that its busy. (there are always smaller gyms you can join)[/quote]

True as far as after the kidding part, LOL. Now considering I am not the only one working out at home, My wife and two teenage kids also workout at home so I do save some bucks on yearly membership dues. Motivation has never been a problem for me as I came from years of not having a dependent workout partner.

Now that I am married and if I need a spot for something I have my family that can help with that aspect. We are also there to keep us going if we slack off. We also have determined the best workout times for each of us. I’m not saying a commercial gym would not be better, just not necessary for what I want to achieve at this time (for me). I used to work as an instructor, way back, actually that is when I met my wife who was also a client. :slight_smile:

I also respect what Prof X says, his goals are different from mine in some ways, so I see it as a benefit for him to be in that environment, more important however is he sees it as a benefit and that is the key here.

If he found being in the gym inteferred with his training for wahtever reason, he probably would find a gym more suitable for his needs, I can’t speak for him however I’m guessing that is the way he would go if this was a problem, and this may be the solution for the OP, as you stated in reference to my post.

25

I have a bad ass home gym (power rack with platform, chin, dip and step up attachments, bench press, incline press, reverse hyper, sumo base 45 degree hyper, glute ham raise, deadlift lever, chalk bin, seated military press, preacher curl, db’s, box squat box, grappler, pulling stands, chains, bands, specialty bars, etc., most stuff from elite fitness) It is amazing!

That being said, I still keep my gym membership so I can use the leg press, lying and seated leg curl, hammer strength low row, chest supported t-bar row, heavier dumbbells, lat pulldown and cable column, etc., and so I can train in the gym atmosphere when I feel like working out around people.

Sometimes I think that many trainees would do better served if they only had access to my equipment for about two years, because they’d feel compelled to get stronger at the basics (squats, deads, chins, dips, bench, incline, military press, t-bar rows, bent over rows, shrugs, walking barbell lunges).

Then, once they built up a sufficient strength level, they’d be better served having access to all the gym equipment.

Just my opinion.

26

[quote]Shortest Straw wrote:
I also don’t have to wait in line for no one and I also have no excuses for missing workouts.

Do you also order Groceries ONLINE? Have a light Box to get your “sun”? Have a real doll sitting in the corner?
Have a home based business?
Sounds like a recluse?

kidding, but I do think that motivation is comprimised.Joining a gym does offer benefits that outweigh the small times that its busy. (there are always smaller gyms you can join)[/quote]

If I didnt live in the middle of nowhere I would probaly go to a gym…

what I wouldnt give for a cable crossover machine…

27

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I am not trying to make “satisfactory” progress and I am not referring to “satisfactory” progress. I don’t think the progress I have made this far has been “satisfactory”. I doubt that I would have made the same progress with a limited home gym. Now, if you have the money for a state of the art home facility, then more power to you. I hope to build one eventually. However, I am very doubtful that someone will MATCH the serious gains of someone who trains like they just might compete one day by training at a home gym that cost less than 10 grand.

Hopefully that was specific enough for you.[/quote]

I did say “way more than satisfactory”. I’m not trying to piss you off and am in no way meaning to diminish any of your accomplishments or methods. I am however having a hard time seeing how, beyond convenience, that anyone’s muscles know that they’re not allowed to grow as much because of the room their in or at least 10,000 dollars wasn’t spent on the equipment being used.

100lbs of resistance is 100lbs regardless of where it’s happening assuming the movement is the same and unless you’re on steady diet of isolation machines the same coupla dozen movements can be done with a relatively small modicum of intelligently selected equipment. Intelligent selection being key.

Again, don’t take me as being purposely antagonistic, but it does seem to me like you’re giving the equipment more credit for your success than it’s due.

–Tiribulus->

28

[quote]bretc wrote:
I have a bad ass home gym (power rack with platform, chin, dip and step up attachments, bench press, incline press, reverse hyper, sumo base 45 degree hyper, glute ham raise, deadlift lever, chalk bin, seated military press, preacher curl, db’s, box squat box, grappler, pulling stands, chains, bands, specialty bars, etc., most stuff from elite fitness) It is amazing!

That being said, I still keep my gym membership so I can use the leg press, lying and seated leg curl, hammer strength low row, chest supported t-bar row, heavier dumbbells, lat pulldown and cable column, etc., and so I can train in the gym atmosphere when I feel like working out around people.

Sometimes I think that many trainees would do better served if they only had access to my equipment for about two years, because they’d feel compelled to get stronger at the basics (squats, deads, chins, dips, bench, incline, military press, t-bar rows, bent over rows, shrugs, walking barbell lunges).

Then, once they built up a sufficient strength level, they’d be better served having access to all the gym equipment.

Just my opinion.

[/quote]

I do agree with that.

29

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
Professor X wrote:
I am not trying to make “satisfactory” progress and I am not referring to “satisfactory” progress. I don’t think the progress I have made this far has been “satisfactory”. I doubt that I would have made the same progress with a limited home gym. Now, if you have the money for a state of the art home facility, then more power to you. I hope to build one eventually. However, I am very doubtful that someone will MATCH the serious gains of someone who trains like they just might compete one day by training at a home gym that cost less than 10 grand.

Hopefully that was specific enough for you.

I did say “way more than satisfactory”. I’m not trying to piss you off and am in no way meaning to diminish any of your accomplishments or methods. I am however having a hard time seeing how, beyond convenience, that anyone’s muscles know that they’re not allowed to grow as much because of the room their in or at least 10,000 dollars wasn’t spent on the equipment being used.

100lbs of resistance is 100lbs regardless of where it’s happening assuming the movement is the same and unless you’re on steady diet of isolation machines the same coupla dozen movements can be done with a relatively small modicum of intelligently selected equipment. Intelligent selection being key.

Again, don’t take me as being purposely antagonistic, but it does seem to me like you’re giving the equipment more credit for your success than it’s due.

–Tiribulus->[/quote]

I’m not taking you as being purposely antagonistic, but there is a rather large difference between what will promote more muscle growth at my current level of development and what would have allowed more progress years ago when I was barely breaking 200lbs. Most people training are not serious trainers who many would consider anywhere near “advanced”. I know I have a long way to go to reach my own goals, but I also know I am ahead of many.

After a certain point, you need more stimulation than what most home gyms would provide. That doesn’t mean someone is incapable of building a gym that fits their needs perfectly. It is just that building one suitable for someone who has been training for years and takes it seriously would require one major effort compared to the needs of a beginner.

30

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I’m not taking you as being purposely antagonistic, but there is a rather large difference between what will promote more muscle growth at my current level of development and what would have allowed more progress years ago when I was barely breaking 200lbs. Most people training are not serious trainers who many would consider anywhere near “advanced”. I know I have a long way to go to reach my own goals, but I also know I am ahead of many.

After a certain point, you need more stimulation than what most home gyms would provide. That doesn’t mean someone is incapable of building a gym that fits their needs perfectly. It is just that building one suitable for someone who has been training for years and takes it seriously would require one major effort compared to the needs of a beginner.[/quote]

Fair enough. I do take training very seriously, but probably for different reasons than you do and with different goals. If I had the money for both I’d love to have a membership as well if for no other reason than to throw my body a curveball here and there that’s not possible with what I have, but I don’t.

Being 42 now and not the most genetically resplendent specimen in history I doubt I’ll ever actually need too much more than what I have now though. I’m glad you took what I was saying the way I meant it BTW, because I don’t like to needlessly make enemies, even with someone I’ll likely never “meet”. The brave new online world.

–Tiribulus->

31

[quote]Jimfound wrote:
Rocky didn’t have access to a commercial gym in Rocky IV…when he trained in the mountains of Siberia.

I think that ends THIS conversation![/quote]

It should have.

32

As someone else mentioned the best thing to do is to tag the places you go to and not be afraid to tell people you will need a specific machine in 60s or whatever.

I usually put my bag, water etc on a bench right next to the squat machine or whatever I am using. That way I can do my squat then go straight to sit up. Or do my standing alternating shoulder press and go straight to bench pullovers. Obviously I am not doing supersets but circuits but you get the idea.

Most gym goers use machines and almost no dumbbells. So using DBs is always the best way to go, plus they are mobile so take them with you to the machine you are using. Even if you are doing supersets you can go DB Curls and then use the machine for your tricepts. Anyway free weights and bars most people stay clear from so even in busy times you can pretty much always squat, romanian deadlift, Barbell curl you name it.

The only places that kind of suck when they are tagged are bench presses because most gyms have one or two of them and its not easy to change the weights except if the person benching is close to your stength requirements.