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Creative Solutions for Closed Gyms?

SomewhatDamag

SomewhatDamag

New member
Lads, we find ourselves in trying times. I was thinking we could use this as a spot to brainstorm ways to maintain or even progress while not having access to our usual gyms. Also, if anyone has experience in these situations, I'd love to know what you've done.

I'm thinking bands offer some utility, as do gallon jugs of water that can be filled with other things such as pea gravel. Anyway, let's survive this together!
 
I was thinking of purchasing the item below, but don't know if it will be enough resistance.

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Thought and other ideas?
 
AntM1564 said:
I was thinking of purchasing the item below, but don't know if it will be enough resistance.

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Thought and other ideas?
Click to expand...

That's kinda interesting. It certainly wouldn't be as much resistance as we'd like, but is it enough to stave-off muscle atrophy? Probably.
 
AntM1564 said:
I was thinking of purchasing the item below, but don't know if it will be enough resistance.

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Thought and other ideas?
Click to expand...
It's a bit gimmicky, surely 90 bucks would get a hefty set of dumbbells. Then you have squats, lunges, good mornings, calf raises, flyes, presses, pullovers, curls, skull crushers, laterals, shrugs etc.
 
I just bought some 1090 bowflex dumbbells, resistance bands from tribe on Amazon, and the bowflex 5.1s bench. Oh and an ab roller. But none of this stuff will be here until Sunday into next week. This really sucks.

I have a treadmill so I'm going to keep active and just do some body weight workouts from youtube or something.

I suppose this is a good thing because I haven't taken a break from preworkouts in a long time, or a break from lifting. It's just terrible timing since I'm cutting and have been seeing tremendous results in the gym for 6-7 days a week.

The world needs to go back to normal lol
 
Yeah it's a problem that doesn't need to exist... fucking stupid politicians. I'm a medical provider and I say this is bull ****! lol

I just filled a milk jug with dry concrete, packed to the gills I've got it pushing 20lbs.
 
I made TRX-style bands out of steel chain and quick links. Then there’s always a doorway pull-up bar.

And I also have a folding adjustable bench and spinlock dumbbells that go up to 100lbs each.
 
Raveofthrones said:
I just bought some 1090 bowflex dumbbells, resistance bands from tribe on Amazon, and the bowflex 5.1s bench. Oh and an ab roller. But none of this stuff will be here until Sunday into next week. This really sucks.

I have a treadmill so I'm going to keep active and just do some body weight workouts from youtube or something.

I suppose this is a good thing because I haven't taken a break from preworkouts in a long time, or a break from lifting. It's just terrible timing since I'm cutting and have been seeing tremendous results in the gym for 6-7 days a week.

The world needs to go back to normal lol
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Thats some pricey stuff, but nice!
AntM1564 said:
I was thinking of purchasing the item below, but don't know if it will be enough resistance.

Invalid Link Removed

Thought and other ideas?
Click to expand...

I need to get something going on here, but I don’t have much to spend. All I have currently is a rebounder and a BOSU trainer. 🤣
 
OK, so I got this thing. It’s the extra band version option which offers more resistance when you double up.

I got pink because it was the cheapest (just because I wanted too)

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Now I want to get one of these suspension trainers. Anybody use one? One has non slip handles that look like they would rotate.

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The other seems to have fixed plastic handles.

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Any opinions on which one might have a better feel? I’m thinking probably the more rubberized ones that likely rotate, but I have never used shyt like this before..

Weights/bench will have to come later. Just want to get something going using my own bodyweight.

Thanks for any help ;)
 
Ricky10 said:
OK, so I got this thing. It’s the extra band version option which offers more resistance when you double up.

I got pink because it was the cheapest (just because I wanted too)

Invalid Link Removed




Now I want to get one of these suspension trainers. Anybody use one? One has non slip handles that look like they would rotate.

Invalid Link Removed

The other seems to have fixed plastic handles.

Invalid Link Removed

Any opinions on which one might have a better feel? I’m thinking probably the more rubberized ones that likely rotate, but I have never used shyt like this before..

Weights/bench will have to come later. Just want to get something going using my own bodyweight.

Thanks for any help ;)
Click to expand...
I made suspension/TRX style bands using steel chain and quick links, and PVC pipe handles. Ended up being really cheap, and it’s great for rows, tricep extensions, curls, rear delts, etc.

I’m thinking you’d want handles that rotate, just like how having a bar that rotates for tricep Pushdowns makes the movement more natural for the wrists.
 
Raveofthrones said:
I just bought some 1090 bowflex dumbbells, resistance bands from tribe on Amazon, and the bowflex 5.1s bench. Oh and an ab roller. But none of this stuff will be here until Sunday into next week. This really sucks.

I have a treadmill so I'm going to keep active and just do some body weight workouts from youtube or something.

I suppose this is a good thing because I haven't taken a break from preworkouts in a long time, or a break from lifting. It's just terrible timing since I'm cutting and have been seeing tremendous results in the gym for 6-7 days a week.

The world needs to go back to normal lol
Click to expand...

Man that's a fucking awesome idea. I just followed suit and bought those. BTW everyone, if you buy those 2 things there's a coupon code of BOW1090 to save $100. Thanks Groupon! haha
 
muscleupcrohn said:
I made suspension/TRX style bands using steel chain and quick links, and PVC pipe handles. Ended up being really cheap, and it’s great for rows, tricep extensions, curls, rear delts, etc.

I’m thinking you’d want handles that rotate, just like how having a bar that rotates for tricep Pushdowns makes the movement more natural for the wrists.
Click to expand...
That’s cool, I‘m not much in the mood to be as crafty as you, so Amazon it is!

I considered the fixed handles as I thought it might offer a feel of more stability, but I think you may be right. Thanks!
 
Ricky10 said:
That’s cool, I‘m not much in the mood to be as crafty as you, so Amazon it is!

I considered the fixed handles as I thought it might offer a feel of more stability, but I think you may be right. Thanks!
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NP. I’m also thinking about all the single-hand attachments for cable machines at commercial gyms, and, IIRC, they all have handles that rotate. Be it the metal handles or the rope ones.
 
SomewhatDamag said:
Man that's a fucking awesome idea. I just followed suit and bought those. BTW everyone, if you buy those 2 things there's a coupon code of BOW1090 to save $100. Thanks Groupon! haha
Click to expand...
I heavily considered getting one of those package deals, but they seem to be on backorder for 60+ days?

* Except for the 560 bundle
 
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Anyone with knee wraps can do bodyweight stuff under occlusion and get a nice growth stimulus. Alos go grab a 5gallon bucket or two at Home depot, use that as an odd object to carry / load. You can put sand or pebble gravel in it for 5$ per 40lb bag. drop a 40lb bag of pebble into a back pack and do weighted push ups. Lots of options. Do any of it occluded to increase growth factors.
 
MrKleen73 said:
Anyone with knee wraps can do bodyweight stuff under occlusion and get a nice growth stimulus. Alos go grab a 5gallon bucket or two at Home depot, use that as an odd object to carry / load. You can put sand or pebble gravel in it for 5$ per 40lb bag. drop a 40lb bag of pebble into a back pack and do weighted push ups. Lots of options. Do any of it occluded to increase growth factors.
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Good ideas! Hell, I took a 25lb plate or two I had laying around and put them in a backpack to do lunges and pushups and stuff. Lots of options out there to suit your preferences and available tools/equipment.
 
Bought the bowflex db’s, a bench, some bands and have a chin up bar. With that stuff and some body weight exercises, Menno wrote me a program that I think will do just fine though I hope these circumstances last shorter rather than longer.
 
Try and do 50 burpees non-stop. then 100. you get the picture.
Go to homedept and purchase playground sand. Kept in bag form or transferred into sandbags is ideal for front squats.
 
UCSMiami said:
Try and do 50 burpees non-stop. then 100. you get the picture.
Go to homedept and purchase playground sand. Kept in bag form or transferred into sandbags is ideal for front squats.
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Also if you want to leave it in the bags I recommend getting some gaffers tape. It will reinforce the bag so they don't burst but not slick like duct tape so you can get a much better grip on the bags.
 
I use sandbags. I see some of the oem bags are sturdy and some no.
Grip? for front squats arms form a cradle.
 
UCSMiami said:
I use sandbags. I see some of the oem bags are sturdy and some no.
Grip? for front squats arms form a cradle.
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Yeah it seems the ones you can buy aren't that sturdy unless you spend some money. I had an old heavy canvas ruck bag I used but I also made one with 2 contractor bags and then taping loosely around the bags giving the sand a little room to move. I have tossed it about a bit and still holding together well.
 
Ricky10 said:
I heavily considered getting one of those package deals, but they seem to be on backorder for 60+ days?

* Except for the 560 bundle
Click to expand...

It didn't say if they're on backorder or not, the benches aren't. I mean, the order hasn't shipped yet, but just processed on Friday so who knows. It would be kinda shitty if they don't say if something is in stock or not and just want to get orders.
 
Ricky10 said:
I heavily considered getting one of those package deals, but they seem to be on backorder for 60+ days?

* Except for the 560 bundle
Click to expand...

Whew man, I just lucked the hell out. I went on OfferUp to look at weights and BOOM, someone selling a pair of the 1090s for $525. I jumped on it and they're now in my place. I'll cancel the 1090s that are presumably backordered from Bowflex.
 
SomewhatDamag said:
Whew man, I just lucked the hell out. I went on OfferUp to look at weights and BOOM, someone selling a pair of the 1090s for $525. I jumped on it and they're now in my place. I'll cancel the 1090s that are presumably backordered from Bowflex.
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Good find. 90lbs each is more than enough for the vast majority of people IMO.
 
I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but along with the EliteFTS bands, I recommend some Spud Inc stuff. They sell various, heavy duty, strapped....stuff lol. Strap alternatives for KB swings, farmer carries, yokes, and they also sell a cable system that could be hung from wherever. It's well made and decently priced; I've had some of their things for a couple of years now.

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As for actual training program home alternatives:
Meadows
Joe Bennet
Joe DeFranco
Troponin Nutrition
 
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My wife gets empty used kegs from the liquor store for super cheap, then fills them with sand or pea gravel to a desired weight and seal them with rubber caps and hose clamps from Lowe’s plumbing section. Weigh the keg on a scale as you make it so you can get it to the desired weight.

You can start light and add more over time as you accommodate, letting it shift around inside keeping it more difficult to lift for the weight, or add wood chips/mulch atop the gravel to fill out the rest of the volume to prevent shifting making it easier while adding negligible additional weight. Or if you’re really badass just fill them with water!

We have kegs from 60-240lbs for cleans and presses, carries, loading (the biggest muscle builder), and have made them up to 400 for strongman shows. You can get smaller ones to make for overhead throws in the yard too.
 
I'll tell you of one that many people have no clue about and that has been thrown into the dustbin of time. The Bullworker Classic and Bullworker Steel Bow. Two great devices that are possibly some of the hardest work that I do. The repetition + iso holds are brutal combos. I think they work my upper back better than anything I've found.

Don't over look them.
 
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