Get big without a gym? (Barbell Dumbbell)

**BigFellaAndy** · 29-11-2011 05:26 PM

I've been at a gym for a good while now, but had been going through a flat spot so to say, and lost my previous gains..... Now i went last week, and my memberships due... £400 for the year.

However, In my garage, i've got a full olympic barbell set. (145kg of weights) With a removable bench/Squat rack/Rack for bench etc. It does have a lat pulldown on it, but it's very flimsey, so i won't be using that.

It also has leg curls aswel, but thats also a little bit flimsey.

I've got a set of the Bowflex Select Tech Dumbbells... which range from 10lbs to 90lbs each.

How nesecery is a gym would you guys say?

And how effective would a workout be with Just barbells and dumbbells...

Chest - Flat Barbell Bench/ Incline Dumbbell bench / Flies

Back - Pullups/Bent Over Barbells/Single Arm DB Rows/Deadlifts

Shoulders/Traps - Seated Dumbbell/Standing Military Front/Side raises and Shrugs

Legs - Squats/Leg Curls/Leg Extensions/Calf Raises

Triceps - Close Grip BP/Overhead extensions/Skullcrushers

Biceps - Straight bar curl/Concentration Curl/Hammer Curl

Can anyone think of anything which shouldn't be in there? Or anything that should be in there??

Cheers guys!

**Hardcorener** · 29-11-2011 05:56 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by BigFellaAndy

How nesecery is a gym would you guys say?

What?

I hate gym.

Well...I hate people in my gym ( and part of the management ) so...yeah...it is safe to say that I hate gym ( Why? This is why: things that make you bite your tongue at the gym )

My dream is to have my own space and my own equipment. Consider yourself lucky.

**Pkant2002** · 29-11-2011 05:58 PM

Jesus i defo wouldnt fork out 400 quid if you have all that equipment. Granted you might have to buy a few more weights but i just saw 182kg on olympic plates sell for £84 on ebay so you could defo top up your weights ect and you would never have to pay for the gym again.

**SpiderDan** · 30-11-2011 08:11 AM

All you need is a barbell, a rack and a bench (even thats questionable)

dumbells are just a nicety but not necessary.

**Mart001** · 30-11-2011 12:02 PM

Look for Dan John, he has a PDF called from the ground up (FREE!), he has improvised alot through his training, in one article (i dont know if its in the one I mentioned) he had to get by with a 45# DB, but he doesnt do splits, alot more full body stuff, clean and press etc. Its a good read.

He also has a book called never let go which I've just finished, some of the articles from his PDF are in the book. You can get by on just a 45# DB.

**JDC** · 30-11-2011 01:43 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by BigFellaAndy

I've been at a gym for a good while now, but had been going through a flat spot so to say, and lost my previous gains..... Now i went last week, and my memberships due... £400 for the year.

However, In my garage, i've got a full olympic barbell set. (145kg of weights) With a removable bench/Squat rack/Rack for bench etc. It does have a lat pulldown on it, but it's very flimsey, so i won't be using that.

It also has leg curls aswel, but thats also a little bit flimsey.

I've got a set of the Bowflex Select Tech Dumbbells... which range from 10lbs to 90lbs each.

How nesecery is a gym would you guys say?

And how effective would a workout be with Just barbells and dumbbells...

Chest - Flat Barbell Bench/ Incline Dumbbell bench / Flies

Back - Pullups/Bent Over Barbells/Single Arm DB Rows/Deadlifts

Shoulders/Traps - Seated Dumbbell/Standing Military Front/Side raises and Shrugs

Legs - Squats/Leg Curls/Leg Extensions/Calf Raises

Triceps - Close Grip BP/Overhead extensions/Skullcrushers

Biceps - Straight bar curl/Concentration Curl/Hammer Curl

Can anyone think of anything which shouldn't be in there? Or anything that should be in there??

Cheers guys!

Not trying to sell anything but there's a book called Beyond Brawn by Stuart McRobert. Given the sort of questions you're asking here, it wouldn't be the worst thing to do, than to get some ideas from it. It covers the advantages/disadvantages of gyms/home-gyms in some detail (one part of the book, not the entire content obviously.)

In a nutshell, though? No. You don't need a gym. Guys got big years before gyms.

**ben 21** · 18-12-2011 02:57 AM

your all set! what else could you need? i would like to see lunges in your leg routine though

**Badger 1486** · 18-12-2011 10:41 AM

Save the gym cash. Barbell, decent bench and a cage will allow you to safely do all the main compound exercises at home. With the added bonus of no waiting for equipment and no people distracting you.

**fctilidie** · 18-12-2011 11:04 AM

I can't even believe this is a question. You have pretty much the ideal set up, so no need to ever step foot in a gym.

No mention of hamstrings, and that's something I would personally make sure you work on that a lot of people don't. Dumbell swings, GHR's (there are ways of doing them without a ghr bench), romanian deadlifts etc

Also look at getting a couple of different strength iron woody bands (or similar), you'll be amazed at how many machines you can replace with them.

**Zeigler** · 18-12-2011 11:35 AM

Quote

Originally Posted by fctilidie

Also look at getting a couple of different strength iron woody bands (or similar), you'll be amazed at how many machines you can replace with them.

This.

My resistance band set is the BEST thing I've ever bought - the heaviest band is 70lbs each side and theres about 10 bands. Put them all together and you've got well over 300lbs of resistance in something lightweight.