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Training Without Equipment

by Zach Bashore

Most of us have the problem of choosing what type of equipment to use in the gym, while others ponder ways to even be able to train in the first place. Even if you don`t have access to a gym, there are plenty of alternatives that can help you get a great body without spending a fortune on gym fees. If you`re a teen whose parents won`t buy you a gym membership, someone who doesn`t feel like driving a long distance to be able to train, or even a person who feels more comfortable training at home, then this article is for you.

Now you`ve decided you want to train at home but there is only one problem. You don`t have any equipment that you can use to pump out exercises with. Now is when you need to get creative and think of something you can use as an alternative to dumbbells. Milk jugs, laundry detergent, gym bags, paint cans, and books can all become useful if needed. There are also many different bodyweight exercises you can perform if you enjoy training that way. Switch things up, create a good split just like your would if you had good equipment, and most importantly, have fun doing it!

Bodybuilders love their cardio but it can become very difficult when mother nature decides to have a bad day. Most cardio machines are also very expensive so not all of us have the ability to just hop on a treadmill on days like this. Look for a jump rope or anything that can be used as one. Do jumping jacks, burpies, or walk around inside. You could even do some household chores like vacuuming the floor or anything that makes you get up and move. If you want to do cardio bad enough, you will find a way to do it no matter what.

When doing cardio I always need to do some sort of weight lifting or bodyweight exercises to get an adequate supply of testosterone in my body. That is why I created my own style of training that is very different from all of the other ways I`ve read about. When jogging around in my basement or doing jumping jack, I`ll stop every five minutes and do an exercise I have listed down on what I want to accomplish for the day. I`ll then continue my jog and repeat this cycle until the 45 minutes are up. I then stretch, have my post workout meal and call it quits for the day.

Not having any equipment or access to a gym can give you a good excuse not to start exercising or even quit working out altogether. I hope this article will help people realize that you can obtain a decent body without having to deal with the financial drain that comes with using good equipment. Something is better than nothing. If you`ve never exercised in your life and you do five push ups today. You`re better than you were yesterday. REMEMBER THAT


Reader's Comments:

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2015-07-02byron hadlow
 I competed in natural bodybuilding shows. I live on a farm in south africa and its far to travel to town, I use Gods creastion mother earth to train. I do virtually every lift known using rocks I do front squats one arm rows, and curls I split my routine up and mix it up, the best form of cardio on a farm is walking, running and horse riding that works your muscles differently in every stride, after a full gallop your quads and abs are burning like mad ur balance and core is tested. Training like this isn't time consuming I enjoy boxing and jump rope the cardio is insane u get fit quickly, start doing a set per day of pushups and pullups and abs and squats for 2 weeks to get fit and to gey used to the movements and to condition your body, then split ur workouts as u increase sets and reps eat as u are any other bodybuilder don't over eat don't under eat. 4-6 meals a day I'm getting back into shape doing this for 2 months now and the abs are showing the fat is melting off. Good luck in your training never give up always remember God gave us our bodies we need to manage it correctly and effeciently its not always easy but healthy lifestyle and training plays a big part in serving the creator.
 Good work & suggestions Bryan
 Total gyms can build muscle and strength. Anyone who says otherwise has never used one correctly. My bench went from 180 to 240 on a total gym and I weigh only 160 lbs. Pushups and a backpack full of rocks added placed on my back while on the total gym work wonders if you have patience for the high reps. Butterflies on the total gym are easy, add 75 lbs. of rocks to your back and try it again after lifting the machine up another 8 inches with a stack of books...
 old man now, but a former state champion powerlifter. lots of joint pain now. use total gym and perfect pushups for two months now. feeling good. looking good. younger guys need the free weights though. gotta get the basics in...
 Its a very cool article for people who can not travel long distance to go gym.
 it is marvellous site for people who cant spend money on bodybuilding like me
 With the total gym 1700 club you can bulk up. You can add extra weight to it along with boby weight. If you train correctly and eat correctly you will grow. You wont get freaky big, but who does, not thay many people. Trust me I noe only use the total gym I dont care about what weight I lift 4 sets each times 12 - 15 that causes pain, proper supplement cycles and I can the see the physical difference. In fact it is I am bigger than I was 8 years ago when I had time to go to the gym 5 days a week. It is horses for courses.
 You're not alone. I've read about something similar in a book, where you do cardio while you rest between sets to keep your heart going, and to save time. It's actually a very smart thing to do. And for weights, fill up a bucket with bricks or rocks for curls.
 If you can scrounge up enough money to by a barbell bar you could use different things for weights.With that done the main thing that i would do is squats.Squats works abs,calves,back,etc.......So mainly it works your whole forum
 I saw on a total gym comercial a man that supposedly holds bench press records, and they say he trains only on a total gym. What do you think of a total gym for bodybuilding and strength training?
 I think it is highly unlikely that any one you see in these commercials only use a "total gym". People will say anything to earn some extra money! While these may be good for home use if you don't have access to a real gym, they certainly can't replace the benefits you'll get from the variety of free-weight exercises you'll get in most gyms. The biggest worry I'd have is that the supporting muscles may not become as developed since the plane of motion may be more limited with these machines for particular exercises.


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