Strength training

Flexing with that setup there Stenard, looks awesome!

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I still half expect to go through our floor - putting a gym upstairs wasnt the smartest idea :see_no_evil:

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Not you @stenard surely

:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

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Son owen !
Doing the plank press up challenge…
1 to 10 no problem
Knee hit the ground at 8 on the way back down

He then tried the 15 sec plank one up and up and is now knackered !
It’s tough

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+1 on a dumbbell tree vs adjustable one. I have an oly barbell and weights. I used to have it easily accessible pride of place in the spare room. We’ve since made better use of that space for the family and I’ve had to put it away. Since getting it out is a bit of a ballache I’ve almost completely stopped using it. Long story short: unless you find you really enjoy it, I’d defo go for convenience.

To be clear, which are you saying is the inconvenient one?!

The adjustable dumbells are inconvenient due to not being proper small weight dumbells, or the dumbell trees are inconvenient because of the space issue which means if you don’t leave them readily accessible you won’t use them?

Adjustable dumbbells will be a faff to change around. Dumbbell tree sits there ready for use!

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These dial in ones look pretty ease to use and adjust

I’ve got some adjustable dumbbells and whilst there are pros and cons, on balance I think they’re great and you’d need a huge number of fixed ones to replace them.
I got mine 2nd hand and they were a little beaten up so I was worried about longevity if the mechanism went wrong but they’ve been fine. I never drop them and am always careful putting them back in the tray to not twist them.
They go from 2.5lbs upto 52.5lbs, they start at 2.5lb increments then 5lbs as they get heavier.
The downside is size, as mentioned, they are pretty long even when using a light weight and I’ve maxed out on some exercises now.
I’d like some 10-90 ones but they go for Ā£400/500 and I can’t justify that.
ETA - Mine looks like the bowflex ones but just say dumbbell on the top so not sure what make they are.

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I will be driving from MK to Eastbourne in the next week or so, might be a possibility to drop it off somewhere nearby? Posting it probably will be expensive because its both bulky and heavy.

Its only a flat bench though, cant move it like the one you posted.

Have a think. If not the one you posted from Mirafit will be good. Rated to 200kg. Their stuff is solid Ive got an adjustable bench from them, powercage and some weights. Its all solid well built stuff. Only complaint I had was not long after buying the powercage they discontinued that model and I couldnt get the pull down attachment.

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Mine looks exactly like this, I got it off FB Marketplace for about £20.
The back and seat are both adjustable and it folds up. The only negative is there is some play in the folding mechanism so it clunks if you pick it up to move it, but once it’s settled it’s fine.
I’m over 100kg and I’m maxed out on my 52lb DBs for bench so it’s handled @150kg no problem.


If you can’t sort anything with @GRamsay I’d suggest FB as there’s a lot of stuff like this on there usually, probably bought during lockdown and gathering dust now.

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Good shout on fb marketplace, Gumtree, etc

I’ve been keeping up with my little bits every day thing. Combos of press ups, single leg lungey things, some hip band work (to rehab achilles issues causes), pull ups etc as well as stretching.

Some mornings I do a full 20 min ā€˜routine’, others just 5 mins of this and that. Really happy with how I’ve managed to stick at it and thinking about how I can take it up a level next.

Up to 10 x full pull ups on the pergola now. Fully extended, pause at bottom, slow and controlled lift. Still using my triceps a lot for it though, I think because of the grip on the square beam. Need to get down the park with the kids to see if I can improve on a proper round bar.

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What’s your full routine GB?

I need to do something like this, I’m so bloody weak it’s a joke!

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That’s the secret
Anything is better than nothing if your stuck for time

Literally rolling out of bed and doing 20 press ups is something
20 or more as you go to sleep is a good tip too if it doesn’t effect sleep patterns.

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I don’t really have one yet, I kind of make it up as I go. Need to do some research and have a couple of options.

Roughly I do:

6 x 10 press ups with one leg in the air (alternate legs obvs), 30s rec.
3 x 20 shoulder taps from plank position, 30r

3 x (2 x 10 standing hip extensions with a band)
3 x 15 seated ā€˜clam’ type action with a band around knees
6 x 10 one legged lungey things (back knee to ground then try to engage glutes and drive that leg up to chest)

2 x 6 pull ups

Bit of hamstring, adductor and calf stretching

Probably need some glute bridges in there. Then start adding weights to the lunges. Only have a few token dumbells up to 5kgs - aerobics style ones.

Also tried putting a few weights (10kg) in a rucksack and doing 5 x pull ups. But that was just because my bag was there at the time. Would need to be more organised.

I’m gonna ask a mate what weights he has in his garage and maybe see if he wants to do a BFFs sweaty session once a week working on leg strength. He’s doing the very hilly 110 miler with me in Oct so I think it would be great for both of us.

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Calf drops and soleus strength work has really helped my achillies issues

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What was the press-up / plank challenge?

One press-up into 15 seconds plank, into 2 press-ups, 15 seconds plank, so on up to ten press-ups?

I made it to three. That’s how weak I am

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Practice
10 seconds plank
10 seconds rest ( put the weight on your knees or just stand up)
2 press ups ( all the way up all the way down )
10 secs rest.

Repeat for ten mins

If it’s too easy up the number of press ups BUT KEEP THE REST PERIODS IN PLACE.

Your body will soon adapt and you will be a rep monster like GB!

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That’s the way I have been doing it. Can make it to 6, but 7 seems a long way away

Also … can currently do 6 pull ups … wonder it there’s a direct link :thinking:

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