Weights for the apartment dweller + Tai Chi results

Yesterday I restarted my weightlifting exercise component. I noticed
though, that in breaking up with my ex, I lost a set of weights & bench
(they were her birthday present). So, I have two ten pound dummies, but
have decided this is not really going to work. Though I got a good burn
from most of the exercises, I need more for curls and presses and less
for dumbell twists. I also might need a bench, but I might just replace
the incline curl with something else for the biceps.

Current routine includes
Squat
French Press
Incline Curl
Concentration Curl
Pushups
Two Hand Curl
Skull Crushers
Dumbbell Circles (this is an amazing motion that works the wrists,
forearms, biceps, triceps and brachialis)
Reverse Curl
Wrist Curl
Inverted Wrist Curl
Sit Ups
Calf Raise

I got this routine (and modified it slightly with skull crushers in for
a Triceps stretch, which I could never get to feel like I was doing
anything, even with a 20 lb dumbbell, which is a lot more than was
recommended). I got this workout from the Bruce Lee Library's "The Art
of Expressing the Human Body". This was a workout that Bruce Lee did
when he first started lifting seriously, and he reportedly saw
tremendous results in a month or two. When I did LC the first time, I
had eventually moved to this routine, because it was all things I could
do in my home environment, and I saw great results (particularly in my
arms) very quickly.

So, my problem is that I am looking for some weights to do this routine
with that will not break the bank but also not be crappy. I was looking
at something like the PowerBlocks
(http://www.powerblock.com/frame.html), but am unsure of quality.

Also, I wanted to report on my results in using Tai Chi as a workout
replacement. While I love the concentration and relaxation I get from
it, I do not really get an elevated heart rate (unless we count the
time I wanted to kill the instructor in LA early in my time with the
discipline, but I don't think that counts). I think I will continue it
as something for Sunday Morning (to balance it as three days of
lifting, three days of aerobic exercise, and one day of something for
me).

-Hollywood, Not sore, but feeling very pumped this morning (I worked
out before going to bed last night).

Could you give a short description of each of the steps in your routine
and how many reps you do? I like that it can be done at home.

Thanks!

Okay:

1- Squats (3 sets of 10).
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...s/BBSquat.html
I don't have a bar, so I hold my dummies up behind my head. I am
currently heavy enough that doing the motion without weight may
actually be providing enough resistance.

2- French Press (4 sets of 6)
http://www.thepumpingstation.com/ french.html
I modify this to a 4 step move, where I do a regular press (start with
weights at chest and press it up) and then add the french press
movement. I think I learned this in my gym in LA, but I prefer the
compound movement to the regular FP.

3- Incline Curl (4 sets of 6)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...clineCurl.html
I am not currently doing this, due to lack of a bench (I am currently
lifting on a pair of ottomans, so am replacing with dumbbell flys.
(http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...nal/DBFly.html) This
is not an ideal sub, but the routine is very heavy on the biceps
already.

4- Concentration Curl (4 sets of 6)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...ationCurl.html
This is my favorite curl, far and away. You can really feel your bicep
working. If you do it at a gym, and have been lifting for a bit, it
really makes the muscle pop out and looks good to the ladies. My ex
loved it. My DW was too tired last night to look at it, but my
definition is for crap atm. Gimme a couple of weeks and this will look
great.

5- Pushups (3 sets of 10)
http://www.stumptuous.com/pushup.html
#4 is the one I do, but I have moved to #5. If you are just begining
and not in good health, start easier. I also used to do #4 with some
extra weight on my back, but like #5 better.

6- Two Hand Curl (3 sets of 8)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Biceps/BBCurl.html
I do this with my dumbbells by holding them end to end.

7- Skull Crushers (3 sets of 8)
http://en.mimi.hu/fitness/skull_crusher.html
Someday, I will find a triceps exercise that I really like. Until then,
there is this and the French Press and the DB Circle.

8- Dumbbell Circle (4 sets of 12)
No site for this one. My book says, "The dumbbells are simulateously
rotated in verticle circles in front of the body, with the wrists
turned up at the bottom of the outward arc and turned down on the inner
arc." I hope this is helpful. This works the entire arm really well,
but looks a little goofy to anyone who hasn't done it.

9- Reverse Curl (4 sets of 6)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...verseCurl.html
The thing that is reversed here is the grip on the bar or the dummies.
It's amazing to me how different that makes the curl motion feel.

10- Wrist Curl (4 sets of 12)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html

11- Reverse Wrist Curl (4 sets of 12)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...WristCurl.html

12- Sit ups (5 sets of 12)
http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/situps.htm
If you don't like these (I mean intense can't do, don't like) sub with
crunches or something else for your abs.

13- Calf Raise (5 sets of 20)
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...CalfRaise.html
I do these on a stair or on my cost accounting book (1000+ pages). I
find using a stair is a little challenging, especially when I'm
starting or restarting, due to balance concerns. They had a machine for
this at the gym, which I could do something like 90 lbs on and I didn't
feel the workout I got from lifting 200+ lbs of me on the book or the
stairs. Before B-school, I would use my Arden Complete works of
Shakespeare, to give you an idea.

Hope that helps Jake.

JC Der Koenig wrote:
What's wrong with the Walmart style plate dumbells? You can get up around 90
lbs on each one.

My connection with reality and my wife is too tight. Have a big
apartment, but a small workout room.

The Powerblocks look cool and all, but they seem overly expensive.

That's why I'm asking, because they are so expensive, but you can fit a
whole set of dummies into about a square foot in a closet, with my mat,
and the folding travel bench I'm gonna get.

-Hollywood

Max Hollywood Harris wrote:
:: So, my problem is that I am looking for some weights to do this
:: routine with that will not break the bank but also not be crappy. I
:: was looking at something like the PowerBlocks
:: (http://www.powerblock.com/frame.html), but am unsure of quality.

Those are good quality but the don't fit your parameters: they are
expensive.

Max Hollywood Harris wrote:

I also might need a bench, but I might just replace
the incline curl with something else for the biceps.


Something you might consider instead of a bench is a fitball.
When I want to light workout at home I use a fit ball as a bench
(DB presses/flys, French presses), to do push-ups with my feet
elevated, high volume squats/lunges (with the ball against my
back) and of course all sorts of ab work. Its a different sort of
change.

All said, if you plan on working heavy but don't have the room
for the right equipment, seriously consider a gym membership.

--
Rudy - Remove the Z from my address to respond.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!"
-Emiliano Zapata

Check out the a.s.d.l-c FAQ at:
http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/faq.htm

In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

FFS

Don't knock a fitball. ;-)
They are _fabulous_ for ab exercises!

And I don't see any reason you could not sit on one of them and do basic
dumbell bicep or concentration curls?

Hell, you could use a chair for that!

You could also center your back on the ball, feet flat on the floor, and
do dumbell skull crushers for triceps.

Fitballs are deflatable so take up less space than a bench...
and there is little that you cannot do with dumbells to cover basic
moves.

One of the reasons I gave up on the whole "home gym" idea and re-joined
the club was more convenient and there are no distractions there, and
more equipment than I had space (or money) for!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

FFS

Don't knock a fitball. ;-)


No wonder you people have such a hard time making progress.



Okay you twit!

Have you EVER done situps on a fitball?
That's the only thing that I personally use them for,
but they have use as a weight bench as they force you to
use other muscles to _balance_ on an unstable surface as
you do the work!

Please, do, check it out sometime. ;-)

I get far more abdominal DOMS using a fitball for crunches
than I do a flat bench!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

I'm sure they'd rather play with their balls than with yours.

In ,
JC Der Koenig stated
|
| No wonder you people have such a hard time making progress.
|
|
| You're too busy playing with your balls instead of taking care of
| business.

In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"JC Der Koenig" wrote:

FFS

Don't knock a fitball. ;-)


No wonder you people have such a hard time making progress.




Have you EVER done situps on a fitball?


No wonder you people have such a hard time making progress.


You're too busy playing with your balls instead of taking care of business.



;-)
That was funny!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson