MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I used to have an “elastic gym” thing that mounted to a door, that both worked well for a variety of muscle toning exercises, and fit in my house.
I have dumbbells, but would like a machine or system that enables a variety of exercises, makes up for a lack of coordination and technique, and finally, fits in my small house.
What would STW suggest?
Pull up bar that fits in a doorway & a folding bench to pair with the dumbbells. Pretty much all you need to get you going. Multi gyms/systems/machines are all a load of bollocks. Also look into body weight exercises/calisthenics. Kettlebells ok too but technique is VERY important.
Dumbells and a bench are probably all you need. Add in a kettlebell or two and you have 100s of exercises at your disposal. Machines just limit your range of motion, so decrease the benefit of any exercise by reducing the number of muscles and coordination required.
Concept 2 rower
TRX (this might be what you mean by elastic gym I guess) and kettle bells. I’ve got a gym I have free access to less than 100m away but can’t see much need to use more than the trx and kettle bells.
A bench, barbells and dumbbells. That's it.
Strong Lifts is a great, simple, all round routine to follow as well.
I would go with TRX as well. Although some of the exercises can be fiddly and really benefit from correct technique. Outside of weight machines (even then its not absolute) technique is key to both dodge injuries and actually benefit.
TRX - but Decathlon version is obviously much cheaper !!
Some old 2l pop bottles filled with water and a compact bag or two, for when you want to combine several bottles.
I wouldn't recommend a power rack, big investment in space for something which is quite limited in functionality. Great if you want to squat to the max, but that's about it. You don't need it for bench eg use dumbbells instead of a bar and get a better shoulder workout. If you want strong glutes / quads you can do things like walking lunge with a bar / barbell / kettlebells and get a much better workout...
A kettlebell or two and the simple and sinister programme. Only two exercises: swings and get ups. It works wonders and takes very little time.
Another vote for kettlebell here, maybe throw in a jump rope too.
Only two exercises:
Sort of missing a few fundamentals there..
Any program should really try and cover Push, Pull, Hinge, Squat, rotation / anti-rotation.
Turkish Get Up and KB swing miss out bent arm work, and no pushing (other than maybe the start of the TGU).
A more comprehensive set would be something like KB swing (hinge), KB over head press (push), KB bent over row / snatch / clean (pull), KB walking lunge (squat) and then some side lunch KB snatch for rotation work. Add in KB Farmers walk variants (2x KB, 1x KB suitcase carry, 1x KB overhead, 2x KB overhead) and TGU and you're getting a pretty comprehensive workout.
would like a machine or system that enables a variety of exercises, makes up for a lack of coordination and technique, and finally, fits in my small house.
Don't get a machine, I'd say get a weight rack aka power rack as mentioned above. Stronglifts is a good programme because the app simply tells you what to do, there's no waffle, just get on with it. It's a good workout. There are plenty of racks on ebay. If you do get one I can show you how to use it, I've done a fair bit of Stronglifts.
Also kettlebells to complement the weights. If you don't have space for the rack then just get KBs. They are awesome.
Gymnastics rings are a v good and cheap option for a variety of push and pull movements