instantneedles | 02-06-2013 10:38 PM | Quote:
Originally Posted by BurnoutBinLaden
(Post 8153598)
I've been meaning to get fit and lift. The good news is that my school (Douglas College, New Westminster campus) offers a free gym to all full time students. However it doesn't have a power rack. My program of choice will be Starting Strength (I started reading it today, taking detailed notes), so the way I see it, I have three options:
1. Do runs at New West (T/Th/Sa) and lift at David Lam (M/W/F), which has a rack. This is my preferred choice if at all possible. Also it's close to downtown Coquitlam so lots of shopping and entertainment options post workout. However if the gym at DLC is only available to students who register for courses at DLC then that option goes out the window.
2. Pick an exercise program that doesn't use barbell squats, or barbells at all. (Eg dumbbell only programs, or bodyweight programs like You Are Your Own Gym). This is my next best choice until I scrounge up enough money for a gym membership.
3. A commercial gym (Fitness World, Goodlife, Fitness 2000, Gold's Gym). Hopefully a last resort.
What do you all think? I think the most important thing is that I pick a gym, pick a program, and make it routine. I can worry about the rest later.
When it comes to supplements...when I worked out at Eileen Daily pool (don't recommend), I wojld get a half litre of chocolate milk is (after lifts and runs). Assuming I have it 6x a week at $1.25 per, that's $7.50 a week or about $34 a month. Some inexpensive whey and casein would be nice. Other than buying from bb.com and shipping to Point Roberts, what can I do to supplement on a budget? Or can I just stick with protein rich meals and chocolate milk?
If I broke some kind of rule in this post, I'm sorry. I admit I didn't search the thread before I posted. | I would stick to the gym that's provided to you and work with what you have there. You mentioned you are a student, so driving to coquitlam to me seems quite impractical, especially if you are trying to create a routine out of it.
Might not be the best decision from a lifter's standpoint, but definetly a smart one from a student's perspective. Once your term starts it will be very hard to drive longer distances for the gym and lift.
Depending on how heavy your dumbbells go, there are alot of exercises you can do that can help lay a foundation for programs like stronglifts and starting strength that have been mentioned. ie. goblet squats, hip bridges, dumbbell chest press, dumbbell rows, dumbbell deadlifts. Just make sure you don't become a curlbrah and do curls all day.
It's not absolutely necessary for you to get fit, but if you want to seriously build some strength/muscle mass it would be vital for you to get into the compounds. Dumbbells just won't be able to stimulate muscle growth/ testosterone release as having a barbell across your back.
I'm not sure where you live, but since you used to lift in ED (i still lift there sometimes), you probably live in burnaby, which is a fair distance to drive 3 days a week. Personally, I'd ditch all 3 options and just spend that money on some gym close by to where you live that DOES have a squat/bench rack. |