[SteveBlade]

Yo Yo,

First time posting on here, but diving straight into the fitness thing. I've just been made redundant from an apprenticeship I was on after leaving Sixth Form which was a bit of a bummer. I suppose that's me done introducing myself where education is involved. ^_^

I'm 6 ft 3, pretty slim and I'm just looking to tone up, and build up my arms and chest. I'm pretty fit, go running most days and play football a lot. I've been doing some very light weight work over the last couple of years, but only really notice the benefits on my deltoids and trapezius. My biceps are really pretty small.

I've been looking to spend about £50 on a bench, but not sure what the best one to get is as I've heard a couple of poor reviews. I'm intereste in the following for value for money, does anyone on here have any experience with good training benches?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Sculptu...1774704&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-Fitness...1774704&sr=1-3

Thanks,

Steven.

[SEHughes]

Hi Steven,

First your goals. You say you want to build up your arms and chest, I assume to look better. A fine enough goal, but don't neglect the muscles in your back. You'll look better and your shoulders will be healthier!

Second, what equipment do you have at the moment? Are you looking to set up a more complete home gym?

Good luck with your goals.

Stuart

[ch0c0h01ic]

(Original post by SteveBlade)
Yo Yo,

First time posting on here, but diving straight into the fitness thing. I've just been made redundant from an apprenticeship I was on after leaving Sixth Form which was a bit of a bummer. I suppose that's me done introducing myself where education is involved. ^_^

I'm 6 ft 3, pretty slim and I'm just looking to tone up, and build up my arms and chest. I'm pretty fit, go running most days and play football a lot. I've been doing some very light weight work over the last couple of years, but only really notice the benefits on my deltoids and trapezius. My biceps are really pretty small.

I've been looking to spend about £50 on a bench, but not sure what the best one to get is as I've heard a couple of poor reviews. I'm intereste in the following for value for money, does anyone on here have any experience with good training benches?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Sculptu...1774704&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-Fitness...1774704&sr=1-3

Thanks,

Steven.

1) You cannot buy a "good" workout bench for £50 unless you can get a good second hand bargain on Gumtree or ebay. You could probably buy a reasonable flat bench for about £60-80 (new) but you're probably looking at £100+ (new) for a "good" utility or barbell bench.

2) You're unemployed, what is the point wasting your money on a bench? There are plenty of other exercises you should be prioritising (eg; pullups, chinups, rowing, overhead pressing, squat, deadlift, lunge, stepups) and plenty of other alternatives that are free or better (eg; weighted pushups, dips).

[SteveBlade]

(Original post by SEHughes)
Hi Steven,

First your goals. You say you want to build up your arms and chest, I assume to look better. A fine enough goal, but don't neglect the muscles in your back. You'll look better and your shoulders will be healthier!

Second, what equipment do you have at the moment? Are you looking to set up a more complete home gym?

Good luck with your goals.

Stuart

I just have dumbells at the moment. Most of my work is cardio. I‘ll keep in mind the back thing but I wasn‘t looking to buy more equipment due to space.

Also to the other poster, I cancelled my gym membership and starting running outside and looked to buy a bench to save in the long run. I don‘t go ‘out‘ since I wasmade redundant either
. Please don‘t tell me not to waste money.

[ch0c0h01ic]

(Original post by SteveBlade)
I just have dumbells at the moment. Most of my work is cardio. I‘ll keep in mind the back thing but I wasn‘t looking to buy more equipment due to space.

Also to the other poster, I cancelled my gym membership and starting running outside and looked to buy a bench to save in the long run. I don‘t go ‘out‘ since I wasmade redundant either.

Please don‘t tell me not to waste money.

You aren't a powerlifter, space is an issue, money is an issue...you don't "need" a bench and your time (and your money) would be better spent elsewhere.

It always amazes me when people post here looking for advice but then completely disregard that given by more experienced members.

[SteveBlade]

(Original post by ch0c0h01ic)
You aren't a powerlifter, space is an issue, money is an issue...you don't "need" a bench and your time (and your money) would be better spent elsewhere.

It always amazes me when people post here looking for advice but then completely disregard that given by more experienced members.

I'm not sure if I'm missing something or you're just not being very bright...

The gym costs money... Perhaps more in two months than the bench would. That's your "wasting money" thing out of the window.

When I was a member of the gym, 80% of what I did was cardio, either running or cycling. I run outside almost every day, I play football several times a week.

I did some light work with the weights, and the machines such as the chest press and the like. Space is only an issue if you think I'm considering turning a room in my house into a full blown gym. I've got a set of dumbbells, and soon to be a bench to help with the light exercises I've been doing, and have made a pretty big difference to my size say about two years ago.

I don't disregard advice if I think it has substance, but when someone comes on and tells me I'm saving money by going to the gym, they're wrong as I know the work I did at the gym could be easily done at home, outside and training for the sports I do play such as football.

[Scoobiedoobiedo]

(Original post by SteveBlade)
I'm not sure if I'm missing something or you're just not being very bright...

The gym costs money... Perhaps more in two months than the bench would. That's your "wasting money" thing out of the window.

When I was a member of the gym, 80% of what I did was cardio, either running or cycling. I run outside almost every day, I play football several times a week.

I did some light work with the weights, and the machines such as the chest press and the like. Space is only an issue if you think I'm considering turning a room in my house into a full blown gym. I've got a set of dumbbells, and soon to be a bench to help with the light exercises I've been doing, and have made a pretty big difference to my size say about two years ago.

I don't disregard advice if I think it has substance, but when someone comes on and tells me I'm saving money by going to the gym, they're wrong as I know the work I did at the gym could be easily done at home, outside and training for the sports I do play such as football.

You are saving money going to the gym, if you shop around you can get membership dirt cheap, <£15 a month. Say you spend £50 on a bench, that's quite easily 3-4 months gym membership, 3-4 months in which you can have a proper workout for your entire body. The same can't be said for your cheap bench and cheap dumbbells. If you have £50 to spend on exercise, spend it on a few months gym membership. Alternately don't spend the £50 on anything and save yourself money.

If all you're going to do is 'light' weights, why buy weights in the first place? Do bodyweight exercises, they will be just as effective and you will save yourself money.

[ch0c0h01ic]

(Original post by SteveBlade)
I'm not sure if I'm missing something or you're just not being very bright...

The gym costs money... Perhaps more in two months than the bench would. That's your "wasting money" thing out of the window.

When I was a member of the gym, 80% of what I did was cardio, either running or cycling. I run outside almost every day, I play football several times a week.

I did some light work with the weights, and the machines such as the chest press and the like. Space is only an issue if you think I'm considering turning a room in my house into a full blown gym. I've got a set of dumbbells, and soon to be a bench to help with the light exercises I've been doing, and have made a pretty big difference to my size say about two years ago.

I don't disregard advice if I think it has substance, but when someone comes on and tells me I'm saving money by going to the gym, they're wrong as I know the work I did at the gym could be easily done at home, outside and training for the sports I do play such as football.

I never said anything about joining a gym.

Pullups, chinups, rowing, overhead pressing, squat, deadlift, lunges, stepups, weighted pushup and dips (which should be your main focus) can all be done without a bench or a gym membership.

Like I said, you aren't a powerlifter - you don't need to bench press. There are equal or better exercises you could do at home without wasting your money on a bench (which might be a good idea *HINT HINT* if space and funds are limited).

[redbuthotter]

(Original post by ch0c0h01ic)
I never said anything about joining a gym.

Pullups, chinups, rowing, overhead pressing, squat, deadlift, lunges, stepups, weighted pushup and dips (which should be your main focus) can all be done without a bench or a gym membership.

Like I said, you aren't a powerlifter - you don't need to bench press. There are equal or better exercises you could do at home without wasting your money on a bench (which might be a good idea *HINT HINT* if space and funds are limited).

TO be fair though for chest development it would be handy. Dips are ok to an extent but not everyone can do em safely/or has somewhere good to do them.

Just for that extra ROM, flies, DB bench ect...

Having said that I wouldn't spend more than £30 or so on POS bench.

[SEHughes]

(Original post by SteveBlade)
I just have dumbells at the moment. Most of my work is cardio. I‘ll keep in mind the back thing but I wasn‘t looking to buy more equipment due to space.

If I were in your position I'd choose getting more weight plates for the dumbbells and a doorway pullup bar. Bodyweight substitutes for bench pressing is quite easily done, and then you can add in pullups and all sorts of heavier lifts like swings and snatches with the dumbbells.