There are a seemingly endless number of options in the fitness space when it comes to mobility and movement programming. Everything from free YouTube channels to costly in-person guidance is available. One of the more visible options these days is the 10-week online postural dysfunction course by Functional Patterns. Backed by a good number of … Read more
Until a few years ago, I think I spent more time being injured, recovering from injury, and worrying about injuring myself again than I have training. That history of injury led me to consult countless books, doctors, physical therapists, and online courses over the years. While there is a lot of useless garbage out there … Read more
I’ve been using the MAPS Prime program from the guys over at Mind Pump for a little over three years now. Even when I’m not running a MAPS-based program, Prime is integrated into my practice. MAPS Prime is a program that helps you self-assess movement and mobility issues that should be addressed when training. It … Read more
As a 50-year-old with a history of injuries, I have to do everything I can to not only deal with the injuries I’ve had in the past but to make sure I don’t injure myself going forward. Several years ago, I’d simply had enough. I found myself absolutely fed up with the state of my … Read more
Few brands in the home gym industry are more polarizing than Titan Fitness. There are so many strongly held opinions about the company that most Titan equipment reviews spend more time talking about the company than the product being reviewed. If you want to know whether or not Titan is a good brand as a … Read more
*Update, Aug 2023… Rep has replaced the AB-5200 with the AB-5200v2. The new version is upgraded nicely from v1, but v1 (reviewed below) is still an amazing bench and what’s still in my garage. With the changeover, you may be able to find a 5200 v1 on eBay for a great price. You can click … Read more
*Update, Aug 2023… Rep has replaced the AB-3000 with the AB-3000v2. The new version is upgraded nicely from v1, but v1 (reviewed below) is still an amazing bench. With the changeover, you may be able to find an AB3000 v1 on eBay for a great price. You can click here to check! The big four … Read more
If you’ve read my other articles on training in a low-ceiling gym, you’ve already got a good handle on the solutions available for traditional low-ceiling challenges. I reviewed the gym build-out itself, power rack solutions, cardio solutions, and I also addressed pull-up and overhead press challenges. I hope that those articles have helped at least … Read more
The pull-up is a foundational functional movement pattern that everyone should train regularly. While it’s one of the more challenging movements anyone can do in a gym, it’s one that has a myriad of benefits that apply to everyday life. The pull-up is also a movement that requires more vertical room to perform than any … Read more
In its many forms, the overhead press is one of the best compound lifts you can do when training with weights. After the “big three” (bench press, squat, and deadlift), some consider the overhead press a very close fourth when it comes to critical lifts. While there are a significant number of variations of this … Read more
Your treadmill is one of the most expensive items in your home gym. It only makes sense to spend just a little time every now and then taking care of it. I’m not sure about you, but after I’m done with my treadmill for the day, I’m not in the mood for a cleaning project. … Read more
While all treadmills look similar to each other, some key differences will help you determine which treadmill is right for you. Deck height, deck cushion, belt width, platform length, and motor size are just a few. Some of those differences will determine how well the treadmill performs. Others will determine how long the treadmill lasts. … Read more
Many home gym owners seem to think that all they need is a treadmill or rower or tend to leave the cardio out altogether. In my opinion, both sides of that argument are wrong. As I’ve written about numerous times, all home gyms need three basic components: That said, what if you are trying to … Read more
The largest piece of equipment in most home gyms is the power rack. This is what allows you to work effectively with a barbell and weights and what keeps you safe when lifting alone. It’s also one of the biggest challenges to those with a low ceiling in their home gym. Finding a power or … Read more
The very first home gym I ever saw was in the early 1970s. My grandfather and uncle had carved out a small back room in their basement that held a drum set and a small home gym. That gym consisted of a heavy bag, a speed bag, a flat/incline weight bench, and a set of … Read more
An average treadmill measures approximately 3’ wide x 6’ long x 5’ high. What may surprise you is that a treadmill of this size needs an area about 7’ wide x 12’ long x 8’ high. I cover all the reasons why in my article here, but in the end, treadmills take up a fair … Read more
I had finally decided on my treadmill. After way too much research and time at the store trying them out, I ended up going with the first one the guy at the store showed me after asking me about my needs. I’m naturally skeptical of salespeople, so of course, I couldn’t just say yes right … Read more
I’ve owned two Bowflex home gyms in my life. Their late-night infomercials featuring super-fit models training for “20 minutes a day, three days a week” hooked me. Twice! While I don’t still own either of those machines, I do look back on them and wish I’d used them more often. Both times, they became very … Read more
Ask ten home gym owners what you need to build a great home gym and I can pretty much guarantee you’ll get ten different answers. That’s because each of those ten people has different needs and enjoys different types of training. This makes it hard for someone trying to build their own home gym to … Read more
If you’re going to lift weights in your home or garage gym, you’re most likely going to want to have a squat or power rack. If you will be doing barbell training, it’s a must. But which one to get??? When you start your shopping, you’ll be confronted with a myriad of terms and options. … Read more
Adding mirrors to your home gym can be intimidating and get expensive fast. But installing mirrors doesn’t have to be hard or expensive if done right.
Building a home gym can get expensive. And it can get that way fast! So finding places to save money without sacrificing functionality becomes important to those of us on a budget. One of the best ways to stay on budget and still get a functional gym is to spend money where you need to … Read more
One of the most difficult things about buying a barbell is finding the right knurl for you and your training style. There are almost no stores that stock the better barbells you should choose from, so trying them out in person is usually not an option. This leaves you with descriptions and reviews online. To … Read more
When you build a home gym, one of the first decisions you have to make is what to do with the floor. Not only do you need a reliable surface to train on, but you also need to prevent damage to the floor below. Most home gym owners use one of two options: Horse stall … Read more
When I was planning my full gym build-out, one of the first things that went on my list was a weightlifting platform. It seemed like every gym I looked at online had a platform. I honestly didn’t even know why I might need one (or not). I simply figured it was something you needed if … Read more