what can i do with what i have

[T2urtle]

I'm not looking to bulk up or anything just feel like exercising. I'm not interested in a gym membership. Gotta work with what i have and it aint much. Plus i dont have much room for anything else. My goal is to just stay somewhat fit. I would hate to have a beer belly one day.

I have a small light weight bench press set ( bought garage sale for $30)
with about 130lbs of weight all together. I also have a set of adjustable dumbells, they use the weights from the bench press.

I'm 5'11 and 165lbs.

My every other nightly routine has become, 85lbs on the bench,5 sets of 7. Do 4 sets of 25 crunchies. Followed by 15lb dumbell single arm curls 5 sets of 7. Squats 3 sets of 10.

I wake up either sort of when i need to use some strength in slight pain. When i notice the pain is over i would add 10lbs to the bench and 2.5lb to the dumbells.


What would you guys recommend for me? Keep at it or bad habits. Any cheap equipment that doesn't take up much space i can add?

Should I be able to bench my weight? I dont try maxing out because no spotter, its just me plus lack of weight.

 

[Sid59]

squats, bench press, barbell rows, overhead press, deadlifts? Those are the 5 exercises from Stronglifts 5x5.

 

[tedrodai]

You can get one of those doorway pull-up bars fairly cheap to work your back/biceps. Something like this: Doorway pull-up bar

I'm not sure what you mean by this sentence...

I wake up either sort of when i need to use some strength in slight pain.

Are you referring to muscle soreness? Don't base your increases off that. Rather, if you can complete all your sets with no trouble, add weight the next time.

I just want to add though, since you specifically mention a fear of the beer belly: it's all about calorie intake vs calories burned (BMR + daily activity). These excercises are good, but you still can't ignore how much you eat/drink.

 

[brad310]

you'll quickly outgrow that set of weights you have.

the doorway pullup bar is a good idea. Bodyweight - do pullups and pushups, as many sets of as many reps as you can every other day. With your limited weight set, do lunges and rows...and if you can safely get the bar in and out, squats.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Must ask. What is your age?

For your goals, I'd consider running instead of weights especially if you don't want to or can not upgrade your weight set.

 

[T2urtle]

I'm 25.

I could always get a nicer bench and weight set. But that's not very high on my list. I don't regularly use them as I should. I try every other day but it's really when I'm bored. I don't have the discipline to do it.

I want to do squats with the bar. But being in the basement lack of ceiling and I just don't feel its safe. I do the squats with the 15 lb dumbbell per side.

 

[NAC]

12 years ago – I was roughly where you are now. Skinny guy. Small weight set, not really committed, not enough space and no desire to spend money. I dilly dallied for 10 years – sometimes in the morning, or in the evening, or on weekends, tried once a week, or 2/3 times a week, or almost every day. Tried higher intensity crossfit type stuff. Tried different gyms. Tried a lot of different things, stayed reasonably fit. It was fine.

Then a moved to a house with a garage, bought a power rack and Olympic weight set, and started starting strength. Had problems with my back, and I started at 35, so I didn’t bulk up that much, but I finally put some muscle on my frame and enjoyed working out. Getting the right equipment and making it a priority was a wonderful decision for me. My only wish is that I had done it sooner.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Consider hack squats and front squats. You don't need a rack for them thusly they are safer.

Long shot. If you live in CT, I'm sellign my bench in a month or two (hopefully) as I upgrade.

As for discipline, it is much easier if you follow a program. Programs let you know that you are proogressing. Stronglifts is popular for a reason. It requires that you upgrade though.