But I did. These guys have been a great help and encouragement through some tough times for me and they probably don't even realize it. - Pagangoddess
Shiny and smelling new
I ordered it through helisports.nl because they have
a) the 50mm stuff
b) free delivery towards Belgium above a certain amount
c) a damn reasonable price for a 140kg standard set (225 EUR)
d) good prices for additional plates (1.5 EUR/kg).
Okay, time for some observations.
Bar:
Standard oly-bar, 7ft. Two ring-clamps which need to be tightened with a small screw.
Bar plus clamps are totalling just 20kg.
However, the bar feels heavier then what I remember from the same 20-kg oly bar in the gym. Could be my perception, not sure, since I once put that gym-bar on the scales and it also gave me 20kg.
The sleeves both have a 700lbs marking, giving me some progression margin over the coming years (2 at least).
The knurling is at the same place as the bar I use at the gym but, being brand-new, is very sharp. I already shaved some callouses with it during the maiden-work-out
The fact the knurling is still fresh might be the reason why the bar feels a tad thicker.
Plates:
Standard iron, light grey with clear markings. Starting 5kg the plates have handles so they can be used for other exercises without a bar or dumbbell.
What did I order ?
Bar, spec'ed up to 315kg (700lbs)
4x1.25kg
2x2.5kg
4x5kg
2x10kg
2x15kg
8x20kg
Total: 260kg
Why so much already now ? I already deadlift 200kg, I am aiming for 230kg by end of the year (or shortly after).
So that gives me ability to continue somehow at home, I still have a subscription at the gym when the weights need to be higher.
Just did a trial work-out (part of a Coan/Phillipi deadlift program followed by some Seated OHP) and I must say, it feels great to workout at home !
Unfortunately I started one hour before dinner time so I had to cut things short (the circuit which I was supposed to be doing was dropped).
I already made some provisional squat stands from wood, I will be using saw horses as safety bar.
Since my subscription at the gym still goes until August next year, I think I will go there once a week, maybe once every two weeks.
Just to see how the others are doing with their Smith squats and curls and so on
So what can I do which is on my program right now:
- squat, check.
- deadlift, check.
- Stiff-legged deadlift, check
- Good Morning, check
- Bench press, nope -> Floor press (no bench)
- OHP, nope -> Seated OHP (ceiling is too low)
- barbell row, check.
- (weighted) pull ups, check.
- (weighted) chins, check
- ab-wheels, check
Next on the list:
- make my own power rack from wood. Yes, wood !
Same plan as Gargoyle has used. Should be something for the coming 2 to 3 weeks.
See herefor details.
I already inquired on prices, I am simply waiting now for a weekend with bad weather
- get a second-hand bench or make it myself. Until then I will be doing floor press. I already gave it a try and I can tell you, it is frigging hard ! That pause on the bottom really kills the stretch and rebound which you have when benching normally.
Same for Seated OHP BTW. I was glad to have completed 5x5 @ 40kg whereas I did 47.5kg last week with something left in the tank.
This should allow me now to workout more consistently 3 times a week, something which I only achieved 3 or 4 times the past year.
This ALSO means, knowing I am more or less staying at the same weight already for some months now, I need to eat more. A lot more ...
I will be posting in this thread when something is added onto my setup.
This is going to be fun, oh yeah !
Let the games begin !
)
