John Greaves III's Blog, page 24

Garage Gym Showcase from @homegymideas

Garage Gym Showcase is where we feature pictures and video of cool home gyms. @homegymideas our sister site on Instagram is a treasure trove of, well, home gym ideas.  I like looking through the pictures on their page for ideas on tweaking my own garage gym.  I use it most often when someone tells me they’re planning on setting up a home workout space as it’s a good way to get your creative gym design juices flowing.

This sweet home gym set up is from @the_pwong, lifter and Batman fan! He’s worth a look just for the Batman comic scenes at least if you’re into awesome!

This is another cool one from Christian R. Cobian. Comes complete with heavy bag and adjustable bench. Christian doesn’t have an IG page but I still like the pic and the set up!

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Play It Again Sports Owner Talks Used Weights

Play It Again Sports is the recognized name in the used equipment resale market. We usually think of it in terms of getting rid of our kid’s soccer cleats now that Pokémon Go has destroyed all of their interest in team sports. But way before Craigslist became the favorite online retailer for frugal garage gym owners, Play It Again Sports was a place to get good deals on training equipment. I outfitted my first home gym with a 45lb bar and plate weights in a package that offered 300# of weight for $99. Oh to be a youthful 27 year old again!

But when solid training equipment is available with a few keystrokes, do we need a used equipment store? I reached out to the Jay Crook, the owner/manager of a Play It Again Sports franchise store in Kennesaw, Georgia to see if it’s still worth it to rummage through stacks of weights like I did on Saturday afternoons back in the day.

Play It Again Sports specializes in buying and selling new and used sporting goods, is that correct?

Yes indeed.

Typically when we think of Play It Again Sports we think baseball, softball – team sports stuff for your kids. But you guys also sell training equipment correct?

Fitness equipment, exercise equipment is our number one category. Has been for twenty plus years.

I said that you guys sell new and used, so what brands do you guys carry new?

Fitness equipment we carry, AFG we’re big fans of, Pro-Form and NordicTrack, on the used side everything from your Weslo, Pro Form, Sears Lifestyle, Health rider, NordicTrack, Reebok, Spirit, Smooth, AFG, Precor, Life Fitness, Nautilus, Schwinn. Sooner or later, every brand flows through here. In fitness equipment, strength equipment, Body Solid I’m a big fan of.

I saw some Weider stuff; do you only carry that used?

Yeah, typically because that’s more entry level and that’s fine but if you’re going to use this equipment, sometimes it’s worth spending a little bit more. Sometimes it’s worth waiting and doing it right, because you can do it without anything. So if you’re going to buy a piece, buy a quality piece. So brands like Body Solid, they’re great because they’re not cheap and they’re not way overkill either. They’re a pretty good value within their product line.

Identifying Quality Equipment

What do you look for when purchasing used training equipment? Let’s talk about non weight training equipment first.

Well for cardio, if it works we’ll pretty much buy it, trade it or consign it. So because of that we’ve got a really large selection of all things cardio. We have over thirty treadmills right now on the floor. From $100 up to $2500. So whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got four or five options for you. Everything comes warranted.

Click to view slideshow.

How long’s the warranty?

We have a thirty day, full money back refund and we warrant product for a minimum of 90 days up to lifetime and that’s all in home. But the things we’re looking for, while we buy in as much as we can in all different price ranges, the things that suit the customer best, that hold their value the best are your better quality pieces. We’re looking for quality first and foremost. There is some seasonality to product so that could affect our interest level.

So let’s say it’s spring time you’re going to be more interested in treadmills, steppers. There’s the notorious New Year’s resolution crowd and then there are the people getting in shape for summer, weddings what have you. If it’s January 5 and I come in with a treadmill am I likely to get a better price because you know somebody’s coming in right behind me to buy it?

Well yes, when something’s in demand and our selection is lower, then yes, we’re apt to pay more money for it. Just supply and demand and that goes along with people’s interest levels— New Year’s resolution, people getting in shape for summer. What’s interesting is when we’re going through spring time and fall, it’s really nice weather outside, all of a sudden people don’t need a treadmill. And they really don’t! You can totally go outside any time of the year. This stuff just gives you more options. I find that if I have multiple pieces, I do all of it more. My workouts are more consistent. I get a nice day, I’m going outside. But it sure is nice to have it there when I need it.

So you train at home also?

Yes.

I’ve got this website and blog you may want to check out and subscribe to…

Ha ha! I’m going to check it out. But I’m very proud of my workout room. I sincerely mean this; it’s my favorite room in my entire house. Make no mistake about it. Some days I put in a herculean effort, other days I’m lying flat on my back in a yoga shavasana pose or something. But I go in there, breathe and listen to myself and I need it. I handpicked every piece in there and it’s just, a workout room in my basement, but it’s a good sized room. It’s about 12×19 and you wouldn’t believe me if I told you all of the pieces I’ve got in there. I can duplicate so many exercises from a gym right in my home.

On your own schedule!

On my own schedule, I don’t have to drive somewhere; I don’t have to pay anybody. I enjoy going to gyms when I’m out of town, I’ll stop in a gym. I kind of enjoy it. But I’ve injured myself in a gym letting my ego get in the way by just being distracted by everything that’s going on in there and not listening to what my body was telling me. So at home I don’t make those mistakes. Because I really consider most workouts rehab just to continue to train weak points, to maintain flexibility and all of that stuff.

Honestly, training should get you ready for your life; it shouldn’t take away from your life!

It prepares you to do the things you like to do so you’re less vulnerable.

Tell me what are some deal breakers? I’ve traded stuff to you guys before so I know you don’t take those concrete weights with the plastic coating.

You know we really should but we really don’t because when we get them they just sit there awhile and they can crack. And we might if we didn’t have such a big selection of steel. As long as we’ve got enough steel to offer you; it’s just more long-term. As I got into it myself, started adjusting my workouts being in the business I began to be a little bit of a snob with the equipment, demanding only the best equipment because you know it’s so close to me.

While I still believe in quality, sometimes there’s been in cardio for example there’ve been pieces that’s more brand driven and not quality driven. But it had some feature on it that got me excited about working out. So I worked out on it for a year and had a blast!

So if somebody buys some gadget off of an infomercial and two months into it they say, “Ehn, maybe not!” You guys are willing to take that stuff?

Oh yeah! Infomercial stuff isn’t always bad. Some of it’s decent, some of it’s not. But if it means something to somebody, gets them going in a routine that might spark their interest it might find a spot. Infomercial stuff just has a shorter shelf life. I mean the popularity of it. So when it’s hot on an infomercial, the demand is there and they’re marketing it and selling it, if we get those in used, we can command a higher price and therefore we can buy it from a seller for more. But as the infomercial stalls then demand goes down and suddenly we get more traded in. So now if we’ve got twenty of them, we might not want to pay as much.

Let’s talk about weights. What’s low quality to you?

Well, with a bar, if it’s a hollow bar versus a solid bar. There are also different kinds of ways the Olympic sleeves are fastened onto the bar.

One of the things I remember when I worked in a commercial gym was we always had problems with the hex bolts on the ends of the bars coming out.

Snap rings are always desired over the hex nuts. We’d buy it either way we’d just price them differently. How I feel about it isn’t as important as if it’s still useable. And we’d just price it according to the quality.

Preserving The Value of Your Equipment

Let’s say someone plan on trading in something so they can upgrade. What can they do to preserve the trade in value of their equipment?

Fortunately with exercise equipment it kind of lasts forever. If you’re getting into some cardio pieces, ellipticals you’ve got a lot of moving parts. So if you buy a more entry level one to begin with, if it’s got a lot of moving parts it’s probably going to turn into a squeaker. If something wiggles loose, tighten it up. But if you can get something a little better to begin with, a little better gauge steel, maybe the fastening systems are better etc. They just hold their value a little bit better. Treadmills, keep them clean, keep them lubricated under the belts. We have kits to take care of all that; we can educate anyone on how to do that.

And every Play It Again Sports can do that?

We’re independently owned; we all have the same goals. Also, our stores are there for your advice too. Around here, we’ve all been doing this a long time. We service everything we sell so if you’re having a problem with something even if you didn’t buy it from us, you can call the store and we can walk you through the problem. I’d like to think they all operate that way. You know probably on a product like a treadmill, most stores should have the lube. Heck, most of the time, we try to talk you out of service and try to walk you through repairing it so you don’t have to pay us to fix it.

Does your store have a social media presence?

Yes, we’re not very evolved. We do have a Twitter, a Facebook an Instagram but I haven’t looked at it in so long.

What about coupons or package deals?

I encourage everyone who shops in our stores to get on our email list because at least once a month we send something out and it has at least one coupon in it.

One more question: What’s the strangest thing somebody’s tried to trade in?

Ha! You got about an hour? I’ve had people try to trade some things you’ve never seen before!

Jay, thanks for your time!

 

 

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CrossFit Coach Tyler Bennett Shows Us How to Start A CrossFit Garage Gym

We have some awesome writers and athletes who contribute to Garage Gym Life. But we admit that we don’t know everything. So we scour the web to find the best articles from yesterday and today (we’d get them from the future as well but our DeLorean is in the shop) and bring you the links here. Today’s article comes from CrossFit coach Tyler Bennett who got his start in a garage gym before moving to CrossFit SRC.  After a short training session, he draws on his experience to give some tips on starting a garage gym for CrossFit. Check it out!

 

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Muscle And Performance aka Show And Go

A lot of things have influenced my determination to stop settling for what I’ve had.  As a powerlifter, the temptation strong to simply let my body be what it is and cut water weight to slime into whatever weight class is most accessible, hoping to retain enough strength to make a positive impact. Maybe even break a state record occasionally.  It is so strong you can almost touch it.  But that’s no longer good enough for me. I’ve had state records.  I mean, I broke a state record when I competed nine days after surgery on my leg. Albeit it was a bench record but I don’t care.  Nine days out of the hospital.

The thing is I’m a people watcher. I’ve been one since I was a bouncer in nightclubs.  I can’t help but notice that at every meet I attend, there are several powerlifters with physiques that are good enough to put them if not on a bodybuilding stage; at least in a physique contest with a little time to dry out.  They also tend to win often.  How can I walk around just hoping that my flabby self will miracle it’s way to best overall lifter when I’ve got guys like Chris Dunn, Ezell Dawes, Abner Nazario, Justin Bethune, Dustin Reed, Ibn Mahama roaming America’s powerlifting venues unrestrained?  I recognize that those guys compete in the Open Division and I compete in the Masters along with all of the other geriatrics.  My response to that cannot be argued with; or denied.  Here it is.  I’m over 40. So?

Let’s pause so that can sink in.

Ready? Let’s continue.  I said something a while back that applies here.    My goal is to be strong. Not strong twice a year in only three events that most of the world doesn’t care about.

Strong. Not strong as long as I’m wearing the right products and my song is playing.

Strong. Dave Draper pick up the car and hold it while my buddy changes the tire because the rental didn’t come with a jack strong.

Pick up my wife one handed and hold her overhead like Bud Jeffries or Arthur Saxon strong.

Fold a frying pan in front of you like Dennis Rogers strong.

Real world strong. Every day strong. No wristwraps no knee sleeves strong. I want to grow up to be like myself strong.

No excuses no exceptions. So I guess I’m neither powerlifter nor strongman.

I’m a man.

And like Alexander Juan Cortes said in an article for EliteFTS muscle is the answer and bodybuilding is the way.  Don’t like that? Okay, he also said, “Low reps express strength built with lighter reps”. I’m an advocate for a defined offseason dedicated to moderate weights and higher reps as well as the use of higher reps, eliminating momentum and controlled squeezes along with multiple angles (i.e. bodybuilding techniques) for accessory work.  Honestly, why should I go super heavy on lying triceps extensions if I can get the same results and save my joints by going lighter and concentrating on quality contractions?  Is there some International Nosecrusher Competition I’m not aware of that I’m training for?

I’m not off on a tangent.  I’m pointing out that using bodybuilding techniques to build muscle will make me a better, more durable strength athlete.  I’m tired of working around joint pain when Robby Robinson is still deadlifting (okay rack pulling) 550lbs in his 70s.  Who’s Robby Robinson? Former bodybuilder. He’s the one with the Afro tossing a football to Ken Waller in Pumping Iron. So if I add muscle and educate it with powerlifting technique, I should be stronger and less injury prone.

Look out Open Division. I’m coming.  Don’t believe me, just watch.

Height: 5’9      Age 42 (43 tomorrow!)

Goal: Physique recomposition.
Weight:
Goal: 190-195lbs    Starting Weight: 202lbs  Current Weight: 195lbs
Waist
Goal: 31 inch         Current Measurement: 38 inches Starting Measurement:  39 inches
Chest: relaxed
Goal: 44 inches  Current Measurement:                      Starting Measurement: 43
Arms:
Goal: 17.5 inches flexed/16 relaxed Starting Measurement: 17.5 inches flexed/16 relaxed  unchanged

John Greaves III is a freelance writer in North Georgia. He is the founder of Garage Gym Life and a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. John’s diverse athletic and writing background allows him to write about a variety of topics from sports to business. You can find out more about him including how to have him guest post on your blog, write for your magazine or ghostwrite a piece for you by clicking here.

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Garage Gym Showcase @soniahealthyfoodie

Garage Gym Showcase is where we feature pictures and video of cool home gyms. @homegymideas our sister site on Instagram is a treasure trove of, well, home gym ideas.  I like looking through the pictures on their page for ideas on tweaking my own garage gym.  I use it most often when someone tells me they’re planning on setting up a home workout space as it’s a good way to get your creative gym design juices flowing.

This week features two clean workout spaces. The first is from @soniahealthyfoodie.

our second space is from home designers @jessandkevinllc.

Want to see more? Click this link to go to @homegymideas to browse their collection of cool home workout training spaces. Have a great weekend!

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Garage Gym Showcase of @7amjeremy

Garage Gym Showcase is where we feature pictures and video of cool home gyms.  This is one is a solid set up from @am7jeremy on Instagram.  The post comes by way of review site Garagegymfanatics which has a cool YouTube channel packed with reviews, featurettes and general life mayhem as well as an Instagram feed where you can post your own garage gym set up. Check both of them out and have a great weekend!

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Weekly Motivation featuring Nigerian bodybuilder Azekhumhe Omoh

Training in the garage by yourself is tough. You usually don’t have the camaraderie of other gym members to help push you.  To help out, we combed the web to find videos that will help motivate you to keep striving to be your best.

Today’s video features natural bodybuilder Azekhumhe Omoh from Nigeria who trains in a no frills backyard gym.   I can’t watch any of his videos without getting fired up to train!  Want to read more from Azekhumhe Omoh? Check out our interview with him by going here!

Stay motivated and keep training until people want to post videos of you!

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Garagegymfanatics Compares The Rogue GHD to the EliteFTS GHD

Garagegymfanatics is an up and coming review site that I’ve come to enjoy watching.  In this episode from June of last year, they  compare Glute Ham Developers or from two of the most popular strength equipment companies.  In case you didn’t know, the Glute Ham Raise is a great accessory movement for the hamstrings and glutes.  Hence the name.

Check out the video and visit Garagegymfanatics on YouTube and Instagram to see what else they have to offer!

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Treadmill Work For Fat Loss

Simply walking on the treadmill is one of the most underrated fat loss strategies especially for strength athletes looking to hold on to muscle mass. We originally purchased our treadmill for my wife who is a triathlete.  I avoided it as much as I could, preferring to use the sled and kettlebell swings or complexes instead.  That all went out the window whenever my powerlifting training ramped up in intensity. Not to mention that as lifters, we usually hate the treadmill because it’s quite frankly boring.  That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

During my recent fat loss quest, I  needed to keep my energy levels as high as possible and retain as much strength as I could.  My ultimate goal is 190-195lbs but I didn’t want to be too light too fast as I was scheduled to compete in the USPA Drug Tested Raw Nationals. So I kept my calories fairly high and just increased activity.  On the other hand, I was afraid that HIIT would be too much so I needed to do slow, long distance work until after the meet. Enter the treadmill, boring but effective.  Things that helped me stay with it were watching my favorite YouTube shows and shenanigans like the one in the above video.  While I was walking on a treadmill before I read this great article by competitive powerlifter Tim Henriques, I love how comprehensively and logically he laid out a progression for walking on the treadmill while retaining strength. Check it out at the link below!

Source: Get Ripped. Get Walking. | T Nation

Height: 5’9      Age 42

Goal: Physique recomposition.
Weight:
Goal: 190-195lbs    Starting Weight: 202lbs  Current Weight: 195lbs
Waist
Goal: 31 inch         Current Measurement: 36 inches Starting Measurement:  39 inches
Chest: relaxed
Goal: 44 inches  Current Measurement:                      Starting Measurement: 43
Arms:
Goal: 17.5 inches flexed/16 relaxed Starting Measurement: 17.5 inches flexed/16 relaxed  unchanged

John Greaves III is a freelance writer in North Georgia. He is the founder of Garage Gym Life and a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. John’s diverse athletic and writing background allows him to write about a variety of topics from sports to business. You can find out more about him including how to have him guest post on your blog, write for your magazine or ghostwrite a piece for you by clicking here.

The post Treadmill Work For Fat Loss appeared first on Garage Gym Life.

Compact Home Workout Space For A Competitive Rower

Jim Letten wasn’t ready to stop rowing just because he graduated. The former world champion from the University of Madison set up a compact space to stay in top shape!

Check out the post from @homegymideas and follow @homegymideas on Instagram for awesome ideas to build your own home workout space!

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