A Couple of Home Gym Add-ons

By now most of us are accustomed to having to work out someplace other than the gym. Here in MN gyms have been shut down for the last four weeks along with restaurant indoor dining, schools, etc. while we weather the second wave of Covid infections. 

I was getting into a pretty good habit of going for a jog a few times a week and working out with my home gym equipment in the garage. I was also walking to lunch on a regular basis; a two mile loop up to the local service station for a banana and some manner of protein. The shop even stocks some hard boiled eggs so I don't have to get a roller dog each time. However, I must admit a cheddar-wurst is a bit of a treat for me (I skip on the bun as they're usually overly bready anyway). I only had one suspect occurrence with the juevos where it looked like they had a run in with a mushy banana and I opted to stay away for a little while. Fortunately, I caught the bum eggs before they gave me a bum...bum.

Digressing, the onset of the proper MN winter has stifled the outdoor fitness program. Fortunately, I got my basement painted and flooring installed in time to move the weights inside. I also have an exercise bike to help with some of the cardio. Also, I've brought some warmer gear to work for continuing my hard boiled egg hunt. The mask wearing is also beneficial on these colder walks.

One nice part of my setup is I have a cable for doing pull-downs, standing rows and triceps presses. Oh I love hitting the triceps. I was using the bar that came with my setup for triceps presses. It was working, but I was missing the extra flex/squeeze I got from using a rope. Easy enough, I found one reasonably priced on eBay; now I'm sitting here typing with pumped up arms :).

The next add-on I have yet to test out. It's the Stealth core trainer. I thought this would be a fun one for the kids and I. Essentially, it's a platform on a pivot. This allows you to swivel about while you do those painful planks. The setup has a resting spot for your phone and an app for the Stealth allows you to play different motion sensitive games; hopefully distracting you from the violent shaking and the burning your plank is causing you.  I'm saving this torture device for Christmas, but will let you know how it goes!

The Stealth...person not included.

It's important to keep it interesting when working out at home. For me, the lack of people and activity creates a challenge to get motivated. Maybe it's the crowd mentality, but it seems to be easier to workout when others around you are doing the same. Still, isn't part of the idea of working out to be able to handle adversity? To be able to push comfort zones and find ways to stay motivated? Things are definitely weird at the moment, but maybe that just means it's time to challenge ourselves to keep our motivation.

It will take a little time as the Covid-19 vaccinations roll out, but eventually the gyms will reopen and we can get our collective sweat on. Here in MN, spring will show up sooner or later; sometimes in March, sometimes in mid-May, occasionally for one week in January. I'll be able to run my happy trail around Normandale lake. Until then, I mean to make my little basement home gym, with it's mix of iron and plastic wrapped concrete weights and butterfly attachments that no one in their right mind uses any more and my fan bike with a seat that makes a certain part of me fall asleep, a place I look forward to being.