Crossbow and freeweights

[Fatso4noW]

Ok, so I have been working out on my crossbow for a little over two months now. Problem is that there is not enough weight for me on the bench and "squats".

I was thinking about making a bar that I can attach to my crossbow and be able to add weights for squats. And I was thinking about doing the same for the bench, but two bars instead of one... I bought a house and have a baby on the way so money isnt exactly flowing as it once did.

Has anyone else seen or tried something like this? The machine works great for everything else, but I need more weight. Weider has a 200lb upgrade that is $150, but for 150 I can purchase a decent amount of free weights...

Thanks
Fatso4noW

[Merrida]

Eeeeek.

Just like any other piece of equipment, in the gym or elsewhere,...from a swiss ball to a leg press,...and from a BowFlex to a crossbow,...they are DESIGNED to handle only a certain amount of "weight" (ie: resistance in the form of compound rods) and they're designed to be used in that precise fashion.

You start mucking about by adding things, you MAY break the whole dang thing.

A guy at one of my last clubs (whose form sucked donkey balls by the way), insisted on stacking the Cybex leg press PLUS adding a 45 iron plate (ooooh, how macho he was)....and TWICE, he broke the entire machine.

Respect the design of the machine and its limitations and capacities.

If you need more weight, find other ways.

[.V.]

Don't break your crossbow. Save up some money, buy a bench, a bar, and some plates - then you can just keep going heavier and heavier. Congratulations on outgrowing your expensive machine. Keep using it for the lifts it can do for you but you will NEVER outgrow free weights...although you may outgrow a cheap bench.

[Fatso4noW]

hmmm
Been checking out some prices on free weight setups... not as bad as I thought they would be but still prices for a decent setup. But Im not really up on the current prices of this stuff.
300lb Olympic rubber grip set and bar is $235, then I still have to get a bench... the mrs. isnt going to like this

any suggestions as to where to look for good prices?

Thanks
Fatso4noW

[.V.]

Ever thought of checking out somewhere like "Play it again Sports?" Big savings on equipment. They only pay 10 cents/lb for weights. The probably sell it for 30-40 cents/lb in most places. Whole lot cheaper than getting brand new stuff. Also check out flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores.

There is a place here where they collect and sell donated stuff to support their "rehab ministry" for junkies. They take in whatever you want to donate and give you a reciept for what it would cost new to take off your taxes. Then they sell it for a "loss" for their taxes. One of those, "I built a church" tax dodges...but sometimes there is good weight equipment for sale there. See if there is something like that in your town.

[Fatso4noW]

Thats a good idea. There is a play it again about 30 min away(out of sight, out of mind) so Ill have to check there next time Im in the area.
I need to hit the gym with my dad sometime to and see where Im at with weights, might help my purchasing and let me know where Im at in the real world...
Thanks!

[Fatso4noW]

Well after speaking with my wife she is not too happy. I thought it would be the money that would bug her but its not... She doesnt want me working out with free weights. I always work out alone and she doesnt want me trapped under the bar

So I looked more into adding resistance bars to the crossbow and since its an older model they want about $250 for 200lbs! no way!

I am now looking into a bench like I see in gyms, where the bar in on a track and has hooks on it to set it where you want. Something like that would make her happy, and I would be working with free weights.

So I guess this is where Im at now...

[.V.]

If you use free weights and take it slow with the increases...make sure you have absolute control over the weight you use for a certain number of reps before doing an increase in weight. When you do raise the weight, increase in the smallest increment possible and decrease the reps, working your back up your rep range. Do this and you'll spend minimal time trapped under the bar. I'd say most of us have been pinned at some point - it isn't that bad really - you can get out from under it.

[Fatso4noW]

Ya Ive been trapped before, twice
The second time I was smarter and didnt have the weights locked on, I just leaned haha

She just doesnt want to see anything happen to her future babies daddy Im sure once she see's the price differnce she will be ok with me being trapped.

[.V.]

Yep, saving money is always a plus.

[tim_mcf]

Make stuff. For instance, I'm going to be moving away from plates and bars for a few months - I'm dropping my gym membership and will be socking the money away to buy equipment - so I'll be using sandbags in the place of free weights. I bought a couple army surplus duffelbags, and am filling up a whole bunch of gallon ziplocks with sand. Each holds about 5 or 6 pounds - if I need heaver weight, I'll stuff a couple more sandbags in the duffel. It will be more difficult to hang on to the bag (sling it over my shoulders) as I squat, but I see that as a plus since it will require a greater commitment from my core muscles. If the weight becomes too heavy for me to stand up, I'll just have to kind of shrug it off my back - it will go "thump" but won't damage the floor like iron plates would. Of course I would rather have a bar and will eventually get there as well, but this is a good interim plan.

You can also make yourself safety bars for the squat - the simplest form would be two sawhorses that you stand between while you squat.

[Weston]

Rather than looking for a solution that adds more weight, why don't you reduce your rest periods between weight-lifting sets to increase the intensity of your workout? Machines like the CrossBow make it safer to reduce rest periods because exhaustion won't result in a bar on your chest.

Especially if your objective is to lose weight, you don't need to lift heavy. Also, try adding some high-intensity cardio to your non-lift days. I really got cut by doing Tabata sprints http://www.cbass.com/FATBURN.HTM . Sprinters' bodies are buff because sprinting is like a full-body resistance workout.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Weston

Rather than looking for a solution that adds more weight, why don't you reduce your rest periods between weight-lifting sets to increase the intensity of your workout? Machines like the CrossBow make it safer to reduce rest periods because exhaustion won't result in a bar on your chest.

Especially if your objective is to lose weight, you don't need to lift heavy. Also, try adding some high-intensity cardio to your non-lift days. I really got cut by doing Tabata sprints http://www.cbass.com/FATBURN.HTM . Sprinters' bodies are buff because sprinting is like a full-body resistance workout.

I disagree. Sprinting is not like lifting at all. Sprinters lift weights. They need strong powerful bodies to run fast. I read about some female sprinter (can't remember her name) that can leg press 700 lbs!

Even if you want to lose weight, you should still lift heavy. If you don't want to get into weights, you can do body weight training. But you have to challenge your body with progressive resistance, body weight or iron.

[Fatso4noW]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Even if you want to lose weight, you should still lift heavy. If you don't want to get into weights, you can do body weight training. But you have to challenge your body with progressive resistance, body weight or iron.

See, thats my main problem right there. I cant lift any heavier on the bench now.

But I talked the wife into free weights, now Ill be doing some shopping around:

I had been pretty sick the last several days, then yesterday I got back into it. I started on the bench. I did 8@220, 6@230, then on my first at 240... OUCH MY NECK! I dont know what I did but my trap to neck area hurt like a mother. I couldnt even turn my head to the left side at all. Its better today, just a mild discomfort. I dont know what I did wrong, this has never happened.

Fatso4noW