Home Gym Project for the Super Fit Midlifer

A midlifer's home gym doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Some of us need to go somewhere and have cheerleaders around to keep us on target. While it can be nice to have a partner or team environment in the gym, this should not be the limiting factor in your training plan.  If you've managed to survive long enough to own a home and raise some kids, you've probably grown a little focus and ability to do things on your own.  
A home gym can be a beautiful thing for a midlifer serious about training.  You can play whatever music you like, you can set up how ever you want, and you don't have to deal with "resolutioners" doing bicep curls on the squat rack ( this alone made me do it ).  
I could go on and on about why a home gym is better than a commercial gym, but I digress. Let me show you my latest set up and review some relatively inexpensive equipment.  If you are a midlifer who wants to get in shape in the comfort of your own home; this post is for you.

Amazon delivers 1000lbs rated racks!

I started off with the 72 inch, 1000lbs rated rack from Amazon.  It wasn't my first choice, but my wife has a black belt in shopping.  The price was hard to beat and it was from NY Barbell.  What's not to like?  An average human will get to regularly moving 500lbs over a period of a few years, so this rack will provide room to grow.  It is also very compact without being cramped and that is great for man caves with less space.

It only took a couple of days to get to the house in two boxes.  They were relatively light and I immediately had doubts.

Shipped in two boxes

When I opened the boxes I was pleased with the quality of the parts.  It wasn't anything mind blowing, but it was really solid for $250.  I noticed that the directions did not match the rack in that it showed different hardware sizes.  The rack only came with one size bolt, washers, and nut.  

I quickly cleared a space in the mess I call my downstairs man cave (A.K.A. the garage) and started setting up.  

Directions were simple and since there were only a few parts, I'm confident my eight-year-old could have put this together.  With that being said, keep everything loose until the end and make sure you check for correct mounting holes at the top of the beams.  It is possible to mess up.








I also used a sheet of plywood under the rack.  This allows for deadlifts in the rack without causing damage to concrete floors.  It also allows you to mount hooks for bands.

 During the build, I managed to strip a couple of bolts while tightening.  There were no torque values or recommendations in the directions, but I spent a couple of dollars and got a better quality steel in the replacement hardware.  Again, I wondered if this rack could really hold 1,000lbs as advertised.  

I went down to a warehouse that sells plate weight for $0.49/lbs.  600+ lbs cost me $314.
He through in the bar for $50.  If I had searched around, I could have gotten a better deal.  I was simply short on time.
My wife managed to find a decent body solid adjustable bench for $80.  Done!  





So in the end, I spent less than $700 for a home gym.  Granted, I only spend $120 per year at my commercial gym, but I would gladly spend 3X that for the benefits and privacy of lifting at home.  The gym will pay for itself in less than a decade and lifting is for life.  Remember that a side benefit of having something like this at home is that your family can also be exposed and partake of the lifestyle that can make them stronger for life.

Midlife Home Gym

Stay strong!