Building Muscle No Gym ?

S

Sensei Creation

Woodpecker
So I'm basically in a very precarious financial position . One that makes even going out on dates / to the gym unfeasible .

Now I use a lot of my own bodyweight for exercising : Push ups , Curls , Planks and I possess a 10 KG weights that I use regularly , I also possess an Ab Toning belt which I wear when I'm working on my abs ( Or when I'm doing a long and tedious activity which still kinda requires some form of focus ( Such as cooking )

I've noticed some results , I'm still skinny but a bit more defined . Is it actually feasible to substantially build muscle using ones own bodyweight ? Or must I wait until my first pay check ?
 
Duke Castile

Duke Castile

Crow
Gold Member
Find a playground and start doing pull-ups and box jumps.

Start climbing rope.

Find some big rocks and throw them overhead.

You're not even scratching the surface of things you can do.
 
A

Atavistic

Pigeon
Right now, I'm alternating between bench pressing, curls, and short running between 4-5x a week. I'm getting athletically skinny-muscular just need some time.
 
TripleG

TripleG

Kingfisher
Gold Member
You can get cut via bodyweight exercises but to build serious muscle you need to start doing some powerlifting exercises (bench press, deadlift, squats). Since you don't have access to a gym it might be hard to come up with a squat rack or even an olympic barbell but rest assured all hope is not lost.

As part of my workouts and to "jolt" my body I frequently skip the gym and do playground training. Recently I have started training with sandbags, they are easy to obtain and you don't need to buy them. Many construction sites have them for the taking and they can easily hold 45 pounds (20 kilos). I fill up with sand at my local playground and train there as well. It is funny the types of looks I see on the kids and their obese fathers. Anyways, one bag is more than enough for intense goblin squatshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeIiIdhvXT4 and overhead lifts.
Since the weight is "unstable" it is way harder to lift than the same weight dumbbell. Also, considering picking up (stealing) some cinder blocks. Here's a total body workout with one:
 
Foresight

Foresight

Robin
Catholic
As Fisto recommended, get to a playground.
Use a horizontal bar for pullups. Get a towel or old shirt & go for towel hangs from the bar. That works the grip very well.
Do Hanging Leg Raises from a horizontal bar to work your entire core. Do bodyweight squats & then progress to pistol squats.

From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are some bodyweight moves like Bear Crawls, Lizard Crawls, Spider man pushups etc..YouTube is your friend here.
Fill a small backpack with books & do a series of pushups & squats with the bag strapped to your back.
Chop wood with a heavy axe. Get on all fours & crawl up & down a series of stairs.

Get into a heated argument with an extremist feminist. Works great for your stamina & self control. Just kidding :banana:
 
Pontifex Maximus

Pontifex Maximus

Woodpecker
Gold Member
Absolutely. Do some Convict Conditioning, plus 200 push-ups and 500 body-weight squats everyday. It's the best methods towards toned but not a juiced balloon.
 
S

Sensei Creation

Woodpecker
Thanks guys for your potent advice , ill definitely be following up on the convict conditioning and the best skills . Some of your ideas about working out with a back-bag and sand bags are intuitive as well .Will be taking them into account .
 
Ringo

Ringo

Pelican
Gold Member
This subject has been discussed in many threads. Check it out.

Most effective home workout

You Don't Have to Weigh A Lot To Look Built!

workouts without gym

How to start training Calisthenics

Guide to International Traveling while Getting Swole

Also, besides bodyweight-only exercises, you can make your own kettlebell for cheap.

Either an adjustable weight T-bar:


Or a ball of concrete with pvc handle:
FW1_XBHJGDT4_CQXG_LARGE.jpg

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Kettlebells-for-under-10/?ALLSTEPS
 
D

dies irae

Robin
Do Freeletics as I recommend here:

http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-42055-post-871760.html#pid871760





"I've been doing Freeletics for 60 weeks now and my body is as hard as a rock and I never got injured. When you endure the pain of the first weeks it takes you only 2 hours a week on average to complete the full week of training. (not counting the time to recover and time to stretch before the training). You will only need a pull up bar as an equipment, no need to join the gym."
 
C

civpro

 
Banned
Barbells or calisthenics, there's no difference, if you do progressive overload, then you will build muscle period.

The problem you run into though with BW training is that it's not optimal for the legs. The legs are very strong and bodyweight squats are just not very challenging. You can max out your upper body with pushups and chinups but to max out your legs you will need to do barbell squats and deadlifts.
 
Ensam

Ensam

Ostrich
Gold Member
civpro said:
Barbells or calisthenics, there's no difference, if you do progressive overload, then you will build muscle period.

The problem you run into though with BW training is that it's not optimal for the legs. The legs are very strong and bodyweight squats are just not very challenging. You can max out your upper body with pushups and chinups but to max out your legs you will need to do barbell squats and deadlifts.
Click to expand...



You can do a lot with pistol squats. Also the levers and flags with proper leg alignment require a lot of strength.
 
Fortis

Fortis

Crow
Gold Member
Everything being said in this thread is gold, but I have to ask: why don't you work on your financial situation right now so that you can date/hit the gym? Sounds like you're focusing on the wrong spots.
 
mastauser

mastauser

 
Banned
Ensam said:
civpro said:
Barbells or calisthenics, there's no difference, if you do progressive overload, then you will build muscle period.

The problem you run into though with BW training is that it's not optimal for the legs. The legs are very strong and bodyweight squats are just not very challenging. You can max out your upper body with pushups and chinups but to max out your legs you will need to do barbell squats and deadlifts.
Click to expand...



You can do a lot with pistol squats. Also the levers and flags with proper leg alignment require a lot of strength.
Click to expand...


Those look like a ton of fun to try and master. Thanks for posting.


@Fortis

I thought the same thing at first. But to be fair, it's not like you can't do both. It might even be better keep good work ethics ingrained through a tough stretch than to give up on something as vital as fitness.

50 minutes three times a week for a good work-out don't mean you're not doing all you can to make dough.


edit: also handstand pushups. I've been wanting to do these since forever , but somehow never got serious enough to try.
 
R

rudebwoy

Peacock
Gold Member
Having got tired of lifting weights, I am now doing body exercises.

I do a crazy workout which consists of pull-ups and push-ups, sit-ups and air squats. Then a cardio machine to finish the session.

To be honest, I am liking the results and getting less pains in the joints.
 
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