Humble Beginnings

Back in April of 2015, I was enamored with a gentleman's garage gym which I thought was the Creme De La Creme.  At that point I thought $2000 was an outrageous budget and 1000# of weight was asinine.

Innocently enough, I started out with a barbell and plates, a bench, and some plate loaded dumbbells.

Flash forward 7 years later and I have nearly $8000 invested in a one car garage functional fitness gym with an overflow powerlifting gym in the basement.  I also have $1000 invested in vintage weight plates.  

I have 1 rack, 2 benches, 1750 pounds of plates, 6 barbells and 4 pairs of collars.

I have secured a plethora of functional fitness equipment including 2 kettlebells, 4 med balls and 2 sets of plyometric boxes.

The gym has morphed as my needs have morphed.  

In 2015, it was simply to have a few items at home to practice with.

In 2016, it was a functional fitness gym to complement a globo gym

In 2020, it became a primary gym

In 2022, it is in transition

What do I want to do in this space?

(1) Powerlifting

(2) Functional Fitness

I cannot accomplish both well in the space I have. 

I currently have a Crossfit Gym membership that feels permanent.  I use the Reverse Hyper and Glute Ham Developer; but do not have these at home.  I swim at Carmody Rec Center and cannot recreate this training at home.

Starting from scratch I would go with:

Powerlifting

• Half Rack with weight storage (I like the mobility of the Yoke for use at home)
• Bench
• 45# Barbell
• Bumper Plates (3) 45, (2) 25, (2) 15, (2) 10
• Change Plates 10-5-2.5-1.25
• Fractional Plates

I could get there by selling the Yoke, buying a half rack with storage and upgrading the Beater Bar to a Texas Power Bar

Functional Fitness

• Pull-up Bar
• 14# Med Ball
• 35# Kettlebell
• Climbing Rope
• Gymnastics Rings
• (2) Abmats
• Jump Ropes
• Strongman Sandbag
• Plyo Boxes
• Dumbbells - 15-25-35-50
• Timer
• Bands
• Flooring
• Gymnastics Mat
• Romwod stretching mat
• Crossover Symmetry

To get here, I would need to buy a strongman sandbag and a RomWod mat and get rid of my cheap foam mat

I like having a Concept2 Rower, but it is overkill for a home gym ($990)

That being said, I have some items that I like and am not parting with regardless of use including

• Atlas Stones (paid $60)
• Parallettes (paid $20)
• Brute Force Sandbag (paid $125)
• Battle Rope (paid $30)
• Bulgarian Bag (paid $100)
• Plate Carrier (net $55, sold heavier plates)
• Steel Mace (paid $40)
• Chains (paid $23)
• York Roundheads (ongoing 7-7-20-20-25-50 = $225)
• Vintage Iron Plates (ongoing = $930)
• York EZ Curl Bar, Curl Bar and Ironman Plates ($40 + $8 + $60)

I am attached to these as they are hard to find unique items that are not found in commercial gyms or micro gyms

I do have some oddball stuff that served me well, but now is not necessary

• Technique Bar and Plates (paid $140, sell $100?)
• 15kg Barbell (paid $210, sell $150)
• Standard Barbell Handles and Plates (paid $12, sell 50 cents/pound)

Really should sell ($870)

• Axle Bar - $20
• Back Extension - $200
• Ab Bench - $200
• Titan Silencer Pad - $100
• Mutt Bar - $50
• Hi Temp Bumper Plates - $300

I got a little carried away buying dumbbells and somehow have 15-20-25-27.5-30-35-40-45-50-60#