I need a Home Gym for around $300

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uncbaseballfreak

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I need to muscle up so I thought I'd save some money (I'm a bit of a cheapass, lol) and just buy a home gym for around $300 instead of paying $500 for 14 months at my local gym. There was a Powerhouse? one that I had my eye on at Dicks Sporting Goods, but it seems they are sold out. I'm pretty uneducated on this subject so whatever you guys can do would help. Thanks!
 
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Not sure if you're open to the idea, but check garage sales and classified ads around you. A lot of people buy nice exercise equipment, hardly use it and give up, and then try to sell it off. Your $300 may go farther this way if you can find something in pretty nice condition. If nothing else you can probably find cheap weights this way.
 
Buy this one:

http://www.home-gym-direct.com/catalog/shopping/Stamina_BandFlex_Home_Gym

It'll be $309 shipped, which isn't too bad at all. It got good reviews, and the only gripes I ever heard about it were the durability of the machine not being as good as a Bowflex or Weider (obviously), that the resistance bands need to be changed every two or three years because they stretch out when you do exercises, and that the machine isn't packed well, so you might be missing a few parts. A quick call to the company will get you some replacements pronto, so I heard.

I also suggest you get a few pairs of dumbells and maybe even a barbell to complement your workout. The machine will keep you fit and in shape, but nothing beats a good pair of dumbells.
 
If you're shopping at Dick's Sprting Goods this week, you should look at the weight bench they have on sale for around $160. Then pick up a 300-pound Olympic barbell set for around $120 and it should all come to about $300 after taxes (give or take).

I would opt for free weights over any sort of nautilus equipment, which are more contained and limit the range of motion on lifts. Free weights require the use of more muscle groups, and they more versatile than stacked-plate equipment.

Also, if you have fitness questions go to www.menshealth.com and browse their fitness message boards. You're going to get 10 times better advice over there than here.
 
The nearest YMCA is about 45 minutes away, so that's out of the question. I really like the PHE9000 (@ Dicks)and was pretty pissed when I found out that it was only 349.00 a couple weeks ago. Now it's back to $500. The systems you guys suggested look good. I'm not sure what I'll end up doin. Thanks.
 
I second the free weights suggestion. I own a home gym myself and then purchased free weights. My local Muscle Mag always has the 300 olympic weight set with bar for 109.00. Then just get a bench and while your at it go to Wal-Mart and pick up some of there Gold's Gym equipment(like curlbar and dumbbell bars). I strongly suggest you read into the whole concept of home working out. I thought I could get a full workout with my home gym and realized that it was actually holding me back from my potential. All you need is the equipment and a good book that will show you some great variations of exercises (Hard Body Plan is a excellent book to start with).
Free Weights are the way to go.
 
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