Power / Heavy Gym's?
Mar 12, 2011, 10:55 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 210
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The topic was looking for power gyms, while on the road.
My approach has been to ask the hotel staff, etc.
Gold's is a bit of mess, some gyms are okay, but most have been run into the ground. Last one I went to, the rubber floor was coming up, and i fell on my butt with a pair of big dumbbells. Left them on the spot and left! I am not going to risk injury due to an unsafe gym.
I am looking for Gyms that:
1 - Have a squat rack (Smith Machine is not a Squat Rack)
2 - Bench Press with olympic bar
3 - more than 8 plates in the place! (I am gunning for benching 400 raw this year, but need 400 for squats and deadlift)
4 - Dumb bells into the 100s - 150 preferably.
Also nice - power racks, chains, bands etc.
So, onto the question? Do you have any good ideas on gyms that meet these criteria that you like to use?
Temple Gym in Birmingham was great for me over Christmas. I got 7 or 8 good sessions in, when I would have otherwise been sitting around getting fat. (Dumb Bells up to 200 lbs! - Cool!)
I have not found a nation wide chain that meets my criteria, but I suspect I am in the minority. So I generally keep a couple of body weight training books in the my travel bag, and just do push ups, run the stairs, pull ups, body weight squats, leg raises, etc. when I can not play with a heavy bar.
My approach has been to ask the hotel staff, etc.
Gold's is a bit of mess, some gyms are okay, but most have been run into the ground. Last one I went to, the rubber floor was coming up, and i fell on my butt with a pair of big dumbbells. Left them on the spot and left! I am not going to risk injury due to an unsafe gym.
I am looking for Gyms that:
1 - Have a squat rack (Smith Machine is not a Squat Rack)
2 - Bench Press with olympic bar
3 - more than 8 plates in the place! (I am gunning for benching 400 raw this year, but need 400 for squats and deadlift)
4 - Dumb bells into the 100s - 150 preferably.
Also nice - power racks, chains, bands etc.
So, onto the question? Do you have any good ideas on gyms that meet these criteria that you like to use?
Temple Gym in Birmingham was great for me over Christmas. I got 7 or 8 good sessions in, when I would have otherwise been sitting around getting fat. (Dumb Bells up to 200 lbs! - Cool!)
I have not found a nation wide chain that meets my criteria, but I suspect I am in the minority. So I generally keep a couple of body weight training books in the my travel bag, and just do push ups, run the stairs, pull ups, body weight squats, leg raises, etc. when I can not play with a heavy bar.
Mar 12, 2011, 6:28 pm
#32
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Location: Potomac Falls, VA
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I first try for a free pass when I use and non Gold's Gym.
I usually tell them Im in town for a possible job relocation and I wanted to check out the gym. They usually offer up a pass
You can only use that one so many times though since I visit the same cities year after year.
I usually tell them Im in town for a possible job relocation and I wanted to check out the gym. They usually offer up a pass
You can only use that one so many times though since I visit the same cities year after year.
I've been to some small towns where a gym is not an option as there are none period. that becomes a running week. thank goodness for the internet as I can check all this stuff out ahead of time
Mar 15, 2011, 6:35 pm
#34
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It wasn't too far from the hotel I was staying at.
I can't remember the last time I bought something to drink, much less eat at a gym.. too over priced for me when usually there are a million choices nearby at half the price
Mar 15, 2011, 8:22 pm
#35
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There was a 24 Hour Fitness at LAS, on the landside, but I've been told it was shut down about a year or so ago. I did use it a couple of times. Once I was trying to get an earlier flight, but just missed it. So rather than just hang out in the terminal, I got in a little workout. It wasn't a full club (no pool), but had a decent amount of treadmills, nearly full weights, even a sauna.
Mar 15, 2011, 8:23 pm
#36
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Mar 15, 2011, 9:24 pm
#37
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 30,582
I am looking for Gyms that:
1 - Have a squat rack (Smith Machine is not a Squat Rack)
2 - Bench Press with olympic bar
3 - more than 8 plates in the place! (I am gunning for benching 400 raw this year, but need 400 for squats and deadlift)
4 - Dumb bells into the 100s - 150 preferably.
Also nice - power racks, chains, bands etc.
I have not found a nation wide chain that meets my criteria
1 -- can't remember one recently that didnt'
2 -- same
3 -- same
4 -- mostly I see 110s or 120s on the high end. Few places top out under 100
I'm easy - I can make do with just about any level of equipment. national chain gym is just a bonus if there is one around.
I'm a 355 bencher (375 is my goal but honestly I'm not sure I'm going to get there)
Heck I'm currently in an indian casino for work with a very limited gym so I've been doing a lot of burpees/pushups. I like to do 100 burpees for time then as many pushups as I can in sets of 15 with 60 seconds on a bike or ellipse between sets.
*dropping of weights....I really don't care much but I was always taught that if you can't control the weight (this includes setting them down) then go lighter
I can set down 120's (heaviest my normal gym has) without dropping them. *shrug* **Bumper plates are a different story
Mar 17, 2011, 5:27 am
#38
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 769
Mar 27, 2011, 9:26 am
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 210
set up at home now...
just picked up a set of 120s and 150s for the house, and a power rack with 200 lb cable attachment.
I now need to spend more time at home. Or go to the hotels / locations that I have good gyms.
Elmwood Fitness at one shell square in New Orleans
Ekco hotel in Lagos
Crowne Plaza in Kuala Lumpur
Shangri La in Singapore
Temple Gym in Birmingham England
Have not found something good in London or the Hage. So still looking, but not very hard...
I am also using the convict conditioning book for body weight exercises.
just picked up a set of 120s and 150s for the house, and a power rack with 200 lb cable attachment.
I now need to spend more time at home. Or go to the hotels / locations that I have good gyms.
Elmwood Fitness at one shell square in New Orleans
Ekco hotel in Lagos
Crowne Plaza in Kuala Lumpur
Shangri La in Singapore
Temple Gym in Birmingham England
Have not found something good in London or the Hage. So still looking, but not very hard...
I am also using the convict conditioning book for body weight exercises.
Mar 27, 2011, 10:34 am
#40
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Mar 29, 2011, 10:15 am
#41
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