balefire88

So, I'm getting back in the habit of working out at home. As I was browsing excercises online, someone suggested using gallon plastic bottles to work out. I tried it out, and the feel of the bottles is fine. However, the weight of the bottles was not. So, I went and filled a bottle with sand and that seemed to work out somewhat better. My last idea was to add water with the sand till the sand was saturated. This gave me a decent amount of weight (20lbs+).

Any other ideas for materials in the bottles that would be heavier (I was thinking of trying potting soil + water), or just any other ideas besides the gallon bottles.

Thanks.

__________________
"Today is the beginning of the rest of your life."

Toaster126

I'd be worried I'd break a gallon bottle if I put 20+ pounds in it.

Weights aren't so expensive that you need to make your own, are they?

__________________
"The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand)
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

Sage

A good, comprehensive set of weights can be anywhere from $100 to $600+, and they take up a lot of room.

Just make sure your form is good when you're using homemade weights.

Heavy books might work- put a few of them in a bag and then lift the bag... I've seen a website that suggests using a child as a bench-press (just have them lie flat and stiff as a board)... heavy printer or piece of furniture held against your chest for squats...

Also, check out your local Goodwill or thrift stores for secondhand weights- you can get them cheap!

__________________

maleficent

check out the two old standbys for peopel geting rid of stuff - generally free or dirt cheap.. www.freecycle.org or www.craigslist.com --

__________________

balefire88

They're suprisingly durable, atleast for the month or so I had 2 filled up with sand and water. Unfortunately, for reasons too complicated to get into, I had to get rid of that set. I use them outside in my backyard, so if they were to break, its not really a problem. Just a bunch of wet mud that would not be that hard to clear away.

And as someone else mentioned, a good set is quite expensive. The adjustable ones I've found seem well suited for the full range of excercises I do, but the main problem is I'm only expecting to stay at my current location for another 2 months or so. I'm not expecting to drive up to my next location either, so moving them might be a problem.

__________________
"Today is the beginning of the rest of your life."

balefire88

I'll look around for cheap weights at the places you guys mentioned. Thx sage and mal.

Books in a bag seems less stable than the jugs, so I prolly wouldn't try that.

__________________
"Today is the beginning of the rest of your life."

newtx

A set of adjustable dumb bells is very inexpensive. Bite the bullet and consider purchasing a set from the discount store. Walmart,Target, etc.

Toaster126

Yep. Less than $30 bucks in some cases.

__________________
"The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand)
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

thingstodo

Or look for a set of used Power Blocks. They are awesome and take up no room because they are all on one stand using about 2 square feet of floor space. A 90 lbs set might be arounf $600 new but less for used, and even less for the lower weight set.

www.powerblock.com/blocks.html

__________________
If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.