Going from weight lifting at the gym to building a garage gym with only a squat rack, and now compressing the entire gym to just what you see in the picture above, of course with the door open; it’s been quite a journey of self learning. I now realize that working out requires very little. The most important requirement is motivation. “You do what you can with what you got.” All you need is a pull-up bar. The Olympic rings a fun way to mix up your workout to make it fun and challenge yourself.
If I could go back in time and advice my young self, I would tell me to not go to a gym and workout using Olympic rings. Gymnasts use rings and these guys are some the fittest people around.
I would also tell my self to use a logbook. A simple logbook with paper and pen. Add an entry everyday. It can be as detailed or as simple as you like. This too will help keep the motivation levels high.
Olympic rings workouts: your can watch how to Videos add much as you want, but I started with this website. The guy has an interesting story and does a great job.
Bodyweightmuscle.com
Another simple rule I have is “no sugar on weekdays.” I can endulge myself on the weekends, or on special occasions – within reasonable sugar limits. But this firm rule has served me well so far.
A recent workout hack has also been quite fruitful in keeping me motivated: half-counting the reps allows pushing through the psychological barriers by tricking the brain. It’s simple to do, and I have a separate post explaining it, Here.
A full range of motion is superior to higher rep count – prioritize building a good form with maximum range of motion as this will compound over time in a positive way. Rest half a second at the max range to really feel the burn and maximize muscle growth.
Here are a couple of links to get your gear:
Pull up bar: I bought a cheap one form local store, paid ~$20. Nothing fancy, but sturdy which I can screw to the door frame. You can patch the screw holes with some putty later.
I also use a foam roller for stretching and ironing out any knots.
And finally, for cardio, I use a regular jump rope. Nothing fancy.
Good luck on your personal fitness. It does not need to be fancy. Just stay motivated!
Cheers and thanks for reading.