Can body weight exercises truly compare to the gym?

Ed4all15 · 2020-03-27T00:22:27+00:00

You can do plenty with 30 pound dumbbells and a pull-up bar. Obviously, you aren’t gonna be able to do any serious strength programs, but you can certainly maintain what gains that you have made with that equipment/calisthenics. Use this as an opportunity to get some outdoor cardio in, like riding a bike, or running. It’s free, and you are outside getting fresh air.

Exotic-Lunch · 2020-03-27T00:27:31+00:00

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Exotic-Lunch · 2020-03-27T02:35:38+00:00

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AnonymousSportsExec · 2020-03-27T00:48:10+00:00

Yes, you can get a great workout in without any weights or pull up bars. Having those dumbbells and a pull up bar as well can allow you to get a great work out in.

In your situation, I would use the pull up bar 2-3 times a week and try to do more pull ups a day each time. Do wide-spread hand pull ups, close-hand pull ups and reverse-hand pull ups with your palms facing you.

You can work out any body part with those dumbbells. For upper body and core, Google exercises to do with dumbbells or without any weight. Do different types of pushups. Do tricept dips. Do crunches with a dumbbell on your chest. Do sit up with your arms straight above your head while holding a dumbbell.

For legs, do lunges with the dumbbells. Also rest the dumbbells over your shoulders and do squats. Hold the dumbbells and do calf raises while putting your foot on a big book or something and switch legs. Do squats jumps while holding the dumbbells. Get a chair and step up on the chair without wieghts. Do lots of jumping exercises without wieghts.

beholdthemaverick · 2020-03-27T04:17:20+00:00

Yes they can but volume would have to be astronomically high. Look into german volume training

Protocol_Apollo · 2020-03-27T04:35:41+00:00

Probably not, but is it better than nothing?

YES.

judas734 · 2020-03-27T07:55:30+00:00

Should have bought more weights buddy

BruhMoment45886 · 2020-03-27T01:49:16+00:00

For maintaining muscle, definitely.

lukesterboi1 · 2020-03-27T01:59:23+00:00

Well, if you have a pull up bar you'll do fine. But you aren't getting ripped. Maybe if you have some sand, tree branches, and milk cartons you can improvise a barbell

TripleDragons · 2020-03-27T02:25:14+00:00

No not really - but depends on your level.

Additionally something is better than nothing. Even if at least to stave off loss of motor dexterity and some strength

amwfhunter · 2020-03-27T03:41:29+00:00

Yes. Body weight exercises are great as it measures your functional strength. Your body only knows resistance and volume. So with lesser weight or resistance you will need to increase your volume or reps over time.

Body weight exercises done well reflects how balanced your muscles are. Weights will help you gain strength and size but bodyweight will help you be able to use it.

You can still get into really good shape doing bodyweight exercises, it might just take more reps and effort. In some instances, bodyweight exercises require more strength and balance and overall athleticism.

Just think how many guys can squat 2-3x their own weight or more, bench 1.5 to 2x their weight , deadlift 3 to 4x their weight?

Now how many can do one arm push ups, pistol squats, one arm pull ups, handstand push up, muscle ups?

Get my point?

I've been doing banded workouts with bodyweight work or weighed chin/pull ups in my regular routines with weights as well to maintain overall athleticism.

cuztrp · 2020-03-27T07:25:17+00:00

I don't know whether they compare or not but calisthenics clicked with me like the gym never did and to be honest I'm not looking forward to have any major gains or getting buffed. I just want to look lean and healthy.

The gym for me has always felt claustrophobic. Generally, I really don't like doing exercises and sweating in a closed area. I want to be sweating and hyperventilating under the sun and wind. When I'm out doing calisthenics in the park, I really suck up every moment of it.

As I said, whether you gain muscle or not, I don't know, but I can reassure you is that it destroys your body as much as the gym does. You'll wake up the next morning with some sore muscles exactly like in the gym. And for me that's a good sign that muscles are being repaired.

And also know that most of the movements are compound so you're exercising 1 or 2 muscle groups at the same time.

Really. Just go out and give it a shot and see how it does.

RPOpenUp · 2020-03-27T12:05:40+00:00

No, they can actually not be compared since there's a lot of difference. Bodyweight exercises are going to build muscle less efficiently then weights. You can gain muscle, progress will just be slower. Try focusing on time under tension, pausing in a rep. doing full rom and focus on form. Do mobility work to prepare your body for the strength work you are going to do again. Also if you really want a challenge. Buy some rings, hang them from your pull up bar low on the ground and do pushups on them, or even do dips.

WizardSenpai · 2020-03-27T14:39:04+00:00

as long as you are progressively overloading your muscles it doesnt really matter what exact movement you're doing. just make sure you hit everything.

Title	Can body weight exercises truly compare to the gym?
Author	Exotic-Lunch
Upvotes	9
Comments	27
Date	March 27, 2020 12:07 AM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/fpmsbl/can_body_weight_exercises_truly_compare_to_the_gym/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/can-body-weight-exercises-truly-compare-to-the-gym.357766 https://theredarchive.com/post/357766