My Home Gym - Stage 2: Getting Serious
September 3, 2003 - May 20, 2005
NOTE: Click any image on this page for an enlarged view (opens in new browser)
As I progressed with my training, I knew that my equipment was seriously holding me back. I had even
resorted to tying dumbbells to the bar because I needed more weight than the set I was using had. This was a very stupid thing to do, don't try it. I
almost killed myself, and my wife almost killed me when she found out what I was doing. Not only were the dumbbells unstable while tied to the bar,
the bench was not rated for that kind of weight and it felt like it was going to collapse at any moment. I remember thinking to
myself, "wouldn't it be ironic to do all this work, get in great shape and then die because I was too stupid/cheap to not invest in quality equipment?" I
would have been a shoe-in for this year's "Darwin Awards". 
So, with the creaking bench fresh in my mind, I decided to update my equipment. I knew that all the equipment I needed was going to take up a lot of room, so I decided to turn the "junk" room into a dedicated home gym. Once I decided what to do, I made a plan and got right to work.
First I cleaned out the room, then I painted the walls, then I ripped up all the carpet and replaced it with protective rubber flooring and, finally, I put up a bunch of large mirrors on one of the walls. For the equipment I purchased a Powertec Power Rack, a 300-pound Olympic barbell weight set, a weight tree, and a Powertec utility bench.
Here is how my gym looked from September 2003 through May 20, 2005:
Standing just outside the gym. The door is to keep the dogs out.
This is the Powertec Power Rack, the Olympic bar and the Powertec Utility Bench complete with leg attachment. Note the adjustable safety spotter and the chin-up bars. It also comes with removable/adjustable dip bars (not shown). Also visible are some of the dumbbells, the stationary bike, and a couple of the mirrors.
This is a front view of the Powertec Power Rack, the Olympic bar and the Powertec Utility Bench (with leg attachments). You can also see some of the dumbbells, the stationary bike, and the stair climber.
This is a closer shot of the Powertec Utility Bench (with leg attachments).
Web design and development by Sverre Sjothun
