So what is your 'why'? Of all the hobbies one might have, what makes you dedicate so much time to training, physique, nutrition, etc.?

[BuildABro]

I am boring, I have Rogue gear in my dungeon. I do like the connivence of being able to bust out a few sets whenever I am feeling froggy. I have slowly built up my my equipment over time. It was basically just storage in the small unfinished portion of the basement, but I have now made it my sanctuary.

 

[narta]

, I would prefer cologne than effing BO that is so bad that I can taste it, fffuuuuuck it

You are too fucking close if you can taste it....

 

[bigMoJo]

I am boring, I have Rogue gear in my dungeon. I do like the connivence of being able to bust out a few sets whenever I am feeling froggy. I have slowly built up my my equipment over time. It was basically just storage in the small unfinished portion of the basement, but I have now made it my sanctuary.

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The phantom hair on my bald head stood up when I read the words, "dungeon," and, "sanctuary" used to describe your gym. Bad... ass!

 

[cdoubleu]

At one time weightlifting was an auxiliary to enhance my sport

Now at 39 it’s an auxiliary for being able to play sports and just go through life in general without feeling completely ceased up like an old man.

 

[nightprowler7]

Unrelated tangents are kind of par for the course, so it's all good in the hood. And lots of insightful commentary.

I love your user name man.

Funny story- my friends wife is from Russia. Lived a very sheltered life before moving to the USA. One Christmas she wanted to buy her step son who’s 2 some clothes. So my friend dropped her off at the mall and picked her up like 3hrs later. When they got home he asked what she bought and she opened the bag, It was 2 outfits from the “build a bear” kiosk lol. She thought it was children’s clothes not doll clothes lol

 

[BuildABro]

Same name I have used in several bodybuilding related forums, including bodybuilding.com before it got removed recently (It had become a spam infested wasteland anyway).

And yes, the name is a play on words to build-a-bear, which our 5 year old is obsessed with.

 

[Intrepid]

Same name I have used in several bodybuilding related forums, including bodybuilding.com before it got removed recently (It had become a spam infested wasteland anyway).

And yes, the name is a play on words to build-a-bear, which our 5 year old is obsessed with.

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Man i remember the misc and tmisc days.

Those were the golden times

 

[BuildABro]

The phantom hair on my bald head stood up when I read the words, "dungeon," and, "sanctuary" used to describe your gym. Bad... ass!

Rogue gear is a tad pricey, but pretty high quality overall. I tend to beat the shit out of my stuff. The bar is the 'echo' variant, which is their economy model but I have been fairly impressed with it nonetheless. It does not have the spin or overall refinement of their pricier barbells, but it gets the job done.

 

[bigMoJo]

Rogue gear is a tad pricey, but pretty high quality overall. I tend to beat the shit out of my stuff. The bar is the 'echo' variant, which is their economy model but I have been fairly impressed with it nonetheless. It does not have the spin or overall refinement of their pricier barbells, but it gets the job done.

At one gym I go, I think ALL the power racks are Rogue. Of course, they are solid, and I like the way the spotter arms attach and adjust. Havn't paid attention and I'll have to check the make on the barbells. Lots of Rogue plates, but mixed in with other plates. Not a fancy gym—alot of the members are beginners—but, the owner routinely beefs up equipment. Recently, he added an additional Ivanko dumbbell rack that goes from 120 to 200lbs. Equipment doesn't match up as far as brands. It's just good equipment that's been collected through the years regardless of "looks."

 

[BuildABro]

At one gym I go, I think ALL the power racks are Rogue. Of course, they are solid, and I like the way the spotter arms attach and adjust. Havn't paid attention and I'll have to check the make on the barbells. Lots of Rogue plates, but mixed in with other plates. Not a fancy gym—alot of the members are beginners—but, the owner routinely beefs up equipment. Recently, he added an additional Ivanko dumbbell rack that goes from 120 to 200lbs. Equipment doesn't match up as far as brands. It's just good equipment that's been collected through the years regardless of "looks."

I have gotten a lot of stuff from facebook marketplace too. So it's ragtag as fuck in my dungeon but for items like my barbell, plates, my rack, etc. I went with Rogue as there are some things it just does not pay to pinch pennies on.

I am starting to run out of space down there though. The only section that I don't have gym flooring installed now is the actual storage area, so boxes of Xmas decorations and all that other random shit. I am thinking about getting some lumber and installing some shelving in the garage for all that crap so I can have the whole space to myself.

 

[laclark89]

I have gotten a lot of stuff from facebook marketplace too. So it's ragtag as fuck in my dungeon but for items like my barbell, plates, my rack, etc. I went with Rogue as there are some things it just does not pay to pinch pennies on.

I am starting to run out of space down there though. The only section that I don't have gym flooring installed now is the actual storage area, so boxes of Xmas decorations and all that other random shit. I am thinking about getting some lumber and installing some shelving in the garage for all that crap so I can have the whole space to myself

I’m the same built my stuff up little by little traded here and there, Facebook market place and also offer up app. I will say I have never lost $ on any gym equipment I have.the shit holds its value like gold. I’ve had a ton of fun and entertainment buying bartering and trading and selling gym stuff.

I have a big living room for nothing so my wife let me make part of it my gym. I have the most stuff I can fit in a small place comfortably. I was think about getting some adjustable dumbells to save space but I had some Bowlflex 50’s I hated them.

I don’t think I spent over 3k with my Mats and all. My mats are cheap I payed $10 per 16sq ft 4x4 sq. Only thing once in a while the seems would pop when doing stuff that my feet would twist so I duct taped them, a little ghetto but problem solved.

If ur not too handy and want a simple build u can just get some cinder blocks and some 2x12-2x16 boards from ur local lumber yard. They sell them in 2ft increments and they would probably even cut them to length for u.

 

[laclark89]

 

[BuildABro]

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Good looking setup bro!

 

[iris]

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Omg, Laclark, this is well nice.
Clean, tidy, super organised.
You did a good job here, for sure!
Thanks for the pictures, they are lovely.
❤

 

[bigMoJo]

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LaClark, let's be honest, your wife didn't just let you have all that in the living room just to work out, right? I get a "pumping-more-than-iron" vibe there.

 

[nightprowler7]

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Your home gym looks just like mine before I bought my house. I had a small 2 bedroom apartment and I turned my entire living room and spare bedroom into a gym. I basically only had a mattress on the floor in my bedroom and the one piece of furniture was my entertainment center holding my tv. I remember the landlord coming to do the annual inspection and she questioned if I even was living there lol.

Honestly I loved it though. My calm place is in the gym and I loved my living situation. My now spouse was like “you really live like this?” lol. She was even more surprised when she opened my fridge and all I had was whole milk and hungryman frozen dinners lol

 

[BuildABro]

Your home gym looks just like mine before I bought my house. I had a small 2 bedroom apartment and I turned my entire living room and spare bedroom into a gym. I basically only had a mattress on the floor in my bedroom and the one piece of furniture was my entertainment center holding my tv. I remember the landlord coming to do the annual inspection and she questioned if I even was living there lol.

Honestly I loved it though. My calm place is in the gym and I loved my living situation. My now spouse was like “you really live like this?” lol. She was even more surprised when she opened my fridge and all I had was whole milk and hungryman frozen dinners lol

My home gym is also my calm slice of zen in this house. My domain for doing what I do best in peace and focus. Unlike the actual gym I go to which is often nothing but a series of endless distractions.

Slowly building it out has been a labor of love, and my wife naturally thinks I am insane, but it has honestly been the most rewarding home project I have taken on to date. It’s explicitly for me and represents what I am passionate about, even if it might be a tad on the neurotic/obsessive side.

 

[nightprowler7]

My home gym is also my calm slice of zen in this house. My domain for doing what I do best in peace and focus. Unlike the actual gym I go to which is often nothing but a series of endless distractions.

Slowly building it out has been a labor of love, and my wife naturally thinks I am insane, but it has honestly been the most rewarding home project I have taken on to date. It’s explicitly for me and represents what I am passionate about, even if it might be a tad on the neurotic/obsessive side.

Absolutely agree man. I feel much calmer and in tune with the weights when I’m in my home gym. In public gyms there are too many distractions and it slows me down trying to work around other people using the equipment I need. I also don’t like seeing women dressed like whores in the gym, it seems some just go to the gym for attention or validation instead of a genuine way of bettering themselves. Have some modesty and respect for yourself. Just my 2 cents

 

[Tbaz192]

My why… always had image issues. Played baseball and then had a career ending injury late in high school, lost any chance to be drafted or do anything. So life got so boring, ADHD killed my chance at getting thru school. I wasn’t medicated and didn’t realize till years after. So I withdrew & decided to pick up the gym, reselling, tattoos, and demolition work.


Ended up having some health issues early on in my gym life. Doctors figured my test was low. Sub 200 naturally. Got put on TRT at 21.
Once that happened I realized wow I’m not shit compared to most people. Went from 180 to 230 over the course of lifting.

Life did a complete 180 mentally and physically once that TRT happened & some nasty breakups. Changed my life.
now I’m just a big tatted up socially awkward beefcake on Tren

 

[BuildABro]

My why… always had image issues. Played baseball and then had a career ending injury late in high school, lost any chance to be drafted or do anything. So life got so boring, ADHD killed my chance at getting thru school. I wasn’t medicated and didn’t realize till years after. So I withdrew & decided to pick up the gym, reselling, tattoos, and demolition work.


Ended up having some health issues early on in my gym life. Doctors figured my test was low. Sub 200 naturally. Got put on TRT at 21.
Once that happened I realized wow I’m not shit compared to most people. Went from 180 to 230 over the course of lifting.

Life did a complete 180 mentally and physically once that TRT happened & some nasty breakups. Changed my life.
now I’m just a big tatted up socially awkward beefcake on Tren

Sounds like you are right where you need to be in life bro.