Home Gym - Ab Equipment

[Deutscher]

I want to buy some Equipment. Need advice.

Either:

Vertical Abdominal Trainer (VAT) - $399 - Workout World | The Fitness Equipment Specialists - Vertical Abdominal Trainer (VAT)
Haven't used something like this before. Anyone got advice?

BodySolid Freeweight Pro-Style Ab Board (Sit-Up Bench) - $350 - Gym Equipment Perth | Orbit Fitness
I like this one because It's got height so make the workout more difficult, also when I was at a gym I'd use extra weights for better workout. I've seen cheaper benches but they aren't as high.

Orbit Power Station (Tower) - $299 - Gym Equipment Perth | Orbit Fitness
I find this one good and bad. Good because it does Ab & Pull-ups etc. I don't like the fact that your arms hold you up while you do the exercise.

So.. I've kind of eliminated the Tower already.
Anybody got any suggestions? or other equipment that you'd advise?
I dont want to do sit-ups on the floor.

[ClairBear]

So I'm being some Equipment.

LOL. I know you mean buying, but it's such a funny typo I needed to comment!

As far as gym equipment though, never owned my own just used the equipment at the gym. Only thing I have at home is a fit ball for abs.

[Jesterarts]

You want an abs workout? Get a one of those big gym balls plus a 15kg weight/ medicine ball.

Do a crunches piramide holding the ball/weight high on your chest, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Once you can do a full pyramide, go back up too.

That will work your abs and cost a fraction of those machines.

You don't need a machine for abs workouts.

[ClairBear]

Do a crunches piramide holding the ball/weight high on your chest,

That's pretty much what I do.

[Deutscher]

Meh
GF talked me out of it last night. Was going to buy the Bench.
Buying soundsystem next week, recons I should save my money :P

[Shearer]

Leg raises are a good one, can be repetitive at times.

[Deutscher]

Leg raises are a good one, can be repetitive at times.

I used to do Leg raises on the Towers at the gym, but I'd spend agges on it and not feel much, tried somehow to get some extra weight on my legs but couldn't manage it properly.

I've got a chin-up bar at home, tried doing Leg raises using that, but once again... my arms give way before I feel much. Then there's the sleeves you get with it, which just makes it awkward. and you got to make sure you don't swing while doing it.

I do like Leg raises on the floor, I think they are quite effective, but like you said.. can be repetitive. But I think all exercise is repetitive. I just don't like laying on the floor or using only body resistance. I feel like I'm not working as hard.

One of my favourite piece of equipment is the Roman Chair. This thing is killer awesome. When I was at the gym, I'd take a 20kg weight and hold it to my chest while on the Roman Chair. Afterwards you really feel the muscles in your lower back.

[Shearer]

Ahh yesss.. the Roman Chair is a beauty, especially when carry extra weights.

Have you tried planks (and side planks)?

[sheepz]

Hey,

Honestly those things look like a big waste of money, i'm a home gym person got everything you would need outta the gym.

Best thing for abs, is yoga ball situps and this

AB ABDOMINAL EXERCISE CIRCLE WHEEL ROLLER FOR HOME GYM - eBay Exercise Balls, Accessories, Fitness, Sport. (end time 20-Sep-10 08:56:42 AEST)

Atm i can only go from knees to flat, my mate tryin it standing up. Never had a exercise hit my core as much as this thing does. It will be 100% better than those things u posted and only 20bucks.

[DavidPartay]

There are soooo many different ways to work your 'abs' and the rest of your core muscles, which so many people seem to forget about.
I'm a Crossfitter, myself, but I won't plug it here because I don't need to.

Here are things you can do with either free weights, a pullup bar or bodyweight to build your core muscles as well as your abs:

Bodyweight: Squats, situps (crunches are pointless), planche, glute-ham situps (only attempt this with proper coaching)
Pullup bar: Knees to elbows, L-pullups, toes to bar
Free weights: Weighted squats (front, back or overhead), good mornings, deadlifts