Barbells, plates, dumbbells, benches, etc. have been around for 100 years.
Jack LaLanne, the first fitness influencer, invented the cable pulley machine in the 1950s. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if some yoked Soviet lumberjack beat him to it.
There’s a reason these things have remained staples in the gym:
They work.
Many machines, gadgets, and doohickies have appeared since. And some did prove worthy and stuck around.
But most “advances,” especially the ones that pledged to render basic free weights obsolete, just didn’t live up to the hype.
So before you whip out your credit card to order the latest fitness fad off the ‘Gram, maybe invest in good quality basic equipment?
Even if you have a gym membership, a little private power pit to bang out a workout when you’re pressed for time is a great thing to have.
I’m not saying to turn your studio apartment into a Golds, as cool as that would be.
But adjustable benches, a barbell, and dumbbells don’t take up much room, and with just that equipment you can train the whole body pretty darn well.
Now add one or two trips a week to a “real gym” to use some of the better machines out there and you’re 100% covered.
The hybrid approach of home AND commercial gym workouts became popular during COVID and I’ve written hundreds of these programs at this point.
People love the mix because it’s practical, flexible, efficient, and effective. Unlike that growing collection of fitness gadgets you bought on impulse.
Think of it this way—you’ll never regret basic weight training.
But buying a Shake-Weight?
That’s a different story.
— Coach Bryan