Maybe you could find a frame if the doorway won't fit it?

Last edited by dizmox (2012 May 25, 5:52 pm)

The problem with a tower is that I just don't have the space for it. Are there any models that are easily collapsible/foldable for storage?

When I lived in Japan, I actually took my shower room door down so I could fit in a pullup bar.

how about inverted rows? you might be able to find something to do that.

You could hang rings and do ring ups and dips. I doubt you have a stove large enough to make your own rings (involves sand, pvc pipe and a paint can), but you should be able to get a set around Tokyo for a reasonable price.

Should be easy enough to find many things to hang your rings on near where you live. On top of that, make a solid box for jumping, so rolled up sand bags and a sea bag for weighted runs, and a jump rope for a variety of exercise possibilities.

Since this thread was converted into a weight training-in-Japan. I'll toss my bit in.
I bought a Kettlebell for weight training. Check youtube for vids on using it. Great for when you can't get to a gym but want to keep up/tone up muscles. Its small and doesn't take up space in your apartment. Weights run 6-8kg and step up 4kgs all the way to like 40kg.

You mentioned the door frame doesn't protrude very far.
I'm not sure how far you mean, so I can't say if this will help, but...

I used to rock climb last year and I actually used to do pullups on the door frame on just my finger tips.
I could already do pullups, but my fingers weren't strong enough (or rather, finger tips).

So what I would do (which a lot of rock climbers do), is to simply hang for seconds on your door frame.
After a few weeks of doing it consistently (see: daily), you'll be able to start doing pullups on the door frame (assuming you already can do pullups).

Just a thought. And it obviously costs nothing.
But obviously don't limit this concept to door frames alone.
Any edge where you can hang my your fingers or get a firm grasp can be used for pullups.

I've done pullups off of too many things to count.
Door frames, basement pipes, sturdy book cases, backside of wooden stairwells, etc.

PS: There is also these things which can be mounted onto the wall:
http://www.amazon.com/Metolius-Project- … amp;sr=8-2
You mount them, and then just hang by the top or in one of the sockets.
The sockets are obviously so you can train only certain fingers as well.
In rock climbing, they are known as *pockets*.

@nukemarine: it's probably the illusiion that machines = technological advancement

then again with the people at the gym i'm not sure we want them to use power racks, for safety reasons...

You can do P90X or Insanity at home and get good (if not better) results that you would at a gym. Beachbody (the company that makes P90X and Insanity) workouts are really nice because all you have to do is follow their calendar and do 1 DVD workout (sometimes 2 in rare cases) a day. Just push PLAY every day and follow along.

It takes no brains at all. And it is efficient because you don't have to get dressed, drive to the gym, check in, change clothes, and put your stuff in your locker BEFORE you even start your workout (not to mention leaving the gym and getting back home in traffic).

Some nice results from these at-home workouts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXU4hcH7ZWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5kfMGfZRmo

This girl looks REALLY hot in here after pics. What a big difference!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD15Ki0LLtI

This guy got amazing results
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tEKlzrx2m8

Beachbody also has something called SHAKEOLOGY, which a meal replacement mix.
You can use it to replace one meal each day (for example, use it for lunch everyday).
People do seem to get good results with it. So if you're having trouble with your diet,
you can use SHAKEOLOGY to replace one of your meals each day. It contains a ton of
vitamins and minerals that you wouldn't normally get every day.

You don't have to use it, but at least it'll mean one less meal you'll have to worry about each day.

Last edited by chamcham (2012 May 27, 11:11 am)

@kkdmg:
Push-up -> push-up with legs elevated -> deep push-ups -> one-arm push-up -> *CRAZY ALERT* planche push-up.
Also I feel form makes so much difference in doing a push-up. For instance if you let your elbows to the 'outside' instead of having them alongside your body (the former being what most people do, the latter the more difficult version). Or going all the way to the ground and pausing at the bottom. Saying you can do 100 or 200 doesn't really mean something unless you see how somebody's form is (not saying you have bad form or anything).
I agree with you that if you want some serious muscle you probably need weights, but there are still options available without weights.

Last edited by kame3 (2012 May 27, 4:19 am)

Arms aren't too hard to exercise without weights, assuming you have access to pullup bars, dipping bars, etc, but working out your legs is pretty hard without weights.  It's hard to find a bodyweight replacement for squats and deads.  Pistols are a start, but I find they don't transfer over to jumping as much as squatting does.  I've never even heard about a replacement for deadlifts.

Don't get me wrong, I love bodyweight exercises.  I'm currently working towards planche, front lever, and handstand press.

partner wrote:

Arms aren't too hard to exercise without weights, assuming you have access to pullup bars, dipping bars, etc, but working out your legs is pretty hard without weights.  It's hard to find a bodyweight replacement for squats and deads.

There's one I do once in a while which is quite exhausting and a bit uncomfortable to do, it looks kind a like the woman in that posture:



Trying to keep the angle on the front square, and bring the knee on the back leg almost to the ground, and holding the arms in front when going down. Wow... I'm panting for breath after twenty or so and can feel the cramps the next day if I haven't done it recently.

Does that have a name?

edit: well I guess it might be squat but that one is "split", I thought the standard squat is both legs bending together. It never occured to me to try this split position in a squat rack back when I went did some gym. My point being the split one without weight seems to be far more exhausting than the legs bent together.