Originally Posted by timmhaan
in my eternal debate over whether i want to join a gym or not, i finally figured out that really the only thing i would join a gym for would be the squat rack.
one of my weaknesses is core strength. which is why i find the squat rack appealing. however, i don't want to drop $400+ on a gym membership if i can get the same results at home.
my building has 6 floors, which is a pretty good amount of stairs. a few times up and down really burn you out (and elevate your heartrate). i'm thinking of doing stair repeats and carrying weights if i need more resistance. this would be in addition to my other home exercises (crunches, pushups, etc.)
will this be a good way to add strength in the off season? or would doing heavier squats be better?
Save money and use those stairs. You will be using the pretty much the same muscles. You can do interval sets with them and build great strength. Just be careful not to over do it at first, build up to it slowly and consistently. Remember, recovery is the key to gain. I'm a po' boy and always looking for inexpensive training aids . . .