What equipment needed?

lorioiseau3

Member
I'm thinking of buying the STS series, but I would like to know what weight equipment I will needed. I already have free weights 2 lbs - 20 lbs, a stability ball, and a step. What other items will I need to purchase in order to get the most effective workout? Thanks!
 
Well now, a barbell with weight capacity between 55-95 pounds, an elastic band thingy, and something to do chin-ups on. I have the push pull tower and find that to be perfect. I also have an Iron Gym...that pull-up bar that goes on a door frame. Well, unless you have great upper body strength already, then maybe the IG is for you. But I can only do 4-5 reps on that...and that is after doing STS all the way thru once. Before STS I could only do 1 good rep on a good day. I love STS and plan on doing it again late summer into the fall. I got great results and know I will do even better the second time around. Hope this helps.

~Renee
 
Thanks Renee! I've been pricing barbells online and they seem pretty expensive. Where can I get one that won't break my bank?
 
I have a couple barbells and this one is my fav! It's on sale right now for less then $86.00 with free shipping! It's the Troy Lite System and weighs 40#. It has rubber plates that don't rust and are kinder to your floors if dropped. You can always buy more plates later or pick some up at a garage sale. You HAVE to get STS! There's is nothing out there that compares to this series! Have fun and let us know what you decide. Here is the link for the Troy Barbell:

http://www.fitnessequipmentandmore.com/Troy-Barbell-TLW-40-TBT1255.html

You can also do a search online and possibly find it cheaper. Good Luck!
 
Another place to check is Play It Again Sports. I have gotten some good deals there, but you definately want to shop around. Perhaps classified ads or CraigsList. Gopd luck.

~Renee
 
I have a couple barbells and this one is my fav! It's on sale right now for less then $86.00 with free shipping! It's the Troy Lite System and weighs 40#. It has rubber plates that don't rust and are kinder to your floors if dropped. You can always buy more plates later or pick some up at a garage sale. You HAVE to get STS! There's is nothing out there that compares to this series! Have fun and let us know what you decide. Here is the link for the Troy Barbell:

http://www.fitnessequipmentandmore.com/Troy-Barbell-TLW-40-TBT1255.html

You can also do a search online and possibly find it cheaper. Good Luck!

Is this the same type of barbell in the STS vid's? I have been researching barbells and I can't seem to find the right one. I'm looking for something like the one in the cathe vids. Is this the same type? I need something that's not too heavy like the Olympia (sp?) and under 5feet tall
 
I got mine from Sam's Club of all places. Wish I had gotten it from Troy, and this is why; It is short....5 feet long and doesn't fit on the Push/Pull Tower. Would be nice if it did so I could use my barbell from above, instead of hoisting it up for those heavy bench press sets in meso 2 and 3. If it was 6 feet long it would have fit no problem. I will be investing in a 6 foot bar before doing STS again, that is for sure! Play it Again sports has a few always in stock, and that is where I will be getting mine.

:)
Renee
 
barbell

You really shouldn't need a 6ft bar for the Push/Pull Tower. The bars we use in our videos are only about 4 1/2 feet long.
 
OK, so I went and measured my barbell it is 4 feet and 8 inches long!! I then measured the spots where the weights stop... just under 32 inches...about 31 and 5/8. AND it won't fit the tower. Gosh, I thought I was going nuts...the tower measured 32 inches exactly and my barbell just won't fit. Just 3/8 too short! Can you believe that? Maybe my barbell is just one of those weird off-kiltered things but it doesn't work at all on my tower. :(
So, with measurements in hand, I will get a new barbell bar before doing STS again. sigh

~Renee
 
Short Barbells

You will find some short bars will not work, but most will fit the Tower. We use several types of bars in our videos, but the Troy Light barbell is the main one we use.
 
Hey everybody! Thanks for your help about the barbells. I've got my ordered placed for the Troy barbell and it will be coming soon. Today, I received the STS program and the push pull tower! My birthday present to myself came early!!! And I was so proud that I was able to put together the tower all by myself!

I do have a question about adding plates to the barbell. How do I know the weight increments to buy? There are heavier plates and lighter ones. What I have coming is just the barbell and weight up to 35 pounds. That won't be enough (I don't think) for the 1RM. Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Go to Play It Again Sports (if you have one) and buy at least two more 10's and two more 5's. You also might want two 2 and 1/2s. That still might not be enough weight especially depending on your strength. You could always add more, perhaps another pair of 10's or 7 1/2's. Dicks should also carry these too.

Very excited for you! Happy Birthday! You will have a blast!

~Renee
 
Renee,

Thank you so much for your help! I went to Dick's and bought some more plates in the increments that you suggested. Now all I have to do is figure out the 1RM!!! I hope to get started with the first workout on Monday!!
 
Well, Happy Birthday to you! How exciting! Did your Troy BB come yet? I am pretty sure it weighs 39# with the plates it comes with. (if I am not mistaken, I think the bar itself weighs 4#'s.) Wow, a tower, a new BB AND STS? You are set! Have fun and let us know how it goes! STS is the best!
 
So, how's it going? Have you started STS yet?

I will be starting STS again in August, after the road trip! I have just finished the 3rd meso cycle again, which was incorparated into my June rotation. So, now I am choosing endurance type Cathe weight lifting dvds. Finished Super Sets this morning and was pleased that I was able to keep up with Cathe and her choosen weights. I think that was a first for me! :)

Also entering my third week of karate and will hopefully graduate to yellow belt in two weeks! Cathe, step and STS has really prepared me well for this new adventure. Gotta work on flexibility and balance more, but it will come.

Kind a got off on a tangent....please, let me know how you are doing?

Best....
~Renee
 
Renee, isn't it a great feeling to see how much stronger you are after STS? How fun too that you are taking Karate! You'll have to post some pix!
 
I haven't actually started STS yet. I still don't know if I have everything I need. I've got dumbbells that go up to 25 lbs. Will I need to get heavier ones? Also, I notice that Cathe does exercises that require an incline bench and I don't have slanted risers with my step. Can I just do those exercises with my bench horizontal. And I still have to figure out the 1RM. I know there is a link that tells me what exercises to do to figure that out. I just need to make the time to do it. I'll be sure to keep you updated. I'm going out of town at the end of the week -- July is a crazy month. But I sure am happy to have bought STS. It's an investment in myself!!! Cathelites rock!!!
 
My first suggestion would be to do the 1RM as it def makes you work harder then if you just guess at your weights. Consider the time it takes to do them as workouts! :) You can just do 1RM for like the first three workouts to begin with as some of the moves are duplicated during the series. That way you dont feel so overwhelmed. Also, you can use your regular step as an incline bench just by removing risers on one end. It works very well. I do have the incline risers and happy I bought them because the platform seems more secure but you can def just do it the other way making sure your platform is positioned carefully. You are going to love this series! Let us know!
 
Hi!

My dumbbells only go up to 25 pounds. Thats all I needed the first time doing STS, but I know I will need 30's when I do it again starting in August, after the NJ roadtrip.

I'm one week away from my yellow belt!

Lots of cardio and weight lifting going on at home.

~Renee
 

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