Garage Gym of the Week: Phil M.

What’s your name? Phil

How old are you? 29

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am married with twin 1-year-old boys who keep me very busy. I have a desk job.

How would you describe your training style? I do a blend of CrossFit for fun once a week, Olympic lifts for strength (following Wendler’s 5/3/1), and jogging with my boys in the stroller for getting out of the house.

How would you describe your fitness/strength level, currently? Recovering dad-bod. Fitter than average.

What are your fitness/strength goals? My 2017 goal is to Bench/Squat/Deadlift: 315/405/495 and complete Fran in 8 mins while staying under 200 lbs.

Describe your garage gym. Rogue R-4 rack, Fringe Sport gold garage gym package, and Rep Fitness FID bench.

Who works out in your garage gym? My whole family! I’m the primary user in the evenings or on my lunch break. My wife has her own One Fit Wonder barbell. And my boys have their own “barbells” which I made by cutting bumper plates out of some black foam and sticking them on the ends of dowel rods.

Why did you build a garage gym? Being efficient is important because I want to spend as much time with my family. I can lift when the boys are asleep without leaving the house. Having everything in my garage also saves on driving time.

What’s your favorite piece of equipment in your garage? I’m a huge fan of my Plantronics Backbeat Fit headphones. They’re cheap, waterproof, stay on while jumping, and the sound quality is good enough for me.

What piece of equipment was a waste? I would probably use TRX-style straps more than the gymnastic rings.

What’s the next piece of equipment you’re going to get? Rower, better floor mats, resistance bands.

Any dream piece of equipment? A C2 rower.

How did you build your garage gym? I made an excel spreadsheet comparing Rogue, Fringe, and GetRXD packages. I bought everything all at once from the supplier with the best value.

Do you have any tips for anyone else looking to build a garage gym? I’m not sure I’m in a good position to dish out advice. Personally, I prioritized quality and value because I want to enjoy my investment for a lifetime. 


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