This new house that I have shifted to is extremely short on space—just two small bedrooms and a drawing room that is more of a common area. The result is that my exercise bench, which was unscrewed in two while shifting, still lies separated—one part in the balcony and the other, the rack portion, in the passage by the main door.

Yes, we have a gym in our apartment complex. But it seems that it was set up just to show that our builder like others of the ilk, who show their commitment to environment by painting the project in green colour, offers every facility. With a rudimentary list of equipment that includes a multi-gym, two treadmills, one of which is out of order, two stationary cycles, a stepper, two benches, one adjustable and other flat, and six pairs of dumbbells in the increment of 2.5 kg starting with 2.5 kg and ending at 15 kg, hardly any protocol can be followed in our gym.

On the other hand, in spite of my wife and I whacking our heads discussing every permutation and combination but we are unable to find a place to set up the bench at home. Nothing works except to visit the gym to see if I could make anything worthwhile inside it.

I spend the first few days sifting around with dumbbells and sizing their weights. Trying to work out, out of my comfort zone even though feels good but I know that until I found out a protocol that could tame my “butterfly mind” the sheen of well-made branded pieces  won’t be able to keep me hooked for long.

Sifting around with dumbbells and sizing their weights I spend the first few days trying to work out a protocol that would tame my butterfly mind. Click To Tweet

Towards 100 Chin Ups – Dumbbell Complex

I have been on-and-off with weight training for the last 3-4 months. The efforts to set up a new house, arranging money to make multifarious payments and getting the woodworks to create space have drained us, both physically and mentally.

Thinking feels like a task and for the first couple of days I just walk in, randomly pick up a dumbbell or get at the multi-gym and try to work out something while continuing to slog counting reps, catching breath and experimenting with routines.

It was at one such moment when I hear a voice and that turned out to be my Eureka moment. ‘“Dumbbell Complexes” should work fine,’ it said, ‘keeping in mind the limited weight range at the gym.’ It was a schedule that I could hang on for some time.

In the beginning I find Dumbbell Complex tough. Ten non-stop reps of Squats, Chest Press, Shoulder Press, Dumbbell Rowing, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions, Deadlifts and Shrugs with only rudimentary break to catch my breath in between the sets for three rounds is undoubtedly demanding. But the body, keeping in with its inherent nature, catches up and gets used to the rigours. The novelty after a while begins to fade and from then on the movements started to get monotonous.

I slog for another month with “What next?” at the back of my mind. Flirting with a few protocols in between it wasn’t long before I decide upon Deadlift with the single objective to add weights to it. It was among the few movements that I could safely indulge in the minuscule space at home.

As usual I start zealously and even share a video on Facebook, but the excitement gets punched sooner than expected. My barbell loaded to its extreme ends with all the plates that I had at home is full. I have reached the end of weights. It is imperative for me to purchase at least 20 kgs but my pocket hardly has any weight.

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