I live in a room and have very limited space and I cant get to a gym...
I want to work out with weights to build muscle.
I have a very bad knee so I cant do anything that would involve bending.
Which tapes,or books should I get?
What weights should I get? How many pounds?
I am really desperate to get started.I really hope someone can help me.

I'm not sure what you want to be able to do? As for weights, small hand weights would probably be the best place to start and when they get too easy you can buy some heavier ones.

I started with 2 pounds weights and graduated to 5 pound weights to use with Body Electic, a television show on public television. Later I borrowed some weight lifting videos (really old ones) and bought 8 pound weights. Finally I bought the Body For Life book and bought 40 pounds of adjustable dumb bells.

Maybe you could check out the sticky by TrainerDan about getting started for some more ideas.


Beth

Check out this website. www.collagevideo.com I've purchased many tapes from them. I like the site because 1. you can preview the tapes on your computer and 2. you can read what others have posted -why they liked it, why they didn't. They also have categories of beginner tapes/intermediate/advanced. They'll send a paper catalog if you prefer.
I work out at home, too. Dumbbells, leg weights, you name it. Start slow and good luck!

I agree. Start with dumbells. You don't need to buy an entire set right away. Start with the lighter weights, and add to your set as you progress. I would also purchase a stability ball. They usually come with exercize instructions, and work great in combination with the dumbells.

What is a stability ball?

You might even start out with cans of food. Those chili beans I'm not going to eat work pretty well. You can duct tape a few of them together as well. Something else you might try is a bungee cord. They sell them at alot of sporting good stores for resistance training. There are severl booklets that show the various exercises. Don't spend a buncha bucks until you have done it for a while and you know that you will like it. Good luck.

Stability ball web site.

I believe the stability ball that was mentioned is an inflatable ball that you can exercise with. Allows for greater range of motion, tests your balance.

There are tapes you can buy for those, too, through collage video!

Maybe "Walk Away The Pounds" would be suitabale for you. Its a very simple video but you dont need alot of space to use it!

a stability ball is like a child's jumbo ball, only it is specifically designed to hold an adult's weight. It is used in certain exercises. THe ball provides support while adding, IMHO, an added degree of difficulty. Used in Yoga-type exercises.

I think a set of adjustable dumbbells an exercise ball would make a pretty decent at-home setup for resistance/strength training. The dumbbells could be easily kept under a bed (couch, table, etc.) or in a closet and the ball actually makes a decent chair (especially at the computer).

I sometimes take a ball into the free weight pit at my gym to use in place of a bench for various presses and flyes--definitely useful for when it's busy and there are no available benches. It adds an interesting element of difficulty and incorporates even more of the stabilizers.

I've seen sets of 40 lb. adjustable dumbbells for $20-40, and exercise balls for $12-20. Relatively inexpensive for an at-home "starter" set-up.

Good luck!