Anyone here used or own a Bowflex?

[MaxDSP]

My membership at a gym just expired and I happened to see the BF infomercial. Looks like a pretty good piece of equipment but its a little pricey at a $1000. My gym charges like 250-300 for 18 months

EDIT: typo...

 

[N8Magic]

Boxflex?

 

[MaxDSP]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Boxflex?

 

[xuanman]

used to own stock in its parent company...

 

[MaxDSP]

any others?

 

[Xcrown]

I have one and love it. It is a great fitness machine and I just got sick of going to the local social club...err....gym. One thing though, dont expect to BULK up with it, its far more of a fitness machine than a bulk up machine.

It takes a while to get used to it, changing weights and such, but after you do, exercises are great. Plus, not having to drive or walk anywhere is a big plus.

Xcrown

 

[StageLeft]

I'd like to hear from people who have been able to compare this to weights and from people who are pretty serious about strength training as well.

 

[Xcrown]

Each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Free weights is the way to go if you want to bulk up. Not everyone can have that much free weight in your own house.

Ive been using the bowflex for 4 months now, Ive lost a TON of fat and my body is FAR more defined than it has ever been, but Ive not bulked up that much.

Xcrown

 

[MaxDSP]

Originally posted by: Xcrown
Each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Free weights is the way to go if you want to bulk up. Not everyone can have that much free weight in your own house.

Ive been using the bowflex for 4 months now, Ive lost a TON of fat and my body is FAR more defined than it has ever been, but Ive not bulked up that much.

Xcrown

what was your exercise routine? high weight, low reps, or vice versa?

 

[Xcrown]

I was doing mid weight high reps of course, my idea was to lose some weight and get some strength back. I havent tried high weight yet, just cuz it seems ungaingly. Trying to add 350+ lbs of weight on can get annoying. I only need that kinda weight for legs, which I dont work out as much. For upper body, the machine is great.

Xcrown

 

[Entity]

Any other opinions? I'm considering one too.

Rob

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Entity
Any other opinions? I'm considering one too.

Rob

Rob, the money you'd spend on a bowflex would go a long ways to setting up a home gym. Go to a Play It Again Store up there in Seattle. They have used equipment at a fraction of the cost for new equipment. I was able to get all the weights, a great bench, a Preacher Curl Bench, a Spped Bag, a Heavy Bag and a Machine to work out my tri's and lats for less than what a Bowflex would cost. Plus it made for a great place for my ex to hang her clothes to dry(to my chagrin) On top of that you have the internet to browse so you can learn the proper techniques for weight training, nutrition and supplements.

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Entity
Any other opinions? I'm considering one too.

Rob

Rob, the money you'd spend on a bowflex would go a long ways to setting up a home gym. ......

 

[MainFramed]

my uncle has a bowflex, great machine..i'v used it alot..its cool but i personally like free weights better....i go to a gym everyday and my opinion= free weights over bowflew

 

[Entity]

I'm not lifting for bulkiness - at 6' 192-195, I've already got the heft that I need. I'm lifting moreso for general fitness; I mainly train for Ultimate Frisbee (similar training to soccer) and for biking, etc., so I'm looking for a weight regime that will help me work in that manner better. From what I've experienced in the past, resistance training has helped me with that kind of training, rather than freeweights; when I used freeweights, I bulked up bigtime, and I don't really want that now.

Rob

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I have the Bowflex Ultimate..

as with some of the responses... if you are trying to put on some serious mass.. forget about it.. Its not designed for that.

I will have to throw my opinion in on this..

Pros:

Maintenance
If you are in reasonable shape, it is excellent in maintaining gains you have already made. You really have to concentrate on the muscle, and work the negative as hard as the main repetition.
Location
Less time driving to and from the gym. 10 minutes to the gym, and 10 minutes back result in 20 minutes that you can spend elsewhere. That adds up to an additional hour, on a 3 day program. More if you work out more.
Effeciency
Again.. TIME. Less time waiting around for equipment; and dealing with other people wanting to "work" in with you. More time spent on doing what you intend to do; thats working out.

 

[Tominator]

My brother bought a bowflex at a yard sale for $300! I really like it. It can be stored very easily and is compact.

My son and I have a nice set of free weights.

Weight is weight. Resistence is resistence and I just can't see how one is better or worse.

Regardless, a thousand bucks is weigh[sic] more than I'll ever spend for either!

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: Entity
I'm not lifting for bulkiness - at 6' 192-195, I've already got the heft that I need. I'm lifting moreso for general fitness; I mainly train for Ultimate Frisbee (similar training to soccer) and for biking, etc., so I'm looking for a weight regime that will help me work in that manner better. From what I've experienced in the past, resistance training has helped me with that kind of training, rather than freeweights; when I used freeweights, I bulked up bigtime, and I don't really want that now.

Rob

do you play ultimate at college? what college?

I play at the University of Washington, but not for the team; unfortunately I don't have enough time for that.

I played in the summer league here (Disc Northwest) and will be playing again soon, but for now I just play in a few pick-up leagues. Do you play?

Rob