Bowflex or CrossBow + Weight gain?

[Whisper]

I have a friend whose brother (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know..."my brother's friend's sister's uncle's cousin's....) was a workout fiend in college and for a few years afterwards. He stopped for a while because of his job, and then used a bowflex to get back into shape. The guy was throwing up 300+ before bowflex, and got up to about that point with it after his break. But of course, he started back up at the gym eventually.

A bowflex probably isn't going to help you get huge, but it'll definitely do a lot to prevent muscle loss. I'd say if nothing else, you could get the bowflex and use it 2-3 times a week, and just hit up the gym once/week or so. Not the best routine, but if you've got a long drive to the gym, it might be your only viable option.

I will say that when I'm home as opposed to school, the 30 minute drive to my gym is sometimes a pain. I don't know if I'd ever actually use a bowflex instead of making the trip, but if I had one at my house, I'd definitely at least use it on my off days or if I was bored around the house.

Edit: and Halik...I'm not sure what you see as so unrealistic about 165/215 bench and 15lbs gained in a year. I've seen people gain twice that amount of weight in a similar amount of time. Besides that, 165/215 isn't an abnormally high number (nothing against the OP; 215 is something to be proud of), and so is quite believable.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Never used a bowflex and to form this opinion I dont need to.. there is no machine that beats free weights, period.

bingo

Plus i call shenanigans ons 165/ 215bench and 15lb muscular gain in a year...

HAHA...

Call it all you want..

I set with 205, and i'll throw 215 five or 6 times.


15 in year? Get real...Little over a lb a month.. Whey Protein, Cell Tech..Eating over 200 Grams of protein a day...

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Whisper
I have a friend whose brother (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know..."my brother's friend's sister's uncle's cousin's....) was a workout fiend in college and for a few years afterwards. He stopped for a while because of his job, and then used a bowflex to get back into shape. The guy was throwing up 300+ before bowflex, and got up to about that point with it after his break. But of course, he started back up at the gym eventually.

A bowflex probably isn't going to help you get huge, but it'll definitely do a lot to prevent muscle loss. I'd say if nothing else, you could get the bowflex and use it 2-3 times a week, and just hit up the gym once/week or so. Not the best routine, but if you've got a long drive to the gym, it might be your only viable option.

I will say that when I'm home as opposed to school, the 30 minute drive to my gym is sometimes a pain. I don't know if I'd ever actually use a bowflex instead of making the trip, but if I had one at my house, I'd definitely at least use it on my off days or if I was bored around the house.

Edit: and Halik...I'm not sure what you see as so unrealistic about 165/215 bench and 15lbs gained in a year. I've seen people gain twice that amount of weight in a similar amount of time. Besides that, 165/215 isn't an abnormally high number (nothing against the OP; 215 is something to be proud of), and so is quite believable.

Thanks for the backup whisper..

I see exactly where your coming from.. The only thing im shaky on is that fact that i may spend a grand just to workout at home...

I think im going to make the journey.. But at least you kinda back the fact up that you can gain SOMETHING on the bowflex...

 

[prvteye2003]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Never used a bowflex and to form this opinion I dont need to.. there is no machine that beats free weights, period.

bingo

Plus i call shenanigans ons 165/ 215bench and 15lb muscular gain in a year...

this can be done easily. Back in the day when I was lifting, I went from a 130 to a 215 bench and gained 10lbs of muscle in 5 months time. This could easily be done.

 

[dababus]

If you want to gain mass, you need to watch your diet closely, no matter what kind of exercises you do. if you intend on putting mass, then start eating 20 calories / pound of body weight on work out days and 15 calories / pound of body weight on non-work out days. Keep your protein in take up. you may need to recycle your carbs up and down.

what does your daily intake look like. post your diet here first.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: dababus
If you want to gain mass, you need to watch your diet closely, no matter what kind of exercises you do. if you intend on putting mass, then start eating 20 calories / pound of body weight on work out days and 15 calories / pound of body weight on non-work out days. Keep your protein in take up. you may need to recycle your carbs up and down.

what does your daily intake look like. post your diet here first.

How do you recycle your carbs?? LOL

 

[PunDogg]

u can gain mass with the crossbow or bflex, depending on how high the weight can be. also they say the flex's are kinda small in length and such, so if u are tall, like about 6'0" then it might be a little small hehe

Dogg

 

[SNC]

Originally posted by: prvteye2003

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
Never used a bowflex and to form this opinion I dont need to.. there is no machine that beats free weights, period.

bingo

Plus i call shenanigans ons 165/ 215bench and 15lb muscular gain in a year...

this can be done easily. Back in the day when I was lifting, I went from a 130 to a 215 bench and gained 10lbs of muscle in 5 months time. This could easily be done.

It really depends on how much body fat you have now. If you have already gone through the initial fat loss/ mussel gain than, no, you will have a hard time gaining a pound of muscle a month. If you are just starting out than that is no problem. I have a flat bench and a BF. I use them both. On the BF I work with 360 - 380 bench depending on my mood. Free I really have a hard time doing the same reps with 270.
When I first started I really think that the BF helped. Now I just use it because I always have. I can hit a couple different angles with the BF that I would never dream of doing free. If it is done right it will help. But the sentiment that free will build more muscle than a BF is mine as well.