Bowflex?

[cronos]

Originally posted by: aircooled
If you have a "Play it again Sports" shop in town, I'd highly recommend buying it there.
They are filled with the high end "TV" stuff like Bowflex's and Nordic Track's etc... MUCH cheaper than buying them new.

hey, i think we have one here. good idea.

 

[ThaPerculator]

Free weights would require a whole room of equipment for the same workouts.

Uhh... mmmkay... Get a combo power rack/bench setup, a olympic bar and plates, and some adjustable dumbells and you can do anything you can do on a bowflex in roughly the same amount of space. Maybe like a extra couple of sq. feet for a plate tree if necessary.

IMO I would much rather buy a really nice high-end bench/rack setup and a set of cast dumbells. It would still be cheaper than a bowflex, and once you learn to use them right it is way better.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Lager
Is Bowflex the thing that tones you ass into rock?

I think thats the rockassflex.

 

[Fingolfin269]

There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

Can you explain how a power rack works? Does it just have an extra set of hooks towards the bottom for when you fail and can't lift the barbell higher on bench?

What about for squats?

Sorry, I'm a newbie to all this stuff. But from everything I've read, you can't beat free weights for actual results.

 

[azazyel]

I have used a total gym for a while now (or at least I did until about a month ago). Home gyms have their benefits and are IMO comparable to free weights.

Personally, I don't really think you will see that much of a difference in the majority of exercises between free weights and a home gym. Mainly because to really build bulk you need to be able to stress your muscle adequately. To do this with free weighs you should have a spotter. I know some people can do it with out but I wouldn't recommend it. This is especially true for me due to a shoulder injury. This injury makes it slightly dangerous to lift anything that could squash me over my head.

Also, if there are parts of you have you wish to bulk up in, i.e. arms, you can always get free weights to supplement your work out. Overall having a home gym will really help to improve your base strength and give you a wide variety of exercises to do. Boredom can be a really workout killer. Also, buy it used or check out local papers for adds. I would never had paid full price for mine, got it from my sister for $0.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

Can you explain how a power rack works? Does it just have an extra set of hooks towards the bottom for when you fail and can't lift the barbell higher on bench?

What about for squats?

Sorry, I'm a newbie to all this stuff. But from everything I've read, you can't beat free weights for actual results.

I think it usually depends on which type of rack you get. Some have pegs that you can move up/down past the bottom of your motion for when you fail, like you mentioned. Others have a set of immovable pegs at regular distances, with the bar itself being attached to the rack. The bar has a set of hooks on either side so that if you rotate it, the hooks will catch the pegs.

I'd be willing to bet that most home benches have the former, as I've only seen the latter (the bar with the hooks) at regular gyms.

Honestly, I think the best advice was the post telling the OP to try out a gym membership for a year. It'll be cheaper than either free weights or a bowflex, and most likely better than both as well. A gym will have free weights AND machines, and more of either than any home gym ever could. The drawback is that you actually have to leave your house to workout; but that can be a benefit as well. I know that by the time I get to my gym, even if I don't feel like working out, I'd never leave early...otherwise all that driving would've been wasted.

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

Can you explain how a power rack works? Does it just have an extra set of hooks towards the bottom for when you fail and can't lift the barbell higher on bench?

What about for squats?

Sorry, I'm a newbie to all this stuff. But from everything I've read, you can't beat free weights for actual results.

You use free weights in a power rack. Think of it as the big box rack thing you probably already use at a gym to do your squats/deadlifts/etc inside of. A lot of them even have a pull up bar in the top middle portion. Basically you have two bars on either side that serve as your safety net and you place the freeweight barbell at whatever position you want it to be based on the exercise you're performing. Obviously you'd need to buy an adjustable bench to use for certain exercises.

The great thing about the power rack is that you can still use free weights on your bench press and as long as you have it setup properly you can do a lot of weight because the rack will basically spot for you.

 

[Beau]

I owned a Bowflex PowerProXT for about 8 months. Hated it. The workout felt awkward and uneven. Results were neglible. So I sold it and bought a membership to a gym (about the same monthly cost), and hit the free weights. Much better work outs.

 

[alkemyst]

Bowflex definitely would build muscle, whether as effective or not as free wieghts is debatable.

You move any resistance to fatigue and your body will grow.

As far as recommending a power rack and the like for home use, many do not have the space to do so and many that do so have a freaking house that looks like a gym.

Even if you have a garage, you are giving up alot of room to house wieght equipment.

A power rack and the weight space you will need to justify one takes up a heck of a lot more space than a bowflex/the like. Plus most of these devices will fold up to at least stay flat against a wall.

 

[Jeraden]

The main problem I've always read with Bowflex is that it doesn't offer flat resistance, the resistance scales up the further you bend the bars, kind of like power bands. Free weights are more effective as the resistance is uniform through the whole range of motion.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

Can you explain how a power rack works? Does it just have an extra set of hooks towards the bottom for when you fail and can't lift the barbell higher on bench?

What about for squats?

Sorry, I'm a newbie to all this stuff. But from everything I've read, you can't beat free weights for actual results.

I think it usually depends on which type of rack you get. Some have pegs that you can move up/down past the bottom of your motion for when you fail, like you mentioned. Others have a set of immovable pegs at regular distances, with the bar itself being attached to the rack. The bar has a set of hooks on either side so that if you rotate it, the hooks will catch the pegs.

I'd be willing to bet that most home benches have the former, as I've only seen the latter (the bar with the hooks) at regular gyms.

Honestly, I think the best advice was the post telling the OP to try out a gym membership for a year. It'll be cheaper than either free weights or a bowflex, and most likely better than both as well. A gym will have free weights AND machines, and more of either than any home gym ever could. The drawback is that you actually have to leave your house to workout; but that can be a benefit as well. I know that by the time I get to my gym, even if I don't feel like working out, I'd never leave early...otherwise all that driving would've been wasted.

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

Thats kind of what I thought that they were.

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't drive to the gym and then not workout, it'd be a big waste of time. But all the extra hassles of dealing with other people, waiting for a bench, having to drive there in the first place, etc would probably result in me not ever going to begin with.

Yeah, I roped my little brother into spotting me while I bench press when I'm at home. I go home on sundays every week to do laundry anyway, and I have a bench and a barbell in the basement setup so I'm starting to do bench press there and have him spot me. It sure was nice to be able to just go for broke without worrying about failing halfway. He's pretty little, but I usually just need a tiny boost to get that last failed one up.




Do they make chinup bars that can be setup in like a doorway temporarily...hopefully without damaging the doorway with screw holes or anything?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
There's no value in a bowflex when you can just go buy a power rack, barbell, and a ton of bb weights for a lot less. You can do every major compound exercise in a good power rack and you sort of have a 'spotter' to go with it.

Can you explain how a power rack works? Does it just have an extra set of hooks towards the bottom for when you fail and can't lift the barbell higher on bench?

What about for squats?

Sorry, I'm a newbie to all this stuff. But from everything I've read, you can't beat free weights for actual results.

I think it usually depends on which type of rack you get. Some have pegs that you can move up/down past the bottom of your motion for when you fail, like you mentioned. Others have a set of immovable pegs at regular distances, with the bar itself being attached to the rack. The bar has a set of hooks on either side so that if you rotate it, the hooks will catch the pegs.

I'd be willing to bet that most home benches have the former, as I've only seen the latter (the bar with the hooks) at regular gyms.

Honestly, I think the best advice was the post telling the OP to try out a gym membership for a year. It'll be cheaper than either free weights or a bowflex, and most likely better than both as well. A gym will have free weights AND machines, and more of either than any home gym ever could. The drawback is that you actually have to leave your house to workout; but that can be a benefit as well. I know that by the time I get to my gym, even if I don't feel like working out, I'd never leave early...otherwise all that driving would've been wasted.

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

Thats kind of what I thought that they were.

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't drive to the gym and then not workout, it'd be a big waste of time. But all the extra hassles of dealing with other people, waiting for a bench, having to drive there in the first place, etc would probably result in me not ever going to begin with.

Yeah, I roped my little brother into spotting me while I bench press when I'm at home. I go home on sundays every week to do laundry anyway, and I have a bench and a barbell in the basement setup so I'm starting to do bench press there and have him spot me. It sure was nice to be able to just go for broke without worrying about failing halfway. He's pretty little, but I usually just need a tiny boost to get that last failed one up.




Do they make chinup bars that can be setup in like a doorway temporarily...hopefully without damaging the doorway with screw holes or anything?

Yup, or you can get one of those (I forget the precise name) chin/dip setups that run around $100 new.

 

[Gurck]

A nice freeweight setup will run you $300-$400 - that includes bench, barbell, dumbbells, and iron. I'd recommend a bench with a lat attachment to really hit the back muscles, and some sort of a squat setup. This can be as simple as having barbell holders on the back side of the uprights. All told that's 1/4-1/3 the price of an inferior bowflex. The only time the bowflex really takes up less space is when you fold up the bench portion.

I wouldn't rate the bowflex quite as low as products like the slim-belt (that belt you wear that makes you magically thin as you pig out in front of the boob-tube, at least according to Fergie, who endorses it), but it's close, definitely down there on the scale. There's a reason they have half-hour ads at 3am. Not many products that sink that low are worth getting. It's also far, far overpriced.

 

[azazyel]

The door gym is a good one for pull up.

 

[pcmodem]

Bowflex, Soloflex, NordicTrak = Clothes Hanger After 1 Month

You can probably get one on Ebay for a lot less than retail.



Cheers, :beer:
PCM

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Whisper

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

You don't need a spot with free weights...think about dumbbells and benching....I get stuck I can clear the weight no problem.

There are also ways to cheat the last few reps (not sets) yourself. Feeling the burn is not needed and if you need to, just do stripping reps.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Gurck
A nice freeweight setup will run you $300-$400 - that includes bench, barbell, dumbbells, and iron. I'd recommend a bench with a lat attachment to really hit the back muscles, and some sort of a squat setup. This can be as simple as having barbell holders on the back side of the uprights. All told that's 1/4-1/3 the price of an inferior bowflex. The only time the bowflex really takes up less space is when you fold up the bench portion.

I wouldn't rate the bowflex quite as low as products like the slim-belt (that belt you wear that makes you magically thin as you pig out in front of the boob-tube, at least according to Fergie, who endorses it), but it's close, definitely down there on the scale. There's a reason they have half-hour ads at 3am. Not many products that sink that low are worth getting. It's also far, far overpriced.

Overpriced aside, the bowflex is advertised heavily 24/7....it's on primetime commericals.

Comparing it to a slim-belt is being idiotic. You can get good results with the bowflex. I would never use it as it would not give me a workout I'd like, but if I had too I would still 'look' good and be in shape.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Whisper

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

You don't need a spot with free weights...think about dumbbells and benching....I get stuck I can clear the weight no problem.

There are also ways to cheat the last few reps (not sets) yourself. Feeling the burn is not needed and if you need to, just do stripping reps.

Well, it's probably not the best idea, but I bench without a spotter, and heavy. Basically just have to know your limit and be smart. Also a good idea to hit the chest up hard (I do 8 sets when trying to bulk) and from different directions (I vary my grip, do incline/decline, and do flyes as well), which will help to offset if you don't get the best workout by stopping a rep or two before you would ideally. My bench came with "spotter" bar holders; really long bar holders that are supposed to go low on the uprights, to catch the bar just above the point where it would decapitate me were I to drop it / not be able to get it up - but I find them very obtrusive & don't use them 😱

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Gurck
A nice freeweight setup will run you $300-$400 - that includes bench, barbell, dumbbells, and iron. I'd recommend a bench with a lat attachment to really hit the back muscles, and some sort of a squat setup. This can be as simple as having barbell holders on the back side of the uprights. All told that's 1/4-1/3 the price of an inferior bowflex. The only time the bowflex really takes up less space is when you fold up the bench portion.

I wouldn't rate the bowflex quite as low as products like the slim-belt (that belt you wear that makes you magically thin as you pig out in front of the boob-tube, at least according to Fergie, who endorses it), but it's close, definitely down there on the scale. There's a reason they have half-hour ads at 3am. Not many products that sink that low are worth getting. It's also far, far overpriced.

Overpriced aside, the bowflex is advertised heavily 24/7....it's on primetime commericals.

Comparing it to a slim-belt is being idiotic. You can get good results with the bowflex. I would never use it as it would not give me a workout I'd like, but if I had too I would still 'look' good and be in shape.

The slim belt has royalty endorsing it and is advertised during the daytime as well. And I'm not really comparing them, as I conceded that the belt is a bit lower on the scale 😉

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Whisper

Besides that, you always have a spot at a gym, which is something you will NEED for free weights. If you're doing exercises such as bench press without the need for a spot, then you aren't lifting heavy enough most likely. The last few sets where you need a tap or two are the ones that really help you to "feel the burn," so to speak, and the ones that shock your muscle into growth.

You don't need a spot with free weights...think about dumbbells and benching....I get stuck I can clear the weight no problem.

There are also ways to cheat the last few reps (not sets) yourself. Feeling the burn is not needed and if you need to, just do stripping reps.

I was speaking of a spotter more from a gains standpoint than a safety one. Yes, it's important to have a spot if you're using a barbell for exercises, but a spot on dumbbells is also good. I'd much rather have someone guide my elbows for a few extra reps than just drop the weights.

But yes, I do see your point...and no, it's not necessary to have a spot. However, I will say that in my own experience, going heavy and actually lifting more than I'm capable of has yielded much better results than throwing in an extra set or two.

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd get the Crossbow over the Bowflex any day. Much higher quality and made by a company that's been making weight machines for decades...

And it's way cheaper...