Home gym: Bowflex

[raildogg]

I am looking into this. I currently have dumbbells, an exercise wheel and I definately need more varieties in my exercises. I also need to do more pushups. Have not done them in a while.

Is this a smart idea?

We'll be moving into a house with a basement in about 2 months, and I'm thinking about that right now. What other alternatives are there to the Bowflex? And how are they better?

Thanks.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Chuck Norris Exercises + Total Gym = For The Win!

 

[SithSolo1]

I have a blowflex extreme. Currently I'm using it to hold the floor down.

 

[imported_Tick]

Expensive minimalist sculpture FTW!

 

[mrrman]

I have the Bowflex Xtreme 2 and love it...you can do around 85 different types of exercises with this...typically I do about 14 exercsies 3 sets of 10 and I am done in 40 minutes. Best investment for my $$$ and I use it 6 days a week.

 

[Kremlar]

an exercise wheel

What are you, a hamster?

 

[Philippine Mango]

Fsck bowflex, go to a gym, it's better.

 

[daveymark]

repost

tech nically a set of dumbells and a bench is better, but a bowflex is great if that's what works for you. buy one used off craigs/ebay for the best value

there's also a good one on amazon for $400 shipped - called the bowflex schwinn force

 

[axnff]

I have an older bowflex (PowerPro, before Nautilus bought them out) and love it. Lost 40 - 45 pounds in 3 months (each day alternating between the bowflex and inline skating). Put about 25 of it back on after getting married (I can't use it regularly anymore, and my screwy metabolism (thyroid?) won't let me cut back much on food intake).

I like it better than free weights because I can push harder without worrying about having a spotter - completely safe workout when alone. I absolutely hate gym equipment - the exercise machines never have the right geometry for my body (long waisted, broad shouldered, so I have short arms and legs for my height). The Bowflex never has that problem.

40 minutes for a good workout is about right for me. The trick (as with any home exercise equipment) is that you have to actually be committed to using it.

I'm more leary of them now that Nautilus has bought them out; if they have turned it into a "power rod" resistance Nautilus home gym, I would pass. If it still has the free-form cable/pulley system, it would probably work great.

edit: I forgot to mention that the "rowing" ability is completely worthless. The seat is not rigid enough to stay off the rail. The center of the seats drags along the rail and the resulting squeal is loud enough to hear outside the house.