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Workout Machines

Modeps

Modeps

Lifer
My wife and I are thinking on purchasing a couple in-home workout machines, one of which being an eliptical and perhaps a bowflex style strength machine. I've honestly never used an eliptical and have always been more of a treadmill kinda guy, but I've learned how hard treadmills have been on my knees so I'm willing to try something new.

Does anyone know the advantages of using an eliptical over something like a stationary bike or treadmill? Also, is there any negatives to the bowflex style strength training?

TIA
 
Biggest advantage of the elipitcal is the low impact on your knees, other than that, the ones with your arms moving do work more of your body per say, but I don't know how noticable it is.
 
I like the Eliptical too due to the low impact, but I prefer free weights over machine. Get the Eliptical and small amount of free weights first before investing hundreds on a machine.
 
I still love my Bowflex to this day. It's about 4 yrs old and performs as it did the day I bought it🙂
 
advantage of an elliptical over a stationary bike ? Is it just the arms ? Or do I have my terms mixed ?
 
get a couple of weights and start running. save money- you wont use either of em in a couple months anyway.
 
The major advantage of good elipticals is that they can adjust both resistance and incline. Bikes only allow incline. I also feel like I get a much better workout off an elipse machine than a bike.

The only elipse you should consider is Precor. Accept nothing else. They invented it and continue to have the best feeling, working, and lasting machines. You WILL pay a premium for them though.
 
are elliptical machines easy on the back?

i have a pinched nerve in my lower back, but i need to get some cardio in.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: Sundog
Precor 544 Pick up a refurbed unit for your house. :thumbsup:
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listen to this man 🙂

http://www.treadmillscentral.c...fx_546_elliptical.html

But get the 546. It's a VAST improvement over the 544.
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Yes it is a great improvement however, most will not be willing to pay the extra $$ for the 546 considering a decent 544 will be around $2000 Link vs. $2800 for a remanuf. 546 Link.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the 546 or the 556, but after their jaws hit the floor from the pricing some find the 544 pricing more easy to manage/swallow (don't forget to add in about $300-400 for shipping). I would rather see someone using a 544 than not exercising, that's all.
 
Originally posted by: iamme
are elliptical machines easy on the back?

i have a pinched nerve in my lower back, but i need to get some cardio in.
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Short of swimming, it'd be hard to find something more forgiving. They are the best cardio workout you can get at the least amount of impact of any type of exercise machine.
 
how about getting a membership to a gym to see if you are willing to keep up the workout regime?

it'll be a lot cheaper than buying $2,000 equipment that you may or may not continue to use.

just a thought.
 
Originally posted by: iamme
are elliptical machines easy on the back?

i have a pinched nerve in my lower back, but i need to get some cardio in.
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Go to a gym and try out the exact model you are looking at. Buy a month membership if you have to. Some with back probs have no problem while others get their back aggravated. You won't know without trying it.
 
Some people will say to get free weights instead of a machine. I personally like free weights better too, but for the average home user I think things like the bowflex are much better and probably cheaper over all. You are also less likely to hurt yourself using a bowflex b/c it helps with form and the simple fact you aren't carry and dropping pieces of iron all over. I think for the amount of exercises and the simplicity of having one station, a machine is better for a home gym than all sorts of free weights, benches, etc. At the gym I'll go 1/2 and 1/2 though. And I'd get an elliptical b/c I have shin splits too, plus you can get a little extra workout using your arms.
 
Originally posted by: TheNinja
Some people will say to get free weights instead of a machine. I personally like free weights better too, but for the average home user I think things like the bowflex are much better and probably cheaper over all. You are also less likely to hurt yourself using a bowflex b/c it helps with form and the simple fact you aren't carry and dropping pieces of iron all over. I think for the amount of exercises and the simplicity of having one station, a machine is better for a home gym than all sorts of free weights, benches, etc. At the gym I'll go 1/2 and 1/2 though. And I'd get an elliptical b/c I have shin splits too, plus you can get a little extra workout using your arms.
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I'm a Bow Flex advocate. (Don't have one, but still consider buying one). Even if/when I buy one, I'd still regularly use dumbells for certain exercises over the bowflex. There's just some things that it's easier and better to use free weights for. But for everything else, the Bowflex is an awesome alternative.

I've got three very good friends who are very into lifting and each bought a bowflex. They are nothing but pleased with the machines. For the space it takes, number of exercises it provides, and workout it gives, you can't go wrong with it.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Originally posted by: TheNinja
Some people will say to get free weights instead of a machine. I personally like free weights better too, but for the average home user I think things like the bowflex are much better and probably cheaper over all. You are also less likely to hurt yourself using a bowflex b/c it helps with form and the simple fact you aren't carry and dropping pieces of iron all over. I think for the amount of exercises and the simplicity of having one station, a machine is better for a home gym than all sorts of free weights, benches, etc. At the gym I'll go 1/2 and 1/2 though. And I'd get an elliptical b/c I have shin splits too, plus you can get a little extra workout using your arms.
Click to expand...

I'm a Bow Flex advocate. (Don't have one, but still consider buying one). Even if/when I buy one, I'd still regularly use dumbells for certain exercises over the bowflex. There's just some things that it's easier and better to use free weights for. But for everything else, the Bowflex is an awesome alternative.

I've got three very good friends who are very into lifting and each bought a bowflex. They are nothing but pleased with the machines. For the space it takes, number of exercises it provides, and workout it gives, you can't go wrong with it.
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interesting, i always thought they were gimicks.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit

I've got three very good friends who are very into lifting and each bought a bowflex. They are nothing but pleased with the machines. For the space it takes, number of exercises it provides, and workout it gives, you can't go wrong with it.
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How much weight (free weight equivalent) can you really lift with one of those things? I've always been under the impression that consumer workout machines offer a level of resistance such that, instead of counting reps on a particular exercise, you're better off counting minutes and seeing how long you can go before boredom sets in.


The most serious workourt I've ever gotten from a machine was when I bought an old Nautilus thigh ab/ad machine from a gym. (Professional Nautilus equipment is not at all like their consumer versions.) I paid a whopping $75 for it. They brought it out with a forklift and when they set it in the back of the pickup truck, the bed bent in a shallow U-shape along its length. I think it took over an hour to get the feeling back in my fingers after I'd gotten it out of the truck and onto my driveway.
 
Originally posted by: Modeps
OMG $2500?? :Q
I was looking at those Sports Authority machines for about $300!
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Those machines are junk... try one and then find a gym with the precor you won't want to bother with the cheap one...
 
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