Training & Nutrition - Bowflex

Does anyone on the Forums have one? If so, what do you think. Are they worth the $$$ ? I've been waffleing back and forth for a couple of years. I use free weights at the time for upper body work. The machines ability to do leg work is mainly what tweaks my interest. Think it could make a big difference in power. zoom. zoom.

I explored the Bowflex prior to buying a more traditional 8 station weight machine from Sears.

My assessment was that they were entirely too expensive. Once all the necessary attachments and extra bows were accounted for, it was like buying a car. Again, way too expensive.

I also found that the "flex" business took a little getting used to. There seemed to be an active tugging back at high resistance that I found a little strange. Its probably OK. I just didn't really like the "live" feel to it. I suppose I prefer to just know how much I am lifting and have the only flex or live feel come from my muscles and tendons rather than the machine.

Way too expensive.

On the commercials, they play up the "easy credit plan," and "low monthly payments," but never mention the cost. They must be b*tt-expensive. How much do they cost?

They start off at $999 and go up to $1999 (with all the accessories). So way overpriced, for what you get.

Last time I looked the "easy credit" was available at a bit over 20% too.

They're over 2 grand with all the goodies. I would love to have one but a little steep for me.
I ended up with a used soloflex for 300 bucks. And I have not complaints. I still use free weights for curling but the machine for everything else.

I have one. Total waste of money. You'd be better off going to a gym. It's kinda nice to work out your muscles with alot of resistance and not have to worry about dropping a 200lb barbell on your face, but it just doens't feel the same as freeweights would.

Keep in mind these are just my opinions.

Bowflex falls under the catagory: any training is good training.
If you want more quality training, you really need freeweights. There is no substitute.
Soloflex machine is good because you can attach freeweights to it, otherwise it isn't the greatest (I have one).There is no substitute for freeweights.

The bowflex is a great unit. I have one and so do about 6 other people around here that got one after I did. A gym with freeweights is better, but if you want a workout at home, you can't beat it. You can do a full workout with no more than 30 seconds between exercises. Being essentially a cable machine means that you use stabilizing muscles like freeweights. The constant tension of the bows means you can't cheat by using inertia and also you can't hurt yourself (as easily) with heavy resistance.

The only drawback is the cost. The middle of the line unit, the PowerPro, with the leg attachment for extensions and curls, and the Lat attachment for tricep pushdowns and lat pulldowns, is about $1500. You get one of the attachments free if you mention the TV ad....so the $1500 is with one free and shipping and stuff.

I love the thing and so do the other people around here that have tried it. It's not for hard core bodybuilding, but for the triathlete, cyclist, runner, MTBer or whoever that is using strength training as an adjunct. They will find it the perfect alternative to driving to the gym.

Gary

I have one and have used it exclusively for the last two years. I really like it. Like any workout equipment, you have to use it to get your money's worth. I do recommend the leg attachment and the squat attachment.

Originally posted by Puckloki
No car
no license
never had one
never will

That's cool and all, but how did you take girls on dates back in the day? I don't think they would take kindly to riding on the bars or maybe some pegs with a quickly rotating knobby tires under their tooshies. I'd like to cancel my insurance to save some cash, but it's too hot in FL for my ride to school. Orlando isn't very bike/pedestrian friendly anyway. Just funnin' witchya, no death threats please. :)

Beau

That's cool and all, but how did you take girls on dates back in the day?

You know, it's just never come up. :fun:


Orlando isn't very bike/pedestrian friendly anyway.

Orlando isn't very people friendly either.



Just funnin' witchya, no death threats please.

Geez. Exactly how many death threats do you get?

No threats yet. I'm not usually a smartass I just can't see how most people can live without a car. Even grocery shopping is next to impossible, at least without big baskets. I would love to not pay insurance though, it's a killer at my age.

Beau

Florida is full of old people, and their parents.

Originally posted by Beau
No threats yet. I'm not usually a smartass I just can't see how most people can live without a car. Even grocery shopping is next to impossible, at least without big baskets. I would love to not pay insurance though, it's a killer at my age.

Beau

I am in the same boat. Never had one, never will. I can't be bothered. And I have never had a problem with dating. I generally go for the independent thinkers anyways so picking up and being picked up is all relative. That and I only date jocks now. :)

As for the bowflex, I will quote Racer because he is 100% on the money



There is no substitute for freeweights.

you are looking for leg power eg? LEg extensions do diddly for raw power in your legs (its a good exercise to warmup to real leg exercises). There are exercises you can do without weights to increase strenght and power for cycling...

1 - Lunges - especially walking lunges increase leg power immensly. Helps glutes, quads and hams.

2 - sisy squats. Difficult to master but once you get it you will gain strenght in the quads like no other exercise. Do a search for a thread called 'no weights' for pictures and more examples.

3 - Single leg wall squats - lean against a wall while balancing on one leg. Squat until you leg is 90 degree. Push up...


4 - plyometrics - box jumps, sprinting. Do a search on google, this is an art form in and of itself. Bonus of plyometrics is a natural increase in testosterone due to the power nature of these exercises.

Enjoy the pain. When done right in a good routine you shouldn't need more than these exercies (ideally leg press and squat are the BEST exercises but they require expensive equipment) :D

I like what Maelstrom says! I also do Kickboxing class 2x per week (variety is the key!), and we do the no weight exercises which are indeed brutual...especially since it is done towards the end! The most brutal one on me is forward leg lifts...each cycle you lift your to at least horizontal (from standing), then return to standing. Each cycle you add one leg lift...do it until you get to up to the eight leg lifts on one cycle.....OUCH!

BTW, I went with the Body Solid universal bym which consurmer reports rated best (bowflex was in the middle of the pack). It was half the price of bowflex.