Bowflex

[chigrl71]

Ok...I'm finally ready to make a move and get a Bowflex for off-season training. Anyone own one? Opinions?

[55/Rad]

I just sold mine. Like so many training devices, it was great when I used it but I got to a point about a year ago where I decided that I'd rather ride more often than push weights, so it sat unused. I go to the gym when I want a weight workout now.

One item of note - it took up more space than I realized.

I won't deny it's a quality machine with a lot of versatility. Certainly worth the price.

55/Rad

[forensicchemist]

becareful if you buy a pre-owned unit....several recalls.

http://www.bowflex.com/how/safetynotice.asp

by the way hows the weather there? I grew up in Schaumburg and Northbrook, but moved to Texas for the warmer climate.

[chigrl71]

Ok...so what I am hearing is that the Bowflext of today is not the quality machine it was 2 or 3 years ago. Is this true?
I really am wanting to buy a home fitness machine, I hate going to the gym to workout, but want to get the best bang for my buck. I looked at a "Precor Zuma" today, which looks like a good machine, a little more expensive than the Bowflex, but only offers 25 exercises compared to the 60 on Bowflex.
Forensic - the weather is great today...about 40 out. Last week we had highs in the 10's, not including the windchill. Don't like the weather right now...stick around for 15 minutes, I'm sure it will change.

[Ebbtide]

One item of note - it took up more space than I realized.

You got that right, Brother!

chigrl71,

All things considered I like the Smith machines.

[skydive69]

You got that right, Brother!

chigrl71,

All things considered I like the Smith machines.

I'm with you - I considered one, but bought a very high quality Smith Machine made by Life Fitness - same people who make Lifecycles, etc.

[forum*rider]

In you're guys/gals personal opinions whats a better workout, free weights or a machine?

I use both at school but I find that I like the free weights better. Seems to give me a bit more of a workout.

[webist]

In you're guys/gals personal opinions whats a better workout, free weights or a machine?

I use both at school but I find that I like the free weights better. Seems to give me a bit more of a workout.

Each has its advantages. I find the free weights offer a good deal more flexibility in both the muscle groups addressed as well as location of the workout. Another advantage of the free weights is you can add to them (purchase) incrementally over time whereas the machine is all or nothing.

There are no exercises on the machine I use which would require a spotter. Free weights on the other hand....

Generally, I will say to myself, if I spent that much money on the mcahine and let it take up all that space, I might as well use it. I doubt the free weights would make so compelling an argument.

I would note though that even though my machine was to have worked out every muscle group with hundreds of exercises and routines, I still have a few free weights to do curls without unclipping and reclipping special straps and handles and reconfiguing the weight machine.

In either case, I have discovered that neither is worth much without actually straining to lift something occasionally. At least my machine is still totally accessible after two years rather than covered with laundry or stored items. :)

[Rath177B]

I bought a Crossbow because it was 1/3 the price of a Bowflex. I have had no problems in 2 years. It is big, but I do use it. I don't think it is very effective for lower body workouts but for press, curl, butterfly type movements, its OK. I also like it for sit-ups.

[skydive69]

In you're guys/gals personal opinions whats a better workout, free weights or a machine?

I use both at school but I find that I like the free weights better. Seems to give me a bit more of a workout.

Free weights work the supporting muscles, hence one gets a slightly better (complete) workout. The need to balance the weights makes a difference. You will find that you can bench press more on an accurate Smith Machine than you can with free weights do to the fact that various supporting musculature need not be brought into play. I use a combination of both, and vary my routine. For example, on one workout I might bench of the Smith Machine, but on the next I will do incline DB presses.

[giant99]

Free weights and proper diet. Will build muscle. Bowflex Ha Ha Ha Ha....Opps sorry

[Guest]

When I go to fitness conventions, the Bowflex is highly recommended. They even offer classes on how to teach and train with the Bowflex. If you know how to use them, and you're using them on a regular basis, they can be a great workout.

BUT...

If you are someone that needs that external motivation from having others around, Bowflex will not work for you. At least, not in the long run. So reconsider if you can't work out on your own.

Koffee

[Lone Ranger]

Ok...I'm finally ready to make a move and get a Bowflex for off-season training. Anyone own one? Opinions?

I have had one for more than 8 years and I really like it. It can provide an excellent and varied workout. For example, you can use it to simulate various sports movements if you want to train for a particular sport (e.g., tennis - you can use the bowflex to perform groundstrokes or serves with resistance). It is easier on your joints than free weights and many machines.

I highly recommend the bowflex.

I have lifted weights off and on for more than 20 years and prefer free weights for substantial strength gains and increasing muscle mass. However, you don't indicate that is what you want (and heavy weights are not practical for many people, particularly for exercises requiring a spotter).

If you are seeking off-season training to increase strength and muscle tone, I highly recommend the Bowflex.

It would be good to supplement the Bowflex with some dumbells for variety and to help maintain bone density. I have a set of dumbells called the PowerBlock ( http://www.powerblock.com/ ). All the weight is in two units and the amount you use can be adjusted with a selector pin. I highly recommend them as well.

[Guest]

I have the same dumbells I got from Sports Authority or something like that. Actually, I used them for a week or so, then joined my gym around the corner! With the bowflex, though, I would have stuck with my home workouts. They are great weights, though. I got it half price from Sports Authority. They were so clueless they didn't know how to use them or what they were for. I ended up doing a store demo for the employees there, and I told them how to promote it. They were so nice about my demo that they half priced it and threw in the stand for free. It was definitely cheaper than getting a bunch of dumbells of different weights and storing them in my tiny apartment.

Koffee

[Freestyle]

chigrl71 Just buy the B F. I have had one for years and the ease of use such as changing weight, and positions is just so quick and easy, it is well worth the money. If you fall off the machine in the spring no problem, just jump back on the bike.

[Al.canoe]

Bowflex is OK. I didn't like the progressive increase in resistance because it doesn't replicate the real world type of lifting/pushing/straining I do when in my normal and recreational activities. This might be important to me only, but I sold mine and got a cable machine. I also use free-weights as much as possible (again for the realism) and religate a weight machine to those exercises that either can't be done with free weights or are unsafe with free weights.

Al

[iowarose]

I've never used the Bowflex, but do use free weights at home. I have a couple of DVD's to guide my workouts. It works for me - fast and cheap, and I don't have to wait for the vanity boys to finish their sets at the gym. At any rate, I don't have the money or space for a Bowflex. But that's what works for me!

[laduckslayer]

Good equipment, just sold mine. The new products are quality and you can get a great workout on it with it's versatility....takes up a tremendous amount of space (as do others). Just like anything else, you'll want something different in a year or so...

[FXjohn]

Bowflex is for idiots.
I see they are marketing to the same crowd with "adjustable" dumbells now..

what a joke!!

[chigrl71]

Thanks for your positive input FX....

[FXjohn]

Thanks for your positive input FX....

I'm just telling the truth...not trying to sell you something, think about it.

See Giant99's response.

[Guest]

FX, have you seen one up close or touched one or used one?

The commericals may not be enough to convince you, but if you don't try one out, how can you comment on its effectiveness?

Koffee

[FXjohn]

FX, have you seen one up close or touched one or used one?

The commericals may not be enough to convince you, but if you don't try one out, how can you comment on its effectiveness?

Koffee

I've used one.
Can't compare to a powercage with freeweights.
Even dumbells with a pilates ball for seat and bench would do what a bowflex would do and not take up any space. The space and the cost are ridiculous on that item. Freeweights work better because they make a person balance.

[Guest]

Yeah, but it's not meant to take the place of freeweights. It's meant as an at home substitute for recreational folks. For them, what's wrong with the bowflex if someone wants a bowflex? And with the new bowflex adjustible weights, don't you get to work with balance?

Koffee

[FXjohn]

Yeah, but it's not meant to take the place of freeweights. It's meant as an at home substitute for recreational folks. For them, what's wrong with the bowflex if someone wants a bowflex? And with the new bowflex adjustible weights, don't you get to work with balance?

Koffee


It sounds like you work for Bowflex.
First you say, freeweights aren't for "recreational" folks, then you say, what's wrong with Bowflex's adjustable dumbells cuz they provide balance.
Why would you need some overpriced space robbing gizmo that doesn't even work as well as freeweights?
It's just another case of a middleman trying to make money off of something that's free.
You can get a few sets of solid dumbells cheaply let's say a 15 pound set, a 25 and a 35 pound set, and maybe one set of cheap plate weight dumbells you could adjust once in awhile. It's like someone trying to figure out a way to make money off from unprocessed food, like a banana. You buy it, you eat it.
I put it in the same category as all the ab machines, when simple crunches and hanging ab raises work just as well.

[Guest]

Nope, I just said the Bowflex freeweights are for recreational folks... by that, I mean non-bodybuilders or people just wanting to do the basics for muscle tone. There is no bodybuilder or person who's serious about bulking up that would be crazy enough to not join a gym (or several gyms). However, these home gyms are meant for recreational fitness folks who either don't like gyms or want the convenience of having something at home that will keep them fit enough to be happy. Nothing wrong with that. I was like that for about a year, and I was happy. But eventually, I wanted the gym interaction, so I went out and joined some gyms. Nothing wrong with that either.

Are you insisting that every person should go to a gym and get free weights? I can't see anyone getting fit with 3 sets of weights. I use a different set of weights every time, which is why I would think that people would prefer the adjustable weights of the bowflex. Today alone, I used 8 different sets of weights for my upper body routine alone, and I also used 3 machines. I live in a studio and I have limited space. A bowflex adjustable weights set would work for me.

You may think what works for you works for everyone, but you have to be flexible and think about what the person will be able to work with- not what YOU want them to work with.

Just asking, are you only teaching spinning, or do you teach other formats too? Do you train?

The reason why I ask is that if you really train people, you would know if you have to go to someone's house, you have to work with what they've got. And if you could get them to get a set of weights that have 20 different settings vs. 3 sets of different weights, why would you choose the three sets of weights? Wouldn't that be limiting your client? How could you realistically advance your client if they only have 3 weights to work with?

Koffee

P.S. I don't work for Bowflex, but I do see the advantage of having something over nothing.

[FXjohn]

Nope, I just said the Bowflex freeweights are for recreational folks... by that, I mean non-bodybuilders or people just wanting to do the basics for muscle tone. There is no bodybuilder or person who's serious about bulking up that would be crazy enough to not join a gym (or several gyms). However, these home gyms are meant for recreational fitness folks who either don't like gyms or want the convenience of having something at home that will keep them fit enough to be happy. Nothing wrong with that. I was like that for about a year, and I was happy. But eventually, I wanted the gym interaction, so I went out and joined some gyms. Nothing wrong with that either.

Are you insisting that every person should go to a gym and get free weights? I can't see anyone getting fit with 3 sets of weights. I use a different set of weights every time, which is why I would think that people would prefer the adjustable weights of the bowflex. Today alone, I used 8 different sets of weights for my upper body routine alone, and I also used 3 machines. I live in a studio and I have limited space. A bowflex adjustable weights set would work for me.

You may think what works for you works for everyone, but you have to be flexible and think about what the person will be able to work with- not what YOU want them to work with.

Just asking, are you only teaching spinning, or do you teach other formats too? Do you train?

The reason why I ask is that if you really train people, you would know if you have to go to someone's house, you have to work with what they've got. And if you could get them to get a set of weights that have 20 different settings vs. 3 sets of different weights, why would you choose the three sets of weights? Wouldn't that be limiting your client? How could you realistically advance your client if they only have 3 weights to work with?

Koffee

P.S. I don't work for Bowflex, but I do see the advantage of having something over nothing.

You missed the part where I said the heaviest set of dumbells would be an adjustable plate type set.
I use a power cage with a bench and I can do everything and more a bowflex can do and cheaper.
I use solid dumbells, a barbell and a couple of heavier plate dumbells that I don't change often.
I also like to do a nautilus circuit once a week.
Something is always better than nothing, but infomercial products are generally a ripoff.
There are some nice olympic weight sets with speed collars, changing weights isn't really an issue.
If people aren't going to get serious, their gains will always be minimal, and the bowflex will be sold at a garage sale or turn into a clothes rack. If you say you're a person who "trains people to lift weights" and you use Bowflex, I'll just laugh at that, sorry, Koffee

[Guest]

If it turns into a clothes rack, then it's their fault for not being committed to working out. But then, that's who bowflex is targeted for (in my opinion)- the recreational, on again, off again people who just need something to get them fit enough to be happy.

Koffee

[FXjohn]

Do you think the models selling the Bowflex got their bodies using Bowflex?
Yes or No? ;-)

[Sessamoid]

Do you think the models selling the Bowflex got their bodies using Bowflex?
Yes or No? ;-)
No, of course not. She never said they did, nor did she claim there wasn't some misleading marketing going on. You're setting up a strawman argument, without answering her valid points.

[Guest]

Dude, I don't mean to call you out on anything, but I'm just making the point that people gotta work with what they have. And maybe the bowflex may not work for you, and it certainly wasn't used by the models, but what celebrity uses the products they endorse (or whoever is pitching the product)? Remember the scandal with priceline.com when William Shatner said he never used priceline to book his tickets or hotel rooms? Actors don't have to use the product, just convince the public that it's something they need to purchase.

It's the same thing with the bowflex. If Roseanne Bar was in the commercial, I wouldn't be inclined to think it would work, but if they got Sylvester Stallone to pitch it and show me some moves and ripple those abs, I'd be more inclined to buy it.

But it's obvious to all that the models in the commercial don't use bowflex. ;)

All I'm saying is to each his own. I just think if someone's exercising, it's a great thing, and I'm not going to discourage them. I'm going to work with what they have and give them the best experience they have. If all they want is the bowflex, make it work! There's no such thing as a bad machine (in my opinion) when it comes to exercise. Anything that gets people active is a good thing, in my opinion.

We're cool, FX.


Koffee

[FXjohn]

That's cool, I just want people to explore the options.
A lot of times when we see a book or piece of equipment, we feel like we're doing something by buying that, instead of dieting or exercising using what we have.
Spending the money isn't what's going to make you fit, working is, and infomercials themselves are generally selling a bad deal.

[chigrl71]

Ok...maybe I need to restate what I'm looking for in my workout and why I'm looking at purchasing this machine. I workout out 5-6 days a week now, heavy cardio. I ride 5-7K miles/year. I'm in pretty decent shape right now. I'm looking to step up my daily workout outs with more strength training. I personally do not enjoy going to the gym. I work a lot of late hours and it's a lot nicer to wake up at 6 a.m. and just head outside or get on my bike for a workout. I know there are a lot of positives to going to the gym, I just choose not to do that at this time for myself.

The size of a machine is not an issue, I have a full basement. I am looking for a machine that will "lean" me up. At this point I have 5-10 unwanted pounds (partly to Christmas) that will come up fairly easy in the next 4-6 weeks for me.

My question is really this....as a female, will the machine give me what I want....core and strength training. I know free weights offer a lot, but I personally want to have a machine to workout on.

FX...as a note, when you call someone an idiot for wanting something that you don't like or something you don't agree with, it makes your opinion invalid IMHO.

[astonv0l]

I havn't tried the bowflex but I do use free weights. I just started using a swiss ball for my torso and WOW :eek: after 3 weeks I can feel a difference in my pedal power and balance. It gives you a great abs work out and they are cheap.

Take a look at this web site.

http://www.paulchekseminars.com/products_specific.cfm?product=50&corr=yes

[FXjohn]

Ok...maybe I need to restate what I'm looking for in my workout and why I'm looking at purchasing this machine. I workout out 5-6 days a week now, heavy cardio. I ride 5-7K miles/year. I'm in pretty decent shape right now. I'm looking to step up my daily workout outs with more strength training. I personally do not enjoy going to the gym. I work a lot of late hours and it's a lot nicer to wake up at 6 a.m. and just head outside or get on my bike for a workout. I know there are a lot of positives to going to the gym, I just choose not to do that at this time for myself.

The size of a machine is not an issue, I have a full basement. I am looking for a machine that will "lean" me up. At this point I have 5-10 unwanted pounds (partly to Christmas) that will come up fairly easy in the next 4-6 weeks for me.

My question is really this....as a female, will the machine give me what I want....core and strength training. I know free weights offer a lot, but I personally want to have a machine to workout on.

FX...as a note, when you call someone an idiot for wanting something that you don't like or something you don't agree with, it makes your opinion invalid IMHO.

What you said you wanted was an opinion. Or do you just want someone to tell you it's OK to buy a bowflex? Don't be so sensitive about the internet.
I see no reason a bowflex will do anything for "core training".
For an overall body workout, have you looked at rowing machines or a versa climber?
Those two would lean you up more than bowflex.
They work your arms and legs and burn a lot of calories.
Why is it that grabbing the handles of a machine is so much better than grabbing a dumbell or barbell handle? If you really ride 7000 miles a year, and only need to lose 5 pounds, none of this is really much of an issue. That calculates to 19 miles per day, every day. assuming 3 months of bad weather, that's 26 miles a day, EVERY DAY.

[chigrl71]

Thanks for doing the math for me FX. I know how much that means of riding every day. Why do you feel you need to question me on my riding?

My point was this to you...when you call someone an idiot, whether face to face or over a computer screen, it makes you look very narrow minded. You're opinions hold no weight to me me now...IMHO.

[DnvrFox]

You missed the part where I said the heaviest set of dumbells would be an adjustable plate type set.
I use a power cage with a bench and I can do everything and more a bowflex can do and cheaper.
I use solid dumbells, a barbell and a couple of heavier plate dumbells that I don't change often.

For once I agree with FXjohn!! Must be the weather.

I also use a power cage with a lat cable attachment at home, with barbells, a full set of dumbbells (that is 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 lbs), etc.

I disagree with Koffee and think you can train seriously at home without using an outside gym. OTOH, I also belong to a gym because my wife and I like the camarederie and seeing how different folks work out. I did 1.5 hours of cardio today at the gym and .5 hours on some machines. I probably wouldn't have done that much at home, although I have the equipment for it.

The problem with a Smith Machine is that the supporting and stabilizing muscles get very little workout. In a bench press, for example, any back and forth motion or front and back motion is eliminated by the Smith Machine, therefore, the muscles countering the back and forth motion and the front and back motion do not get worked.

I would second the recommendation for free weights, including one of the new adjustable dumbbell sets (they are neat) and, starting out perhaps dumbbells combined with a Swiss ball. Then later you could add an Olympic barbell, and a safety cage with a lat attachment. It is so much more "flexible" than a bowflex.

Or, a really inexpensive but adequate beginning device is stretchable tubing or therabands. Do a google, and you will find a lot of info, including techniques and manuals. My wife and I take therabands with us when we travel.

This is from the Bowflex web page. I do not think he got this build from a Bowflex, although the web page implies that.

http://www.bowflex.com/images/miami-sammy3.jpg

[DXchulo]

How much does a Bowflex cost, anyway?

[DnvrFox]

How much does a Bowflex cost, anyway?

You can almost time when a particular "piece" of home exercise equipment was introduced by when they start showing up almost unused at garage sales. It is generally about 3-4 years, although I don't know exactly when bf's were introduced.

I now see Bowflexes at garage sales, I guess they are as cheap as one might negotiate the price.

I remember those "riders" - the thing you sort of twist your body on - were so popular several years ago. I think Covert Bailey pushed one model real hard. They are now massively available almost for free at GS's around here.

Here is a Bowflex for $250.00 (http://boise.craigslist.org/for/50904169.html)

Here is a copycat for $375 (http://boise.craigslist.org/spo/54183453.html)

Here is a new Bowflex for $1,999.00 (http://www.bowflex.com/mMachineDetail.asp?productID=100000&productName=Ultimate+XTLU&linkID=4)

[DXchulo]

$2,000 is pretty insane.

I doubt you could get a full home gym cabaple of as many exercises as Bowflex can offer for $250, though.

I've never tried a Bowflex, but I would if they had one in a gym around here or if I knew someone who had one.

I used to not like going to the gym, but I went to college and that was my only choice. I got used to the gym and now I hate working out at home. So many machines, so much motivation.

[Lone Ranger]

Ok...maybe I need to restate what I'm looking for in my workout and why I'm looking at purchasing this machine. I workout out 5-6 days a week now, heavy cardio. I ride 5-7K miles/year. I'm in pretty decent shape right now. I'm looking to step up my daily workout outs with more strength training. I personally do not enjoy going to the gym. I work a lot of late hours and it's a lot nicer to wake up at 6 a.m. and just head outside or get on my bike for a workout. I know there are a lot of positives to going to the gym, I just choose not to do that at this time for myself.

The size of a machine is not an issue, I have a full basement. I am looking for a machine that will "lean" me up. At this point I have 5-10 unwanted pounds (partly to Christmas) that will come up fairly easy in the next 4-6 weeks for me.

My question is really this....as a female, will the machine give me what I want....core and strength training. I know free weights offer a lot, but I personally want to have a machine to workout on.

FX...as a note, when you call someone an idiot for wanting something that you don't like or something you don't agree with, it makes your opinion invalid IMHO.


Per my original post, I still maintain that the Bowflex will meet your needs of toning your muscles and increasing your strength, particularly if you supplement it with the PowerBlock-type dumbells.

If your goals were dramatically increased strength and bulk (to the extent possible), I would recommend heavy free weights. However, you don't appear to have those objectives.

If you want to focus more on your core, get one of the Swiss balls also and incorporate it into your Bowflex routine. You can do some core strength exercises on the Bowflex but I think you will get more out of the ball.

The suggestion to consider rowing is a good one as it will give you some strength training and some cardio if you want a break from the bike.

Like you, I prefer to get my workout at home so I don't have to deal with a gym and the down time of going to and fro.

The Bowflex has been out 10 years plus, so you should be able to find one used if you want to save the money.

Enjoy.

[Guest]

There are MANY successful people who train from home. Not everyone belongs to a gym. If everyone did, we wouldn't be able to make it through the door.

It depends on your motivation level. Some people need the stimulation and interaction of others around to keep them motivated. Others can't stand being around people and prefer to work alone, or maybe they're just not into the social setting. I've seen quite a few people who train from home... heck, I've TRAINED quite a few people from home. If you know what you're doing, you can be successful from home. A gym will not guarantee success. Staying at home won't, but it would be presumptuous of me to insist that the ONLY way to achieve success is to work out at the gym.

What works for one person may not work for another either. A bowflex may work for Suzy Q, but John Boy may find that weights challenge him more. I don't turn my nose up at someone who wants to work with a bowflex... I work with them to achieve the maximum results they could possibly achieve given the equipment they have to work with. An experienced person who trains knows how to work with what you've got to still get results. I know if I couldn't get to a gym and I still wanted to work out, I could get maximum results with some running shoes, a heart rate monitor, a few different sized bags of sand, a jump rope, and a backpack. It's not a gym, but I know what I can do to achieve my results. Does that mean I'll look like Aah-nold? Probably not. But I will definitely be fitter than when I started my program the longer I stick with what I'm doing, and I'll achieve satisfactory results. It would really be snobbish of me to look down on someone who wants to exercise and tell them that is MUST be A or B, or else you won't be successful, you won't see results, etc. Won't, won't, won't... those are the people that keep the motivated people down who look at alternative means to exercise. I say if you're exercising, I don't care what you do, as long as you're doing it in a healthy manner, you keep up with it, and you continue to look for a means to fine tune your training program.

She's not looking to bodybuild for goodness sake! She wants to do some resistance training- and the bowflex will do that. Not everyone wants to use dumbbells and barbells for weight training, and not everyone wants to do what YOU think works for YOU for THEIR fitness plan. The successful trainers and successful exercisers will realize this and succeed, no matter what they're doing for training.

Now, if all you're doing is lifting the remote control, then that's the only activity I can see involving lifting that won't work at all!

Koffee

[FXjohn]

She's not looking to bodybuild for goodness sake! She wants to do some resistance training- and the bowflex will do that. Not everyone wants to use dumbbells and barbells for weight training, and not everyone wants to do what YOU think works for YOU for THEIR fitness plan. The successful trainers and successful exercisers will realize this and succeed, no matter what they're doing for training.

Now, if all you're doing is lifting the remote control, then that's the only activity I can see involving lifting that won't work at all!

Koffee

But how do we know she even tried using freeweights, or using a powercage?
Many newbies haven't and just get caught in the dumb bowflex infomercial.
We're just passing on what we know and trying to save someone from buying some useless junk.

[nick burns]

$2000 is a crazy amount to spend. I agree with Dxchulo you can get a rack with upper & lower pulleys for a lot less. With weights, attachments, and bars you can get away for less than $800 & it'll last you a lifetime. Probably won't take up much more space than the bowflex too. Check out power-systems.com, they carry some pretty good stuff. At least it will give you an idea of what kind of freeweight equipment is out there.
Personally I can't stand gyms. Sweaty, disgusting equipment & annoying showoffs.

[DnvrFox]

I had a neighbor who loved his Bowflex, and he ended up looking pretty good.

Koffe is right, any resistance exercise will be of benefit, and if a person likes it, then go for it.

I just hate the Bowflex ads and infomercials where they imply rather directly that those model builds were gained by using the BF - like in 3 months that is what a person might look like, while in reality it takes years of careful conditioning and training, and generally a genetic component to look like that.

But, certainly, a BF is much better than not doing anything.

By the way, my gym is sort of a neighborhood gym. Lots of friendly people (several of our 65yo+ friends go there), the owner knows just about everyone by first name, and the equipment is new and well-maintained.

[FXjohn]

I had a neighbor who loved his Bowflex, and he ended up looking pretty good.

Koffe is right, any resistance exercise will be of benefit, and if a person likes it, then go for it.

I just hate the Bowflex ads and infomercials where they imply rather directly that those model builds were gained by using the BF - like in 3 months that is what a person might look like, while in reality it takes years of careful conditioning and training, and generally a genetic component to look like that.

But, certainly, a BF is much better than not doing anything.

By the way, my gym is sort of a neighborhood gym. Lots of friendly people (several of our 65yo+ friends go there), the owner knows just about everyone by first name, and the equipment is new and well-maintained.

Just to expound or re-iterate, a rowing machine a versclimber may fit the goals chigirl described as well

[FXjohn]

Thanks for doing the math for me FX. I know how much that means of riding every day. Why do you feel you need to question me on my riding?

My point was this to you...when you call someone an idiot, whether face to face or over a computer screen, it makes you look very narrow minded. You're opinions hold no weight to me me now...IMHO.

I did not call you an idiot, chigrl, and congratulations on your miles, that's either a heckuva commute or a lot of centuries....I'm jealous!! :)

[chigrl71]

It was a lot of centuries last year. We had great weather for riding last year in Chicago so I got very lucky with that.

[Bolo Grubb]

There are several excercises you can do to tone up with out having to buy anything. If you need help go to the local library. They have several books and magazines with information all types of excercises.

The tried and true push-ups does alot. $0 Crunches $0 Calf raises $0

I have done my most consistent home work outs by primarily those 3, streching and riding my bike. Works for me.

The bowflex may be a good machine, if you think it will what you need and want out of it, then great. Continue to research it to make sure.

Remember any information you get on sites like this are just opinions. You need to check that information against other sources to prove or disprove it.

[DXchulo]

The Bowflex ads aren't as annoying as any cardio machine ad that shows some guy with huge muscles doing some cardio exercise like that's how he gained the muscle.

At least Bowflex does help you gain muscle.

It's really no different than any Crest ad or something like that. Did the model get white teeth from Crest? Did Rogaine really help the hair regrow? On and on and on...