smoaky

I don't ride a ton. (11 mile commute 5 days a week). I do a lot of pushups ( I try to do atleast 300-400 over the course of a day, but usually more around 200.) I also do a ton of crunches. Whenever I'm watching television I just get on the rug, bend my knees and hang my legs and do crunches. My abs are in pretty good shape, and I'd have a 6 pack if I hadn't gained some weight since I started biking (eating a ton).

Anyway, thats for background info - my reason for posting is that I'd like to purchase some sort of Home Gym. Maybe not a bowflex just yet, but something more than weights. I've already made up my mind and would like to make this purchase. Sorry if this sounds rude, but please don't suggest using free weights or going to a real gym. I have some free weights, and I just find it hard to get really motivated, and I would much rather work at home.

Basically, my criteria is that the machine work my CORE hard and be pretty small when folded. I was thinking about perhaps a rowing machine since I doubt I'd really need all the exercise a bowflex type machine offers. For that reason, I'm reluctant to look into these complete/total home gyms. They seem like overkill to me. I guess I'm looking for a (cheaper) less complicated machine that has 4-5 maybe even 10 really good exercises rather than 50 million that look good on paper but dont translate. I want a strong core and a toned body. I don't expect giant muscles. A bonus would be if this machine could work my legs in some way, as after 6 months of no riding, I put on shorts and realized I had my chicken legs back. But if leg workouts would make a potential machine way more complicated, ill stick to one that just works my core and arms. It would be nice if one of the exercise was some kind of weighted crunch, as I find it hard to really stress my abs with just crunches anymore, unless I do them for 30 minutes at a time.

My price range is pretty high. If its a simple machine I'd like to spend less than 250 (I dont know if that is crazy to expect). If I somehow get convinced to buy a bowflex type, I would probably buy the lowest priced model, just cus I dont need the most expensive one, not that I wouldn't spend money. And again, this thing has to fit under my loft bed (3.5ft underneath), and I'd probably like to take it to college next year. SO... Anyone with suggestions, THANKS!

socalrider

I would recommend a slide board.. Do not buy one at your local sporting goods store, they are too short for an intense workout, they are normally 4 feet long..

Depending on your inseam and height a 6 foot slide board is normal size for a good workout, an 8 foot only necessary if you are very tall.. This works your legs, core and is a very tough workout.. They take up little space and can be folded into a small area.. I have a portable 6 foot model and a hardwood 8 foot adjustable unit and these can give you a tough workout in 30 minutes..

https://www.rosiewear.com/training_tools.shtml

https://www.performbetter.com/SearchR...kw=board-slide

smoaky

hmm i didnt really have that in mind. I guess core wasnt exactly the word i was looking for. I dont need to have great balance or anything, I really just want a hard stomach especially my obliques on the side. I wouldnt mind rowing a lot, but that slide machine doesnt seem like something I'd do over and over. But thank you for the response, I didnt know anyone else was awake (assuming everyone in the world is in eastern time zone.)

SandySwimmer

A stability ball . . . around $10 . . . can be inflated and takes up very little room when deflated (fits in a shoebox).

Guest

If you just want to do crunches, get a book about ab training and do your abs on the floor. There is a multitude of different ab exercises you can do at home.

Koffee

smoaky

im getting an exercise ball (I assume thats what a stability ball is) on monday, and Ill see what I can do with that.

Kyle90

BowFlex = Utter and complete garbage.

smoaky

i searched the forum and found the other thread about bowflex. I know half think its terrible and half think its ok. So for this threads sake, Im not going to get a bowflex.

Guest

If all you want to do is work your core, there's no need for a bowflex. You'd be better off with a pilates reformer (It'll just cost ya, that's all). If you're insisting on a machine, that's the option. Or else get the stability ball and educate yourself on how to do abs. There's a book called "The Complete Book of Abs" you can buy at amazon.com. Get the ball and that book.

Koffee

georgiaboy

I ride my bike everyday and keep my legs and hips in great shape. My upper body does not get an equal workout.

I thought of getting a barbell to do my shoulders and chest. A few reps everyday. Sit-ups for my stomach.

Anyone have an additional idea or better suggestion? Simplicity is the key with me.

!!Comatoa$ted

A simple excersise that works great for the upper body is pullups, and there are variations in grip that can allow you to use more or less muscles. With a couple of kitchen chairs you can do dips wich are great for your triceps. A waiting room chair with arms and you can do a killer ab excercise by suspending yourself with just your hands and sticking you legs stright out in front of you. If you get a pullup bar you can do leg raises to. Dont forget pushups there are so many variations of these that you can get a really good upper body workout. If you get some dumbells and a simple bench you can do a multitude of excersices. With minimal equipment you can get a very good workout that you can do almost anywhere anytime, and this helps get rid of the excuses that you don't have equipment, membership or money.

pagan poet

Unless you're basically an expert in pilates I wouldn't bother with the reformer - way too expensive and it'll be pretty useless (and rather intimidating) for a beginner. If you're interested in pilates - and it is a super core workout - I would suggest getting some one-on-one training with a qualified instructor.

My advice is the same as everyone else's, just grab a stability ball and some basic weights - it won't look very impressive, but it's cheap and it most definitely gets the job done. More importantly, it delivers a better core workout than any sort of exercise bench etc because you have to keep your core muscles constantly engaged or you'll basically fall off the ball.

insomnia

www.mygym.net.

You can do many exercises with this thing. And you can slide it under your bed when done.

whitemax

Planks really work the core. They hurt like all get out and you probably won't feel like doing them at each commercial break. But as the old saying goes, no pain, no gain. Stability ball offers lots of options. You said you weren't interested in free weights but as was mentioned above, a good set of dumb bells don't take up much space and there is so much you can do with them. Good luck.

jjsinglespeed

Want a bowflex workout but not the expense or bulkyness,,, www.gofit.net
They have a fit ball and tubing system for under fifty bucks.I have the tubes and do one of Vince Girondas 7x7 workouts. I have managed to have nice sore growing muscles for the past 3 weeks .I really reccomend tubing and trust me I have been and Ironsnob since I was 12----goodluck--JJ

Yo-

Like the other poster said, pull-up bars are great.

I would also get this if you don't want to go to a gym... https://www.powerblock.com/brochure.html

You get almost all of the gym's free weight dumbbells without needing all of the space. If you get an adjustable inclining bench then you have almost all of the gym's free weight exercises.