Anyone have a Bowflex?

[Balldog]

I am looking at purchasing a Bowflex here in the next two weeks when I move to a condo. (threw out the stuido appt idea) If you have a Bowflex, which one? Do you recommend it?

[Fritz]

I have an older model with the lat pull down, but not the leg or press kits. I like it, but I think you may be able to find a similar machine for less.

[NevStar]

I have a power pro. It's serving as an expensive clothes hanger. If you have a lat tower, it's a deathtrap, the bench doesn't seat properly & can snap in half.

Buy a gym membership instead.

[rkmsuf]

I got the one with the kung fu grip

[MizzouRah]

I have a Weider Crossbow Platinum and love the heck out of it. MUCH cheaper than Bowflex and does everything the Bowflex does. Easy to change exercises and the resistance is all done by the press of a button.


Todd

[primelord]

If you have a lat tower, it's a deathtrap, the bench doesn't seat properly & can snap in half.
That isn't the case anymore. They recalled the models that had that problem.

A buddy of mine has a bow flex and he seems to like it quite a bit. I have only worked out with him a couple of times on it and to be honest I wasn't that impressed. The movements didn't feel right to me. I prefer the weight machine and dumb bells I have at home.

[chinaski]

I worked for Bowflex aka Direct Focus for a while. I think the Bowflex machines are pretty good overall, but knowing the obscene profit they make on these setups makes me say stay away. They literally make about 1500% on each one sold. Plus, those "power rods" are pretty sketchy, they got sued all the time for them breaking during use - they would actually break arms.

I really dont recommend home gyms, i say get a membership at a chain gym with the best signup special running or the YMCA even.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Yeah Im with the gym membership idea. So much more convenient. Plus If you have pets they'll just pee on the bow flex.

[primelord]

Yeah Im with the gym membership idea. So much more convenient. Plus If you have pets they'll just pee on the bow flex.
You are going to have a hard time convincing me it is more convenient to go to the gym to work out then it is to go down to my basement.

Home gyms can be limiting without question. I can't get as a good workout on the setup I have as I could when I had a gym membership. However I frequently found myself not using the gym membership. Taking the extra time to go up to the gym 6 days a week just wasn't practical for me.

So I guess it really depends what you are looking for. If you are very serious about working out and you don't mind making the trip to the gym then a membership is probably the right choice. However if you are like me and want more time to be at home with the family and are just not likely tomotivate yourself to actually go up to the gym regularly then a home gym setup is a much better option imo.

[MizzouRah]

Not to mention the gym close to my house is NOT a 24hr gym and I like to workout either at night (after 8-9pm) or early in the morning.

Convience is the key. If you really want to be a Mr. Universe, a gym membership is a must, but just for the casual person trying to stay fit/loose weight.. a good (and fun) home gym is the best option, imo.


Todd

[Balldog]

I don't want to be Mr. Universe by no means, just want to add 10-20 lbs of muscle to my upper body. The Weider Crossbow Platinum is looking pretty good right now.

[Danny]

I've been working out solely on home equipment for the last 5 years and my dad the past 15 years. No injuries have occured from this. It is by far convinient at home and also easier to concetrate for me. I use only free weights. I personally would recommend a good bench, a barbell and a good set of weights if you want to work out at home.

[primelord]

Just to clarify I am not really saying one is better than the other. I really enjoyed working out in a gym. The equipment was much better quality than what I have and you can get a much better qorkout on focused areas of the body etc.

I just found it difficult to come home after long hours at work, have dinner with my wife and then convince myself to drive up to the gym. Now I just walk downstairs workout for 40 minutes and I am done. I get a better workout than I did at the gym simply because I actually make the effort to workout at home. :)

[Ksyrup]

That's my problem. I know I need to exercise, but finding the time is the problem. I'm up at 6am for work, get home by 7pm, spend an hour with the 5-year old before she goes to sleep, then help my wife with the newborn (which means staying up until at least 11 and getting up at least once during the middle of the night). I barely see my family as it is during the week, there's no way I can justify coming home from work and going back out for a couple of hours to work out. And I can't justify paying a bunch of money to be able to go once a week during the weekend, either.

[mrsimperless]

I've been working out solely on home equipment for the last 5 years and my dad the past 15 years. No injuries have occured from this. It is by far convinient at home and also easier to concetrate for me. I use only free weights. I personally would recommend a good bench, a barbell and a good set of weights if you want to work out at home.

How do you do lats, back, etc. with just free weights?

[duckman]

How do you do lats, back, etc. with just free weights?
You can do dumbell rows or barbell rows.

[Danny]

Deadlifts, and how about pullups? If you cant do a pullup then do a reverse one where you stand on something and lower yourself down slowly. I also do bent over rows like duckman said.

[duckman]

Deadlifts, and how about pullups? If you cant do a pullup then do a reverse one where you stand on something and lower yourself down slowly. I also do bent over rows like duckman said.Dealifts are excellent for your middle and lower back muscle groups. The pullups help you get the "V" with you lats.

[mrsimperless]

Pullups would be great, but I need something to pull up on. All I have is free weights. I was thinking about super gluing a pair of shoes to the ceiling and then hanging upside down and lifting that way.

[panerd]

One thing to consider... the home gyms don't have 19-year old hotties in front of you on the cardio equipment or hot moms sharing the weight machines with you or glass window aerobics classes that you can watch during each sit-up on the ab equipment. (Of course you also don't have to deal with smelly muscleheads or women that shouldn't ever be in spandex) I still say the former outweighs the homegym.

[duckman]

One thing to consider... the home gyms don't have 19-year old hotties in front of you on the cardio equipment or hot moms sharing the weight machines with you or glass window aerobics classes that you can watch during each sit-up on the ab equipment. (Of course you also don't have to deal with smelly muscleheads or women that shouldn't ever be in spandex) I still say the former outweighs the homegym.
Personally, I like not having to see those things at the gym. Women (especially attractive ones) are a distraction when it comes to weightlifting. The ones that show up wearing a heavy layer of make-up and then walking around with 2lbs weights in each hands are the worst kinds.

[Danny]

One thing to consider... the home gyms don't have 19-year old hotties in front of you on the cardio equipment or hot moms sharing the weight machines with you or glass window aerobics classes that you can watch during each sit-up on the ab equipment. (Of course you also don't have to deal with smelly muscleheads or women that shouldn't ever be in spandex) I still say the former outweighs the homegym.

And that's exactly why it's tough to concentrate at gyms :). Mrsimperless, you can buy a pullup bar at most any fitness store and that should be able to be put up somewhere in your home.

[rkmsuf]

Rocky didn't need any pullup bar. Just go hit some meat.

[primelord]

Rocky didn't need any pullup bar. Just go hit some meat.
Well sure he didn't need to do pull ups to beat Apollo, but he was doing pull ups in Russia. So again it is all what you are looking to get out the workout.

[rkmsuf]

it was all camera tricks

[duckman]

it was all camera tricks
Yeah, those muscles that Stallone got are just make-up. :rolleyes:

[rkmsuf]

it was like the movei FX. All synthetic and plastered on. Stallone can barely lift a potato.

[MizzouRah]

I don't want to be Mr. Universe by no means, just want to add 10-20 lbs of muscle to my upper body. The Weider Crossbow Platinum is looking pretty good right now.C'mon Arnold..

You'll have to set aside a full day (at least it took my Uncle and I about 10 hrs) to put the thing together, it's pretty rough in some spots, but it's worked like a champ thus far (about 6 months).

I can also honestly say I've gained some decent muscle mass, dropped weight, and my doctor just told me he could tell I've been working out from a recent EKG, as well as physical appearance.

I work out 3 days a week, about 8 exercises per workout (30-45 mins). There is a chart that has like 75 exercises on it, so changing them up periodically is a breeze. I had a soloflex years ago and this machine is 100x easier to change exercises and I love pressing a button to change resistance.

My wife also loves it, which is amazing in itself. :)

Go here for more info, if you haven't already..
http://www.platinumcrossbar.com/platinum/index_frm.html


Todd

[SFL Cat]

Todd, Fess up....you're really a Weider Crossbow Platinum sales rep....aren't you!!! ;)

[MizzouRah]

Todd, Fess up....you're really a Weider Crossbow Platinum sales rep....aren't you!!! ;)
My last name is Weider. :D


Todd

[Driftwood]

I don't want to be Mr. Universe by no means, just want to add 10-20 lbs of muscle to my upper body. The Weider Crossbow Platinum is looking pretty good right now.


I`ll be the first to ask.

Are you doing this to impress a girl, and if so, shouldn`t you have asked us for advice first?

:D

[Draft Dodger]

I was thinking about super gluing a pair of shoes to the ceiling and then hanging upside down and lifting that way.

wow...talk about famous last words!
:eek:

[hukarez]

My last name is Weider. :D


Todd
Hmm...I don't suppose you're some kind of Offensive Lineman for the NFL, are you?

[MizzouRah]

Hmm...I don't suppose you're some kind of Offensive Lineman for the NFL, are you?
:)

Don't I wish.


Todd