Did a search already, couldn't find what I was looking for.

Anyway, do any of you have a Bowflex? What are your impressions of it? Does it work the way it is advertised to work? What about the recall on it?
Which model did you get? How much did you pay?

And the big one, are you happy with the results?


The reason I'm asking is because we're thinking of getting one. The hours in a day left to me after work doesn't give me much to drive to the gym and work out for an hour every day. Down the road, having a baby will cut that time to zero. So I figure if I got a Bowflex I don't have to drive anywhere, and get my workout done at home. Basically, the same they are preaching in their commercials.

Thanks in advance.

 

I'm interested in hearing this also.

I have weights & benches but don't use them because I don't feel a 6 or 4 year old will make very good spotters right now. That is all I have available to me right now.

 

I have a bowflex I bought a couple of years ago. I think it's a good machine, it worked just like it's supposed to. It does give a good workout. The price is a little steep though. Mine was $1900 with all the available attachments and now I don't even use it. I bought a set of freeweights and now its just sitting in storage, lol.
As fsr as the recall goes, I never had any problems with it, but they are sending me the fix for whatever the problem was.

 

Here is a link which provides info on bowflex and crossbow.

http://search.lycos.com/default.asp?...ex+vs+Crossbow

I have only used the bowflex and found it to be a viable alternative when no free weights are available. It does give a good workout, although not the same workout as free weights. Cost might be a factor as their complete setup is a bit pricey.

The crossbow is as easy, maybe easier to use and certainly to set up.

Use the link above or type in "bowflex comparisons" on google and you will come up with lots of sites to visit.

As a guy who does this for a living I would choose one of either of these two products for a home gym over any of the others.....if free weights were not a good option.

 

I HAD a Bowflex. I found I lacked motivation working out at home. The Bowflex is a good machine for the average Joe or Jane, but is pretty much useless for an advanced person.

 

I think you have to ask yourself if you're really gonna stick to it. One thing about a "gym" is that it has one purpose, to work out. Once you're there you either work out or leave. One of the main problems with "home" gyms is that people only stick with it for about 2-3 weeks then like stated earlier, "it just sits." I knew a guy who could have been the poster boy for bowflex. In highschool he was a tall scrawny guy. After about two years I saw him again. It's no lie when I tell you he gained about 50lbs of solid muscle. I asked him how he did it and he said he bought a bowflex and worked out for an hour every day after work. If you can stick with a program, even simple things like push-ups and sit-ups will yield great results.

 

I have been into body building/lifting for a few years now. I've read many books and have learned a lot from Arnold's encylopedia. The bowflex is not really for anyone trying to get ripped like they have on the shows. Like the other person said, it's for the average joe/jane. The problem with it is that it doesn't isolate muscles and target specific areas like gym machines do. Ever wonder why there isn't a bowflex in a gym? Or why body builders or weight lifters don't use one? Another problem with it is that for a beginner form is everything, and it's very difficult to keep your form correct with a machine like that. Even intermidiates might have trouble stabilizing their arms/legs correctly. With that machine its very easy to do an exercise wrong causing injury or just not getting the full benefit. You can do a lot with free-weights or other methods instead of spending 1900 on a bowflex.

 

I am a Bowflex Ultimate Owner - meaning ti came with the overhead lat attachment and the leg extension/flex attachment. We paid $2000 plus shipping for it in January of this year. I agree with the previous posts' for the most part.
1. It really isn't a machine for a beginner. Some might say that the cable system is clumsy, but it actually makes you use more muscles to stabilize your range of motion. The downside to that is you won't be able to use as much weight as the free weights. Thus when comparing your max bench to your free-weight buddies, you will likely fall short. The only way to prove to them you are stronger would be to go to their house or gym and show them on free weights - aside from the slightly different muscle use you would have to adjust to, you will probably be in the same class as your friends.
2. The key to getting in shape is sticking to a solid routine that includes modifying your calorie intake. The best diet will always be expend more calories than you ingest. Go about it however you want: Atkins, no-carb, vegan, water and supplements. The bottom line is output must be greater than input to get slim.
3. I think you can get "ripped" on the Bowflex, but it will take a while. My arms, shoulders and back have come a long way since I got started, though my abs, chest and legs seriously lag behind. Of course, the abs and butt are the first places a man stores fat, so my failings to date are still tied to not consistently eating fewer calories than I use.
4. The claim of "getting results you want in six weeks" is partially accurate. It is unequivically tied to eating right and following their specific 20-minute workout. The thing they don't mention in the infomercials is the diet plan that comes in your instruction manual. I personally did not choose to follow their diet, and maybe that is part of my problem as well.
5. It is all about dedication. Working out sounds like a good thing and works for a few weeks, but if you start to settle for your initial gains and then get frustrated when you can't add five or ten pounds to your exercises every week - that is the true test of your fortitude.

All in all I would recommend the Bowflex, especially for someone who doesn't have the time to commit to a gym for an extra hour or so away from the house each day.

 

Ok, thanks guys.

Another question. Do you think it would be better cost and excersize-wise to build a home gym out of free weights?

 

Are you living a fair distance from a good gym? If you don't live too far away you can buy a lot of year's membership with the money you'd spend on a good home gym.

I work with nutrition and weight training every day. I've got to say that while I don't think I'd ever buy one personally the BowFlex does seem to be the best option for an "at home" gym setup. It mimicks freeweights much closer than a cable/selector machine. IMO though you can't beat free-weights. It just costs a lot of money and takes up a lot of space to get a good free-weight setup. If you go that route don't buy the cheap crap or you'll be really disappointed.

EDIT: Just to add to what people have mentioned about only using it for a short time, it won't matter if you buy a membership, a home gym, or a real gym. Either you have what it takes to get off your butt and do it or you don't. People who lose interest after a few weeks and throw in the towel lack motivation, that's got nothing to do with the equipment they use.