anyone use bowflex?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
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From: Midwest
anyone use bowflex?
I keep seeing advertisements for the bowflex system,and they talk it up pretty good,of course 
...just wondering if anybody here has ever used the system,and is it as good as they claim? I need to get back into working out,and have been working a lot of hours at work,so it is almost impoossible to go to the gym after work. wouild be nice if I had something at home to work out with until the hours slow down at work and I can get back to the gym again. thanks,Ben 
...just wondering if anybody here has ever used the system,and is it as good as they claim? I need to get back into working out,and have been working a lot of hours at work,so it is almost impoossible to go to the gym after work. wouild be nice if I had something at home to work out with until the hours slow down at work and I can get back to the gym again. thanks,Ben
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Centerville, Iowa
I am a weightlifting fanatic. I LOVE free weights and dumbells. However, in the absense of access to those (ie gym membership) a bowflex would be a GREAT substitute. My friend Tyler (i'm at his house now - driving me to airport) has one and it is awesome. His only goes up to like 215 pounds of resistance - which isn't terrible unless you're 'advanced' in your strength. It gives you great range of motion, very easy to use. I wish I had one until I start college next fall...I'll be finding it tough to get workouts here cause...I moved to a po-dunk town...
I'd say that aside from a gym membership, the bowflex is the greatest choice next to it. Rubber band's give false performance, and you just can't get the flexibility you need from a pully machine.
I'd say that aside from a gym membership, the bowflex is the greatest choice next to it. Rubber band's give false performance, and you just can't get the flexibility you need from a pully machine.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Middlebury, CT
my dad has the golds gym knock off. it sucks. the weight isnt constant as you do ever rep cus ut gets tougher as it bends more, the thing feels like its gunna fall appart.
its been used maybe a dozen times since we got it. I still think there is no subsitute for a gym or a goos set of weights
its been used maybe a dozen times since we got it. I still think there is no subsitute for a gym or a goos set of weights
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Jackson, TN
Originally Posted by Saurian
I am a weightlifting fanatic. I LOVE free weights and dumbells.
Last edited by psdtenn; Jun 7, 2004 at 02:58 PM.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2002
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From: Fraziers Bottom, WV
We have a bowflex in each Ambulance station. If you like a long workout (It takes a long time) you would them. You need a book to know how switch everything and it is complex for most switches. You cool down too much between switches reading the book and hooking this, moving that, unbolting this and bolting that. I never felt the "resistance rods" came close to free weights and weight machines in a gym!
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From: Chatsworth, CA
The bowflex are nice but feel weird. Not to mention there expensive as hell but you can pick them up used fairly cheap. If I were you I would go with a good olympic size weight bench and a 300lb. olympic set. The bowflex can be better though if you don't have a spotter. If your lifting heavy free weights you need a spotter for safety and support.
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From: Wherever the Navy says to
I agree with another poster about free weights. As a guy who both works and is degreed in this field (since 1981) free weights are the way to go.
However, if I were to choose a home gym, I would pick either Bowflex a similar machine put out by Joe Weider.....can't remember the name.
No, I don't work for these guys and don't particularly care for their trade show booth folks, but, they make a quality product.
However, if I were to choose a home gym, I would pick either Bowflex a similar machine put out by Joe Weider.....can't remember the name.
No, I don't work for these guys and don't particularly care for their trade show booth folks, but, they make a quality product.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
The bowflex or something similar...are so so. I've been into body building and weight lifting for about 5 years now. Those bowflex's are very expensive, they're over $1000 arn't they? The only thing I see really wrong with it is that it is very easy to not have a correct form. With weight lifting, form is everything and I've seen demonstrations of them and it seems very easy for a beginner to do the exercises wrong or not to the full advantage. Nothing beats the real gym, and a personal trainer for the first time you go there to show you how to use it. I would never buy one, you can get free weights and small gym equipment from the local sporting goods store that will get the job done for a lot less money. I highly suggest a book from the Governator (Arnold himself) called "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding". It's a great book for everyone, whether you're a beginner, advanced, or going for compeition status, it's extremely helpful and informative. There are a lot of people that don't know what Arnold was like years ago, there is no one on this planet that knows more about weight lifting than Mr. Schwarzenegger. Good luck on your venture to great health!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
I could talk about it for hours...but heres a quick example on the bench press.
The whole point of a normal bench press is to target the chest area, it'll also work your triceps and a little of your shoulder...but mainly the chest. You are lifting the bar, and you don't have to really stabilize it, just lift it up and down.
With the bowflex, you have to fight against a cable...there is no stability there. It's more difficult to keep your arms centered and straight...and do it with the correct form. They try to use it as a postive on the comercial, but it's really not. You're not able to push up as much weight as you would w/ the bench, you have to use all those little muscles to keep it centered and stabilized, so since you can't lift the same weight, you're not getting a great work out in your chest. Even with dumbells...there is stability there. You can see the guys on the commercial struggling to keep that handle centered and stabilized....better off with free weights.
The whole point of a normal bench press is to target the chest area, it'll also work your triceps and a little of your shoulder...but mainly the chest. You are lifting the bar, and you don't have to really stabilize it, just lift it up and down.
With the bowflex, you have to fight against a cable...there is no stability there. It's more difficult to keep your arms centered and straight...and do it with the correct form. They try to use it as a postive on the comercial, but it's really not. You're not able to push up as much weight as you would w/ the bench, you have to use all those little muscles to keep it centered and stabilized, so since you can't lift the same weight, you're not getting a great work out in your chest. Even with dumbells...there is stability there. You can see the guys on the commercial struggling to keep that handle centered and stabilized....better off with free weights.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Slidell La.
Any exercise is better than no exercise, so if you dont have access to a gym or free weights it will do just fine but if youre looking for major improvements in lean muscle mass you can hang it up with bowflex. But it beats not doing anything at all.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Topsfield, MA
Yes, I agree...that any exercise (that won't hurt you obviously) is better than none...and the bowflex is better then nothing...but I suggest getting free weights and a small bench at the store...and doing a little research on the net about specific exercises. The book I mentioned above shows you how to do a bunch (and I mean a bunch) of exercises at home with gym level quality.
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From: Wherever the Navy says to
mustanGT221 said: ".......there is no one on this planet that knows more about weight lifting than Mr. Schwarzenegger......"
I must disagree with that. This guy: http://www.drsquat.com/
is much better recognized as an expert, and by experts, in the field of strength and conditioning than Arnold will ever be.
I must disagree with that. This guy: http://www.drsquat.com/
is much better recognized as an expert, and by experts, in the field of strength and conditioning than Arnold will ever be.
