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| we have a 1.5 bedroom apartment and are thinking about buying a bowflex based on the postive things we've been hearing.
anyone have any experience with these machines?
Tommy |
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| I would go with a different product. The bowflex is ok, but it is really big! Also switching the bands on it can be difficult. I personally would recommend a Total gym. It folds up nicely, the levels of resistance are nice and on the higher end models you can add weight.
I liked the product so much I actually bought their commercial product the Gravity Training System and use it to train all my personal training clients.
You can check their stuff at www.Totalgym.com |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
    
| Great - I had always wondered about those things and since the Tour de France is on daily at the moment, I am seeing a LOT of Bowflex ads. The size has always been one thing I noticed - although it is quite sculptural in appearance, I don't htink I would want one in the living room, which seems to be where they always are in TV ads  |
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| I've been thinking about getting a Bowflex, too, but it's out of my price range for now. I've been told the Total Gym is kind of flimsy but I've never tried it.
Can you tell me more about the problem with the Bowflex bands?
Thank you
PS I've seen the Total Gym for sale at Costco. Probably worth buying even if it only lasts a year or so.
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| The bands for the bowflex tend to difficult to switch settings. They are hard and very strong making it challenging to switch levels.
If you do want to go the total gym route I would recommend one of their middle of road models. The ones from Costco are ok, but do tend to a bit flimsy. Also the middle of the road models have more levels of incline and a better cable system. |
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| They got a brand new one coming out in the fall, all new stuff but a bit pricey, below is a link to a picture
http://strategize.blogspot.com/2005/07/bowflex-revolution.html
Fre |
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| Looks like a nice machine. I like the convesion to a rowing machine. For that kind of money thhough you can get a GTS. I have one and it is awesome. You can add weight upto 500 pounds, it can be used as pilates reformer (so long as you know what you are doing.), is great for any level of athelete and folds up easily!
You also get intergration, which you do not get from machine which lock you into a fixed position when lifting.
Check out this website
http://www.efisportsmedicine.com/commercial.home.html |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
But isn't the real point of Bowflex and such things that if you buy it you
will look like those well cut models in the ads and earn the right to have sex
with someone of similar endowments? |
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| Please! Gutter-brain...
(Women are blessed - we can see a good looking man and NOT want to have sex with him or even THINK about having sex with him.) |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Now Fifi - you should know after being here for a while that Bay Guy's mind is not in the gutter! It just strays strongly toward the curb from time to time  |
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| Ok, ok...maybe you're not a gutterbrain after all.
Actually, I love pilates but can't spend $50.00/class to use the reformers. From what I know about The Total Gym it is similar to a pilates reformer. The reason I want a reformer-like workout is to strengthen my arms and shoulders. Chattaranga (sp?) kills my arms, shoulders and wrists. What's a girl to do?
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| 
People complain about the cost of mats and Iyengar props. I got a brochure in the mail for Pilates equipment the other day 
The trick to chaturanga is the legs and the action of the arms. I am working on strengthening by doing more plank/down dog reps. If you search the forums using this spelling you will find 119 references to chaturanga, if you feel up to reading a LOT about this challenging pose |
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| To tell you the truth, I'd either join a gym or buy free weights. NOTHING will strengthen and tone you like free weights do. I used to have a resistance band thing similar to BowFlex and I really was not very impressed with it.
Combining strength training with yoga will give you a remarkable physique.
Good luck. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | *Fifi* - 2005-07-30 9:16 AM
Please! Gutter-brain...
(Women are blessed - we can see a good looking man and NOT want to have sex with him or even THINK about having sex with him.)
Bay Guy walks off muttering: "Of course, you've never seen me..." 
Never underestimate the male ego....
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
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| Good one!  |
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| Has anyone out there tried the new Bowflex treadmill? Seems interesting; I wonder if you can run on it or if it designed for walking only?
Running on concrete is killing me and I don't live near a sandy beach. (The Great Basin Desert is very gravel-ly but still an enjoyable run when it's not 9,000')
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| Hi, I just bought a Total Gym XL , the one on TV, and I love it!!! It is more than they say on TV.You can ad weights if you want too, but this gives you a very great workout. I have had a Bowflex and sold it. The Total Gym is far more better. I am new here , so I hope to meet many friends here!!  |
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Dear Tommy,
I saw your bowflex thread and have some useful information. I have had 2 different models of the bowflex for the last 8 years, as with any machine you must use it to get results.
The 2 models I have had and still have are the motivator and the power pro (not sold anymore). For the money, the motivator is the best bet out there, you can get the sport now and it is of a cleaner design. If you get one, make sure to get the lat tower and leg attachment. The model does not move-no castered wheels, but does fold up and takes up 5-6 feet by 2-3 feet ( 1 meter by 2 meters if your metric...).
The basic 210lb set up is perfect and depending on your goals should be more than adequate. I have found that working with small amounts of resistance and 15 reps per set works well. Do not be afraid of how hard it is to use, just takes a little practice and is completely safe.
I work 'consecutive' groups. If you are doing a chest workout, I will also do the triceps because both are used in the chest workout (if you know this stuff already, sorry, just trying to help!). I will do a basic chest press and turn right into a chest fly for 15 reps each. Take a 1 minute break and do it again for 3 total sets. The book that comes with it is very helpful, and if you buy a used one (which I HIGHLY recommend) and it does not have it, you can download it form the bowflex website.
It is a very versatile machine that offers great resistance, plus if you buy it used, is a great value. If you have any questions, please let me know. I wish I would have kept the motivator, but succumbed to the hype of the 'sexier' machine. The motivator/sport is a much sturdier machine and if you buy the squat attachment, you will get an all over workout.
Dean
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| *Fifi* - 2005-07-30 8:16 AM
Please! Gutter-brain...
(Women are blessed - we can see a good looking man and NOT want to have sex with him or even THINK about having sex with him.)
not all women, dear fi...
who wouldn't want a bowflex?
you can get into the best shape of your life in only 20 minutes a day, three times a week.
HA!
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: canada | actually, total gym really is the best.. i've tried both. i still like a vigorous yoga practice though..  |
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Location: London, England | Hi Fifi,
I know the following isn't as smooth and streamlined as a reformer, but one exercise is to get on a wooden floor-put your hands on your mat and do downward dog. Put on a nice thick pair of woolly socks (optional-can be cotton) and have your feet on th wooden floor.This means your feet can slide like on a reformer.If you like, you could get the socks blessed by a pilates teacher.
You can slide the feet forwards to come to uttanasana, and the you have the choice of either sliding backwards into chaturanga dandasana, or back into downdog. The exercise is exceptional, because it helps to attain much stronger bandha and shoulder activation to pull your feet over the floor.Many people find chaturanga danasana difficult because it is hard to address movement issues when the movement is simply too difficult-then they end up jumping into the posture rather than taking the approach outlined above. Make sure there's no nails sticking out the floor!
Take care
Nick |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Nick - that sounds awesome! I love low tech, simple stuff. Did you invent it?
you could get the socks blessed by a pilates teacher |
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thinking about Bowflex?
