Bowflex

[l0stsheep]

What do you guys think of the Bowflex machine?

I asked a few people in my gym what they thought about it and they all thought that it was a step in the right direction of more advanced bodybuilding. They said that the bowflex is better because the tension, and also weight, goes up as you do a rep of a certain exercise.

Do you agree with this or is the highly priced machine just a waste of money?



I am new here, to this website and these boards and I would like to say that I am joyfully amazed at how a group of people can be so dedicated at a certain thing in life while at the same time being so dedicated to the Lord.
God Bless

[AJT]

Totally, absolutely, 100%, without a doubt disagree. You can go buy a bench, weights, 2 or 3 bars, and adjustable dumbbells for $400 less! The bowflex is a HUGE rip off and will set you back on your gains and money. Definately go to Dicks Sporting Goods or any other sports retail store and check out the benches or power racks.

[JamesP]

Awesome marketing, terrible product. Stick with free weights, much much more beneficial.

[Coz]

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/sho...rue#Post1012779 (http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=science&Number=1012779&Searchpage=2&Main=1012779&Words=bowflex&topic=&Search=true#Post1012779)

[DieselMofo20x]

well it depends what you are training for. i have been lifting for about three years now and i actually first started lifting on bowflex. i think its a good start for people who really dont have weight lifting experience. it gives you all the basic exercises you can do at a gym and the exercises can get difficult at times. this machine is great at simulating the muscles in the body, there is a lot of tension and stretching especially at the bottom half of the rep (negative). Thats why you get so LEAN from this machine. like i said its a great machine, BUT i feel its MORE beneficial to beginner lifters and people who are overweight. After a while you are going to need to start massing up, and thats where you are GOING to need weights. bowflex is great at stripping fat, (probably great precontest) but if you want to get stronger and bigger you should probably stick to weights. you really cant get a good leg workout on it either, and without JACKED legs, you'll have no power whatsoever. im not too crazy about the back exercises either, you dont feel too much tension in your back, and the lat pulldown is not too good at simulating the lats. i have to say that im a fan of the arms exercises and chest exercises though, shoulders are tough also, but like i said bowflex is good, but its NOT YOUR MEAT AND POTATOS..lol did i spell potatos right?..haha ne ways your best off just joining the gym. you will meet a lot of bigger guys who can show you how to get huge. pz--

[Jedi]

I dont agree with you. You don't get lean just because you use some machine, you get lean while exercising and eating properly.

[wb4revival]

I agree with Dieselm...
Do a search, there was a discussion about the bowflex and I gave my results there. I am impressed with what it did for me.

With that said, I think you will eventually want to go to free weights. Free weights raises the cap of your potential.

Just my opinion.

Wayne

[KitXXIII]

I agree about the overall opinion of the Bowflex. The marketing is good but the machine isn't. Recently, there was a huge recall on some of their models due to the lat tower bowing(pardon the pun) and breaking, causing head injuries. Also, the small rods eventually lose their elasticisty and don't straighten back to their original position. For the money you pay for the machine, you'd expect it to be designed and built better. Stick with the plates.

[stealthz]

I'll speak on this topic given that I have and use both free weights and a bowflex.

When I was in high school I lifted in the weight room there. But over breaks they would only open the weight room at hours I could not make it up there. Therefore I got some freeweights to work out at home. This included a bench with a preacher curl station, a leg ext/curl attachment, a barbell, pair of adjustable dumbells, and of course - weight.

I loved, still love, and will always love this equiptment, as there is not a workout day that it goes intouched. However, I was limited to certain exercises, and was unable to to exercises involving cables like I would at my school's weight room. Therefore I got a bowflex.

How is the bowflex? I love it. It's great for executing my cable exercises. I can't imagine my workouts without it. However, don't buy into bowflex's claim of "all you need is a bowflex". That is nothing but a gimmick. If I absolutely HAD to give away my bowflex, or free weights.. I would sadly give up the bowflex.

If you are wanting to buy equiptment to start with, I would definatly go with free weights. Like I said I myself couldn't imagine myself without either type of equiptment. But metaphorically speaking, my free weights are my meat, and the bowflex is the side dish of potatoes.

Alternate routes you could take would be joining a gym. I myself like working out in my home because I enjoy the privacy, and not having to wait for machines. Also there are many machines that are just about the exact same as the bowflex for cheaper. I personally went with the bowflex sport which was around $900 all together with shipping and everything else. One big reason I went with bowflex over the other machines is because they had (perhaps still do have) a special offer where you pay it off in a ear interest free. However, other companies such as golds gym, and weider make machines just like the bowflex. I actually saw a new weider machine where the resistance was digitally controlled instead of using power rods. It was around $500-$600

Hope this helps.

[DB_Head]

heard a whole bunch of those were recalled for design flaws. doesn't sound very safe to me. for me free weights is the way to go:)

[sta63bmx]

Sick Of Your Gym (http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=120&pid=576)

Proper usage of this package will turn you into a freakish killing machine. If you want a bowflex, wait a month and then buy a used one on Ebay after the New Year's crowd gives up. You could save a lot of money.

[Trooper]

This topic always results in a discussion that is at least part hyperbola. Bowflex is not a tool of Satan, but it isn't the wonder their ads imply ("Just three twenty-minute workouts per week and in three months you are Biff the Buffed"). It's just another tool to workout with and, as a general rule, any workout is better than none. You won't find a Bowflex or a Total Gym in an NFL training facility or a Powerhouse Gym, but most people aren't trying compete with Larry Allen or Ronnie Coleman.

Like stealthz, I have and use both free weights and a Bowflex. I prefer to go to the gym and use iron, but when I can't make it, a combination of dumbbells and the Bowflex is an acceptable substitute.

I got the Bowflex primarily for my wife. She hates working out in the gym, but will use the Bowflex at home. I wanted to outfit the basement for her with 2,500 lbs of Ivanko Olympic Colored Rubber Encased EZ Lift Plates, The Ultimate Power Rack from Dr. Squat, a Super Safety Squat Bar (1500lbs), a Cambered and Counterbalanced Deadlift Bar, Eclipse Dumbbells from 5 to 150 lbs (in 2.5 lb. increments), a Dr. Squat Glute-Ham-Back Machine, a Louie Simmons Pro Roller Reverse Hyper, a Louie Simmons Belt Squat Machine, several types of benches, the complete Larry Scott Signature Line of equipment, and several of the Powertec leverage machines. Alas, she saw through this ploy. We got a Bowflex and it's right for her.

DieselMofo20x makes some good points. Although a Bowflex would not be my first choice (see above description of ideas for home gym) it will get the job done for the average person. Some select few will have an epiphany and become true converts to The Mystical Order of Them What Wants To Be Larger Than Life.

In closing, let us remember the wisdom of Jedi, "... you get lean while exercising and <font color="red"> </font> eating PROPERLY ."

Trooper

P.S. After I win Powerball, you're invited over for a workout in my new home gym (see above description). /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[sta63bmx]

After you win Powerball, you're paying for the steak cookoout, too, bud! /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

That's probably the part that aggravates me the most. Twenty minutes a day, three times a week! My dad always rags me when those commercials come on and he goes "You don't need to be lifting them heavy weights! Just twenty minutes a day, three days a week!"

Anyways.

[el trigueño]

there really ain't nutin' like the real thing. Gritty and rusty benches, dumbbells, barbells, plates, and a power rack,

oooooh baby.