FREE WEIGHT LIFTER CONSIDERING BOWFLEX

*A* said:

I had the chance to see a bowflex (sport) yesterday and mess with it
a little. First impression, not impressed. Not sure if the
Ultimate is much different. Despite being out one arm, I was able
to mess with the lat pull down feature and loaded up with 160 lbs
was a joke. with 1 arm I was able to pull down pretty far granted I
didnt reach the bottom where the most resistance is at. I'm not
boasting that I'm a strong guy but I am used to benching 225 up
through 290 on a given workout and squats usually in the same range
with free weights. I'm not sure this machine would benefit anyone
with a little strength? Maybe for some arm curls or something,

Strongly considering getting rid of my olympic bench and lat pull
down and getting a power rack. Oh yeah, I will save about $800 over
the bowflex ultimate which is $1800

That's my problem with the Bowflex gear. They look nice in your
house, they clearly offer some resistance, and changing the resistance
is easy and straightforward, but for the same amount of money you can
get a sweet free weights setup. Not too mention the fact that I just
don't think that you can really squat or deadlift with a Bowflex.
What's the point of lifting if you can't squat or deadlift?

Jason

"Bob Mann" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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ATP* said:

"Bob Mann" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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On 28 Feb 2005 15:01:14 -0800, "*A*" <[email hidden]> wrote:

>I appreciate the responses. I am definitely an avid freeweight fan and
>was curious. Guess I wont know until I try one myself.

It would be nice if you could arrange a trial period.
--
Bob Mann
Help save trees. Wipe your ass with an owl.

I've seen them set up in Price Club (which no longer carries skim milk,
BTW)

I wasn't paying attention but I think Costco had them as well
--
Bob Mann
Help save trees. Wipe your ass with an owl.

I meant Costco, formerly called Price Club.

*A* said:

Strongly considering getting rid of my olympic bench and lat pull down
and getting a power rack. Oh yeah, I will save about $800 over the
bowflex ultimate which is $1800

You're joking? The cheap version of this piece of [censored]
garbage costs $1000!?! Wow, what a sweet setup you
could get with that kind of money.

--
Helgi Briem hbriem AT simnet DOT is

No joke, that SOB is expensive. Isaw the motivator and sport models
which both cost about a grand. Like I said, I'm not seeing much
resistance with this machine and after lifing free weights for the past
10 + years I don't think I could be happy with the bowflex.

*A* said:

No joke, that SOB is expensive. Isaw the motivator and sport models
which both cost about a grand. Like I said, I'm not seeing much
resistance with this machine and after lifing free weights for the past
10 + years I don't think I could be happy with the bowflex.

Well, like has been stated, it's an exercise machine, not a strength
or power machine.
I wouldn't pay that kind of bucks for one either but there must be
quite a few hardly used ones for sale at half price.
--
Bob Mann
Help save trees. Wipe your ass with an owl.

I've used free weights for close to forty years. Prior to retiring
last year I fought the crowds at a gym, using a workout regimen
consisting of free weights, pulleys and nautilus equiptment. I always
lifted with a partner. After retiring, and having no desire to ever go
back to the health club, I put together a home gym with gym quality
stair-stepper & treadmill, about 400 lbs of plates and an o.k. weight
bench with lat tower and leg machine. I worked out five days a week,
using an alternating schedule, but wasn't totally satisfied. The lat
tower and leg machine just didn't measure up to the stuff at the gym.
I started looking for alternatives. The "all in one" machines they
sold at Sears were mostly toys. Then I saw a want ad for a bowflex
that someone had bought, put together and never used. I'd been
intrigued by the tv ads, but thought the price was just too high. I
bought it for a fraction of the list price, loaded it onto my pick-up
and brought it home. The model is a Power Pro XTL, and it came with
210 lbs of resistance. It was brand new. For what I paid, I knew I
could easily get my money back if I hated it. I was pleasantly
surprised when I didn't.

I've been using the machine for almost a year. 210 lbs of resistance
isn't much, so I quickly upgraded to 310 with rods I bought on e-bay.
410 will probably follow soon. I've retained some free weight
movements (biceps, triceps, front/side arm raises, stiff arm pull-overs
and toe-raises) that I mix into workouts that follow aerobic time on
the stair-stepper and treadmill. Please note that I also do
bicep/tricep work on the machine. The bowflex is easy to use, I don't
need a spotter, and I can perform a wide range of movements. The leg
machine and lat tower work great. After a workout, I've got that good
feeling I used to get at the gym. I've gotten positive results in both
strength gain and muscle mass. More importantly, I'm in my 50's and
I've not had to fight through any injuries, something that had dogged
me the last few years in the gym.

Is a bowflex worth $2000? If you're not rich, hell no! But if you can
find a used one for $500 or so it might be worth a try. Like I said,
you can always get your money back through the want ads. Like
anything else, you've got to be willing to use it hard. That "20
minutes, three days a week" thing is BS, and those "models" in the ads
didn't get that way just using a "bowflex!" I'm not easy to please,
but after a year, I'm happy. Enough said.

Lee Michaels said:

"Jim Ranieri" <nah,> wrote in message
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<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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What I am saying is that free weights can put you in a predicament

for

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injury when dealing with heavy poundages. I am only asking if

there

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are those who transitioned to Bowflex and liked it. I am no

longer

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interested in putting up 315+ on the bench or squattin 350. I

want to

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know if anyone is happy using the bowflex to work out the body and
maintain muscle mass.

I normally workout at home and take up a good portion of my

basement

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with the free weights. I am interested in the bowflex due to its

size

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and supposed versatility. I am quite aware that freeweights are
superior for size and strength. Again, just wondering if anyone

who

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has used freeweights in the past like me has had desirable results

with

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bowflex. If you do not have experiece with this machine, then

don't

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reply

Yes, I injured myself with free weights and bought a Bowflex

because I was

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no longer interested in strength gains and I was smitten by the

Bowflex

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models. I have never been happier - you should buy one.

Jim. before I make the jump, how are the blowflex models??