BowFlex?

[Supra]

Hey I have had a bowflex for a while and never really used it. I just started to and relized I like working out at home better on it than I do in the gym. Have you guys ever see the bowflex commercial? That dude on there has probbably got the best physic that I have ever seen. I am really going to start hitting it hard. Any of you guys got one?

[ctmwm]

Thinking about getting one, but I have a gym membership that has a Sauna and Steam room that I really like. If it wasnt for that I'd have one today

[fallen_one23]

I've always kinda thought about getting one, I don't like always going to the gym to workout, I'd rather do it at my place, so i could blast some music, save time by not driving, and privacy

[Supra]

This is really the way to do it, man you can get a workout done fast to, like 20 minutes!! And I feel great!

[stevie31]

Aren't they rather expensive? I looked into getting one once and remember it being $1000 or so.

[TimBo755]

Hmm, I have many different types of exercise equiptment in my basement all which does not include the bowflex, since i like free weights a lot better than the total body things or machines. I now have a membership at a powerhouse around here. I did however have a friend who had a bowflex and said he hated it and liked free weights better because he could max out the machine in like every kind of lift..but i guess if you aren't a HUGE powerlifter it would be good. :)

plus my membership to powerhouse was only $125.00 for this year. :)

[Supra]

Yea they are expensive, I just like it so when I cant get in the gym I can still get a productive workout done.

[XtremeGrowth]

There's a knockoff of the Bowflex, it's called the Crossbow. I think it costs a couple of hundred dollars less than the Bowflex and from what I hear it's fairly good but not as smooth as the Bowflex.

[Supra]

Cool.

[quijjiboo]

That guy on the ad is about as big as you're gonna get using the Bowflex, not to mention increasing risk of injury by building your strength through machine/cable training alone.

[Mr.Winkle]

I've had my bowflex for a couple years. It's great in my opinion. I wouldn't mind being as big as the guy on the bowflex ads though. His ripped. I'm not close to looking like him but than I don't use my bowflex as much as I did in the past. There was a time when it collected dust for about a year before I started using it again. It's easy to use and gets the job done quickly though. I just have to get motivated to exercise on a regular basis.

[bigbutnottoo]

Originally posted by quijjiboo
increasing risk of injury by building your strength through machine/cable training alone.

How do you figure?

[Supra]

Man if I I had that guys body I would not be complaining about anything, he has the best body I think you can get! He is big and very ripped.

[oopapercutoo]

I used to frequent a couple of different bodybuilding forums and the common consensus that I gathered is that Bowflex isn't good for gaining size. The construction of the Boxflex is set up in a manner so that the exercise give you optimal capability of creating definition, giving you the ripped look that most people desire. That's why in the infomercial they advocate using the Bowlex for circuit training, because it's ideal for cardiovascular workouts while gaining minimal mass, if any at all.

Those of you looking to put on mass need to use free weights. Free weights build muscle mass better then any machine you're ever going to come across, hands down.

Just to re-itterate:
For Muscle Mass -- free weights
For Lean Cut Look -- Boxflex

[stevie31]

Thanks for that info, papercut. Can you recommend any alternatives (cheaper) to the bowflex for the lean cut look?

[TimBo755]

Yea they are expensive, I just like it so when I cant get in the gym I can still get a productive workout done.

[TimBo755]

Yea they are expensive, I just like it so when I cant get in the gym I can still get a productive workout done.


hmm workout at home? try some push-ups, situps...i found that when i was ripped the most was when i did exercises on the ground with no weights at all, just different situps and many pushups... :)

[oopapercutoo]

Originally posted by stevie31
Thanks for that info, papercut. Can you recommend any alternatives (cheaper) to the bowflex for the lean cut look?

If it's the cut look you're going for, you can do pushups and crunches as Timbo mentioned, and they will work to an extent. However, if you're not on a proper healthy diet you'll never see the results you're looking for. There's a saying in the fitness world that goes something like this: "Abs are made in the kitchen, not the weight room." It couldn't be more true...if you're diet isn't calibrated correctly, you'll either have to adjust it or never get the cut look that you desire. Unless of course you have a metabolism that is phenominally fast, in which case you'd probably be looking more to gain mass, as opposed to losing it.

[stillwantmore]

Originally posted by stevie31
Aren't they rather expensive? I looked into getting one once and remember it being $1000 or so.

The "JES Extender" is around $1,000 too ;)

[shojii]

SWM... the model for Boflex is Marc Jacobsen.....he is an NPC (national physique comittee) level bodybuilder. He never used a bowflex BUT, gets paid very well...........How do I know that for a fact...... I train his wife. Great guy very nice, she's a sweetheart. And he earns every penny...Travels 5 days a week on promo..........no fun at all......The problem with training at home is you find stuff to keep busy...(e.g.) PE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Find a cheap gym to go to and make the commitment. When you do, it will be a "vacation" from your normal routine. You are doing something for yourself and everyone will win...goodluck

[bigbutnottoo]

Originally posted by TimBo755
hmm workout at home? try some push-ups, situps...i found that when i was ripped the most was when i did exercises on the ground with no weights at all, just different situps and many pushups... :)

That usually works for a pump, but most people will not gain muscle size that way.

[Supra]

Well I am already really big and muscular and dont want ot get any bigger just want ot maintain and get more cut, so the bowflex is working great for me.

[stevie31]

Thanks for the reply, papercut. I eat very healthy and run 3 miles 3 days per week. I have enough muscle mass as it is and just want to tone it up for that lean cut look.

[oopapercutoo]

Think nothing of it. I'm glad I could be of some assistance. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask away and I'll answer them to the best of my knowledge, and if I don't know the answer I'll attempt to find it.

A few tips for your cardio routine:
--For optimal fat burning, you need to be staying between 65-85% of you maximum hear rate.
--On average, your body won't begin to burn fat cells until about 13 minutes into your cardio routine, so you need to do at least 20 minutes of cardio if you want to have 7 minutes worth of fat loss. (I find this fact to be a major downer, as I really hate running LOL).

[bigbutnottoo]

Originally posted by oopapercutoo

--On average, your body won't begin to burn fat cells until about 13 minutes into your cardio routine, so you need to do at least 20 minutes of cardio if you want to have 7 minutes worth of fat loss. (I find this fact to be a major downer, as I really hate running LOL).

I agree, that I think 20 minutes is probably minimum, but your fat loss actually continues well after you are done. So its not like you just have 7 minutes of fat loss and then you stop.

[oopapercutoo]

While that is true, your metabolism will begin to slow down after you end your exercise, so the fat burning post-cardio won't be as efficient as the fat you're burning while doing the cardio.

[Godsize]

The models on the Bowflex commercials might look big, but I'll betcha they're like 5'5" 178 lbs.

Their physiques look totally great, but those bodies were built with weights and steroids.... let's get real now. Fuck bowflex. If you want to kill an entire room, then Bowflex is for you. A couple dumbbells and a simple bench will take up about 1/3 the space.

But hey, if a machine like that will motivate you, then it is worth it.