Bow Flex ...

[JolietKev]

works for me and I guess I question all the hate that I see regarding this machine. It is much easier on the joints and I have seen increases in strength since I began using it approx five years ago. I am currently on my secod model. My brother in law gave me the one I currently have since he moved into a smaller place. I began using free weights for military presses, shoulder presses, BO rows, squats and calf raises and since that time (2 months ago)have noticed a lot of joint soreness, esp elbow pain. I never had any problems with the Bow flex in that regard. I have been lifting heavier weights and using pre, ad post supplements since I started working out. I have also increased food consumption. I have found thatI have been feeling worse since doing so. As a result I may go back to the high reps and a lot of cardio that seemed to be working better for me. Has anyone else experienced anything like this. I may be doing something wrong.

[jugglingfreak]

Hey, if it works for you and your goals, go for it.

A lot of the hate for Bowflex comes from the fact that it is ridiculously overpriced and some rather questionable marketing claims.

But I remember something from a consumer reports type magazine reviewing various piece of exercise equipment that had the best comment. "The best piece of exercise equipment is the one you will actually use."

It really doesn't matter if you have a home gym to rival the best commercial gyms if you never use it..

[raz1875]

There's nothing wrong with using a Bowflex.

1. I do not like their price.

2. I tried one and it didn't feel natural to me.

[LyingSac]

it provide resistance hence "it works"...

[Nikonguy]

JolietKev, I had many of those same symptoms a few years back......right about the time I hit your age. Funny thing is I don't notice them now.

What does your increased food consumption look like?

It may be the heavier weight then the bow flex. I always have aches and pains to be honest with you. It goes with the territory.

[BillyBatts]

Originally Posted by LyingSac

it provide resistance hence "it works"...

Brilliant insight in its simplicity. LOL

Machines work for a lot of us lifters. Kudos to the lifters who use heavy dumb bells, do dead lifts and heavy squats. However, you don't need to do them to pursue a hobby of weight lifting and body building. Machines, including Bow Flex, work for most of us if you are dedicated and use the correct principles. I primarily choose machines (Life Fitness and Hammer Strength) because I tend to injure myself with free weights. I make gains using these machines.

Bow Flex works. Lying Sac is quite correct in his analysis of why it works: "resistance".

[Crush505]

I admit it, we own a Bowflex. We mainly got it as an accessory to our other gym equipment. We found that on a lot of exercises it performed very well. Others like the leg press were kind of awkward. However " Lying Sac " said it well, short and sweet, " it provides resistance." Ours has the lat tower and the squat atttacment. We like the feel of the lat pull down but the squats again feel awkward. Bottom line if it's all you've got use it! With enough focus you can get results. As far as twenty minutes, three times a week, eh not so sure about that. The machine is designed pretty good. But originally the only competition Bowflex had to begin with was Soloflex, no there's a piece of work! (crap) Now you have the Total Gym. The cheap model wouldn't hold up very long with our workouts. Also very awkward. There is another thread on another section about Bowflex. I admit it I got in a kick or two but in all seriousness you can get a decent workout on one, especially if that's all you've got! Throw in some slow motion push-ups and add some chins and pull ups, some kind of bench dips, should be able to get a decent workout. Best wishes!

[JolietKev]

I normally wake up at approx 4 pm, immediately take either NO shotgun or NO xplode, have a cup of coffee while surfing the net for 45 min. I then work out + 1/2 hour on stationary bike. I then have a gaterade and creatine mix along with a prot. drnk. Sometimes I have some eggs or yogurt. Other supps include multi, CO Enz Q, flax seed and fish oil. I was eating a well balanced lunch with another prot shake. After a much needed nap ( I am a stay at home father) I have a small snack of nuts/fruit and then pretty much anythig goes for dinner. Sometimes good sometimes not so good. I have stayed right around 160 since I increased the weight and food, However I just do not feel as good when I was doing lighter and eating less. The powders and presupp may be having some negative effects. I am not sure. What does everyone think.

[chodan9]

I had a cross bow trainer which is very much like a bow flex.

I used it at one point for about 6 months and made some progress.
My problem is not with the machine but with me, I cant seem top muster the discipline I need at home.
There always seems to be something "better" to do. I do enjoy going to a commercial gym much more, there is only one thing really to do there, work out. So my focus is better there. been hitting the gym for over 3 years now.

[JolietKev]

I have tried going to the gym, however, I find it much more convienent to work out at home. I am a vet so the Military gave me great disciplie so I have ot problem keeping to my workouts. Plus I do not like hanging out with a bunch of testosterone driven youths who believe that the world revolves around their biceps. I guess we are all different and that is not a bad thing.

[Wildtim]

One reason you will seee for the bowflex fromm so many home gym users is because for the price you can have one hell of a nice free weight set-up.


Another reason is the almost constant recalls on the various bowflex models that speak to poor quality control or engeniering faults.

Thirdly and this goes for most home gyms, the resistance is limited. At some point you will outgrow the machine.

If bowflex was sold at a price point that refeclected its quality and utility I think a lot of the hate would go away, but hey they gotta pay for all thos commercials somehow.

If you already own one great, get all you can out of it, and enjoy using it.

If you are getting joint pain that you did not get before you might be using to much weight, and most especially incorrect form. The biggest drawback to free weight workouts is the level of skill involved. You need to really learn each lift and pay attention to what you are doing or bad things can happen.

I would expect the elbow pain is a result of the presses and possibley the rows as well. All these lifts have a common mistake a lot of people make. They don't keep their elbows in. When you let you elbows move out away from you you can move more weight, but you stress the joint unnecessarily. Keeping them straight and in front of you throughout the set is harder and allows less weight to be used but doesn't stress the joint as much. THis is what I mean by needing more skill.

[JolietKev]

Thanks for the tip TIM.

[Wildtim]

LOL, the only reason the tip is mine to give is because the pain sounds familiar. Been there made that mistake.

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by Squatfreak

With enough focus you can get results. As far as twenty minutes, three times a week, eh not so sure about that.

That's the part that makes me roll my eyes. The guys they have in the commercials are ripped. There's no way in hell they got to look like that by working out for a total of one hour a week.

[JolietKev]

You can get a good workout on it, however I am sure that they have a good diet and also do cardio. Just like anything else, they use actors to sell their product.

[thomasale]

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

That's the part that makes me roll my eyes. The guys they have in the commercials are ripped. There's no way in hell they got to look like that by working out for a total of one hour a week.

Ditto!

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

That's the part that makes me roll my eyes. The guys they have in the commercials are ripped. There's no way in hell they got to look like that by working out for a total of one hour a week.

You mean 20 minutes 3 times a day isnt enough? Dang back to the drawing board.

[StressMonkey]

Originally Posted by aneas

You mean 20 minutes 3 times a day isnt enough? Dang back to the drawing board.

Got to do 21 minutes brah.

[Capt_Lou]

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

Got to do 21 minutes brah.

With the Muscletek's

[Dw33z1L]

I don't think I would ever buy one simply based on the awful commercials. That a55hat who says he's going to give all of his fat clothes to his fat friends should be taken "out back" and beaten with an angry midget (by all of his fat ex-friends).

[tst313]

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

That's the part that makes me roll my eyes. The guys they have in the commercials are ripped. There's no way in hell they got to look like that by working out for a total of one hour a week.

Should also point out that the models used in the commercials did not get that way from using a bowflex. Nor from a 20 minute, 3 times a week work out.

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

Got to do 21 minutes brah.

Nah thats crazy. Only guys who weigh under 160 can get away with that kind of workload. 20 minutes and 30 seconds. I dont want to overtrain.

[tst313]

Originally Posted by Dw33z1L

I don't think I would ever buy one simply based on the awful commercials. That a55hat who says he's going to give all of his fat clothes to his fat friends should be taken "out back" and beaten with an angry midget (by all of his fat ex-friends).

Although that guy is the most annoying thing on TV right now, I had to laugh the first time I heard it. What arrogance! Haha!

[BrotherWolf]

Originally Posted by aneas

What does your increased food consumption look like?

It may be the heavier weight then the bow flex. I always have aches and pains to be honest with you. It goes with the territory.

x2....indeed

[BrotherWolf]

I don't know much about the bowflex except what you see in the infomercial and that it cost too much.. I mean resistance is resistance
be it rubber or steel..
What I am wondering is do we need a thread on bowflex??

can I start a thread on barbell??

"Barbells.. I don't know what's all the hate... It works for me, in the 7-8 months I have being using it I gained 20lbs, all my lifts increased and I feel better ..

Yes all my gym going friends and the expert warned me about squatting too low and lifting too heavy would hurt me and leave me on a wheel chair, yet I am still standing and a tad bit stronger than 8 months ago

I paid roughly $200 for all the equipment, some new some from craigslist"

pilate balls and 3lb dumbell works too, it all depends on your goals and expectation..

[bodyhard]

If it works for you then use it. When I stood in my brothers house in VA that he had one in his basement I used it and it sucked, for me it didn't feel natural at all.

[V-Robb]

Hi, I'm Robert and I am a former Bowflex user. I had it for almost 10 years -got the lat tower and leg extension add-ons. It was useful at first, but then became a horizontal storage surface and got buried under lots of stuff as workout equipment is apt to do at home.
So years later I'm finally getting sick and tired of being out of optimal shape and started to workout in earnest again starting last Thanksgiving. After a couple months of going full-bore I maxed out the "weight" setting so it was time to move on. Having found this website and all the info from the staff and members I decided to go back to freeweight training.
I now have a nice power rack with upper and lower pulleys, a superbench (too bitchin' that!) and have made some decent progress.
But it all started out with the 'flex. It's sitting in my next door neighbors garage now - I'm letting him use it gratis for now. Perhaps I can make another convert?

[DeathtoToasters]

Originally Posted by JolietKev

Plus I do not like hanging out with a bunch of testosterone driven youths who believe that the world revolves around their biceps. I guess we are all different and that is not a bad thing.

Well if this is what you are getting at your local gym...find another one. Of course if you are offended by a few bad apples....then how did you get by in the military?

Just asking....

[JolietKev]

Since you asked, when I joined the Army, I had just turned 18 so I was one of those young guys that thought they were tough. There were many of us in our basic training platoon. That lasted for about two minutes. Our platoon was the first to arrive on the "hill" so we had all of the Drill Seargents converge on our formation. Needless to say back, in 89 (before stress free training), there was a lot of yelling, spitting, pushing, running, and yes crying (not me) for about two hours. Any inclination of being tough was ended at that tiime for myself and the rest of the platoon. I the served in Desert Storm as a combat medic (1st Infantry Dvsn). It is amazing how people re evaluate their mortality when told that 75% of your combat force would be dead in the first few hours of the ground war. Fortunately we changed course and did not go that route.