Can One Get a Competent and Complete Workout from Using Only Machines?

[BowFlexUser]

Comment.

[C5VetteLS1]

Yes, but only if it's a Bowflex. Nothing else will do it! You've seen what it's done for those guys on the commercials, right?

Nuff said!

[HardKore79]

Actually, your signature it's pretty dumb considering bowflex got its name from it's machines and the commercials(hint) and not their dumbbells. Dumbells came later on.

[wolfdragon]

Probably get the same results doing bodyweight exercises. So save the money for something else. If you just refuse doing or can't do bodyweight exercises cause you're too overweight and are intimidated by freeweights then it's better than nothing.

[lpsevier]

You can "get" a complete workout using machines and bodyweight exercises, but I don't think anyone would tell you that is would equal to or greater than free weights.

[BowFlexUser]

Originally Posted by HardKore79

Actually, your signature it's pretty dumb considering bowflex got its name from it's machines and the commercials(hint) and not their dumbbells. Dumbells came later on.

Ok, but WTF does that have to do with me owning their free weights?

[buffbrown21]

Originally Posted by lpsevier

You can "get" a complete workout using machines and bodyweight exercises, but I don't think anyone would tell you that is would equal to or greater than free weights.

^^ this.

[Emoore]

Complete in terms of working all of your major muscle groups? Sure.

Complete in terms of developing stability, power, and real-world strength? Not really. Training isn't just about aesthetics. It's about learning to use your body to serve you best in real life situations.

[dparty82]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

Ok, but WTF does that have to do with me owning their free weights?

Because you are asking if you can get a complete workout from using only machines. If you own a bowflex (bowflexuser) and don't own the dumbbells, then you should already be able to answer your own question. Since a bowflex is an "all in one" piece of ____, and doing your workouts on your bowflex is complete and don't feel the need to expand to other form of exercises; then yes. But if you feel the need to expand to plastic free weights (dumbbells), then the answer would be no. If we all on this forum tell you that you cannot get a complete workout from a bowflex alone and you decide to purchase there dumbbells. Then I suggest to you to change your profile name to BowFlexJunkUser. Not sure if your competent or if your question was complete. Sorry for being honest.

[Macrobolic]

My opinion is this:

Yes, a purely machine workout can be used to get a good workout. I would not do this all the time as you won't stress the ligaments and tendons as much as with free weights due to not having to stabilize anything.

I would do that type of a workout if you have had an injury and need to work around it, or if you want to reduce the load of a workout, such as on "light weeks" for recovery purposes.

[GnomusMaximus]

Yes, you can get an awesome workout with machines. 1)Pick the machine up off the floor. 2) Pick it up and walk with it. 3) Grab the sides and do shrugs 4) find a handle and do dips on it 5)figure out a way to put it on your back and squat with it.

[Macrobolic]

Originally Posted by GnomusMaximus

Yes, you can get an awesome workout with machines. 1)Pick the machine up off the floor. 2) Pick it up and walk with it. 3) Grab the sides and do shrugs 4) hind a handle and do dips on it 5)figure out a way to put it on your back and squat with it.

lulz

[ironwill2008]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

Comment.

How do you define a "Competent and Complete Workout?" Can't comment without it.

[cyde]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

Comment.

I can get a complete workout with machines only but not a competent one. For that I would need some compound lifts thrown in the mix.

[talldarknfugleh]

Complete workout? Define that, then maybe someone will be able to respond.

[RLara85]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Complete in terms of working all of your major muscle groups? Sure.

Complete in terms of developing stability, power, and real-world strength? Not really. Training isn't just about aesthetics. It's about learning to use your body to serve you best in real life situations.

Yes and no, weights aren't just weights.
Powerlifting is about pure strength
Strongman is a mix of pure strength and incredible endurance
Olympic Lifting is heavily based on learning to use your own leverage
Bodybuilding is purely aesthetic
Then there's training for all types of sports such as football, MMA etc. which involve weight training

For bodybuilding, esp. advocates of HIT/Heavy Duty training, machines are superior in so many ways (good machines, like hammer strength). For sports specific or "real world" training, machines are basically useless. It really depends which sport you participate in..... pretty hard to do a slow negative on deadlift, also pretty hard to gain any explosive strength using a cable row. A table knife and fork are great for eating, but you wouldn't use them for surgery... doesn't mean they are useless, they just serve a different purpose.

[Xyphis]

I own the BowFlex dumbbells (freeweights, not machines!) you dumb fux.

Nice sig

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by RLara85

Yes and no, weights aren't just weights.
Powerlifting is about pure strength
Strongman is a mix of pure strength and incredible endurance
Olympic Lifting is heavily based on learning to use your own leverage
Bodybuilding is purely aesthetic
Then there's training for all types of sports such as football, MMA etc. which involve weight training

For bodybuilding, esp. advocates of HIT/Heavy Duty training, machines are superior in so many ways (good machines, like hammer strength). For sports specific or "real world" training, machines are basically useless. It really depends which sport you participate in..... pretty hard to do a slow negative on deadlift, also pretty hard to gain any explosive strength using a cable row. A table knife and fork are great for eating, but you wouldn't use them for surgery... doesn't mean they are useless, they just serve a different purpose.

I think we're agreeing with each other here, but I'm not sure?
The point I was trying to make is that even if you get big and shredded working out with machines, you'll feel like a moron when you throw out your back picking up an Ozarka bottle because you haven't got the slightest idea how to deadlift safely.

[BowFlexUser]

Originally Posted by dparty82

Because you are asking if you can get a complete workout from using only machines. If you own a bowflex (bowflexuser) and don't own the dumbbells, then you should already be able to answer your own question. Since a bowflex is an "all in one" piece of ____, and doing your workouts on your bowflex is complete and don't feel the need to expand to other form of exercises; then yes. But if you feel the need to expand to plastic free weights (dumbbells), then the answer would be no. If we all on this forum tell you that you cannot get a complete workout from a bowflex alone and you decide to purchase there dumbbells. Then I suggest to you to change your profile name to BowFlexJunkUser. Not sure if your competent or if your question was complete. Sorry for being honest.

yeah, plastic dumbbells, cause you know that you can make a 13" x 8" x 8" dumbbell weigh 90 lbs. with plastic alone. i take it you're an engineering honors student? that...or an english honors student with the "there dumbbells"?

[RLara85]

Originally Posted by Emoore

I think we're agreeing with each other here, but I'm not sure?
The point I was trying to make is that even if you get big and shredded working out with machines, you'll feel like a moron when you throw out your back picking up an Ozarka bottle because you haven't got the slightest idea how to deadlift safely.

Yeah we agree, in a disagreeing kind of way ha, but I gotcha. I just think it's a bit over-rated.... unless you do very hard labor for a living, how many people are seriously lifting 500+lbs off the floor or squatting a 500lb refrigerator on a regular basis? Realistically it doesn't come up unless you do work or a sport that specifically involves that. For a bodybuilder that wants to be good at what he/she does, i'd say focus on bodybuilding not on functional strength, unless you don't care about winning your shows...you'll still develop a good degree of functional strength, more than the average joe for sure. Now, if you're preparing for a strongman competition or you move heavy furniture all day for a living, that's a whole different story.

[selffirst]

Yes you can get a complete workout....but there will come a point when you'll probably max. out on them and become bored....My advice... work the free weights in and you'll reduce the chance of boredom and almost see muscle mass gains faster...a win/win.....later....Self

[Essexlad]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

yeah, plastic dumbbells, cause you know that you can make a 13" x 8" x 8" dumbbell weigh 90 lbs. with plastic alone. i take it you're an engineering honors student? that...or an english honors student with the "there dumbbells"?

Pretty ironic you're criticizing other people's grammar when yours is far less than perfect.

His point is not they are entirely plastic, but that they contain plastic parts. Plastic parts do not belong on a dumbell.

Originally Posted by Xyphis

Nice sig

This should have been the first and only response to this thread..

[dparty82]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

yeah, plastic dumbbells, cause you know that you can make a 13" x 8" x 8" dumbbell weigh 90 lbs. with plastic alone. i take it you're an engineering honors student? that...or an english honors student with the "there dumbbells"?

Actually bowy....I do have an engineering degree and I also hated english. I would've made high honors my senior year of high school but english wan't my thing. I think I do pretty good for only being an honors student (yes, more than 1 year). You happy now?

[BowFlexUser]

Originally Posted by dparty82

Actually bowy....I do have an engineering degree and I also hated english. I would've made high honors my senior year of high school but english wan't my thing. I think I do pretty good for only being an honors student (yes, more than 1 year). You happy now?

fukkin liar. if you did, you would know that there's no way in hell plastic of that density could make their dumbbells weigh 90 lbs. each. i doubt you even went to college.

anyway, the plastic on there is only a thin coating designed to prevent the plates from clattering (making noise since you probably don't know what that word means).

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

anyway, the plastic on there is only a thin coating designed to prevent the plates from clattering (making noise since you probably don't know what that word means).

Really?! Take a good close look when you look at them, "Mr. Engineer". There has to other things made of plastic. Your eyes haven't caught on.

[BowFlexUser]

Originally Posted by HardKore79

Really?! Take a good close look when you look at them, "Mr. Engineer". There has to other things made of plastic. Your eyes haven't caught on.

Yes, "Mr. High School Dropout" the handles are steel, the dials rubber, and very little else is plastic (other than the weight plate coatings). I'm sure you would know better, having been a dropout and not even an owner of said dumbbells.

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by BowFlexUser

Yes, "Mr. High School Dropout" the handles are steel, the dials rubber, and very little else is plastic (other than the weight plate coatings). I'm sure you would know better, having been a dropout and not even an owner of said dumbbells.

High school dropout? You are really showing your education level. Enjoy your big plastic anal-teasers!

And I don't need to be a sucker and buy out of what someone tells me to buy on TV. Only people with "high school dropout" education would do such a thing. Oh wait...

[HardKore79]

Yes, education is a tricky subject. Thanks again.

[Essexlad]

So is sexuality, in his neg to me, his comment was;

suck my c0ck queer.

He seems confused.

My first neg ever. LOL.

[HardKore79]

Originally Posted by Essexlad

So is sexuality, in his neg to me, his comment was;

suck my c0ck queer.


My first neg ever. LOL.

I guess he's too busy handing out negs than actually responding back. What a loser?!

Don't feed the troll anymore! The reason is obvious enough why he signed up on here.