Bowflex extreme 2 good or bad

[Fastlane247]

Hi i am trying to build muscle and get big and i used to work out in the gym for about 6 months but it was hard to get there sometimes and in 6 months i did not notice much gains at all. about 2 months ago i purchased the bowflex extreme 2 and i have notices more gains in those 2 months on the bowflexthen i did in the gym in 6 months. BUT when i was going to the gym i had not clue about what i was doing or how to eat so i was eating WAY less then i should have and probably working out too much or too little. Does anyone have any experience with a bowflex that knows if it is good for building muscle. Seems good so far but i really have only used it for about 2.5 months. Thanks

[sir spanksalot]

This has bean debated over and over in here, just do a search. Bottom line, it wont take long before the "resistance" is no longer a challenge for you on the basic compound movements, and then it becomes a very expensive towel rack. (Yes, I do own one )

[Bosko]

This has bean debated over and over in here, just do a search. Bottom line, it wont take long before the "resistance" is no longer a challenge for you on the basic compound movements, and then it becomes a very expensive towel rack. (Yes, I do own one )

Man you must be VERY strong if 410 Lbs is no long a challege on
Shoulders,Chest, arms, back.........

I can see LEGS not being a challenge after a while
YES I own one

[smokeater]

A bowflex will never become a towel rack unless you don't use it properly. The bowflex is not meant for low reps, which is what so many people do on it. It's like taking ice skates on a treadmill. It's just not going to work.

I do not care how strong a person is, they can get an excellent pump on the bowflex. I would not suggest it as a mass builder because that type of exercise just won't produce that. If you are prepared to go for the burn with high reps then the bowflex might work for you.

I own one and use it as part of my workout. However I have not found it to be incredibly useful for my legs.

[sir spanksalot]

If the goal is merely a pump, why bother with the bowflex? just do push-ups, deep knee bends, pull-ups, etc...Awfully expensive contraption to "get a pump", whatever good that does...

[Fastlane247]

If the goal is merely a pump, why bother with the bowflex? just do push-ups, deep knee bends, pull-ups, etc...Awfully expensive contraption to "get a pump", whatever good that does...

I dont think it is just a pump my arms have over doubled in size since i have owned it and i have only had it for about 3 months. my chest i am not getting big yet but it is alot bigger using this then when i went to the gym for 6 months. I just don't know if i am doing the chest workout proerly.... or it could be my eating or something... which i am still trying different things to get it to work... i am very happy with it so far.... just dont know anyone who owns one for more then 2 months so i do0nt know how it is for long term.

[Fastlane247]

Is there anyone here who has had good success with the bowflex... like to build muscle mass and tone up nicely or is it more of a tone machine and fat loss machine?

[sir spanksalot]

I have no doubt that you have gained with it. Someone new to resistance training will gain curling bags of sugar...my point is this thing will only take you so far (and not very far, I might add).

[Loftarasa]

I dont think it is just a pump my arms have over doubled in size since i have owned it and i have only had it for about 3 months.

Are you saying you doubled the size of your arms in 3 months? Is that what you are trying to say? Like before you had the bowflex your arms were 12 inchs, and now they are over 24 inchs?

[XPumperX]

You Did Not Double Your Arm Size

[Loftarasa]

You Did Not Double Your Arm Size

Yeah, that is impossible. In that amount of time anyway.

[Fastlane247]

I put at least 3 inches on my arms... i was just saying it is a good machine... But it sounds like it is not good enough for what i need to get big... Anyone know where to get affordable equipment for mass building in canada? ...

[Fastlane247]

Is a bowflex a waste of money because they advertise it as i can get big using this machine.... 2500$ is a bit pricy for a cardio machine. i could have gotten an entire bench and barbell/ dumbell set for cheaper... is that what i should have done? ... i really dont want to waste months of working out on this machine if free wieghts are better.

[XPumperX]

They are better, though

[Fastlane247]

I think i am going to go out and buy a reallly nice bench and free wieghts in the next month or so but the only thing im wondering is it worth it to get them if i do not have a spotter. I have never had a spotter even when i was at the gym so i cant lift as much with the bar because i get worried it ill get it stuck. Would it be better to still have the free wieghts or is the bowflex better for that situation? thanks

[johnsbod]

I think i am going to go out and buy a reallly nice bench and free wieghts in the next month or so but the only thing im wondering is it worth it to get them if i do not have a spotter. I have never had a spotter even when i was at the gym so i cant lift as much with the bar because i get worried it ill get it stuck. Would it be better to still have the free wieghts or is the bowflex better for that situation? thanks

Get a powerrack and you can set the pins and bench from there.

[pumpster]

This subject is radioactive, here's my two cents. A Bowflex, weight machine or free weights will all do the same things-toning, bulking, whatever you want. Anyone who thinks a Bowflex is just for toning is watching too many informercials intended to appeal to Joe Average buyer. Just a matter of taste as well as space considerations, and all will allow you to work out without a spotter. Try the find and use the following before buying:

-Bowflex Elite or Sport
-Powertec WB-LS
-Olympic bar with bench & either multi-tier rack or Smith machine

All good. Add dumbbells to any of these to increase the options.

[Bosko]

OK!!!!!!!
Starting a test........ Kind of................
I have worked out on a Bowflex for 13 months.....
Went this weekend and dug my WHEELS out of storage

I have an olymipic Straight, Curl & Tricep bars 340Lbs Of YORK Plates
Body Smith bench as well as the Pull down & push down Machine

I'm going to work out on BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll keep ya posted as far as my gains go..............
B

[pumpster]

Unless you use each exclusively for a significant period of time, say 4-6 weeks, you won't know what is responsible for results.

[sir spanksalot]

OK!!!!!!!
Starting a test........ Kind of................
I have worked out on a Bowflex for 13 months.....
Went this weekend and dug my WHEELS out of storage

I have an olymipic Straight, Curl & Tricep bars 340Lbs Of YORK Plates
Body Smith bench as well as the Pull down & push down Machine

I'm going to work out on BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll keep ya posted as far as my gains go..............
B

just a warning about how far off the bowflex "resistance" is, I have one and before long was bench pressing all of the "310 pounds" that it came with for 10 reps, so realizing I made a mistake, I went out and bought a bench and 300 pound olympic weight set...wouldnt ya know it, I could only press 205 for 6! So now the 1200 dollar bowflex doesnt get used (by me, wife uses it) but my 200 dollar bench and weight set are still beating me up three times a week.

[Fastlane247]

just a warning about how far off the bowflex "resistance" is, I have one and before long was bench pressing all of the "310 pounds" that it came with for 10 reps, so realizing I made a mistake, I went out and bought a bench and 300 pound olympic weight set...wouldnt ya know it, I could only press 205 for 6! So now the 1200 dollar bowflex doesnt get used (by me, wife uses it) but my 200 dollar bench and weight set are still beating me up three times a week.

I can agree totally the wieght is way off... It also depends on hwere everything is set. if i have the ajustable hooks all the way to the edge it makes it heavier... I NEVER tell anyone i can bench what the bowflex says i am benching because i know it is not acurate at all... but i still get a pritty good workout on it.... really do want to get a bench asap though.

[pumpster]

Totally misses the point-even if the Bowflex resistance is off, which i don't agree with, all you have to concern yourself with is relative improvement on whatever resistance is used.

[johnsbod]

Totally misses the point-even if the Bowflex resistance is off, which i don't agree with, all you have to concern yourself with is relative improvement on whatever resistance is used.

His point is that you will outgrow it rather quickly, which is very relevant.

[pumpster]

Could've bought some more resistance if outgrowing it was his concern, never even brought it up. Also didn't recognize or acknowledge that variances in resistance used when changing between any two different forms of resistance are typical, and are short-term in nature. The difference in resistance used teds to fade fairly quickly as the body aclimates. Significant lapses in information.

410 lb. is enough for most people, who will not outgrow it quickly without drugs, or who if bodybuilding want to do moderate reps. Additional resistance straps can be used to increase squat/leg resistance to 500-600 lb.

I'm not using much different amounts of resistance on free weights, pulleys or Bowflex, probably because i'm used to using all of them. On some exercises i'm using slightly more on pulleys than on the Bowflex.

[johnsbod]

Could've bought some more resistance if outgrowing it was his concern, never even brought it up. Also didn't recognize or acknowledge that variances in resistance used when changing between any two different forms of resistance are typical, and are short-term in nature. The difference in resistance used teds to fade fairly quickly as the body aclimates. Significant lapses in information.

410 lb. is enough for most people, who will not outgrow it quickly without drugs, or who if bodybuilding want to do moderate reps. Additional resistance straps can be used to increase squat/leg resistance to 500-600 lb.

I'm not using much different amounts of resistance on free weights, pulleys or Bowflex, probably because i'm used to using all of them. On some exercises i'm using slightly more on pulleys than on the Bowflex.

I'm not going to get into a huge debate with you again, but there are a few points to consider. On the Bowflex, the resistance is the greatest at the end of the rep. Problem is, that on an exercise like bench press the bottom part of the movement is where the chest is primarily used. This also creates problems for other exercises as well. Stabilizer muscles are also not worked as much as they are with free weights. Also, the people modeling the Bowflex on TV most likely got that big by freeweight training, not by using Bowflex. It's fine for someone just looking to drop a few lbs, but for a serious bodybuilder it is not a viable option. The price makes it even less of an option.

[Bosko]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All I can say is...........................

GOT DAM "FREE WEIGHTS" are HEAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can tell after 2 workouts, That the resistance on the Bowflex is at the end of the REP........
Where on the free weights "I AM" feeling it it at ALL TIMES during the rep...

ADVIL anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B

[pumpster]

The resistance curves on free weights and Bowflex are both imperfect and uneven, and both work. Different, but both work.

Stabilizer muscles are used in either form of resistance.

Serious bodybuilding can be done on a Bowflex if the user is open-minded and disregards infomercials intended for the average person interested in toning.

There are many more models now, at low prices.

The models on the commercials have used weights and Bowflex to get the way they look. Andy McCutcheon, probably their model in the best shape, uses a Bowflex and weights.

http://www.drdarden.com/readTopic.do?id=382901

[Bosko]

It an hour after my last post on this
All I can say is this.............................................. ..................................


ANYONE HAVE ADVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(LOL)

[johnsbod]

The resistance curves on free weights and Bowflex are both imperfect and uneven, and both work. Different, but both work.

Stabilizer muscles are used in either form of resistance.

Serious bodybuilding can be done on a Bowflex if the user is open-minded and disregards infomercials intended for the average person interested in toning.

There are many more models now, at low prices.

The models on the commercials have used weights and Bowflex to get the way they look. Andy McCutcheon, probably their model in the best shape, uses a Bowflex and weights.

http://www.drdarden.com/readTopic.do?id=382901

Yes, the resistance curves are uneven, but having the weight lighter at the beginning is not optimal. Serious bodybuilding can not be done on the Bowflex simply because you can max out on it pretty quickly. The numbers are essentially meaningless. Yes, there are more models now, but why bother spending the money when free weights work better and are a lot cheaper? Maybe the models use both free weights and Bowflex, but I guarantee they actually got into that shape by using free weights. There is no comparison.

BTW, Bowflex isn't necessarily a "safer" option than free weights either.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/12/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

[Fastlane247]

Thanks all.... i think what i am going to do is use free wieghts for building muscle and bowflex for toning up. Thanks again for all the help.