Say if I bought a Bowflex, could I do all exercises on Saturday and still get an effective workout? I would still have a week of recovery for each mucle right?
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09-21-2002, 04:00 PM #1
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09-21-2002, 04:48 PM #2
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09-21-2002, 04:53 PM #3
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09-21-2002, 06:01 PM #4
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09-21-2002, 11:12 PM #5
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09-22-2002, 12:19 AM #6
- Join Date: Jun 2002
- Location: Washington, United States
- Age: 46
- Posts: 370
- Rep Power: 1210
yah but it don't build muscle the same way, it might get you toned but as far as building serious muscle nothing beats the free weights... come on 20 minutes 3x a week for six weeks?? BS that's only an hour of working out a week for a month and a half. save money get a weight set, a power rack and an adjustable bench. you'll even have enough money to buy a buttload of supps
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09-22-2002, 12:37 AM #7
I agree with Bull and Flipexed. I'm making guesses here, because I've never actually used a bowflex before, but think about this...you never see a guy who is huge and totally ripped who attributes his success to the bowflex. I've never met any serious bodybuilder who actually used one. Most guys goto the gym, simply because it works, and it will for you too if you follow the proper methods. If you actually know someone who has gotten huge/strong on the bowflex, then go ahead and buy one, but I've never seen anyone who took it seriously. Bowflex is also a cable-type machine. One thing I can tell you without a doubt is that freeweights will pack on the mass and strength faster than anything else, and that includes the bowflex cable system. I'd save your money and put it toward a gym membership.
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09-22-2002, 01:14 AM #8
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09-22-2002, 09:28 AM #9
- Join Date: Jun 2002
- Location: Michigan, United States
- Age: 54
- Posts: 238
- Rep Power: 800
Having to use stabalizers is a GOOD THING! If you don't do exercises that force you to develop the stabalizing muscles you are just asking for an injury. I have a Bowflex...and it is a pretty good machine. Although I would only recommend buying one on one condition. If you either can't go to or hate going to a gym AND you have limited space in your house for a freeweithg home gym. When I bought mine that was the reason. I didn't have room for freeweights where I was living at the time so I bought the Bowflex. I personally hate going to the gym because I waste too much time waiting to use equipment. Right now I have a lot more room in my basement than I had in my old house, so I am thinking of getting rid of the Bowflex and getting a power rack, bench, olympic weight set and some dumbells. Although I am in now way a huge person I believe that you could get huge (or as big as your genetics will allow) using a bowflex. Hop on one and put the max of 310lb. (or 410lb. if it has the extra rods) and see if you can bench it! I'm sure some people can but I'm willing to bet that the only ones who can are HUGE!
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09-22-2002, 11:56 AM #10
I KNOW you didn't expect to get any support for Bowflex on a bodybuilding.com forum... right?
In any event, there are now machines (less expensive than Bowflex) that have devices which force you to use ancillary (aka stablizing) muscles in your lifts. I've been shopping for one for my wife. The first one that comes to mind is the Hoist series (Copeland's Sports, OmniFitness, etc). Base model goes for about $1,295, far less than the Bowflex.
http://www.advancedfitness.com/equip/hoist.htm
(notice the independent bars on the 300 and 310 series.. they mimic dumbell movements)
Put 150 lbs resistance on a Bowflex machine and then put the same amount of weight on one of these Hoist machines. You'll find the Hoist is far more difficult to lift the 150 lbs because you have to use your left and right arms independently of one another. The comment about asking for an injury is not out of line at all as the ancillary muscles play a MAJOR role in supporting major muscle groups and machines like Bowflex and others only promot major muscle group development.
All of the above withstanding, I think Bowflex has it's place. it is perfectly suitable for old people, people looking for light resistance exercises to accompany a fat-loss aerobic routine and even for those rehab'g some injuries (Bowflex are showing up at rehab clinics now).
BUT.. BUT ... BUT... the thing is FAR TOO EXPENSIVE and if you talk to guys between the ages of 25 and 45 who bought it, you will find they either returned it or sold it because they found it not suitable for a MAN'S workout.
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09-22-2002, 12:45 PM #11
- Join Date: Jun 2002
- Location: Michigan, United States
- Age: 54
- Posts: 238
- Rep Power: 800
Put 150 lbs resistance on a Bowflex machine and then put the same amount of weight on one of these Hoist machines. You'll find the Hoist is far more difficult to lift the 150 lbs because you have to use your left and right arms independently of one another.
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09-24-2002, 07:49 PM #12
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