Hey, I know this is the fatloss forum and doesn't belong here, but I am fat so this is where I hang out. :-) I was offered a bowflex today for 100 bucks... Would this be a good investment? Does it work well if you stick with a solid routine? Thanks for the help.
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Thread: Does a bowflex work?
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08-30-2006, 04:50 PM #1Registered User
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Does a bowflex work?
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08-30-2006, 05:06 PM #2ISSA CPT/CSPN
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Yes it probably would be a good investment if the Bowflex was in good shape
You could probably sell it for more on Ebay
Nothing beats a gym full of equipment
But the bowflex will help if you are just look to get in better shape.Top Secret Nutrition
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08-30-2006, 05:20 PM #3One more time
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yeah a bowflex 'works', and it will help you keep muscle while losing fat. But don't expect to become a bodybuilder using it
I've gained and lost over 100lbs more times than any man alive should. Do as I say and not as I do.
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08-30-2006, 05:30 PM #4Registered User
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It works... only if it isn't brokenOriginally Posted by ironman55
Seriously, for $100, I'd get one.
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08-30-2006, 05:31 PM #5Registered User
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What is the difference between that and free weights?
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08-30-2006, 05:32 PM #6One more time
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You have a lot of reading to do brotherOriginally Posted by ironman55
That's not something that can be summed up in one post, unless someone is REALLY bored.
I've gained and lost over 100lbs more times than any man alive should. Do as I say and not as I do.
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08-30-2006, 05:33 PM #7Registered User
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Im a really strong guy who has a lot of fat to lose. I guess I am just worried about losing muscle with the thing.
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08-30-2006, 05:46 PM #8Registered User
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just had to chime in. i have a bowflex, paid full price for it and i love it. it gives me a great intense workout, i don't have to worry about having a spotter and i would buy it. 100 dollars is great, i paid 2300 for mine but i think it was worth every cent.
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08-30-2006, 07:18 PM #9Humble Abomination
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I started out on a bowflex 4 years ago. I never lifted weights before that and I didn't know how to do anything. It was good for me to teach me the basic exercises.
I do think that you outgrow it strength-wise. Certain exercises start feeling very weird (it gets very jerky and torques you strangely) when you start getting heavy. (I remember military press suffering from this the most).
I still used it when I got a bench and free weights. Certain exercises on the bowflex are superior to machine and free weights. Resisted crunches, reverse crunches, lat pulldowns, fixed cable rows .. are all exercises I thought were superior compared to machine/free weight.
I eventually sold it and the attachments on ebay for a pretty hefty sum. (I sold the lat attachment which I got for free.. retails at $199 for like $350)Last edited by amjzzz; 08-30-2006 at 07:20 PM.
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08-30-2006, 07:34 PM #10One more time
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How can they be 'superior' to free weights? That doesn't make sense.
I've gained and lost over 100lbs more times than any man alive should. Do as I say and not as I do.
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08-30-2006, 08:17 PM #11Registered User
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You couldn't possibly match all the exercises you can do in a gym with a myriad of free weights, dumb bells, machines to a Bowflex. Bottom line, go to the gym. If you have your heart set on buying it, you can just use it one day you can't make it to the gym. If you have children I'm sure you can get them on it when they are old enough.
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08-30-2006, 08:54 PM #12Humble Abomination
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Hmmm??
Not sure if you have used free motion equipment before, which a lot of bigger gyms have now. But the free motion lat pulldown machine (similar to bowflex lat pulldown) is sooo nice compared to the traditional cable lat pulldown with the weight stack. When I had my free weights and bowflex I would do bench using my bench/free weights, but when I wanted to crunches I would do them on the bowflex versus my incline bench and grabbing some weight, cause I thought the bowflex version was better.
Lying leg curls was another one, I thought they were better on the bowflex than on typical machines....
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08-30-2006, 11:39 PM #13Registered User
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Lying leg curls? Nothing beats some Squats or Deadlifts for hams bro. Theres no comparison. A bowflex will only keep you in 'decent' shape.
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08-31-2006, 07:18 AM #14Humble Abomination
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Dude, I was just saying the bowflex is decent to start on. I'm a big fan of compounds.
*I have to edit this in. Doing leg curls on a bowflex consistently week after week is >>> doing squats/deads for a couple weeks then stop going to gym because you get "busy". Me and the girl at the front desk were laughing cause there were over 200 id cards at the desk, which means over 200 people signed up, paids for a full year+ membership to the gym then never picked up their id card (which takes about 2 weeks after signing up).Last edited by amjzzz; 08-31-2006 at 07:25 AM.
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08-31-2006, 01:32 PM #15Registered User
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Amjzz, you have a point about that. But the goal he wants to accomplish is to quit missing workouts because he is 'busy'. I can do an insane amount of work in 30 minutes in the gym. Granted my conditioning is excellent, he will just have to build his up.
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08-31-2006, 01:34 PM #16I manage the impossible
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I have and use a Bowflex regularly. For me, it's all I need with my elliptical machine.
It's great, and it's expecially great if you have a hard time getting motivated to go to the gym, but don't mind hopping on something convenient. It is a HUGE sight better than nothing!First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.
-attributed to Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892/1984)
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08-31-2006, 01:39 PM #17Registered User
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It all depends on ironmans goals really. I'm sure he can do great things with a good diet and a varied routine with a Bowflex. But understand Ironman, if you ever wanna take your body to a higher level than just 'in shape', you will need to hit the gym.
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08-31-2006, 01:52 PM #18Registered User
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I personally like the gym. But for 100 bucks that isn't a bad price to pay at all. Buy it and if you don't like it sell it. You really have nothing to lose buying the bowflex for that cheap. To your earlier question about the difference betweeen the bowflex and free weights. Simple the bowflex is resistance training.
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08-31-2006, 02:17 PM #19I manage the impossible
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One step at a time. The $100 is less than he'll pay for a gym membership that will take him all the way through getting in shape, so it's a time and a cost savings.
However, with my sport, I can do every compound exercise that I can do at a gym. By buying an attachment, you can make the weights go up to 400 lbs. More than I ever intend to need.
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08-31-2006, 03:36 PM #20Registered User
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If he's going to go with the Bowflex route, he better get himself a dragging sled to use at home as well. There are just so many exercises you can do on it with a bit of creativity, and knowledge of biomechanics and kinesiology.
That's not something that can be summed up in one post, unless someone is REALLY bored.
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