does the bowflex rule?

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:09 pm

I think if i'm ever going to get into shape, I need one of these things (or similar) sitting in my basement where I'll see it everyday

I'm very much an out of sight, out of mind kinda person, so it's really easy for me to not make it to the gym

having one sitting downstairs would be a visual reminder that I need to do something

Lionking · Post by **Lionking** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:59 pm

Downstairs is still out of sight, out of mind. That's where my unused Weider POS is....

-Out

:vonk:

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:53 pm

this is a finished basement, and it houses the theater room, and I'd have to pass the gym thing to get to the computer room, or the bathroom, so it's an ok spot~

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:40 pm

Friend got one and never used it, shrug. And this is a guy that keeps in shape. I dunno if it was laziness, or something about the machine and the workout he didnt like.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:42 pm

Fuck those wannabe pieces of shit, get a freeweight set and a friend.

I'm sure you know how to lift by your age, lift with a friend to always have a spotter.

Minrott · Post by **Minrott** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:00 pm

Well, I've used a bowflex and while I feel it does give you a workout, I think it cheats you out of a full one. Stretching a bow is just like pulling back a real recurve bow, the resistence goes up exponentially as you pull the bow tighter, and decreases in the same fashion on the downstroke.

I'm a firm believer in free weights, and I think a guy can do much more for himself with a good set of dumbells (coincidentally like the Bowflex dumbells that you can select weight for) than with that whole gym.

With a good set of dumbells you can do biceps, triceps, upper and lower pecs, shoulders and back, and for legs you can squat, lunge, and farmers walk to hit most of their major groups.

<img src=http://www.bowflexselecttech.com/media/products/Bowflex/Detail/bfx_700000_bestbuy_det_v1_m56577569830480027.jpg>

Adjustable dumbells

Jazendar · Post by **Jazendar** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:44 pm

Bowflex is a waste of time / money. Just go apply to a gym, (usually a contract they have you sign, 40 bucks a month ish). Seperate your workouts, i.e Mon-Back, Tuesday-Chest, Wed-Legs, thursday off (resting after squats helps), Friday-Shoulders, and saturday- biceps / triceps etc. You can add in abs in every one of these workouts, as well as adding in running on the treadmill's they have provided. The point of this is to not wear out certain muscles the day after a workout so you're ready to go for another part of your body. This is my workout schedual, there are somemore twists to it as far as reps per machine per workout and sets per week etc, PM me or post here if you want to know more, i've got some stuff that could help you. Hope this informs you any.

To add to what Harrison said- Free weights are probably some of the best ways to get stronger, because on a bowflex, your movements are guided and you only build muscle the way the machine will move. With freeweights, you build muscle through tecnique and such.

Post by **Lyion** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:43 am

mofish wrote:Friend got one and never used it, shrug. And this is a guy that keeps in shape. I dunno if it was laziness, or something about the machine and the workout he didnt like.

I have several friends who have done the same thing. I'd recommend buying some cheap free weights, getting a matt for situps, pushups, and leg lifts, and a cheap exercise bike or walker.

The best thing for getting in shape is having several mirrors around the house. Also, get on a routine where you exercise right when you wake up. Then again midday. Then a quick nighttime deal. Nothing major, 20-30 minutes each time, but in a few months it'll show results.

Adivina · Post by **Adivina** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 10:11 am

Come to my gym! $91 a year and we have a bowflex if you really want to use it :P

Ok I know it doesn't matter lol, seeing as I am in shitty Massachusetts, but hey.

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:47 am

Do you fuckers ever read a thread before putting in your 2 cents?

Gym membership is out, as work has a free awesome gym that I never make it to (out of sight, out of mind)

I've had free weights in the past, but have had to get rid of them because of my little guy (he's just big enough now to knock shit down on himself, plus they take up more room)

As for goals, I'm not trying to build muscle at all, I'd actually like to slim down more than anything else. What I want is a constant reminder that I should be doing some shit, and a weight system like this would work (i think)

My parents/brother have a ghetto one in their basement, and everytime I go over to check out a new game at durothils, I find I sit on it, and do a set or 2 while we're chatting away, so I definately think having a machine sitting there, convenient would be a big step in the right direction

do if the bowflex doesn't rule, what's another good machine?

Post by **Mop** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:50 am

thee bowflex is gret if you are looking for something to develop endurance on your muscles. it is horrid for heavy lifting - the bowflex dumbells rock i have a pair. We had a bowflex and it just became a great clothes hanger.

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:53 am

I definately don't care about heavy lifting

just looking more for toning/shaping slightly, but mostly just to burn calories, while doing some target'd muscles

obviously I'll also be adding some cardio to this as well (skating, biking, walking, throwing a 2 year old around, etc etc)

Post by **Mop** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:54 am

bowflex would be great then its awesome for working muscles in an endurance sort of way you can actualy do some great sets while keeping the HR crazy high on it almost giving you a cardio work out while using it.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:04 pm

If you want to tone down I suggest a bike or a treadmill...

I wish I had a good treadmill, because of my shin splints running is too much pain for me at times. A good treadmill is very low impact.

Adivina · Post by **Adivina** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:05 pm

Can you kiss my ass spazz face? It was obviously not a serious fucking reply, yeah I was really fucking trying to get you to move to MA to join my fucking gym.... retard.

Phlegm · Post by **Phlegm** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:05 pm

If you just want to burn calories, get a recumbent bike, put it in front of your computer monitor and you are all set.

labbats · Post by **labbats** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:58 pm

Phlegm wrote:If you just want to burn calories, get a recumbent bike, put it in front of your computer monitor and you are all set.

If you want to burn calories, GET OFF YOUR FUCKING COUCH. Go for a walk, go hiking, go biking, go swimming, play tennis, etc. for one hour a day. IT'S FUCKING FREE.

Don't eat until you're stuffed. Watch what you eat. You know what's healthy and what isn't. Eat the healthy stuff and not the bad stuff. Repeat.

There, now send me the price of the bowflex.

If I could sell willpower, you'd better believe no one would be buying a bowflex.

Adivina · Post by **Adivina** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:05 pm

Go have a good romp in the sack, its good for you and burns some calories

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:34 pm

labbats wrote:
Phlegm wrote:If you just want to burn calories, get a recumbent bike, put it in front of your computer monitor and you are all set.

If you want to burn calories, GET OFF YOUR FUCKING COUCH. Go for a walk, go hiking, go biking, go swimming, play tennis, etc. for one hour a day. IT'S FUCKING FREE.

Don't eat until you're stuffed. Watch what you eat. You know what's healthy and what isn't. Eat the healthy stuff and not the bad stuff.

Diet isn't really much of an issue, just the sedentary lifestyle

it's hard to make time to get out of the house to get exercise done because of the nature of my work, coupled with a young family

having an exercise machine in the home makes much more sense at this point in my life

labbats · Post by **labbats** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:41 pm

At the very least do a trial run before you buy a $1000 coat hangar. Take time every day that you expect to use on the Bowflex and take a walk instead. If it's bad out then do sit ups, jumping jacks and pushups.

One of two things will happen.
1- You'll skip it repeatedly and find that you'd do the same with the bowflex and ditch the idea altogether.
2- You'll stick to it and see improvements without wasting your money

Sorry to come off all pissy, but I'm of the opinion that people need motivation, not excercise toys. So when I see a bowflex/stairmaster/thighmaster ad, I see snake oil salesmen.

Best of luck to you~

Minrott · Post by **Minrott** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:43 pm

The other thing to look at is the Chuck Norris machine. Seriously I like that thing.

labbats · Post by **labbats** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:46 pm

You just like Chuck Norris.

Post by **Martrae** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:50 pm

I hear a Total Gym machine is really good. It's on my 'to buy' list.

Harrison · Post by **Harrison** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:03 pm

Only if it teaches me to roundhouse kick better

Tikker · Post by **Tikker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:11 pm

labbats wrote:
Sorry to come off all pissy, but I'm of the opinion that people need motivation, not excercise toys.

I agree 100%

that's why a big machine like this might help (with me anyways)

situps and pushups, etc aren't bad once you're in a routine, but I've always need a visual reminder to do stuff on my own

If I had a workout partner that was more motivated than me, that would work too, but that's hard to find~