Seeking recommendations for home gym equiptment
gannonmail
Posts: 6 Member
I am a 49 year old women in decent shape looking to buy ONE weight machine that can exercise as many body parts as possible. I have somewhat limited space (although not terrible - small basement) and am not interested in any aerobic machines (i.e. treadmills, stationary bikes and the like). I need to lift actual weights to help with bone density, but prefer the guidance that a machine offers to protect my alignment rather than free weights. I am already thin so I am not looking to lose weight, just build strength and definition. I am NOT a fan of resistance equiptment and greatly prefer weight plate machines. The problem is I can only have one machine, but want a complete workout since our gyms are closing once again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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gannonmail wrote: »I am a 49 year old women in decent shape looking to buy ONE weight machine that can exercise as many body parts as possible. I have somewhat limited space (although not terrible - small basement) and am not interested in any aerobic machines (i.e. treadmills, stationary bikes and the like). I need to lift actual weights to help with bone density, but prefer the guidance that a machine offers to protect my alignment rather than free weights. I am already thin so I am not looking to lose weight, just build strength and definition. I am NOT a fan of resistance equiptment and greatly prefer weight plate machines.The problem is I can only have one machine, but want a complete workout since our gyms are closing once again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I'm a bit confused. Machines are considered resistance equipement. So are bicycles, row machines, barbells, etc...
Is there a budget and what is the maximum amount of space you have for "one machine"?2 -
CALLISTHENICS....if that's how you spell it?
Save your money to buy something else much nicer!3 -
And you look about 39, so dont stress it!1
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Seems like you're wanting something like a BodySolid (which is a good brand) single stack machine.
https://www.bodysolid.com/home/gym_systems/single_stack_gyms1 -
A cybex bravo or inspire FT1 is what I would go with if I could only have 1 machine. A functional trainer is very versatile. You can get them new or used.
If I had to sell everything in my gym tomorrow because I was moving somewhere smaller, I would keep my functional trainer, 1 bench and my power blocks and that would cover a reasonable number of exercises to allow me to continue working both my upper and lower body.1 -
You may want to consider a TRX or similar suspension trainer. Can do resistance exercises from rehab to those that challenge world class athletes2
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Get a barbell and some plates if ya wanna lift. Or a set of adjustable dumbbells. Or both. Hundreds of ways to train with those bad boys and don’t take up much room1
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I don’t have any advice for you regarding your original question but I just wanted to say that you look much younger thank your age! Wow!2
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ageingtechno wrote: »And you look about 39, so dont stress it!
Everyone regardless of age needs resistance exercise. Maybe tbe small percentage that have very physical jobs can get by but most of us do.2 -
I would probably get a cable machine. Or for less space and money, I have an adjustable pull-up bar and pulley system.1
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I can't seem to figure out how to write individual replies (sorry this is my first time using community). But @Nooshi713 - thank you so much! My 50th is fast approaching and I have felt terrible about it.
@chieflrg - I don't really know the correct terminology for different exercise systems because I am new to all of this. However I meant something with plates and one of those pin things because I'm trying to build bone density. What I meant by a resistance machine was something that uses cables or something that uses your own body weight which I don't believe helps as much with bone density. Although I *think* I have learned resistance machines work better with people who have arthritis. While I don't have arthritis yet, it may be something to consider especially since my mom has it and I am hoping for a system that will last me a long time.0 -
[Chieflrg] I forgot to tell you that my budget is probably around $4000 if there is financing available. Also I a really bad judge of space, but I think my basement - which is L shaped - has one area around 10' by 10' and another around 10' by 12'.0
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gannonmail wrote: »[Chieflrg] I forgot to tell you that my budget is probably around $4000 if there is financing available. Also I a really bad judge of space, but I think my basement - which is L shaped - has one area around 10' by 10' and another around 10' by 12'.
Go with a functional trainer of some sort. There are several options new under your $4k budget.
The Inspire FT1 is well under $4k and the FT2 (heavier weight stack and some additional features that the FT1 lacks) is $4700 new. Both are designed to fit in a residence, so should fit your ceiling height. If you don’t mind used, you can get them even cheaper.
Cybex bravo is one of the most highly recommended FTs for home use, but the price tag new is well above $4k. You could get a used one for less than that though.
A functional trainer is a cable machine with weight stacks (in case you weren’t aware of what it was called/did) and they are very versatile. If you went to a gym before, virtually every gym has one of some kind.
https://www.precorhomefitness.com/products/inspire-ft1-functional-trainer?variant=32741080629336&matchtype=&network=g&device=m&adposition=&keyword=&campaign=1581562052&adgroup=pla-956578274778&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgY_kv4-v7AIVAwiICR3djQI5EAQYAyABEgIpvvD_BwE
https://www.fitnesszone.com/product/cybex-ft-325-Bravo-Basic-functional-trainer.html?source=googleps2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhr-N9o-v7AIVAeazCh3TKAImEAQYBSABEgK4-PD_BwE
https://www.fitnesszone.com/product/inspire-ft2-functional-trainer.html?source=googleps2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4MrVlZCv7AIVCaCzCh3yeAw-EAQYASABEgKvlfD_BwE
I included some links so you can see the different products and see if that’s something you would be interested in. Of course there are many other brands of functional trainers also. Those 2 are just the most highly regarded residential ones I’ve seen. I personally have a life fitness, but I really struggled to make it fit in my basement (height issues) and cannot use the pull up handles on mine.0 -
Thank you so much! That was REALLY helpful because I am so new to all this. I will definently check out those links. (BTW, do you have any thoughts on the Boaflex systems?)0
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gannonmail wrote: »Thank you so much! That was REALLY helpful because I am so new to all this. I will definently check out those links. (BTW, do you have any thoughts on the Boaflex systems?)
Bow flex is complete junk. If you search Facebook marketplace people often give them away for free. Just my 2 cents, but I would definitely do some research and if you have used gym machines and are trying to replicate that feel in the cables/weights, stay away from low end including bow flex, Marcy, Weider.0 -
Also stay away from total gym (more junk)1
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Ok, so I looked at the links, but I have to say that box thing scares me. I need machines that keep you in alignment. I don't like free weights for that exact reason. The pulley systems are so loosely goosey I KNOW I will injure myself. Thank you so much for the feedback on the other systems though because they didn't look like junk at all to me and I was about to purchase one. I guess I will have to keep searching.1
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Have you thought about hiring a personal trainer to teach you proper form and how to maintain alignment?4
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mom23mangos wrote: »Have you thought about hiring a personal trainer to teach you proper form and how to maintain alignment?
^^
This! There isn’t really a single machine where you can do a bunch of versatile exercises and have proper form if you aren’t able to already maintain form without needing the machine to limit you in order to do the exercise correctly.
You need to learn how to have proper form first and then decide what to get for your home setup.2 -
There's a new system out there called Tempo Fit. It's free weights but with a trainer system that uses a 3D camera to watch form. It's around $2500 I believe. Looks really interesting. Comes with the barbell and weights in a nice cabinet with a large screen watching form.0
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Dogmom1978 wrote: »Also stay away from total gym (more junk)
I had a Total Gym for nearly 10 years. Loved it and so did my wife. I've also done freeweights and could hit all the typical "benchmark" ranges when I was younger. But I'm 56 with a bad back from old injuries and a bad auto accident in my 20s (and a right knee that needs replaced within a few years), so I don't do a lot of barbell work any more. Amazon has a G5 right now for like $500 that's rated 4.7 stars out of 5.0. I think it's a very good option for people. Very similar to a Pilates reformer. Are some of the machines that Dogmom mentioned more commercial quality? Sure, but they are also huge and bulky for most home gyms. There's a reason that TotalGym has been around 25 years and that they have great ratings on Amazon and online.
You can get them used sometimes for cheap, but the only ones I've seen (that aren't broken down used) are around $250 or more. The G5 is a decent model one with a footplate, which I prefer.
NordicTrack has a new machine, but it's so new and the ratings are iffy. NordicTrack, Nautilus, Schwinn and Bowflex are all now the same company. Some of their machines are good (I have an AD Pro, which is an Assault Bike) and love it. But their customer service is HORRIFIC. I paid $1000 for the AD Pro (I would have gone with a Rogue Echo, but it was my wife's pick) and it broke after 2 years of very heavy use. When it came time to fix it, it was very hard because their customer service is horrid.0 -
You can actually get them free often BECAUSE they are junk. If you like yours, good for you. For those of us who know quality from junk, I would NEVER encourage someone to get junk if they can afford not to and the OP says her budget is 4K. She can get something pretty good within that allotted budget easily.0
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Dogmom1978 wrote: »You can actually get them free often BECAUSE they are junk. If you like yours, good for you. For those of us who know quality from junk, I would NEVER encourage someone to get junk if they can afford not to and the OP says her budget is 4K. She can get something pretty good within that allotted budget easily.
Have a nice day. All your disagrees and you thinking you're the end all be all of fitness advice doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm also not going to insult the OP, who might want to make her own choices. 1000s of 5 star ratings and 25 plus years in business say something.4 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »Dogmom1978 wrote: »You can actually get them free often BECAUSE they are junk. If you like yours, good for you. For those of us who know quality from junk, I would NEVER encourage someone to get junk if they can afford not to and the OP says her budget is 4K. She can get something pretty good within that allotted budget easily.
Have a nice day. All your disagrees and you thinking you're the end all be all of fitness advice doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm also not going to insult the OP, who might want to make her own choices. 1000s of 5 star ratings and 25 plus years in business say something.
Yeah it says that there are tons of people who don’t know any better. I’ve been working in the fitness industry for years so yes, I try to use my expertise to help people buy quality equipment. I’ve used 100s of machines to compare and contrast quality, functionality, mechanics, etc. So, if I know what I’m talking about, I’m going to keep trying to help people make better decisions.
You have used 1 Total gym and liked it. Good for you. But, in this area, I have far more experience than you, so I will continue to give advice to people who need it and I will continue to point out that I know more than you about THIS topic.
Thanks though 😊1 -
52 year old woman here... I would say don’t be afraid of free weights. As you get older all those little muscles you use to stabilize yourself, the ones that the machines are set up to keep you from having to use, are what’s going to keep you safe and injury-free in your day-to-day life! If you’re worried about form, progress slowly enough that you are able to maintain proper form.4
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Save yourself a bunch of money and just get yourself a tire and start flipping .... best exercise ever!
**Totally kidding ... just said this in jest from a previous thread I was in that's now been removed**1 -
@Go_Deskercise 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂1
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Check out Powertec leverage gym. You may be able to find one used near you.
https://www.powertec.com/workbench-multisystemtm-black1 -
Dogmom1978 wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »Dogmom1978 wrote: »You can actually get them free often BECAUSE they are junk. If you like yours, good for you. For those of us who know quality from junk, I would NEVER encourage someone to get junk if they can afford not to and the OP says her budget is 4K. She can get something pretty good within that allotted budget easily.
Have a nice day. All your disagrees and you thinking you're the end all be all of fitness advice doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm also not going to insult the OP, who might want to make her own choices. 1000s of 5 star ratings and 25 plus years in business say something.
Yeah it says that there are tons of people who don’t know any better. I’ve been working in the fitness industry for years so yes, I try to use my expertise to help people buy quality equipment. I’ve used 100s of machines to compare and contrast quality, functionality, mechanics, etc. So, if I know what I’m talking about, I’m going to keep trying to help people make better decisions.
You have used 1 Total gym and liked it. Good for you. But, in this area, I have far more experience than you, so I will continue to give advice to people who need it and I will continue to point out that I know more than you about THIS topic.
Thanks though 😊
As someone that has consulted with Fortune 500s to startups for 25 years and counseled CEOs, I know a thing or two about people skills. And your approach isn't going to win over anyone. Badgering and telling people they don't know anything isn't the greatest approach in any business.
Just trying to help you. We have a lot in common -- I love your dog picture. I have adopted dogs for years. You're what we call "a hammer" in business. If you don't get your way and everyone doesn't agree with you, then you slam them. I agree with a lot of what you say and like to listen to your advice, overall. But when I've disagreed, you seem to get very mad. I'll continue to be respectful, though.5 -
rheddmobile wrote: »52 year old woman here... I would say don’t be afraid of free weights. As you get older all those little muscles you use to stabilize yourself, the ones that the machines are set up to keep you from having to use, are what’s going to keep you safe and injury-free in your day-to-day life! If you’re worried about form, progress slowly enough that you are able to maintain proper form.
OP, please do consider this ^^^^.
You don't need to visualize yourself struggling to achieve your 1 rep max with some gargantuan weight on the bar. Especially for your goals (which are not maximum bulk or even maximum strength, but some strength improvement, bone density, appearance improvements . . . if I understand you correctly), that's not the One True Approach. Progrerssive challenge is important, but risk can be minimized.
You have options to reach challenging workload by changing things other than simply increasing weight (or more accurately, *before* increasing weight) to make gradual but gratifying progress. Yes, form is important, but there are many resources about freeweight form, including generic (YouTube, written materials, etc.), semi-personalized (places, including here, that you can video yourself and ask for form critique, or small-group classes if you have pandemic-safe options in your area, for example), or very individualized (personal trainer in person or virtual).
Machines are not a magical guarantee of proper form and injury avoidance. There are body positioning issues even with a machine, that can create unnecessary stress. I'm not trying to scare you, but no mode is totally risk-free, and form is always a factor.
There are also different benefits from different modes, and Rhedd's advice is excellent. If you're concerned about bone strength as you age - which is very sensible - it's also worth considering that balance is a key variable. That's not just a "stand on one foot" or even core strength thing, but there are stabilizers all over your body, and working with freeweights in a variety of positions helps develop those, not just strength-wise, but "waking them up" in a neuromuscular sense and making them allies in avoiding falls and injuries.
When you write "I need machines that keep you in alignment. I don't like free weights for that exact reason. The pulley systems are so loosely goosey I KNOW I will injure myself.", I empathize. It's a bit scary to take on, a psychological challenge in addition to a physical one.
If you prefer a machine, I'm not really trying to talk you out of it, but simply asking you to consider whether the additional benefits from freeweights (in context of your personal goals) might make it worthwhile to take on the challenge of becoming a woman who can lift freeweights and avoid injury. (Overcoming that sense of limitation might be rewarding and empowering in itself.)
P.S. Comments from the perspective of a woman who turns 65 next month, didn't start becoming routinely active until mid-40s, and who already has osteopenia/osteoporosis (related significantly to a past medication regimen).
Initially, I took a group class. This was not one where everyone's doing the same lifts at once or circuit style, but a small-group setting where there was group lecture/demo on basic form, help building a basic routine, then individualized instructor attention as we went through those starter routines, for personalized form monitoring/correction. Over a period of weeks, the instructor helped us add lifts to our repertoire, and build a more personalized routine that branched out from the initial basic one.4
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