Should I buy a total gym??

nichojanes

I am currently watching a Total Gym on Ebay and wondered if anyone has used one and if so if they are worth the money? (the one with Chuck Norris in the promo)

I currently don't do much in the way of strength training and can't really afford a gym membership and thought this could be good.

Thoughts and comments would be welcomed.

Cheers

bdkato

I bought a bowflex and it has been worth every penny. Best fitness machine on the market!

jtjunkie

I've never used one but always thought they looked fun on the infomercials. Just search them on the internet and see what people say.

BrianSharpe

Personally I tend to be skeptical of products sold by way of infomercials, claims tend to be grossly exaggerated.If the price is low enough it may be worthwhile but have you considered buying a used bench and some free weights?

brvzfan13

Just do it. Whoops... wrong company. :-) Really, though... DO IT! You will not be disappointed. I, too, was skeptical for years. I'd lie there at night not able to sleep and watch the silly infomercials. Finally, after a summer session of water aerobics I was finally in the right frame of mind to want to lose weight and get healthy this time. So, after realizing I had paid on a gym membership for years that I had not used I opted to just see what kind of price I could get on Amazon. I am an Amazon Prime member so I could get the TG in a couple of days. I did and I have not had one single regret. I also purchased the Cyclo Trainer which is what I use the most. I have horrible upper body strength so the TG exercises were a bit more challenging than I realized. I am working up to those and incorporating more and more each week. But, the Cyclo Trainer is used most days (minus the days I have water aerobics) and I also use hand weights while cycling so I am getting my heart rate up and getting a little strength in too.

Again, I love mine and highly recommend the Total Gym.

Cyclink

I think the most important question to answer about any piece of fitness equipment is "Will I use it?"

If the answer is yes, then go for it. If the answer is no, then spend that money on something else fitness-related that you would use. Only you can answer that.

Determinednoob

I personally would prefer a power rack, adjustable bench, barbell, weight plates, bumper plates, floor pad

StarIsMoving

I have one. I got the XRT after all the upgrades and like it. It DOES show you results and it's a space saver when you aren't using it if you want to fold it up. Great for different ability levels too and has come in handy continuing physical therapy for my daughter after her knee replacement as the sliding lunge is what they do with her with a similar machine in therapy! My father in his 60s has used it and I use it - 3 totally different ability levels. It IS worth the money.

zachatta

To be honest I prefer the gym over a "home gym" for a couple of reasons:

-When you go to the gym, there is zero incentive to quit, because you are already there, at home well.....
-You can get a gym membership for cheap depending on where you live, i paid 229 for 15 months at golds
-Much more equipment at the gym, and you can get a much better workout

That being said, if you feel that investing in equipment is better for you, then go for it, but try to stay motivated
because it would be a expensive waste if it ended up collecting dust doing nothing.

jasonheyd

I definitely recommend the Total Gym. Of all the weight/resistance training "stuff" I have, my TG sees the most use. Very easy to use, very easy to adjust, wide variety of exercise, low impact, no spotter required, easy to mix in some cardio... It's like anything else -- you have to be willing to use it, regularly -- but there are a lot of selling points that make that commitment easier.

BSchoberg

I had a Total Gym as a hand-me-down from my buy-everything-I-see-on-TV mother-in-law. She never used it, so it was almost new (though amazingly she had managed to lose a couple of the accessories). I loved it! It really is a good workout!

Why am I not using it anymore, you ask? Well, that's my fault, not the equipment's. I cannot be counted on to work out by myself... not for any longer than a few weeks. So, for me, group exercise classes at my gym are the way to go.

BUT, if you use it, you will love it!

sixout

Not worth it. I'm trying to sell my bowflex currently. I got what I could out of it, it quickly gets old.

You'll get the same workout from a dumbell set, a pull up bar, and a bar bell. Just get some plates, two short bars and one long bar and you'll be good. Otherwise, hit the gym!

been285

best equipment = the one you keep using !

Iceman1800

Only worth it if you use it. Check areas like craigslist and you'll find lots of stuff like that "New, still in box" or "only used once". People buy that stuff all the time and it doesn't get used or it becomes a place to hang your jacket.

Amy911Gray

It looks like a great buy, but the question I have to ask myself in making purchases like this....will I use it? is it too hard? can I use it for a clothing hanger?

With that being said, I think it is an excellent purchase and I would love love love to have one of my own...can Chuck come over and show me how to use it?

0MissErin0

Personally I tend to be skeptical of products sold by way of infomercials, claims tend to be grossly exaggerated.If the price is low enough it may be worthwhile but have you considered buying a used bench and some free weights?

agreed with this bench and free-weights

chrishgt4

Dude, no - get proper equipment.

People have been using free weights on benches for years because they work.

Any workout you can get from that you can get from a flat bench, barbell, a pair of dumbells and some plates. That way you can increment your workout with the plates to keep the gains going.

No bodybuilder would go near one of these, and even if you don't want to be a bodybuilder - they are the extreme example to be following.

Determinednoob

even if you don't want to be a bodybuilder - they are the extreme example to be following.

consider this line stolen

DavPul

Total Gym? It looks more like Total Pilates to me (not that there's anything wrong with that, but truth in labeling!) I agree with everyone that says get a bench instead, and I especially agree with the guy suggested buying a used one from Craigslist if you really feel you must have one. I bet there's 20 of them within 50 miles of your home that are just used for drying laundry right now.

jasonheyd

So, a lot of bias towards free weights here... My own perspective is that free weights are quite likely "the best" way to go, but that doesn't mean there aren't other ways.

I've got a weight bench in the basement. Plates, bars, bells, the works. I love my free weights. But I don't necessarily love switching out the plates. I don't love having to use a spotter, and I don't love having a row of dumbbells or, in general, the amount of space that it all takes up (1st world problem, I know).

The Total Gym (and other systems like the Bowflex) do let you increment the weight over time, they can provide a good variety of exercise, and they can save you from needing a spotter.

Really, there's nothing the TG will do that free weights won't. It's just a matter of convenience & preference if you're looking to get some basic resistance training into your life.

So, I still say the TG is worth it, and it does get more use than my other equipment. But, like folks have said, a good set of barbells and a pull-up rack of some sort will get you close to everything the TG can offer at a fraction of the price.

BG10708

I am also looking at buying the Total Gym XLS. I will have to fold it up each day and move it down the hall to the closet - over carpet and hardwood floors. For those of you who actually have the Total Gym: is this going to be an ordeal each time I have to take it out and put it away? How easy, or not, is it to fold up and move this equipment? Nothing is ever as easy as it indicates in the infomercials.

taylor5877

I've used one, and it can be good for your upper body. Kind of hard to really hit your legs as strong as they need to be.

There are some great back exercises you can do on them, especially for the lats.

super_monty

I got it dirt cheap from ebay, I use it as a filler incase I have to miss the gym.

There are ok but feel award/clumsy.

Blueberry09

Plates, bars, bells, the works. But I don't necessarily love switching out the plates. I don't love having to use a spotter, and I don't love having a row of dumbbells or, in general, the amount of space that it all takes up (1st world problem, I know).

I'll be looking for something in the New Year too. I can understand the inconvenience of switching plates etc so I'm not sure which way to go either.

chrishgt4

a good set of barbells and a pull-up rack of some sort will get you close to everything the TG can offer at a fraction of the price.

Just feel the need to amend this comment - they will not get you 'close to'. They will exceed what it can do. You will also get a more comprehensive workout.

This sort of toy really are for people who think there is an easy and convenient way to do this stuff when really it's about doing it the old fashioned way. Eat right and pick up and put down heavy weights in the time honoured manner.

dwtouch4

Total Gym Pros - Don't need a lot of weights and or equipment. You can do a great number of exercises on the Total Gym.
Doesn't take up much space
You won't drop a weight on your foot or need a spotter while doing exercises on the total gym.

Total Gym Cons: You will not get ripped on this machine. It is good for basic muscle tone.
Unless you get the weight attachment for it there a limit on how much weight you can add. I believe on the highest incline setting I can only do 60% of my body weight. This if fine for many exercises but not leg ones.
As you lose weight the exercises become easier because you are lifting your own weight. You can always increase the incline or reps but there are limits. Ideally you want to increase the weight you lift as you lose weight and get more fit.

That said I have one and I like using it for some exercises but I use it in conjunction with dumbbells and barbells.

dwtouch4

Another pro I would add is that you can do the workout quickly because you're not spending time switching out weights and you can even move to doing a different exercise without getting off of the thing.

jasonheyd

a good set of barbells and a pull-up rack of some sort will get you close to everything the TG can offer at a fraction of the price.

Just feel the need to amend this comment - they will not get you 'close to'. They will exceed what it can do. You will also get a more comprehensive workout.

This sort of toy really are for people who think there is an easy and convenient way to do this stuff when really it's about doing it the old fashioned way. Eat right and pick up and put down heavy weights in the time honoured manner.

Biased much? ;-)

My point -- which I've really stated a couple of times now, but once more for old time's sake -- is that there are some things that the TG and the like make convenient. For me, most of that boils down to not needing a spotter, not having to swap out plates or keep a bunch of barbells around, and not needing a separate pull-up bar.

Both of "easy and convenient" come down to what you're looking for and what you're looking to achieve.

chrishgt4

a good set of barbells and a pull-up rack of some sort will get you close to everything the TG can offer at a fraction of the price.

Just feel the need to amend this comment - they will not get you 'close to'. They will exceed what it can do. You will also get a more comprehensive workout.

This sort of toy really are for people who think there is an easy and convenient way to do this stuff when really it's about doing it the old fashioned way. Eat right and pick up and put down heavy weights in the time honoured manner.

Biased much? ;-)

My point -- which I've really stated a couple of times now, but once more for old time's sake -- is that there are some things that the TG and the like make convenient. For me, most of that boils down to not needing a spotter, not having to swap out plates or keep a bunch of barbells around, and not needing a separate pull-up bar.

Both of "easy and convenient" come down to what you're looking for and what you're looking to achieve.

Absolutely biased!

I'll go with the argument that for some people they may be more convenient. Just not that they can provide an equivalent, never mind better workout than free weights.

JNick77

So, a lot of bias towards free weights here... My own perspective is that free weights are quite likely "the best" way to go, but that doesn't mean there aren't other ways.

You are correct, there are many ways to exercise but consider this. Think of exercise as money and think of exercise as an investment opportunity, and exercise is a guaranteed return on investment right? If you had $100 to invest and you're guaranteed a return on wherever you invest it, would you invest it in something returning 25%, 50%, or 90%? The obvious answer is you would invest it in the 90% because there's no risk, it's a guranteed return. Same thing with exercise. Why invest your time that has some short-term and minimal long-term return or value? Why not invest in a good free-weight setup like others have mentioned and maximize your return on your time investment in exercise. You can spend 45-minutes on a Total Gym or you can spend 45-minutes cranking out some reps with a BB and maybe some DB's for better benefit.

Eat right and pick up and put down heavy weights in the time honoured manner.

ndj1979

if you want to get anything get the following..

pull up bar
bow flex select tech dumbbels that go up to 90pds
straight bar for deadlifting etc..

if you have room in your home for a squat rack that would be sweet too...as it is the only thing I am lacking..

OR - you could just get a gym membership and have all this at the gym I am probably going to get a gym membership just so I can use the dam squat rack lol ...