Thoughts on the BowFlex?

matcartmill
matcartmill Posts: 98 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Someone local to me has a Bowflex Ultimate Home Gym for about $500 for sale. Based on the commercials, I'd think that this is a good price.

However, I do have a gym membership.

I spend most of my gym time doing cardio. I try to stay away from the weight machines, except for ab crunch, as I don't know how to use them, or what good they'll do for me. I think I'd be more comfortable with a BowFlex at home for strength training and just doing cardio at the gym, but I'm still new to the whole "Fitness Training" thing, so I don't know what's best for me. I just "do" whatever feels right.

Does anyone here own a BowFlex Home Gym that can shed some light on it's strengths / weaknesses?

Also, I'm open to Friend Requests as well. So if you stumble across this thread and want an active MFP member to motivate you, or you want to motivate me, feel free to add me. It's greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help guys.

Replies

  • rob1976
    rob1976 Posts: 1,328 Member
    A friend has one in their garage. It's great for drying clothes on. It doesn't get used otherwise.

    I really think there is something to leaving your home to go to an exercise locale for working out.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I have never used one, but I have a fear of weights at the gym too , because I have NO CLUE what to do. If I could get something in my home that I could use/figure out without others waiting or watching, I would do it!
  • madcat_wechanged
    madcat_wechanged Posts: 51
    I love mine. Can you use it first like a "try it before you buy it"?
  • blacklabelbabe
    blacklabelbabe Posts: 48 Member
    My parents have a Boflex and it is easy to use and effective IF you are motivated enough to stay home and workout but I am not so I can't shed too much light on that ... but if you go to a gym for cardio isn't there someone you could ask to help you? I know some gyms will require a one time fee (mine does) but the trainer usually checks up on me to make sure I am not hurting myself (no charge).
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    Don't know much about them but I see them for sale all day every day on craigslist.
  • Nikachelle
    Nikachelle Posts: 66 Member
    My husband has one and uses it pretty frequently. I'd say it's a good machine and will allow you to get comfortable with weight lifting at home.
  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
    "Not even once"

    If you want to learn about fitness and lifting, check this http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/686963-large-collection-of-info-for-beginners
  • Alliwan
    Alliwan Posts: 1,245 Member
    Im glad to hear people say its great for a home gym. We live in the middle of corn fields, 7 miles from the nearest civilization which is a tiny town with one Curves and one gym that's only open during a 10 hour period during the day has very few machines or weights. So we are making our garage a home gym so at least we have a place to work out. We traded a small flat screen TV for a bowflex, which we have yet to pick up because half my house is still in the garage till we finish painting and redoing the floors in part of the house.

    So long story short, YAY for bowflex being a good machine for weights.
  • trapperdan1
    trapperdan1 Posts: 3 Member
    I have a bow flex extreme 2. I use it alternately with the free weights I have at home. It allows for using different muscle groups in different ways. I have noticed a difference using it before I got free weights. Just my opinion.

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