Total Gym

OraPeña
OraPeña Posts: 3
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone have and use the Total Gym? My husband and I are considering getting one and would like to have some info about it before we decide. I never really believe the feedback on the actual site because you never know how many are employees. Thanks all. :smile:

Replies

  • FarmerTed
    FarmerTed Posts: 29 Member
    I have a total gym. Personally, it didn't do much for me.
  • amymeenieminymo
    amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
    About 10-12 years ago I had a knock off version called the Total Trainer. I liked it well enough, though it had a few disadvantages that may be exclusive to that brand and not the Total Gym. First, I never lived anywhere that I had enough room to keep it out all the time, and it was a work out in and of itself to get it unfolded. So make sure the Total Gym folds up easily. I am pretty sure the commercials show that it does, but then again they're trying to get you to buy it.

    But the different exercises were good and actually kind of fun. I cannot speak of how effective it is because I used it so sporadically back then and never tracked my exercise or anything, but I seem to recall it breaking a sweat. If I were to purchase any peice of equipment for a home gym, I think I would look more into a treadmill or bowflex or something, but in addition to other stuff it's probably good. I'd also reccommend using the DVD that comes with because that could have probably showed me a lot more exercises to do on it. I am pretty sure they offer a money back guarantee just in case it isn't as good as you think. Good luck!
  • pawprint061
    pawprint061 Posts: 640
    I use to have one. The only good that it did for me was my abs and it helped my with strengthening my knees. That was it. I hated having to change between everything. They say it was easy, but I hated it. I wouldn't waste money on it.
  • sawtoothtye
    sawtoothtye Posts: 14
    I have one. I don't use it as often as I thought I would but that's mostly because it is in the garage and it is cold out there! It does do the trick for building muscles - it really can be a full gym if you use the exercise booklet that comes with it. I also like to kneel at the low end of the slider seat and push it up, stretching my body out. that is hard to explain. It mimics the ab roller motion and does wonders on your abs. It doesn't feel like it until you wake up the next day SORE. It is very compact and easy to store when you aren't using it. On the negative side, on the older version I have, it is a bit difficult to change the height and it makes me not want to use it. It is also a little hard to work into it if you aren't in shape. But I just started with low # of reps per set. So all in all, I have very mixed feelings about it. If you can find a used one, check it out. I don't think it would be worth paying full price for.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    The Total Gym is a classic case of a good product for a niche market trying to be something that it is not--i.e. a mass market product--and becoming tarnished in the process (as well as being infected with chuck norris and chistie brinkley cooties).

    TTG has long been a staple of physical therapy clinics and can be very useful in that setting. I have used it in the past when rehabbing after a knee surgery and, under those circumstances, it was the right tool for the job.

    However the very things that make it a good rehab tool make it a mediocre workout tool. Specifically, the low resistance levels and the support of the sliding platform. Especially for large muscle groups, most exercisers will quickly outgrow the total gym. Think of it--the heaviest resistance you can do for "squat" (and it's not even a real squat) is about 70% of what you could do standing on the floor w/no resistance.

    The commercials are misleading as well in that they show the person moving right from one exercise to another--like a chest press to arm curls--with the same resistance. We all know that is nonsense.

    Bottom line: except for certain limited situations and a few accessory exercise, the total gym is not very effective, primarily because it provides too much support and too little resistance. The limited usefulness of the machine does not justify the cost.
  • OraPeña
    OraPeña Posts: 3
    You're right about that. I wouldn't pay full price for it even if it was teh best thing ever made. I found a used one for $400 of the newest model they have. The person is trying to sell it ASAP because he is moving and doesn't want to take much. I want to make sure it wuold be worth it since it is over $1,000 cheaper then buying it new. I might check it out some more on like youtube and stuff. Thanks to all.
  • OraPeña
    OraPeña Posts: 3
    I use to have one. The only good that it did for me was my abs and it helped my with strengthening my knees. That was it. I hated having to change between everything. They say it was easy, but I hated it. I wouldn't waste money on it.

    Abs is exactly what I want it for :)
  • randiane
    randiane Posts: 3
    :love: We love our Total Gym. We have had it for 7 years. It is a knock off version that we bought new at Sears for $250.00 We are not or never have wanted to bulk up. It is great for toning and strengthening the entire body. I remember it feeling awkward to adjust the incline and connecting the pulley 'hook' at first. But after a while it was/is a breeze. We still use it, alternating with other tools like our elliptical, treadmill and various DVD's.
  • WendyTricia
    WendyTricia Posts: 81 Member
    Does anyone have and use the Total Gym? My husband and I are considering getting one and would like to have some info about it before we decide. I never really believe the feedback on the actual site because you never know how many are employees. Thanks all. :smile:

    I have the Total Gym and last year I used it 5 - 6 times a week. I lost THIRTY pounds on the Total Gym alone. This was over the time span of about four months if that much. The only other thing I did was run on the treadmill 3 times a week. That was it.

    I stopped working out at the end of last year because of a family issue. I also began to eat ridiculously poorly - completely abandoned my healthy diet and I gained 15 of those pounds back.

    It's always hard to re-start something, and I started working out using certain DVDs and exercise programs, but guess what? NOTHING has given me the results the Total Gym has. I learned my lesson, and I'm wheeling out my Total Gym TONIGHT and doing exactly what I did before. THIRTY pounds in 3 - 4 months isn't bad, right? SO I'm getting on it this evening.

    Hands down, it's the best thing I've EVER EVER used.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories