Bowflex - does it really work?

[Dork]

I don't know if this qualifies as a scam but as of late, I've been hearing great things about Bowflex and awful things about Bowflex. I'm sure some of you heard about the recall it went through (article 1), (article 2), and (article 3).

But what puzzles me is that did those injured people know how to exactly put together their Bowflex home gym? Anyways, if you know something good or bad about Bowflex, please let me know. Thanks.

Their website: Bowflex

[Malaise]

i've owned and used a bowflex for many years. i originally had one of the recalled models and it took them *forever* to send me the conversion kit but i continued using it with no problems. then i bought a second machine for my other home and it was so much sturdier than the old one that i gave the old one to a friend and bought yet another one. my friend has been using his and i my two and never a problem. i am a bowflex junkie. i stopped for a while because i had a car accident but i credit the machine with having brought me back to normal after walking with crutches for a few months and then a cane for a year. i also credit it with my ability of eating like a pig on a daily basis without gaining weigth :)

[sojustask]

Originally Posted by Dork

But what puzzles me is that did those injured people know how to exactly put together their Bowflex home gym? Anyways, if you know something good or bad about Bowflex, please let me know. Thanks.

Their website: Bowflex

I think problems mostly arise from people who don't understand the machine or try to do too much too fast. Anyone can get positive results but they need to keep in mind their starting physical condition (if they haven't been going to the gym, they should always consider themselves a beginner when they start and work up from there) and get aquainted with the machine slowly the first few times.

As far as results goes, different types of exercise appeal to different people. I don't have the space for a bowflex in my home, not sure with an old elbow injury (completely shattered my elbow in a wreck 7 years ago) that I could properly do the arm exercises anyway, but I do have other equipment that I do use and it's all really a matter of commitment to the routine. Simple walking and carrying light weights will give you results over time, as long as you stick with it. And this 3 days a week? Toss that out. If you want results, it's 6 days a week. Lower body every day, upper every other day.

Core exercise is all the rage right now. It's easy, gives fast results and protects the back. Doesn't require a lot of room either. The big ball is kind of fun too. LOL.

Namaste'

Bowflex, smoflex! lol. If anyone exercises, they will see results. It doesn't matter what kind of regimen someone chooses to follow, only matters that the person knows a lil about exercise to avoid injuring themselves. Face it, when you buy exercise equipment at wal-mart you have to put it together. Infomercials on T.V. advertise miracle workout equipment. I think any machine has the capability to be dangerous. I know only 2 people who own a bowflex and both of them act as if it's the best machine ever put on the market yet neither of them have put forth the effort to actually utilize it so who knows lol. I'll just keep on walking so I don't add to the 40 pounds I already put on in the past 2 years!

[Dork]

I guess the same could be said about 6 Second Abs. Actually, maybe not. I see 6 Second Abs as a Lazy Man's Machine, lol. I'm sure it works but they're only trying to find a loophole around the systematic routine of doing curl-ups and crunches on your on.

What does everyone else think?

[tercetlyconstituent]

Dork,
Are you into any mlm businesses currently?
Or...
Just curious.
fyi about bowflex, some of my friends have the machine and they say it works well esp. with the resistance/tech. of it whatever that means..
me, i like to work with the traditional free weights but maybe i need to think out of the box more...
ive personally never tried the bowflex

[Dork]

Originally Posted by tercetlyconstituent

Dork,
Are you into any mlm businesses currently?
Or...
Just curious.

Just curious.

[sojustask]

Originally Posted by Dork

I guess the same could be said about 6 Second Abs. Actually, maybe not. I see 6 Second Abs as a Lazy Man's Machine, lol. I'm sure it works but they're only trying to find a loophole around the systematic routine of doing curl-ups and crunches on your on.

What does everyone else think?

Cheaply made, I've seen those at Target. Piece of crap. One of the best forms of exercise is walking, treadmills are rarely sold at garage sales. But I've seen Bowflexes, exercise bikes, and rowing machines aplenty.

Do you see the commercials for the Ab-lounge? I remember when those came out 20 some odd years ago when I was in Jr. High. My friends mom had one. LOL. They run about ...$100 bucks. But I just saw an ad where the price was being lowered. Guess those aren't flying out the warehouse either.

I've just completed due diligence on treadmills. So today I'm purchasing one to replace the Gazelle elite I've been using. I've gotten a good year's use out of the elite, time for something that will be used longer and fits more in with my routine. (actually should have bought the treadmill when I was looking at the elites but was undecided about which brand to go with and my husband loves his elite and lost 100lbs using it. I would have used it but he works in Calif right now and I am at home in Texas, lol.)

Lady Mod

[P.R. Edmondson]

Originally Posted by tercetlyconstituent

Dork,
Are you into any mlm businesses currently?
Or...
Just curious.
fyi about bowflex, some of my friends have the machine and they say it works well esp. with the resistance/tech. of it whatever that means..
me, i like to work with the traditional free weights but maybe i need to think out of the box more...
ive personally never tried the bowflex

If I'm not mistaken "Bowflex" is made by the same people that made "Soloflex" (which I own).
Both are based on the same resistance-type workout which is very different from free weights or other "weighted excercise"

I can only speak from the experience of Soloflex so I don't know if if Bowflex results are similar but Soloflex gave you a big "pump" during and right after your workout but actual sustained muscle growth was/is minimal RELATIVE to free weights.

[herbalessence04]

I tried total gym about 5 years ago. Got one of the older models because.. well the new ones weren't out yet. I was ecstatic to have this gym equipment but it fell short in stability and also a lot of the pieces weren't developed correctly. Now, I am considering trying a bowflex, but I have also heard bad things about the bowflex. Maybe this is just due to their older models. Are the newer models like the extreme etc worthy of the price? Im really attracted to home gyms and also the fact that bowflex lets you add more weight than total gym ever has in resistance level. Thoughts?

Also, Bowflex creates their own product called the "treadclimber" which I have heard awful reviews of the lower models... however, has anyone tried out the new TC5300 model? I was thinking about buying it for my mom (and of course myself) as an early christmas present but the over $2000 price tag makes me wonder if it is worth it? Heard anything bad about those models?

[tyciol]

If all you do is walk, you won't build muscle, bowflex builds muscle.

It's graduated resistance training, you can't scam that. It's pretty straightforward. It is not cheaply made, Nautilus makes it. Egads.

[bogie]

Originally Posted by tyciol

If all you do is walk, you won't build muscle, bowflex builds muscle.

It's graduated resistance training, you can't scam that. It's pretty straightforward. It is not cheaply made, Nautilus makes it. Egads.

Mine doesn't work worth a damn. I use it mostly for hanging up my clothes and I haven't gained any muscle at all. :D

[tyciol]

Well, most people's clothes don't weigh very much. If you haven't built any muscle, it's probably your fault, not the machine's, unless of course you're doing dozens of reps on the highst setting on every exercise with incredible ease, and eating huge amounts of calories, and not gaining any muscle at all. That'd be pretty confusing.

Originally Posted by herbalessence04

Bowflex creates their own product called the "treadclimber" which I have heard awful reviews of the lower models... however, has anyone tried out the new TC5300 model? I was thinking about buying it for my mom (and of course myself) as an early christmas present but the over $2000 price tag makes me wonder if it is worth it? Heard anything bad about those models?

I would imagine the higher models are better since they are more spacious, with more features, and a higher maximum speed. That said, I'm not sure if any of them are really worth that kind of expense. I would love to try one out due to the sensation which is probably interesting, however I can tell by analyzing the advertisements that they are worded unexactly with the potential to be misleading to viewers.

I imagine they work well enough, however the idea of different 'resistance' is also very misleading.

Originally Posted by sojustask

I've just completed due diligence on treadmills. So today I'm purchasing one to replace the Gazelle elite I've been using. I've gotten a good year's use out of the elite, time for something that will be used longer and fits more in with my routine. (actually should have bought the treadmill when I was looking at the elites but was undecided about which brand to go with and my husband loves his elite and lost 100lbs using it. I would have used it but he works in Calif right now and I am at home in Texas, lol.)

Lady Mod

Treadmills are cool, it's always nice to have a consistant straight terrain to run on with no variables so you can measure progress reliably, and sort of zone out and not have to worry about stuff like one normally has to when running.

Variety's good. I'd keep your Elite if possible, since you might want variety. Those Gazelles double as good stretching tools I think, and are sort of similar to ellipticals due to the ability to include arm involvement and avoid impacts. Two different approaches to cardio basically, which can cover each other's backs.

[searcher555]

I've had a bowflex unltimate for a couple of years now. You can get a decent workout on it. I'm unsure if you can achieve what the TV says though. I have the 410 pounds worth of flexible rods on mine, but there is no way that it equals close to that. I can do a set of 5 bench reps with all the rods. On steel weights, my bench floats between 225 and 250. I hooked up one 100 pound rod, attached a 40 pound dumbell to the handle and lowered it in a controlled manner. It almost completely flexed the rod. According to the cd/dvd, at that point, there would be a hundred pounds of resistence. NOT. I can hook up all the rods, and do a lat pulldown. Fully extended, I can't pull myself off the seat. I weight 225. I've talked to Bowflex a number of times, and they have sent new rods, but it's still the same. I've even shortened the cables a couple of inches to increase the resistence. If you want heavy resistence, then this is not the tool for you, pay your monthly dues and go to a gym with steel, as the bowflex, with different sets of rods, equals a little over half of their rated resistence. If that is all you want, and you want to work hard, go for it, and you will have a
good time and a good workout. Just understand the limitations. I would suggest that if someone wants a bowflex, to either buy one used, or get the one that has all positions cabled all the time. Changing cables is a minor hassle, but still a hassle. Good workouts to all.

[Dork]

Originally Posted by bogie

Mine doesn't work worth a damn. I use it mostly for hanging up my clothes and I haven't gained any muscle at all. :D

What routines were you doing back then?