icklemoley
Cathlete
Does anyone have or know anyone that owns a bowflex? i was thinking of getting one but wanted to know if they're any good?
thank you for your time.
thank you for your time.
Bowflex... does anyone have one???
- Thread starter icklemoley
- Start date
winsomehill
Cathlete
My MIL has one, and I love it. I haven't used it much (out of politeness). I have scoped out the paper for a used one and they almost never come up used. There is a local fitness shop in town that sells used equipment and he has a running add looking for people's Bowflex's. I think both these factors indicate that it's a good piece of equipment. The only thing I wonder about is how difficult it is to switch from one exercise to another.
Heather
Heather
icklemoley
Cathlete
from the advert that i saw on tv, it looks very easy, in fact, so easy.
i love the way these look, but mostly, that you can do 65 different exercises on them and weighted ab and oblique work too. here, in the uk, its £9,999, which is expensive, but maybe worth it.
i love the way these look, but mostly, that you can do 65 different exercises on them and weighted ab and oblique work too. here, in the uk, its £9,999, which is expensive, but maybe worth it.
DebbieH
Cathlete
Yoo-Hooo~DianeSue!
Hi Wayne, I know WD(DianeSue) has one and loves hers. Hopefully she will see this and respond. Good Luck tracking one down at a good price. I have heard that they are a great piece of equipment.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
Hi Wayne, I know WD(DianeSue) has one and loves hers. Hopefully she will see this and respond. Good Luck tracking one down at a good price. I have heard that they are a great piece of equipment.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
RE: Yoo-Hooo~DianeSue!
I have one. I don't use it because I primarily use Cathe, but DH uses it and loves it. We have an older one which we would like to upgrade to the new ones. The one we have you have to switch cables all the time and it becomes a little time consuming, but the new ones look really easy. We've been very happy with ours!
Katie
I have one. I don't use it because I primarily use Cathe, but DH uses it and loves it. We have an older one which we would like to upgrade to the new ones. The one we have you have to switch cables all the time and it becomes a little time consuming, but the new ones look really easy. We've been very happy with ours!
Katie
kathryn
Cathlete
RE: Yoo-Hooo~DianeSue!
A friend of mine has a Bowflew and likes it (but she's not into weight training at all, so someone who is might like it more). One thing: it is a BEAR to assemble. Three of us worked together and it took us about an hour.
I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US, if you send for the free informational DVD, and don't order it immediately, they will start sending you offers (free shippping, $200 off, etc.).
A friend of mine has a Bowflew and likes it (but she's not into weight training at all, so someone who is might like it more). One thing: it is a BEAR to assemble. Three of us worked together and it took us about an hour.
I'm not sure about other countries, but in the US, if you send for the free informational DVD, and don't order it immediately, they will start sending you offers (free shippping, $200 off, etc.).
RE: Yoo-Hooo~DianeSue!
I have one and love it as well. You can do tons of exercises with it and it's pretty sturdy. It's a great addition to free weights or, for people who don't care for free weights, this can be used as their primary piece of equipment. I've had mine for about 8 years and twice they've had equipment issues and automatically sent me a piece of equipment to use to fix whatever they found needed repair or stabilizing, etc.
I have one and love it as well. You can do tons of exercises with it and it's pretty sturdy. It's a great addition to free weights or, for people who don't care for free weights, this can be used as their primary piece of equipment. I've had mine for about 8 years and twice they've had equipment issues and automatically sent me a piece of equipment to use to fix whatever they found needed repair or stabilizing, etc.
dogs2birds
Cathlete
I have one and love it. I had another one for about 4 or 5 years and just sold it to a friend of mine about a year ago (for a screamin' deal) and we bought a new one. Now that I have discovered Cathe, I still use my Bowflex in addition to Cathe workouts. I love that you can do leg extensions on it and also ab work with weight. This morning I did all Bowflex for my lower body workout (except for walking lunges) since I was so tired from a lack of sleep that I thought Cathe might kill me! But I lifted heavy and it felt great. I would HIGHLY recommend them. 
I always hear my husband tell people if they come over and see the Bowflex and ask about it "Susan loves her Bowflex." My DH doesn't use it, as he has an awesome gym at the police department and can work out an hour on work time. NO FAIR!
Susan
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
I always hear my husband tell people if they come over and see the Bowflex and ask about it "Susan loves her Bowflex." My DH doesn't use it, as he has an awesome gym at the police department and can work out an hour on work time. NO FAIR! Susan
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
RE: Yoo-Hooo~DianeSue!
Wow Kathryn, you guys were speedy compared to DH and I, took us 3 hours. But I actually didn't think that was bad considering how many boxes & pieces we rec'd. Plus, the pieces are not all labeled & we were reversing left & right pieces a lot.
I got the Extreme 2 for Christmas, I think its the one that they are always advertising. So far I really like it. Its very easy to switch exercises. I wanted it, so I would be able to lift heavier at home, safely. I was also surprised at how little space it took. I still have room for step in my workout room.
HTH,
Kim
ETA: I don't know if they have the same financing offers in the UK, but in the States I believe they charge something like 20+% to finance!
Wow Kathryn, you guys were speedy compared to DH and I, took us 3 hours. But I actually didn't think that was bad considering how many boxes & pieces we rec'd. Plus, the pieces are not all labeled & we were reversing left & right pieces a lot.
I got the Extreme 2 for Christmas, I think its the one that they are always advertising. So far I really like it. Its very easy to switch exercises. I wanted it, so I would be able to lift heavier at home, safely. I was also surprised at how little space it took. I still have room for step in my workout room.
HTH,
Kim
ETA: I don't know if they have the same financing offers in the UK, but in the States I believe they charge something like 20+% to finance!
Ok, I have to admit I'm kind of confused as to why anyone would want/use one of these if they use free weights and barbells. It just seems like it would take up tons of room, be really expensive, and mimic movements and loads you can do with freeweights/bands/barbells. Am I crazy? I guess I've moved away from weight machines so much that I don't understand going back(except for variation). I did have a total gym once but felt so bored just sitting there. I just feel like I'm not using my body to it's fullest potential with weight machines. I'm just wondering why you guys like this machine so much. Thanks!!
Carolyn
Carolyn
WD
Cathlete
Wayne,
I really like my Bowflex. It is an older model which I have had for around 5 years. I like it because it has a different feel in the resistance than free weights(good for cross training). I have the squat attachment so I can really raise the resistance for squats, I also have the leg extension leg curl attachment and the lat tower. I can get moves with these that I cannot with Cathe & free weights. I really like the resistance options for the abwork as well. You might check out www.fit-at-home.com/ There are reviews of Bowflex products and you can find a Bowflex forum there. Maybe that will help with your decision.
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
I really like my Bowflex. It is an older model which I have had for around 5 years. I like it because it has a different feel in the resistance than free weights(good for cross training). I have the squat attachment so I can really raise the resistance for squats, I also have the leg extension leg curl attachment and the lat tower. I can get moves with these that I cannot with Cathe & free weights. I really like the resistance options for the abwork as well. You might check out www.fit-at-home.com/ There are reviews of Bowflex products and you can find a Bowflex forum there. Maybe that will help with your decision.
Diane Sue
http://wd.1ww.us
materialsgirl
Cathlete
Carolyn,
The Bowflex is a little different than the average weight machine because on many of the exercises, you must use stabilizer muscles to keep good form - similar to using free weights. It feels very different from regular weight machines (I think it's harder, in terms of staying steady). We have a Bowflex - actually it's DH's, but I have used it. We like it a lot. It's very compact (when folded up) and lightweight (so we can move it around easily) and provides a good heavy workout that compliments free weight training nicely. DH often talks about upgrading to a newer model, and someday we probably will. It's just nice to have around. I also prefer free weights, but I can only go so heavy with free weights before I need a spotter. With the Bowflex, I can go heavier with no spotter. Just my 2 cents...
The Bowflex is a little different than the average weight machine because on many of the exercises, you must use stabilizer muscles to keep good form - similar to using free weights. It feels very different from regular weight machines (I think it's harder, in terms of staying steady). We have a Bowflex - actually it's DH's, but I have used it. We like it a lot. It's very compact (when folded up) and lightweight (so we can move it around easily) and provides a good heavy workout that compliments free weight training nicely. DH often talks about upgrading to a newer model, and someday we probably will. It's just nice to have around. I also prefer free weights, but I can only go so heavy with free weights before I need a spotter. With the Bowflex, I can go heavier with no spotter. Just my 2 cents...
dogs2birds
Cathlete
P.S. I would definitely get the leg extension/leg curl attachment and the lat tower because Diane Sue is right that you can get moves with these that you cannot get with free weights or videos. It's just a great compliment to videos.
Susan
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
Susan
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
kathryn
Cathlete
>Ok, I have to admit I'm kind of confused as to why anyone
>would want/use one of these if they use free weights and
>barbells.
To be able to use anywhere from 5# to 300# (probably even more, I'm not sure) or so resistance.
To have some sort of safety spot when doing some moves.
To be able to do lat pull-downs and leg curls and extensions.
These types of machines (that use cables and not fixed bars, like the Soloflex) give the body a similar benefit to free weights, IMO, because you have to stabilize somewhat, and you are working both sides of the body separately so the weak side does get a free ride from the strong side.
I don't think it takes up any more room than a full compliment of barbells and dumbbells.
>would want/use one of these if they use free weights and
>barbells.
To be able to use anywhere from 5# to 300# (probably even more, I'm not sure) or so resistance.
To have some sort of safety spot when doing some moves.
To be able to do lat pull-downs and leg curls and extensions.
These types of machines (that use cables and not fixed bars, like the Soloflex) give the body a similar benefit to free weights, IMO, because you have to stabilize somewhat, and you are working both sides of the body separately so the weak side does get a free ride from the strong side.
I don't think it takes up any more room than a full compliment of barbells and dumbbells.