Bowflex verses Free Weights [Archive]

View Full Version : Bowflex verses Free Weights

MrClean

06-02-2007, 08:25 PM

Spencer

06-02-2007, 08:32 PM

IMO a combination of both plus something aerobic (treadmill, stepper, bike)

Whatever you decide, take a look here : http://www.bigfitness.com/

Should save you some $$$$$

Good luck, Spencer

MrClean

06-02-2007, 08:38 PM

http://www.bigfitness.com/lielcr95redr.html

I do have one of these

huxtablejones

06-02-2007, 08:41 PM

>>At least with Bowflex , you can do much much more than with Free Weights .

for example?

I'm not necessarily opposed to the bowflex, I just haven't yet seen any exercise that couldn't be done with a $200 set of free weights and a good bench. And a jumprope. I'm not a fan of the marketing hype.

I think the biggest advantage, honestly, that a machine like that might have is the psychological boost - the "neat" factor. We could all work out with bricks and broomsticks if we were completely honest ;) that is to say - whatever motivates you to keep training - that's what you want to get.

I completely agree with Spencer, though. Combo lifting with aerobics, plenty of stretching, etc, etc, etc. Go slow, lots of folks get injured "getting back into it".

www.rossboxing.com

MrClean

06-02-2007, 09:17 PM

for example?

www.rossboxing.com

Some leg
Pull down and other angles

huxtablejones

06-02-2007, 09:20 PM

Some leg
Pull down and other angles

Shrug. I guess I'd have to see the specific movements - but the point is, if it makes you or helps you look forward to exercising then it doesn't matter.

If the machine is what does that for you then I say go for it. :)

ST Dan

06-02-2007, 09:49 PM

personally I am looking towards the total gym (the one the Chuck Norris endorses). the reasons that I like it are because it's low impact, it's more for toning vs muscle building, and you can do pretty much everything with it. I really beat the hell out of my body in my younger days...bad back, shoulders and knees....and yes I'm only 31....so for me lifting weights to build muscle anymore is really hard on my body. it doesn't complain nearly as much with the toning exercises...but that's just me...

MrClean

06-02-2007, 09:59 PM

Christie Brinkley , you also mean her .
That's who I would of referred to

Phil

06-02-2007, 10:54 PM

It all depends on what you are trying to achieve I guess. Also, do you want to work our in your home, or head to the gym? I personally could not have workout equipment at home, I need to know I'm in a gym to get my routine going.

I've never owned a bowflex, but I would say (as others have) that a good combination of equipment is best. It's not WHAT you are working out with, it's HOW MUCH you are putting into your workouts that gets you results. While in Iraq, we worked out with towels, sandbags, and a few misc freeweights and still achieved decent results. Don't drop $2000 on some pretty machine and then get discouraged because your 15 mins 3 times a week isn't getting you shredded abs and cut biceps.

curmudgeon

06-02-2007, 11:00 PM

My experience is that you're better off going to a gym. Nothing like working out with other people also busting a gut. I've tried using weights at home but have never done it consistently. Once I started going to a gym over 15 years ago I have done it regularly for the most part. Also it doesn't hurt to see those young ladies with their hard bodies to keep the adrenalin up, and keep me coming back often.

In answer to your question though bowflex, free weights, machines they're all good.

Phil

Scarman

06-02-2007, 11:56 PM

You won't get the same results from using Bow Flex. Reason being it doesn't apply the full weight of the resistance through the entire range of motion. I'm certainly not saying Bow Flex is bad, but you get a lot more bang for your effort & time spent using free weights.

I used to be a big gym rat and I've been contemplating getting back into a routine. When I went back to school, The gym was slowly squeezed out of my schedule. I've been out of school for five years now so that excuse is long gone.

Trying to do it at home is more difficult. Too many distractions and too many convenient excuses at arms reach to impede your progress. Going to the gym lessens the convenient excuses and it's motivating once you get into a routne. It will help big time if you can get a friend to buy into the idea with you. You'll keep each other going if you both are committed. Plus you want to have a trainer around to help you get started using proper form and technique.

Sink

06-03-2007, 08:24 AM

Well, all that equipment at home sure makes a good place to hang your clothes, after you stop using it. I agree with the gym suggestions. Just make it a part of your schedule.

Computer Nerd

06-03-2007, 08:26 AM

The problem with machines is, your body will ALWAYS try and find the easiest way to do work.

With machines, it helps your body more easily slack off.

Free weights make it more difficult for the body to do that.

Phil

06-03-2007, 10:57 AM

Well, all that equipment at home sure makes a good place to hang your clothes, after you stop using it.

:crackup

egg-zachary

MrClean

06-03-2007, 11:07 AM

I believe free weights are no different , it may be best to do many different things so your body/mind will stay confused and not get into a grove .

There is a new athletic club opening up here soon , I will look into it .
It's been underconstruction for over a year .

I remember the good old days when I was working out , how much better life was , just simple movement , everything was easier , that was just 7 years ago

Thanks for y'all responses .

If anyone wants to add anything ......................., there's room

The problem with machines is, your body will ALWAYS try and find the easiest way to do work.

With machines, it helps your body more easily slack off.

Free weights make it more difficult for the body to do that.

Phil

06-03-2007, 11:22 AM

I believe free weights are no different , it may be best to do many different things so your body/mind will stay confused and not get into a grove .

Free weights not only provide resistance both ways, they also require you to balance the weight properly in order to complete the exercise. So you were curling "150" on the cable machine eh? Try curling 150lbs of free weights, aint gonna happen.

As far as confusing your body, I've heard this a lot over the years. Do you think that if once a week you work chest, over time your body will become immune to the 300lbs on the bar? Once again, I revert back to my previous statement. It's what YOU put into your workout that counts. You could do the same routine for 5 years (sure it might get a little boring), but if you put every ounce of energy and strength you had into that workout you would steadily get results.

Your muscles only can react to what you give them. Mixing up the workout is good to keep things interesting, but it's not like your bicep has a brain of its own and says "oh yea, I remember this exercise, this is soooo easy."

There is no magic pill you can take. Bowflex, free weights, or whatever. You have to commit to a workout and stick with it. Do you think the roid heads in the gym get huge because they pop pills and inject crap into their system? Sure, it helps, but the also LIVE in the gym. If you haven't worked out in a while, the toughest part will be the first few weeks when you feel weak and just don't feel like going back because you are sore.

Working out doesn't have to be all complicated either. I've seen guys with notebooks to track their reps, who measure out every carb and ounce of protein. Unless you are training for Mr Olympia leave all that crap behind. All you need is one thing: Desire.

My old man is in his 50's, and getting a nice gut. He talks about getting back to the gym, blah blah blah. He went once a few weeks ago, that's been it. Then come the typical excuses: "I don't have time" etc etc. No, the real answer is you are too lazy and can't motivate yourself. No time huh? At one point a few years ago I would work from 8-5, college from 6 to 9, go home and eat, and then gym from 10pm to 11:30. There is no such thing as no time. If you want it, you will do it. His other excuse is that he travels too much (drives trucks). Ok, so you can't do pushups and situps on the road? Last time I checked there weren't laws against it....

Computer Nerd

06-03-2007, 11:33 AM

Actually, I heard that the main thing the actors did when working out to do 300 was carry around heavy, uh... balls.

And yell "SPAAAAR-TAH!"

huxtablejones

06-03-2007, 12:09 PM

Actually, I heard that the main thing the actors did when working out to do 300 was carry around heavy, uh... balls.

And yell "SPAAAAR-TAH!"

I just spit coffee all over my laptop, thanks :)

Computer Nerd

06-03-2007, 12:29 PM

Hey! What about the LA Fitness "SPAAAAR-TAH!!" workout!

Everybody dies at the end of the set, but your abs look FABULOUS! :)

MrClean

06-03-2007, 12:42 PM

Actually, I heard that the main thing the actors did when working out to do 300 was carry around heavy, uh... balls.

And yell "SPAAAAR-TAH!"

I don't understand this .
It needs to be written more clearly , for me

curmudgeon

06-03-2007, 02:28 PM

Free weights not only provide resistance both ways, they also require you to balance the weight properly in order to complete the exercise. So you were curling "150" on the cable machine eh? Try curling 150lbs of free weights, aint gonna happen.

As far as confusing your body, I've heard this a lot over the years. Do you think that if once a week you work chest, over time your body will become immune to the 300lbs on the bar? Once again, I revert back to my previous statement. It's what YOU put into your workout that counts. You could do the same routine for 5 years (sure it might get a little boring), but if you put every ounce of energy and strength you had into that workout you would steadily get results.

Your muscles only can react to what you give them. Mixing up the workout is good to keep things interesting, but it's not like your bicep has a brain of its own and says "oh yea, I remember this exercise, this is soooo easy."

There is no magic pill you can take. Bowflex, free weights, or whatever. You have to commit to a workout and stick with it. Do you think the roid heads in the gym get huge because they pop pills and inject crap into their system? Sure, it helps, but the also LIVE in the gym. If you haven't worked out in a while, the toughest part will be the first few weeks when you feel weak and just don't feel like going back because you are sore.

Working out doesn't have to be all complicated either. I've seen guys with notebooks to track their reps, who measure out every carb and ounce of protein. Unless you are training for Mr Olympia leave all that crap behind. All you need is one thing: Desire.

My old man is in his 50's, and getting a nice gut. He talks about getting back to the gym, blah blah blah. He went once a few weeks ago, that's been it. Then come the typical excuses: "I don't have time" etc etc. No, the real answer is you are too lazy and can't motivate yourself. No time huh? At one point a few years ago I would work from 8-5, college from 6 to 9, go home and eat, and then gym from 10pm to 11:30. There is no such thing as no time. If you want it, you will do it. His other excuse is that he travels too much (drives trucks). Ok, so you can't do pushups and situps on the road? Last time I checked there weren't laws against it....

I will agree 100% with what you've said here Phil, and wouldn't add or change anything. Well done.:bow1: :bow1: :bow1:

I have been going to a health club for over 15 years. Now that I have been retired for almost 3 years I've had even more time to put into exercise. I'm approaching 65 and and probably as strong if not more so then when I was in my 40's. I was also surprised to find my waist size going down and an increase in muscle which I thought probably couldn't happen in my 60's. After working with the weights I put in 30 minutes on an exercise bicycle. On the days I don't go to the gym I walk for about an hour. I may not live longer, but I hope to have a fit looking corpse.

By the way Phil great name:D

Phil (the other one)

MidLife

06-03-2007, 03:02 PM

I don't understand this .
It needs to be written more clearly , for me

Explanation (http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=wDiUG52ZyHQ&eurl=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dsparta%2B300%2Byoutube%26sourceid%3Di e7%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft%3Aen-US%26ie%3Dutf8%26oe%3Dut&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/wDiUG52ZyHQ/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskKgFUwHah8Mkx20BYFVCDCa)

Summarized (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yddMQ6eXqEk)!

drmedak

06-03-2007, 04:07 PM

Both the Bowflex and free weights will provide resistance. There are subtle differences between them, but like others have said, the more important factor is how regularly you workout. Heck, if you don't want to buy any equipment or go to a gym, there are quite a few good exercises that use only your body weight. A fairly good example of these are DVDs by Matt Furey. They can be found on eBay pretty cheap. I borrowed some a couple of years ago from a friend and found them to be a fairly reasonable workout.

All that being said, I have a Bowflex that I bought back in 2002. I still use it fairly regularly and I really like the resistance. I am not concerned with how much weight I am using, I focus on getting the right resistance to complete full range of motion. My 14 year-old son is now using it to train for basketball, and is getting pretty ripped. We use the Bowflex along with the body-weight exercises from the Matt Furey DVDs and get a pretty complete workout.

Here's My Recommendations:
I recommend a book entitled The Maffetone Method to my patients who are interested in exercise. It's a good read.

Then buy a heart rate monitor. Exercise for 30 minutes 5 days a week at a heart rate not over 180 minus your age and not under 170 minus your age. So for someone who is 40 like me, your target range is 130-140bpm. Do this for 30 to 90 days before beginning weights, depending on how deconditioned you are. The more out of shape you are, the longer you should do aerobic training prior to starting a weight training program. This lays the cardiovascular foundation for the weight training. The neat part is over time you will see your pace increase, while your heart rate stays in the same 130-140 zone.

Most of all, whatever you do for exercise, have fun!

Dr Jim

Computer Nerd

06-03-2007, 06:39 PM

Britman

06-04-2007, 08:41 AM

wolfxoman

06-04-2007, 08:47 AM

As an avid weight lifter I give this advice. The bowflex gives a little to medium workout but it is very limited. Where as free weights to include dumbells as well as bar and weight machines in a local gym will give you the best opportunity to achieve goals of muscle gain and fat loss. If you already have that muscular form that everyone is try to get that a bowflex will help to maintain that otherwise free weights and gym machines are the way to go.

tkresler

06-04-2007, 09:15 AM

Explanation (http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=wDiUG52ZyHQ&eurl=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dsparta%2B300%2Byoutube%26sourceid%3Di e7%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft%3Aen-US%26ie%3Dutf8%26oe%3Dut&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/wDiUG52ZyHQ/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskKgFUwHah8Mkx20BYFVCDCa)

Summarized (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yddMQ6eXqEk)!

Darnit Midlife!!!!

Never link me to YouTube without fair warning. I just killed 45 minutes of my morning watching some idiots try and impersonate Larry the Cable Guy. YouTube is the best time waster in the world. :)

Thanks!

Tim

tdeboeser

06-04-2007, 10:31 AM

Dumbbells, Plyometrics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plyometrics), Variety!!! Keep you body and muscle guessing... the human body will adapt to what you do you quickly...

my $0.02

Tom de

Ashrack

06-04-2007, 11:56 AM

Might I also recommend checking out www.crossfit.com. They provide a variety of workouts every day, and a community that follows them and can help with suggestions. They're really tough workouts, so you'll modify them to suit your abilities, but they're fun, they're different then your standard gym grind, and they work. I've been doing it for about 6 months and I have a really good time with it.

My recommendation for workout equipment?
Jump Rope
Pullup bar
A couple of kettlebells

That'll start you moving in the right direction until you figure out what you really want.

Louie Louie

06-04-2007, 12:21 PM

I made the mistake of ordering a "Soloflex" when they were popular. I sold it in 3 weeks. Simply not the same. I now use weights at the gym and some Nautilus type machines. Be sure and think about what you are getting into, as mySoloflex was a real waste of $$.

huxtablejones

06-08-2007, 11:11 AM

UNTMatt

06-09-2007, 12:08 PM

I need to get back into exercising , considering one or the other , and maybe both .
I've always heard that free weights are better then anything , including Bowflex.
Met a doctor today , says he used to do F Weights , for the passed 10 years nothing but Bowflex now, .
Swears by Bowflex .

Anyone here know about this stuff , what do you use at home , what's better ????
At least with Bowflex , you can do much much more than with Free Weights .

Thanks in advance

Bowflex for the home and in the gym a combination of dumbells and machines. Free weights are great if you're serious into getting professional but they have serious risks attached to them as well. One is you really need to have a spotter present with many of the freeweight's. Second, you really should have someone present to make sure you are holding your posture correct w/freeweights. It's easy to get your posture incorrect which can result in injury or, at minimum, little benifit to you.

Machines and Bowflex take much of the risk out of the workout as far as getting caught under falling weight or improper posture. Bowflex is probably closer to freeweights than the cable machines but either one you can develop good results from.

Gym is preferable as you don't have to tie up space in your home for a machine(s). Second, the machines are maintained by someone else. Third there are others around to help you out should something go wrong.

If you go the gym route, one of the rules is to get a gym that is close to home, readily available when you want/need to use it, and is easy to get too. My preference is to pay month to month even though the cost is higher, you can get out of it w/o penalty if necessary.

I would also highly recommend adding three days a week of aerobic activity such as running, bike riding, etc. What my routine looked like was three days of weights and three days of running 3.5 miles. You really only need to run about 1 to 1.5 to get the benifit though. I just liked bragging that I could run 3.5 miles in 20 minutes (I know there are faster but it made me feel good, k?). :D That being said, when I get back into running, it will not be for that distance.

Try to keep your routine about the same time everyday and, this is important, be consistant. Also, keep your routine short. Preferably no more than about 45 minutes or less on weights, 20 - 30 minutes on aerobic activity.

HTH