Bowflex Tips

Let me start by saying my name is not Hulk and I have no trouble finding clothes to fit me. I don’t bench 350 and I don’t shed my shirt in public every chance I get. I’m a regular guy who would love to be in better shape. That never ending quest led me to this purchase.

Having owned these dumbells and used them rather extensively for a year, I felt a few added comments might help those persons who were on the fence with this purchase. I can’t comment on the powerblock system which is very similar to this because I haven’t used them but this system has been great for me.

Brand:Bowflex
Fitness Type:Weight Training Equipment
Sports Type:Personal Fitness
Weight Training Equipment Type:Home Gyms

Details

Features Offers over 65 gym-quality exercises 210-pounds of included Power Rod Resistance ? upgradable to 310 or 410 pounds Reinforced, X-shaped base for stability Lat tower with angled lat bar helps build back and shoulder muscles quickly Lower pulley/squat station enables you to do squats and build your glutes, hamstrings, and quads Leg extension attachment helps develop strong, muscular legs Triple function hand-grip ankle cuffs Multiple cable/pulley positions enable custom workouts Owner’s manual/fitness guide for step-by-step instructions No-time-limit manufacturer Power Rod warranty 7-year manufacturer limited warranty Workout Area: 7 ft x 6 ft Dimensions: L 4 ft 8 in; W 4 ft 2 in; H 6 ft 11 in

This review is actually an update. My first review was my first ever epinions.com review and at that time, I didn’t know what to write.

I watch a lot of TV and I see the informmercials for Bowflex and Total Gym all the time. I’ve been wanting to do some kind of strength training regimen but what’s the best way to do it?

I’ve considered a gym membership, but honestly, working 12-hour night shifts (I’m a nurse), I don’t think I’ll have the energy after work to exercise. So, I know that money will go down the drain for nothing.

6/18/07

Bowflex Xtreme XTLU

Paid $899.00 free shipping and 100 LBS upgrade

From Bowflex.com

I live in NC and purchased the XTLU on a Friday. The next Wednesday the purchase was taken out of my account. I received a tracking number on Wednesday and I received the Bowflex on Thursday. Apparently they ship from Virginia.

I put the machine together by myself and it took about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The hardest part is looking for all the pieces in the 9 boxes that comes with the XTLU. I received 10 boxes with the 100 LBS upgrade.

They sent me the unit and about 7 of 10 boxes were damaged. The damages boxes went back with UPS. So I called and they told me replacements for the damaged boxes were being shipped. A couple days later I called to see if the boxes were sent. Not one was sent out!! They told me that they wanted the good ones back before they would ship out anything. Well that’s just great I’m sitting here wait for a shipment and if I didn’t call nothing would of happened. So now they wanted to send me UPS Labels to return the good boxes, but the label would not include the pickup fee. Sorry, but I’m not going to lug around their packages for them. After complaining I got labels that included the pickup fee. So UPS comes and pickups the boxes and I called to see if they sent out the order (Not yet!!). I called a couple days later and demanded that if they don’t send out my unit I want to cancel the order! You would think they care, not one bit!! So here I am 3 weeks later no unit and with that service I don’t ever want one!!!!!

I bought a Bowflex about three years ago when I was living in a small town that didn’t have a gym. I figured it would be a good way to at least keep all the muscles I had spent years lifting free weights to build, since I would be without a gym of any kind for the foreseeable future. Was I surprised when I started using it!

This contraption takes some getting used to. The constant tension is totally unlike that of free weights. The first few times I used it, I felt shaky and uncertain, thinking the whole time that I must be performing the exercises incorrectly. What I didn’t realize was that I was calling into play all sorts of peripheral muscles to help control the movement.

I have used the Bowflex at work for nearly 1.5 years. I have a full set of dumbells at home. I prefer my dumbells every time for every upper body exercise I do.

The Bowflex works fine for quick, light workouts. However, if you want to lift heavy you’ll be disappointed if you’ve ever learned how to properly lift free weights in the past. Heavy weights on the Bowflex simply feel awkward and unstable. For example: I routinely work chest at home with 75 pound dumbells and it feels great. The Bowflex can be set to 75 pounds per arm, but getting the Power Rods into position for benching is tough on the shoulders, and once in position the motion is not nearly as smooth as with free weights. I’d like to see someone besides the great Arnold lift heavy with the Bowflex without seeing wobbly, side-to-side motion.

Like many people, I thought the Bowflex was typical infomercial junk…until I tried a PowerPro on display at a local Fitness Depot outlet. The salesperson was very helpful and let me spend almost an hour testing the machine out in every way I could think of. After trying at least one exercise for ALL my muscle groups, I had to admit it was an excellent ALTERNATIVE to the good ol’ fashioned barbells and dumbbells that I was used to. Still not totally convinced, I spent the next three months researching everything I could on the internet about the Bowflex, looking for pros and cons. I was amazed at the overall positive response the Bowflex was getting!

Brand:Bowflex
Fitness Type:Weight Training Equipment
Sports Type:Personal Fitness
Weight Training Equipment Type:Home Gyms • Weight Training Accessories

Details

Look good and feel great working out with this Bowflex& Blaze Home Gym, which allows you to perform over 60 gym quality exercises from the comfort of your own home. The Bowflex& Power Rod& unit offers resistance or weight that feels as good or better than free weights without the inertia or risk of join pain usually associated with free weights. The sliding seat rails for rowing adds an aerobic element to your workouts.

I owned an original Bowflex a couple of years ago, and I had mixed results. However, I bought the bowflex for a slightly different reason: I wanted to gain weight instead of lose it. Therefore, I don’t think that the Bowflex was for me. It did a good job of toning my muscles and giving me some definition, but it did not do a good job of building muscle. My theory is that the Bowflex does not let you push yourself the amount needed to gain muscle. You really need a spotter to make yourself work harder, and it would be difficult to have a spotter on the Bowflex.