Posted: 7/24/2006 8:53:07 PM EDT
| Considering purchasing a used bowflex for home. Any thoughts / experiences (good or bad) with these systems? Any ideas what to look for if I decide to purchase a used one? Any input would be helpful. |
| Yeah get a bench and a set of dumb bells. You can get a decent collection of dumb bells pretty quickly and easy. At the Dunhams by my house they a $.49 a pound. One week I went and bought 15 pounders $15 out the door. I worked with them thru basic motions just to get the form down. Then two weeks later I went and bought twenty pounders $20 out the door. I used them for some of the heavier exercises. Then I got 25 pounders and worked them into some exercises. eventually I got 30's and 35's. So I built up a decent set with out putting alot of strain on the wallets. I think you get a better work out with dumb bells. I actually never got the bench but got a stabilty ball $25 at dunhams. I do push ups with it and I can do just about everything with the ball that I can do on a bench and it works the core. Even seated curls and military press on the ball works the core. |
|
Never used one, but FWIW, there are a TON of them on the secondary market, my local "Play it Again" used sporting goods place won't touch them'' Second the dumbell route, you can get a very sturdy bench without the support arms, which you only need for straight bar bench, for under $100. I use mine all the time, I only use the standard bench as a squat rack. |
Fixed... 12 pounds in 6 weeks, lol, he gained 2 pounds of muscle EVERY week.... I just saw the commertial, and was like "Yeahhh, Right!" 
|
| I have an extreme. I do use it and it is helpful, but it does have its down falls. The good thing about it is relatively compact IMO. I dont use it exlusively. I run a lot, or did I should say (2 months post op on ACL tear) and I do a lot of push up, pull ups, and sit ups all with different variations. I would say I spend half of my time on the bowflex and the other doing body weight exercises. I guess you should look at what you want to accomplish. If you want to build muscle go to a gym. If you are not likely to go to a gym (even if you pay for it) and want a decent workout then go with the bowflex. |