Psivage

Anybody used it? Is it worth it? How easy is to use/ change the weight?

Plan9Senior

Don't even think about wasting money on this pos product. You can buy a bench and weight set for the price of the boflex. Not only that, but bowflex is "resistance" weight, therefore you only get the peak weight when you are at a certain "give" of the bowflex resistance bars, whereas if you were using freeweights you would have consistant weight through your whole lifting motion.

To sum it up, the bowflex is a gimick product and you wont be able to gain any good muscle using it.

BubblegumTeflon

If you use freeweights be safe though! Have a spotter or get something with protecting bars so you don't get crushed or make a hole in the floor.

Psivage

Thanks, my dad saw the infomerical and wants one. He called up for a free video. They cost aboot $900 or so. The advert looks great. But they are paid to make it look great.

Cowman

Tell him to buy a pass to a gym or buy some of his own equipment with that 900$

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Plan9Senior

Psivage, tell your dad that you can get a much much better workout set for 900. Here are just a few workout benches he could buy for a lot cheaper, and will be a hell of a lot better quality as well as better for your muscles. http://bizrate.lycos.com/buy/product...h,rf--wgg.html

The one that I have has a bench with flat/incline/decline positions, preacher curl pad, leg press, lat pulldown, and it only cost me 200. For your bar, weights, and dumbells, just go to a local sporting goods store... a lot of them sell used weights very cheap.

Basically, if you have him look into it, it will not only be better off for both of you on a fitness level, but it will also save him about $400

Spiker

I have a Bowflex Power Pro XTLU. Bought it 4 years ago. I use it regularly 4 days/week. Overall I like it and would recommend. I'm 38, my fitness goals are to maintain muscle mass and look good. My main sport is hockey, I'm not looking to add slabs of muscle. Just maintain stregnth for checking and the odd scrap. I'm 5'10", weighing about 190lbs fitting in to 33" waist jeans.

This product gets slammed heavily. Most who do it have never used one. I find I get a good, safe, quick workout without the hassle of packing a bag, going to the gym, dealing with roid heads etc. I come in from work, eat a small energy snack, change and I'm ready to lift. 45 minutes later I'm making dinner, no travel, no crowds.

You will not gain massive amounts of muscle on this machine, we all know thats built buy heavy squats, deads and bench done the old fashioned way, with the Olympic bar. however, Bowflex does offer a good range of exercises, smooth resistance and the ability to train alone. I use rest/pause and drop sets to increase intensity as no one is around to spot.

Way over priced, but thats the way it is. I believe if it was priced at say $400 loaded up, everyone would have one. The machine has held up well.

If it matches your goals, I'd recommend.

Plan9Senior

Spiker, the reason it gets slammed is because it is resistance training therefore, for instance, if you have it set to the 50 lb flexrod you are only getting 50 lbs of resistance during its peak bend of the rod. Go to any bodybuilding forum (try bodybuilding.com) and do a search for bowflex. Not one person will recommend it and you will hear a lot more negative things about it then I can offer here. Like you pointed out, I have not used one, so the only thing I am pointing out is the thing that I know to be true which is the resistance flaw and that is huge enough for anybody to pass on.

Spiker

Yes, I've read that on bodybuilding.com. i think the bowflex is often taken out of it's context. It's not a mass building machine. you can put some size on, but you'll never be a Dorian Yates.

That said, if your into other sports and want to pursue resistance training to further your fitness, it can play a great role.

It has for me.

Psivage

Basically muscle mass isn't what we want. Losing weight is what we need to do. My dad's knees and back hurt him so him cann't really walk all that much.

Plan9Senior

Get a freeweight setup, you will thank me later. It will make it easier and faster for you to build lean muscle (which seems to be your goal). Go to any nice gym. Notice the people's physiques that you desire to have. Notice how they train... most of them will be at the freeweights . If bowflex was a good training method, you would see at least one of them in a gym or health club...but you don't because they aren't .

EeOh1

I just read the initial question, but, and I know this may sound a bit weird, but my bug man told me that his son got quite ripped on the BoFlex.

But I have a Pacific Fitness deal. Anything'll work out your muscles as long as you're regimented.

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JohnnyRock

I had a Bowflex [had to sell it for space reasons] and it was a great alternative when I couldn't get to the gym...I would always go with actual weight resistance than the power rods...but if you get a used one it is well worth the price.

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pancakerabbit

Well, that's one of the benefits of the bowflex; people don't have to get their lazy asses to a gym to use it

Plan9Senior

Which is why I told him to buy freeweights and not a bowflex. Reading comprehension is your friend