Has anyone here ever used a Bowflex?

Are they really as effective as they claim to be?

My husband uses his every night, I posted a pic of him and you can see it in the background, He'll be 50 in May, and he looks pretty good.

Bowflex's are good for toning and that sort of thing, but not for pure strength training. they were initally made for sports rehab. i think it's a good option for home training

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I am thinking of setting up a little home gym so if i can't get out to the gym due to various reasons (the cold) i can sit at home in my warm room and excersize.

But for the price it is probably a better idea for me to get a couple dumbells, a barbell, and a bench. I am well versed in free weights so that would probably be a better route overall.

My neighbors have the bowflex and it has pretty much become a clothes rack. We got rid of ours in favor of free weights. As long as you're using them properly I think free weights are actually a better workout and they save on space and $. There are some great vids out there that include free weights that I really enjoy. My friend, who is a personal trainer, also swears by bootcamp style workouts which don't require much more than you and some home props. Your own body is a great resistance tool!

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** Karen **

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^The hisghest weight free weight i have is 5lb, an di use that when i decide to go for a run to hold in my hands to work my arms a little more.

I think body resistance is the best for normal exercise purposes, if you're ttrying to get super bulked, it wont be as good, but if you're just getting fit, you'll be set.

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I do a great pilates routine which calls for 3-8lb weights and it is fabulous. I think it has a lot to do with the combined motions they do. When I'm actually doing it I get a great bikini body, but my favorite part is the arm definition I get.

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** Karen **

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taking it ot a bit--- I love arm definition, I do a lot of work to add bulk to my shoulders because of my pear shape, and it works so nice, I used to be a definite pear, but thanks to the shoulder work I've done, I'm a lot closer to an hourglass!!!


i actually have never used, but wouldn't mind having a bowflex, i dont really do stregnth training, i'm more into flexibility and tone, and things that will help me not be so clumsy.

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Then you probably love or would love pilates and yoga type workouts. I love them because I'm one of those people who turns beat red when they workout, to the point people think I'm on the verge of collapse. With the pilates I get all the muscle definition and strength without making my capillaries suffer.

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** Karen **

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my parents friends have one and my mom used it several times and loved it so they looked in the local classified ads and found someone who had used it a few times then used it as a clothes rack and they got it for 1/2 off. thats also an option for someone not wanting to pay the full price for it...they really like theirs, but i haven't tried it yet.