Bow Flex

[Smoke]

Does anyone have any experience with using a bow flex?..Thinking about getting one.

Thx

[Pam]

Hey Sue. I've never tried a bow flex but have done some reading about it. I've read in a few places that people have had the bows snap on them causing some pretty good injuries. Not sure how typical that is though. I am guessing not very.

The Bowflex is classified as resistance exercise just as free weights are. But since its a machine it will still limit your range o motion in a way that free weights dont. When you use free weights you need to use your stabilizer muscles to do the exercise, which in turn gives you more options within each exercise. You can notice the difference if you go to a gym and try an exercise at x amount of weight and sets using a machine and then try that same amount using free weights. Its typically much harder.

That said, I'm for anything that gets you working out whether its free weights or a bow flex. I have no idea how much they cost but have your priced out how much it would cost compared to getting set up with more free weights; a rack, oly bay, etc?

Running behind as usual. Hope all is well with you.

[fish]

The hardest knock I have seen on the BF is that one really can't hit the legs hard.

The next hardest knock is the "progressive resistance." The level of resistance goes up as the bow is bent. The effects vary from exercise to exercise.

The third knock is that the quality of the thing is not good.

If you are looking at a multigym device, I own and suggest that you consider a Total Gym. Not the one you see on TV, but the one they sell direct. I have owned one for a number of years, and recomend it highly.

www.totalgym.com/index.html

The hardest knock on the TG is that if you cannot get into heavy weight. That said, 225 lbs is pretty good.
The next hardest knock is that you can't hit the legs hard. But since you can do single leg moves on the thing, that 225 turns into 550.

Although I do not particularly favor Pilates, the machine accomodates Pilates.

If you have any interest or questions about the TG, I'll be happy to tell you what I know about it.

fish

[Smoke]

Thanks for the input. Thank You too for the link Fish.
I sent for the video so we'll see what it really can do, kind of hard to determine on the site.

[jack]

Sue,I'm biased but stick to the free weights. What Pam says is absolutely correct about any type of resistance machine.....they just don't match free weights. Good luck in your selection.