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Bowflex Classic Home Gym

January 18th, 2010 Johanna No comments

Home gyms are very significant because everybody has become health aware, would like to have a completely fit body but at the same time, do not have sufficient time and energy to go to an outside gym every day. This home gym is convenient, have better services and can be used to perform many different types of workout. They are multi-functional and multi-purpose and can be used to work out every part of the body and approximately all the muscles so that the user has a fit body.

The promise of the Bowflex Classic Home Gym is based on the same concept as the rest of the Bowflex line: workout on the machine just “20 minutes a day, 3 days a week, and you will see results in 6 weeks.” Actually, you will see and feel results in about two weeks.

The Bowflex Classic is at a great priced gym for the home. The unit is able of giving the whole body a workout good for toning or definition and there’s a cardio rowing station built in. With fitness results guaranteed within 6 weeks the Bowflex Classic is worthy of closer inspection:

The Home Gym

The Bowflex Classic Home Gym is an entry-level machine offering 30 exercises including 3 chest presses (bench, decline bench and incline bench), shoulder press, rear delt rows, pull downs, triceps pushdowns, standing biceps curls, ab crunches, trunk rotation, calf raise, kickback, leg extension, and more.

With the use of Strapless technology the Bowflex Classic strapless watch requires no chest strap to get accurate heart rate. Wear all day as a watch and you can also have your heart rate at the touch of a button. This machine is ideal for walkers. Features include, strapless heart rate, time, recalls last 20 readings, lowest and highest readings, extra large display, night vision, countdown timer and lap re-call for 42 laps.

The Bowflex home gyms can be expensive, but they do have some advantages over other home gyms, such as not taking up much floor space. The fact that many Bowflex units can be folded up and rolled into the corner of a home or apartment has made these home gyms particular favorites of urban dwellers with limited space.

While the Bowflex company may have begun with limited offerings, today the company offers many different models, ranging from the ridiculously expense to the relatively reasonable.

The most reasonably priced Bowflex gym is the Bowflex classic. The Classic, like most of the other Bowflex home gyms, uses “Power Rod” resistance and a cable and pulley system. The Classic also has a leg attachment and a lat pull-down bar. While the official Bowflex statement is that the machine allows users to perform 30 exercises with a little creativity, this number is higher in actuality.

Characteristics

The Bowflex Classic Home Gym has all the characteristics needed to succeed. It allows the user to do thirty types of exercises. It has 4” holstered roller cushions for leg extensions, horizontal bench press, built-in rowing station, hand grips for Lat Pull Down, folding unit and many other things. It has a leg attachment which assists in developing leg muscles. It has a squat station which can be adjusted and which can be used in different ways for different exercises.

Bowflex Classic Home Gym is 6’ 10” in height, 6’ 10” in length and 3’ 5” in width. It has a workout area of 8’4”x 6’6”. A manual accompanies the gym so that you can go through it, see what type of exercises can be done and then begin your workout. You have to be regular in your workouts. It is not enough that you do them once in a while. For good and excellent results you have to work out for at least thirty to forty minutes daily. In this model you have the facilities of doing different types of exercises. You can check with the manual and decide the exercises you would like to do.

This exercise equipment is designed in such a way that you do not have any joint pain or any pain after the workouts. The rowing facility will make your hand and shoulder muscles pretty strong. You will see the results in a short while if you are regular and do your workouts religiously.

If you are indeed very overweight and you are using this machine to lose weight then you should combine exercise with a proper diet for the best possible results. If you are using this Bowflex home gym to develop your muscles and strengthen them, you will find the result encouraging if you are regular and workout religiously. If you are using it to be physically fit, then you will certainly find yourself fit.

Specification

  • 210 lbs of Power Rod® Resistance
  • Lat Tower
  • Leg Developer
  • Built-in Rowing Station
  • Horizontal Bench Press
  • Folding Unit
  • Max User Weight: 300 lbs
  • Dimensions – 82″L x 41″W x 82″ H
  • 5-year Limited Warranty; Lifetime Power Rod Warranty; 6-week fitness Results Guarantee

Features

  • Monitor watch provides heart rate measurements and recalls up to 42 laps
  • No need for a cumbersome transmitter chest strap
  • Countdown time and pacer mode/chronograph mode for interval training
  • Touch sensors make measuring your heart rate effortless
  • LCD display is large and easy to read

Benefit

The Bowflex Classic allows users to have a varied and relatively safe workout. There are no weights to change and no plates to drop. Overall, the unit is sturdy and a good buy.

Drawback

The price of the unit, at roughly $650, might be out of the price range of many people. However, it is portable, folds up and is sturdy with easily replaced parts.

Workout

The Bowflex Classic allows users to perform many of the most common weight lifting exercises.

Value

Expect to pay about $650 for the Bowflex Classic.

Warranty

Bowflex build their gyms to the highest standards. This is backed by a generous warranty:

  • Lifetime on Power Rods
  • 5 years on parts
BOWFLEX ULTIMATE
Current Price: US $600.00
Bowflex PR1000 Mint Condition
Current Price: US $179.00

Bowflex Xtreme SE Home Gym

January 18th, 2010 Johanna No comments

How much do you invest for a gym membership monthly? Start computing and decide whether to continue the gym workout outside your home or to purchase a machine, it might be expensive to think of it but you will save money in the long run plus think of the convenience that it would bring.

Bowflex Xtreme SE home gym is a must-have for serious workout enthusiasts. The Xtreme SE lets you execute more than 65 gym-quality exercises, including workout for the chest, shoulder, back, arms, abdominals, and legs – in short, all you need to improve strength, tone, or bulk up. Resistance derives from the 210 pounds of Power Rod units, which feel as good as or better than free weights but lacking the latter’s inertia or risk of joint pain. If that’s not enough resistance, you can also upgrade the Xtreme SE to 310 or 410 pounds.

The Xtreme SE is equipped with a number of workout stations, including a lat tower with an angled lat bar for building back and shoulder muscles; an abdominal crunch shoulder harness; a three-position lower pulley/squat station for building your glutes, hamstrings, and quads; and a leg extension/curl attachment. And devoted lifters will dig the adjustable cable and pulley system, which lets you change your resistance angle to target exercises more competently to certain muscle groups. Other details include five-way handgrip and ankle cuffs, an ergonomic adjustable seat with a polyurethane cushion, and a reinforced X-shaped base for maximum stability. The Xtreme SE measures 49 by 81 by 62 inches (W x H x D) and carries a seven-year limited warranty.

When the machine is in your hands, it is frustrating to know that you are not using it. You have invested much money just to get one so make sure make the best out of it. Set goals from the time it was delivered right in front of your door.

  1. Set deadlines. The first goal that people should consider is to set a deadline for completing all 60 different exercises. This should be done over an extensive period of time. Give each exercise its due respect. After trying each exercise for a variety of time, you’ll know which ones work best for you and which muscles they work. And you can pick from them a workout plan that will work out your full body the best.
  2. Next you have to ask yourself – is the 210 pounds of resistance enough? It depends. If you’re a small woman, then it might be. However, if it is not enough, you can always upgrade to 410 pounds of resistance. In general, I have found that people who use this machine say 210 pounds is not enough resistance. This is especially true if you’re going to use leg exercises. For most, it is recommending going with 410 pounds of resistance.
  3. Lastly, a little bit of common sense goes a long ways when using the Bowflex Xtreme. Just because it can be used for all, doesn’t essentially mean that it should. For some people, good old-fashioned push-ups and sit-ups will work better than the same exercises designed to work the same muscle areas on the machine. Don’t be scared to still use free weights and body weight exercises just because you can perform them on the Bowflex Xtreme.

Key Features

  • 210 pounds of Power Rod Resistance offers the benefits of free weights without the inertia or risk of joint pain; upgradeable up to 310 pounds / 140 kg or 410 pounds / 186 kg
  • Lat tower with Angled Lat Bar for building back and shoulder muscles quickly
  • Abdominal Crunch Shoulder Harness help build strong, defined abs
  • 3-Position Lower pulley/squat station to build your glutes, hamstrings, and quads
  • Leg extension/leg curl attachment will help develop strong, muscular legs.
  • Ergonomic adjustable seat with polyurethane cushion provides added back support for leg exercises and knee support for lat exercises
  • Compact size for smaller workout space; reinforced “X”-shaped base for maximum stability
  • Five-way hand-grip/ankle cuffs are designed to add flexibility and performance to any workout; functions include a regular grip, non-grip cuff, ankle cuff, foot cuff, and a shoulder cuff
  • Multiple cable/pulley positions are designed to change your angle of resistance and increase the effectiveness of many exercises
  • Owner’s manual/fitness guide comes complete with detailed instructions for each exercise

Specifications

  • Exercises Available: 60+
  • Standard Weight Resistance: 210 pounds / 95 kg
  • Attachments and Accessories: Leg Attachment, Lat Tower, Squat Station, Ab Crunch Accessory, Shoulder Harness
  • Adjustable Main Pulley System: Built-in (4-position adjustable pulleys)
  • Machine Height: 6′ 11″ (211 cm)
  • Machine Length: 5′ 2″ (158 cm)
  • Machine Width: 4′ 1″ (125 cm)

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Bowflex machines are warranted to the original purchaser. Bowflex home gyms limited warranties cover all defects in material or workmanship but do not cover commercial use or misuse by the consumer. The Power Rod units have a no-time-limit warranty. If you wear them out, Bowflex will replace them for free.

About Home Gyms

While offering the ease of working out in the comfort and solitude of your own home, home gyms also permit you to focus on specific routines without having to wait in line or change between complex arrays of machines. In addition to improving strength, power, coordination, and muscular endurance, weight training can enhance weight reduction, enhance the immune and cardiovascular systems, and help prevent injuries. In general, home gym machines are compact units designed to make stronger and exercise many parts of the body. While no single home gym can give a complete strength training solution, they are a suitable way to combine many exercises into a single unit. Some home gyms focus exclusively on upper-body workouts, while other, more higher units focus on upper- and lower-body conditioning.

Bowflex Extreme
Current Price: US $450.00
 Bowflex XTREME SE Extreme -Very Nice
Current Price: US $769.00
BowFlex Extreme
Current Price: US $600.00

Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE

January 18th, 2010 Johanna No comments

The trendiest home gym on the market nowadays is the Bowflex home gyms. There is a variety of alternatives and a lot of different goods from Bowflex. One of their more reasonably priced home gyms is the Bowflex Extreme 2 SE Home Gym. It is not the best home gym that is offered from Bowflex, but it is still one of the best on the market. There are not other companies that can top the Extreme 2 SE Home Gym.

The Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym could be your key to looking years younger and feeling like you did back in the day. Strength building exercises for your entire body gives you a ton of age defying benefits. With the help of an efficiently designed home gym, you can flash through your workouts in just minutes per day. And the benefits you can reap include a trim, tight, and more muscular body.

The refurbished Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE presents a compact total-body workout solution that allows you to execute over 70 exercises. It includes a Lat Tower that adjusts to two positions, leg extension for developing strong, muscular legs, an abdominal crunch shoulder harness to help you build strong, defined abs, and a 4-position lower pulley/squat station that helps in building your gluts, hamstrings, and quads.

By exercising your whole body you will also help improve your posture and alignment and help your entire body function more efficiently. Combined with other healthy activities such as eating a well balanced diet and getting the proper rest, you and others should start noticing impressive results in weeks.

The Xtreme 2 SE utilizes Bowflex’s original Power Rods, which provide resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights–but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 pounds of resistance (can be upgraded to 410 pounds). They’re precisely manufactured from a high-tech composite material under the highest quality control measures, then sheathed and tested 4 separate times to ensure quality and durability. The Power Rod units are so strong, you can flex them repeatedly but you won’t be able to wear them out. This refurbished model of the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE is backed by a full 6-month warranty.

Delivery

Designed to strong, small, and fully-featured, this home gym is well constructed. It ships in five boxes and requires some assembly. There are detailed directions and every piece fits together exactly like it should. Assembly should only take between 3 and 4 hours.

Workout

Bowflex ships a home workout DVD with each of their gym systems. The most basic is a three day per week full body workout. It only takes 25 – 30 minutes to complete. The machine is quiet so even in a cramped household you can work out with a spouse or children asleep in the next room. The workouts center on isolation exercises for every muscle group in your body and will deliver solid, if not amazing results.

Changing the resistance is easy, though unhooking the leg extension attachment is a bit cumbersome. The resistance bands are effective and truly feel like the dumbbells they are supposed to simulate.

Specifications

  • Number of exercises: 70+
  • Weight resistance: 210 pounds (can be upgraded to 410 pounds)
  • Leg attachment: Included
  • Lat tower attachment: Included
  • Aerobic rowing: No
  • Squat station: Included
  • Preacher curl attachment: No
  • Ab crunch accessory: Shoulder harness only
  • Adjustable main pulley system: Included (4-position adjustable pulleys)
  • No-change cable pulley system: Included
  • Dimensions: 83 x 58 x 49 inches (HxLxW)
  • Workout area: 8′ x 6′ 5″
  • Maximum user weight: 300 pounds

Manufacturer’s Warranty

This model of the Bowflex Revolution XP Home Gym has been refurbished to factory standards and is backed by a full 6-month warranty.

Exercises

The Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE home gym allows you to perform over 70 gym-quality exercises including:

Arm Exercises

  • Triceps Pushdown w/ Hand Grips
  • Triceps Hammer Pushdown
  • Triceps Pushdown w/ Lat Pulldown Bar
  • Single Arm Pushdown
  • Triceps Extension
  • Cross Triceps Extension
  • Hammer Triceps Extension
  • “Rope” Pushdowns
  • Seated Biceps Curl
  • Standing Biceps Curl
  • Concentration Biceps Curl
  • Hammer Biceps Curl
  • Barbell Biceps Curl
  • Reverse Barbell Biceps Curl
  • Seated Hammer Biceps Curl
  • Reverse Curl
  • Triceps Kickback
  • Hammer Triceps Kickback
  • Arm Opposition Push-pull
  • Upper Body Opposition Push-pull
  • Wrist Extension
  • Wrist Curl
  • Resisted Dip

Shoulder Exercises

  • Crossover Rear Delt Rows
  • Crossover High Rear Delt Rows
  • Reverse Fly
  • Crossover Reverse Fly
  • Seated Shoulder Press
  • Front Shoulder Raise
  • Shoulder Extension
  • Shoulder Shrug
  • Scapular Protraction
  • Scapular Depression
  • Lateral Shoulder Raise
  • Seated Forearm Lateral Shoulder Raise
  • Shoulder Rotator Cuff (internal)
  • Shoulder Rotator Cuff (external)
  • Crossover Seated Rear Delt Rows
  • Scapular Retraction

Leg Exercises

  • Leg Extension
  • Squat
  • Calf Raise
  • Single Leg Calf Raise
  • Standing Hip Extension (knee bent)
  • Standing Hip Extension (knee extended)
  • Standing Hip Abduction
  • Standing Hip Adduction
  • Leg Kickback
  • Hip Flexion
  • Dead Lift
  • Stiff Leg Dead Lift

Back Exercises

  • Standing Low Back Extension
  • Bent Rear Delt Row
  • Crossover Bent Rear Delt Row
  • Seated Wide Lat Pulldowns
  • Narrow Pulldowns w/ Lat Pulldown Bar
  • Narrow Pulldowns w/ Hand Grips
  • Reverse Grip Pulldowns
  • Crossover Wide Pulldowns
  • Crossover Narrow Pulldowns
  • Pulldowns
  • Stiff Arm Pulldowns
  • Standing Shoulder Pullover w/ Hand Grips
  • Crossover Seated Lat Rows
  • Seated Lat Rows
  • Reverse Grip Pulldown with Lat Bar

Abdominal Exercises

  • Seated (resisted) Abdominal Crunch
  • Seated (resisted) Oblique Abdominal Crunch
  • Trunk Rotation

Chest Exercises

  • Bench Press
  • Chest Fly
  • Decline Bench Press
  • Incline Bench Press
  • Decline Chest Fly
  • Incline Chest Fly

Bowflex TreadClimber

January 17th, 2010 Johanna No comments

The Bowflex TreadClimber is a unique new combination cardio machine from Nautulis fitness. Nautulis Fitness is the same company that started the exercise machine craze in health clubs. Remember those blue painted machines with the black weight stacks? That was Nautulis.

The Bowflex TreadClimber is a low collision, 3-in-1 home fitness exercises machine. It merges the features of a treadmill and of a regular stair climber, elliptical as well, so you burn the same quantity of calories in just half the time (30 minutes a day) it takes on the other two machines combined. It is great for the beginner or for expert enthusiasts, because it has 12 intensity settings.

Treadmill Action

The ideal exercise to begin with when aiming to lose weight is walking. Walking is low impact and nearly anyone can do it on a regular basis (exception to disabled of course). Walking on a treadmill will burn on average 700 calories an hour when on a high setting.

Stair Climber Action

Stair stepper machine is a great way to amplify the intensity of your workout. While walking increases caloric burn a stair stepping action will also increase muscle mass and tone, both of which have the added benefit of burning even more calories. Depending on your initial weight, you can anticipate to burn 5.9 – 8.8 calories per minute. That interprets into nearly five hundred calories an hour at normal speed.

Elliptical Movement

Elliptical are known for smooth low impact movement. When doing a work out on a typical treadmill you will have at least some harsh impact to knees and other joints, with an elliptical machine you do not. After some time, you get the same calorie-burning workout that you can get with a treadmill but with considerably less effort.

It is always best to know the benefits and the drawback of the system before purchasing one. It is because, every person is unique and one thing may be good for him and one thing is not. As for this machine, not all people can get the benefits of it because of some circumstances like health conditions and personal preferences. So it is a wise action to examine the machine before acquiring it. However, after carefully checking the machine’s complex engineering, there is no doubt that safety and fitness for all are the main objectives why it was invented.

Benefits

Health Benefits (Cardiovascular-friendly). It is designed and built to help people get better and maintain good health. This machine is an expert when it comes to health development factor. The heart rate gradually increases allowing blood and oxygen to circulate in the body more efficiently as if you are just walking a distance.

Having a BowFlex TreadClimber at home will really help you in your weight-loss journey at the same develop a healthier heart. You would even develop a good sleeping habit and self-discipline.

Provides gentle but constant workout. TreadClimber does not provide heavy cardiovascular workouts. It is designed to provide a mild and gentle yet persistent exercise to let the body sweat and heart pumping naturally. You may need to perform basic calisthenics to prepare yourself with the workout to prevent undetermined effects from sudden motion applied to different muscles of your body.

Safe. The machine offers a low to moderate impact workout for the body which is best for people with back and knee problems. People with these minor conditions can benefit a lot from the machine when aiming to regain strength for the body. What they need is a good and promising exercise that has to be easy and gentle which TreadClimber alone can offer.

Convenience. Easy to use features coupled with an astonishing display and high-tech controls. This is not just your typical workout equipment; it can also be a great piece to display.

Drawback

TreadClimber can be expensive. Despite the benefit it offers, this innovative piece of machine comes with an even more amazing price tag. TreadClimbers can be 10 – 20% more expensive than normal treadmills and 40 – 50% more expensive than steppers and oblique machines.

Users may need time to get acquainted with the machine. With its features and design, using the machine efficiently requires a little bit of familiarization to the controls. But rest assured that after few sessions of using the machine, bit by bit you’ll be able to manage to use it smoothly.

The maximum speed is only 4mph, so you can’t really run or even jog, the tread climber also doesn’t allow for long strides.

The motion does take some getting used to your feet can slip between the belts if you’re not careful.

How the Bowflex TreadClimber Works?

The treadClimber has two platforms rather than a single flat walking surface you find on a treadmill. Each platform rises separately. As you put your foot on the left platform it goes down while the right one goes up. If you have used stair steppers you know that you are going up and down in a straight line. Steppers are my least favorite cardio piece (other than a skier). The TreadClimber is different. There is a gradual hill climbing movement that is really easy on my knees.  The TreadClimber gives your feet a natural range of motion. Your feet can move around although the platform is much narrower than on a treadmill.

Is a treadClimber Worth the Money?

Yes. As a result of the treadClimber reviews over the internet, since they do provide a solid workout it is recommended if you have the money to spend. If not, you are probably better off with another machine.

For you to spend that kind of money on a machine like the Nautilus Treadclimber and Bowflex Treadclimber just to decide that you don’t like the motion would be a waste. In no doubt, you could always return it within 30 days but you don’t get your shipping/handling fees back, and in most cases have to pay for shipping it back to the company.

The Bowflex Home Gym

January 17th, 2010 Johanna No comments

Of all the fitness equipment on the market, Bowflex home gyms are likely the one brand name that most of you are well-known with thanks to the long running TV commercials. You might also be familiar with the parent company, Nautilus, and the home gym systems it makes.

Bowflex Home Gym is typically one of the most excellent equipment that you will find. When you are in the marketplace for used exercise equipment, Bowflex Home Gym is usually much more inexpensive than when you purchase it new. Even if the equipment has been used relatively, you will find that it is most likely in excellent condition. Bowflex Home Gym’s are made actually well so they will stand the test of time through numerous exercisers a good deal of the time.

When you shop exercise equipment Bowflex Home Gym you will find that there are some different models to select from. Some of the more common models that you will see are the Bowflex Ultimate, Bowflex Ultimate 2, Bowflex Extreme, Bowflex Extreme 2, and the Bowflex Blaze. These are simply different models that were released at different times. For the most part the technology is the same, though if you can choose one of the newer models you will find that it comes with more of the accessories and it is much easier to use. In addition, most of the newer machines do not require you to change anything out, you can just move from weight to weight without adjusting, which is really good.

One of the best places to get used Bowflex Home Gym models is in used sports stores. There are several chains across the world that offers a wide variety of sports and fitness supplies and equipment. Many of these stores carry the Bowflex Home Gym models because they know they will sell. You can often find them for less than half of their original price, which means you can get a $1200 machine for just $600 and sometimes less. This is a great deal, because as was stated before Bowflex machines normally stand up well over time. The most difficult part of the transaction may be getting the equipment home, but if you or a friend have a pickup truck or SUV with plenty of cargo room you generally won’t find it difficult.

If you cannot seem to find used exercise equipment Bowflex Home Gym in your local area you may want to look over the internet. You might be surprised to find how many people sell their used goods, including exercise equipment online. If you can find a really good deal and you are also able to see pictures of the product all you need to do is check on the shipping charges. As you might imagine, the Bowflex Home Gym equipment is relatively heavy and can cost a lot to ship. If you choose to buy used exercise equipment online then you should be sure that you aren’t being charged too much to have it shipped to your home. Make sure you are still saving money when all is said and done, and also be sure that the package is insured just in case it is damaged during shipping.

The Bowflex Home Gym is definitely one of the best used exercise equipment deals you will find on the market. You may find a lot of infomercial type equipment that is being sold used, but when you come upon a Bowflex you will find that it is in stellar condition and really worth its resale price and then some. If you have quite a few used sports gear providers in your area you may want to check with all of them for the best deal, though most of the time you can bet it is a good deal.

You may also want to check newspaper classifieds for used exercise equipment Bowflex Home Gym advertisements. Many people do not want to transport the equipment to the used stores so they advertise it for sale. Much of the time the owner is simply looking to get the equipment out of their garage or basement and will let you have it for a really good price. Of course, you should ask to see and even try out the machine before you buy, just to be sure that the equipment is still in good working order. If it is, then take your new yet used exercise equipment home and get in shape, the Bowflex can work wonders.

If you got no choice but to purchase a new one, remember these things that you must consider:

Initial Assembly: The initial assembly of the Bowflex Extreme SE home gym took approximately 1 and a half hours with the help of a friend. The directions are easily laid out and were simple to follow. All of the tools required for assembly are included, but have a good set of vice grips available to make the tightening of all of the bolts a lot easier. This is definitely a two man job though.

Resistance Weight Included: My Bowflex Extreme SE home gym came with 210 pounds of resistance weight, and this was definitely enough for the first few months of training. It is important to point out that the Power Rods do have a different feel in comparison to free weights. The great thing about the Bowflex is that it can grow with you in terms of resistance weight. The Bowflex is upgradable to 410 pounds of resistance.

Lat Tower: The Bowflex Extreme SE home gym comes with an incorporated lat tower that makes performing back exercises a breeze. You can use it not only for back exercises, but also for triceps pull downs and additional chest exercises.

Cable Pulley System: The Bowflex uses a cable pulley system to connect the Power Rods to the various workout set ups, and they are of very high quality. They provide a very smooth and very wide range of motion that really permits you to get the most out of each exercise you perform.

Overall Quality: The Bowflex Extreme SE home gym is made of high quality materials like steel, and aircraft rated aluminum cables and pulleys. There are no weak points of the unit, and everything is still rock solid on it.

Space Requirements: This requires 8X8 ft space to ensure proper functionality

Safety: The Bowflex is one of the safest home gyms you can buy. There is no need for spotters because the Power Rods eliminate the need for lifting heavy free weights that could potentially fall and injure the user.

BOWFLEX ULTIMATE
Current Price: US $600.00
Bowflex PR1000 Mint Condition
Current Price: US $179.00

Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells

January 17th, 2010 Johanna No comments

Bowflex is continuing to transform the home fitness industry with their new Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells.  These unbelievable dumbbells consent you to rapidly dial in how much you want each dumbbell to weigh.  Thanks to the nautilus engineers you are now able to have 2 dumbbells that can weigh anywhere from 5 to 90 pounds at the turn of a dial.  No more need to spend $900.00 on a rack of dumbbells that take up half your home.

Bowflex has become the most trusted name in the home gym industry with their power rod based home gyms. They continue their power with the success of the SelectTech dumbbells which have quickly become the top home dumbbell solution to people who just enjoy the ease of use, affordability, and space saving quality of these game changing weights.

Additional accessories include an adjustable weight bench, a sturdy SelectTech dumbbell stand, and durable equipment mat.

Benefits of Having SelectTech Dumbbells

Covers only small space. The biggest benefit, obviously, is the truth that they take up very little space. You can factually put these Bowflex dumbbells in a corner of any room. Yet they provide the same flexibility and functionality as a huge set of dumbbells that would normally take up a whole wall or more. This is enormous for anyone who doesn’t want to allocate a whole room to a weight set or weight machine — or simply doesn’t have the floor space available.

Adjustable Dumbbells. These adjustable dumbbells are in fact very easy to use. You literally change the weight amounts with the turn of a dial. It’s very instinctive and takes about 2 seconds to adjust both of the Bowflex dumbbells. No more messing with strange device that require changing pins or flipping switches. In addition, of course, no more of the annoying clamps, bolts, or weight plate-swapping associated with normal free weight systems.

Good Quality. The Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells actually look good. Their stylish design and high-quality structure positively sets them apart from other types of adjustable dumbbells, most of which are ugly to say the least. The SelectTech dumbbells are very smooth and most people won’t have a problem putting them in an area where guests can see them. Another good thing is that the person weight plates are enclosed with molded plastic which eliminates the clanking noises associated with other adjustable dumbbells and free weights.

Exercising “Core” Muscles. When exercising with dumbbells, your body has to work harder because it has to stabilize itself.

Various Exercises. Dumbbells offer a good variety of exercises for each major muscle group.

Exercise both Sides of Your Body Evenly. Everyone has a leading, stronger side to their bodies. The Bowflex dumbbells enable you to develop and tone each side of your body evenly.

Increase Bone Density. Exercising with actual “weight”, increases both bone density and ligament strength. This is particularly important for post menopausal women and athletes.

Drawbacks of the Product

The only real unhelpful regarding this Bowflex dumbbell is that they are a bit expensive. Depending on where you buy them, expect to pay between $350 and $400 per set, as well as another $140 for the optional stand. Also, if you have them shipped, it can easily cost $50 – $100 (unless the merchant offers free shipping, as many do these days).

However, there is what we call positive drawback of the machine. Listed below are some of those.

  • Learning Curve – if you are a beginner (haven’t used free weights regularly), it take some time for your body to learn to do each exercise “correctly”. It is essential that when beginning a new exercise you start with a light weight.
  • Much like learning to ride a bicycle, your body needs to learn how to do each exercise correctly.
  • Safety – it’s very significant to understand what amount of weight is right for you, specifically if you train by yourself. Though the Bowflex dumbbells only can go up to 52.5Ib, there is still a possibility of injury due to poor exercise form or using too much weight. Please be safe.
  • Momentum – having proper exercise form is also important for eliminating momentum. Momentum starts to creep in when a person does an exercise too quickly. You can eliminate this by pausing at the bottom and at the top of each repetition.

Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells and High Intensity Training

Everyone that workout gets to a point where what they have been doing stops being as effective.  Muscles get accustom to recognizable movements and grow fuller, faster when they are hit with varying exercises. Another well-liked way to alter a workout once a month is to use High Intensity Training.

High Intensity Training is a type of training where repetitions are fewer but the few reps are killers.  The desired result of High Intensity Training is to make muscle reach the complete type of failure necessary for optimum muscle growth.

This is how it a set of Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells High Intensity Training would go.

1st set

  • Start the first set with good chunk of weight
  • Do slow reps with the main focus being form.
  • Pick 6-8 spots while slowly lifting and lowering the dumbbells have a wonderful 5-10 second pause.
  • Fun begins once you cannot continue to push the weight up anymore.  This is where you continue to hold the weight in a static position.  Pretty soon the weight will begin to slowly drop.

2nd set

Same process as set 1 but with a weight drop around 20% (Personal Preference)

3rd set

Same process as set 2 but with a weight drop around 10% – 20% (Personal Preference)

And you have done that muscle group and should not do High Intensity Training for that muscle group for 3 weeks.  Trust me every 3 weeks is plenty.  The rest between the High Intensity Training is crucial for optimum muscle group.

So if you are looking for something new to try with Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells High Intensity Training could be the jump starts your routine back into a new growth period.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym

January 15th, 2010 Johanna No comments

“What if you could have that lean, muscular body that you can feel good about and be proud of?”

Home gyms can be enormous pieces of fitness equipment that take up an entire room. Or they can be a single piece of equipment that fits nicely into the corner. Some Bowflexes don’t require their own addresses in your home, and yet it’s one of the most powerful home gyms on the market.

People who use the Bowflex for twenty minutes a day, three days a week have claimed amazing results in the strength and tone of their bodies, as well as improved weight loss. The low impact Bowflex Power Rods reduce or eliminate the joint pain that often occurs when lifting free weights. And they provide even resistance for a consistent workout.

Bowflex offers an unconditional money back guarantee for people who are skeptical of the exclusive Power Rod system for weight training. You can use the Bowflex in their homes for up to six weeks, and if you’re not happy with it for any reason, return it for a full refund. (But you pay the shipping and handling on the return. It’s supposed to go back in the original box with EVERYTHING returned to get your refund)

The Machine

The Bowflex Ultimate 2 is Bowflex’s best selling product. Bowflex and Nautilus Inc. have been manufacturing Bowflex home gyms for over 20 years now. The Ultimate 2 is a real improvement in comparison with it’s predecessor the Bowflex Ultimate.

The Bowflex Ultimate 2 is the “ultimate” home gym that Bowflex has to offer. With over 95 exercises and 310Ib of resistance so there is little chance of outgrowing it anytime soon (upgradable to 410Ib) it has everything a person could ever want. This is the most complete ‘Health Club Alternative Gym’ in the Bowflex lineup and the most decked out gym currently available in the Bowflex lineup and sits atop the Extreme 2, Revolution, and all other Bowflex models.

When you train on the Bowflex Ultimate 2 you’ll have 400 variations of exercises, an exercise training DVD, and everything you need to transform your body. When you train you’ll improve arms, back, chest, shoulders, legs, abdominals, and more.

It’s very easy to use. There is no other machine that gave results as fast and effectively as this machine. Unlike free weights, the Bowflex Ultimate 2 provides just as much resistance at the start of your exercises as it does at the top. Your muscles will experience intense stimulation and faster gains.

Does It Take Up A lot Of Space?

This is the ideal home gym for anyone that wants to workout in the privacy of their home while leaving a small footprint. You can fold if for easy storage. There is no reason you should have to fill your house up with big clunky weights to get a gym quality workout.

Key Specifications on the Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym

  • 310 pounds of Power Rod standard – upgradeable to 410 pounds
  • Lat tower with angled lat bar
  • Leg extension/leg curl station
  • Preacher curl attachment
  • Integrated, biomechanically correct squat station
  • Built-in adjustable pulley system
  • Cable Change Pulley System – go from one exercise to another without changing cables making your workout faster
  • Ultra smooth built-in rowing machine for cardiovascular warm-up and cool-down

The Ultimate 2 gym is a good value when you consider how many machines this gym replaces. It’s easy to move from exercise to the next with the ‘no cable change’ feature, and you can adjust the bench to different angles or simply remove it when you want to do squats on the built-in station.

The Bowflex Ultimate 2 has about any type of exercise you’ll ever need to, or want to perform on a home gym.

It’s easy to move from exercise to the next with the ‘no cable change’ feature, and I like the fact that you can adjust the bench to different angles or simply remove it when you want to do squats on the built-in station.

The Ultimate 2 is a lot of gym (even for the higher price tag) and is relatively small considering all you can accomplish on it.

Like the Bowflex Revolution, the Ultimate 2 will certainly scare some people off with the price but you can get financing directly from Bowflex, or there are other options to consider like the Bowflex Extreme 2.

Pros

Movable – the horizontal bench folds up into the machine, which allows you to store it where ever you like.

Tip – the Ultimate 2 is a little heavy, so it will roll on a solid floor much more easily than it will on carpeting.

Leg Press – the horizontal bench allows you to do leg presses. This is a major benefit, especially for those who find squats difficult.

Rowing Machine – the horizontal bench machines can also be used as a rowing machine. This is very nice for warming up or cooling down after a workout.

Cons

Space Needed – the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is about 4 feet longer than the vertical bench machines.

Attachments – moving the Bowflex Ultimate 2 can be a chore due to all it’s attachments like the leg extension etc.

The Best Features of Bowflex Ultimate 2

1. Preacher curls attachment. Preacher curls enable you to isolate and develop the biceps. Because your arms are resting against the pad, other muscles can’t help your biceps “cheat” in the exercise (like letting the elbows come forward, instead of keeping them tight against your sides).

2. Squat station. Squats are the “Grand Pooba” of ALL exercises. They are the most taxing resistance exercise there is because they use so much of the body. The problem with squats is balance and flexibility. It’s hard to go down and come up while having good posture.

The Ultimate 2’s squat station solves this problem. It automatically puts your body in proper position which enables you to receive the utmost benefit from this “super” exercise.

3. No cable changes. This seems like a minor feature but after training for a couple of weeks you’ll definitely appreciate not having to change cables for different exercises.

4. Ab crunch attachment. This isolates and trains your abdominals

BOWFLEX ULTIMATE
Current Price: US $600.00
Bowflex PR1000 Mint Condition
Current Price: US $179.00

Bowflex Revolution XP

January 15th, 2010 Johanna No comments

The Bowflex Revolution XP Home Gym is the top of the line fitness machine from Nautilus. Choosing exercise equipment can be a difficult decision and Bowflex has garnered a lot of the attention with their infomercials.

Bowflex Revolution XP is arguably the most versatile addition to their family of home gyms. Boasting in the ability to provide 100 different exercises, the Bowflex Revolution XP is also one of the most expensive evolutions of its line of personal fitness products.

The Bowflex Revolution XP not only has 100 different exercises to help shape the body, it reportedly has a much smoother motion with better overall resistance. Versions of the past have been criticized for good resistance at the bottom of the exercise, but poor resistance at the top. Resistance is the most critical element to building muscle through weight bearing exercise. Instead of “power rods”, the Bowflex Revolution XP uses polymer discs called “cams” that look like traditional barbell type weights for better resistance and more familiar aesthetics.

It has also been designed for saving space in your home as it can fold into 4 ½ feet x 3 feet. Unfolded and set up for exercising it is only 9′ x 5′, and that is all the extra space you will need to get your daily workout.

There is also a Bowflex Revolution XP edition that is still designed for saving space; however, it offers 20 lbs less than the 220 lbs of resistance than the one above, however it can be upgraded to 280 lbs. It also offers an optional Lat Tower, which helps you build your back and shoulder muscles, and the lower body workouts help to work your leg and hip muscles, using a Squat Harness. A leg Attachment is equipped for seated leg extension and standing leg curls.  It has only 90 exercises to offer. It also uses the same SpiraFlex plate technology and it is even more compact than the first one using only a 4′ x 5′ space.

The Bowflex series of home gyms has revolutionized the personal fitness market. Their innovations and versatility have allowed the average person the ability to workout daily without expensive gym fees. The space saving size of these machines gives consumers the ability to use a small part of one room for use and storage. The Bowflex does take some time to assemble, but it remains relatively lightweight for moving.

The Bowflex Revolution XP is priced on $2,499 or $38 a month. (If you go for the monthly payment it cost you more dollars) For being the cheaper one, $2,499 is a lot of money, so what can it do? Let me give you some info on the Bowflex Revolution XP.

The Bowflex Revolution XP is mainly for an upper-body workout. It is available on their site as standard model without lat and ab rack ($2,499), with lat ($2798), with ab back pad ($2578) and the complete version with lat and ab back pad ($2,877). To have the best workout and make use of all its exercises the customers probably needs the full version.

Best Features of Bowflex Revolution XP

  • The Spiraflex Resistance Technology; the Bowflex Revolution XP comes with a 200 lbs. (90,72 kg) standard resistance. It is upgradeable to 280 lbs. (127 kg) Extra costs $99.
  • Over 90 exercises are available with this home gym; upper body, lower body, core and abs workout you can do it all, their sites claims it is best used for upper body workouts.
  • Freedom Arms; especially designed for the upper body workout, the freedom arms have a 170 angle and are adjustable.
  • The usual hand grips for good and flexible training are included.
  • Leg extension/curl; is included, you can get built some muscles but do not expect a lot of varieties in the exercises.
  • Foot harness; included, just standard on a home gym.
  • Squat harness; included, do you squats using this home gym.

There are other accessories included which are optional like:

  • Ab Rack pads; can give your abs during the workout an extra boost.
  • Lat tower; very important for upper body, builds back and shoulder muscles.

Because of it revolutionary design and Spiraflex Resistance Technology, the Bowflex Revolution XP does have over 90 exercises. The Revolution XP is not folding and uses a workout area from 7′ by 5′4″ (213 cm x 163 cm), the maximum user weight of this home gym is 300 lbs (136 kg). It comes with a 10 year warranty on the materials and workmanship and a 10 year warranty on the weight stacks.

Bowflex Workouts

Working out on a Bowflex takes a little getting used to. Unlike free weights, the Revolution XP restricts your from making it difficult to cheat. Doing a curl with dumbbells is a lot different than on a home gym. With the former, it’s very easy to swing your shoulders and cheat. With the Revolution XP, there is no momentum and you are forced to use the correct form. Good form helps a lot in building quality muscle – something that haven’t found on other home gyms.

As with any piece of workout equipment, you must adhere to a strict training schedule for the best results. The XP will not magically transform your body and change your life. But, with so much versatility and exercises to choose from, the possibilities are endless.

These exercise machines have the overall quality and high standards as all other Bowflex equipment. You can always trust the brand name for the most fantastic exercising experience you have ever had.

Bowflex Lifestyle

One of the paybacks of having a Bowflex home gym is you can workout in the expediency of your home. No more long drives to gym or waiting in line to use the bench. Key to your Bowflex success is motivation. As effective as it is at strength training, an improper diet and lack of discipline is a recipe for failure. For the best results, you owe it to yourself to workout 3x a week. All too often, exercise equipment collects dust in the attic or basement. Since purchasing a Bowflex is a fairly expensive investment, it would be wise to assess the environment at home. If you feel you would be too easily distracted from working out, then this machine might suits you.

Bowflex Revolution

January 15th, 2010 Johanna No comments

The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is made by Bowflex, manufactured by Nautilus Inc. Nautilus is building Bowflex Home Gyms for almost two decades now. There is no disagreeing that Bowflex is a well-regarded company that manufactures quality home gym. They have been around a long time and stand behind their products.

The Bowflex Revolution is a home gym system that is designed to be the only piece of equipment that anyone will need to get a complete workout.  This system is designed for those who would prefer to work out in the comfort of their own home instead of waiting gym lines for prime machines and paying steep monthly fees for their use.  While the Bowflex does represent a large investment, the reputation of the company, the variety of exercises it supports and the generous warranty have made it a staple of home gyms for years.  Anyone who is considering starting a fitness regime at home or those who are just hoping to rid their current home gym of its clutter should consider purchasing a Bowflex Revolution.

One of the main goals for most workout regimes is a flat, well-defined stomach.  In addition to the aesthetic benefits, a strong core will improve posture and reduce back pain.  The Bowflex Revolution offers a number of different options for working out the core at different levels of resistance, giving users faster results than those seen with crunches alone.  The padded bench can be used by beginners for crunches, while those at higher fitness levels can use the SpiraFlex plates to add resistance and increase the intensity.  The trunk rotation set-up will help get rid of love handles, and work oblique muscles that are often overlooked.

Features of Bowflex Revolution

  • The Spiraflex Resistance Technology; the Bowflex Revolution comes with a 220 lbs. (100 kg) standard resistance. It is upgradeable to 300 lbs. (136 kg) Extra costs $99. Upgradeable to 600 lbs. (272 kg) for lower body results.
  • Over 100 exercises come with the Bowflex Revolution; with these 100 exercises you can make up to 400 variations.
  • Preacher Curl Attachment for strong biceps.
  • Freedom Arms; especially designed for the upper body workout, the freedom arms have a 170 angle and are adjustable.
  • 5 Position Foot Harness; improvement in comparison with the XP.
  • The usual hand grips for good and flexible training are included.
  • Built-in rowing machine; for calorie-burning, cardiovascular warm-up and cool-down.
  • Leg Press Plate; for a good lower body workout.
  • Leg extension/curl; is included, you can get built some muscles but do not expect a lot of varieties in the exercises.
  • Instructional Manual and a DVD workout video to perform all exercises on the right way.

The Bowflex Revolution does not have the ab back pad, squat harness and lat tower available on this home gym. Because of its design the Bowflex Revolution is folding to a 55″ by 38″ footprint what makes it ideal for people with an apartment or little space available to work out. The guarantee is 10 year on materials and workmanship and 10 years on weights. The maximum user weight is 300 lbs. (136 kg).

The Bowflex Revolution would be a good fit for you:

  • have a home office and or if you want convenience
  • dislike fighting the primetime crowds at the gym, which begin to amass at about 5:00 PM and go until about 7:30 PM
  • have ample room in your home
  • are an intermediate or advanced user – or you have a professional trainer get you started; I’ve been lifting weights for years and it took me a little time to get used to it
  • are either strong or don’t plan on moving the machine: this machine is heavy and it’s bulky. It does have a foldaway feature, but it does require a fair amount of strength. Moving and folding away the machine can be dangerous for most people, my suggestion to you is not to move it or fold it up unless necessary – even then, be careful.

Pros

  • The overall range of motion was quite smooth, there was constant resistance throughout the exercise, for many of the exercises I found it to be comparable to professional gym equipment
  • Versatility – if you are an experienced weight trainer, the amount of exercises and variations is only limited to your imagination
  • Convenience – no, the Revolution can’t compete with going to the gym, but if this is what you’ve got to work with, it’s the next best thing
  • The machine makes little noise
  • Customer service was friendly and easy to reach
  • The plates are compact and extremely lightweight

Cons

  • Bulky, heavy machine, don’t move it or lift it unless it’s necessary
  • Switching attachments and adding plates can be a little bit of a nuisance but you can get quicker with this over time. Don’t be fooled by the commercials and DVD, it’s not that easy to move from exercise to exercise – but you will get faster over time.
  • There is a learning curve with the exercises, have some patience when you first get the machine. It took me about 2-3 work outs before I started to feel comfortable and efficient
  • The markings on the plates should have been more obvious. The graphics look good on the plates but the numbers should have been larger so they are readable from a distance. Perhaps they might have color coded them.
  • I often had to check to see how much weight I had on each side of the machine – too bad there wasn’t a display on the front of the machine that told you how much resistance there was on each arm
  • Bowflex is slow in sending out the order, they indicated they would provide an email and a phone call when the unit shipped – they did neither in my case
  • Putting the Revolution took about 1.5 – 2 hours to do. It does require some ingenuity and elbow grease to get everything assembled. When I was done I needed a shower and a long break.
  • The bench has only 2 positions: incline and flat, no variations in between
  • Attaching the footplate leg press accessory is a pain in the rear. It’s bulky and it’s heavy. For some people, attaching the footplate can be dangerous.
BOWFLEX ULTIMATE
Current Price: US $600.00
Bowflex PR1000 Mint Condition
Current Price: US $179.00

Weider X-Factor First Impressions

January 12th, 2010 Brian 1 comment

My Weider X-Factor just arrived last night after waiting for about a week or two to have it delivered. I was very anxious to finally receive the X-Factor, but I did order it over the Christmas/New Years holiday, so of course it took longer than it probably would normally to get it shipped out. If you order the Weider X-Factor, you should know that it will probably be at least a week to ship to your house, possibly two.

The equipment ships in the same kind of box you’ll find in stores probably later this month or year anyway. It’s exactly what you would expect it to be. It’s the two sets of 3 resistance bands attached to pulleys and the door anchors. It has the leg straps as well as the handles to use both arms or legs with the X-Factor.

The three included DVD’s seem to be pretty good quality. Last night I watched the Explosion Workout DVD. If you compare it to P90X, it’s not as intense of a workout tempo. That’s not to say that you won’t get a great workout doing it. It’s just that the pace of the workout is more designed to teach you how to do the exercises. For beginners or people who haven’t used the X-Factor before, this is awesome and a great place to start.

The exercise chart is huge. Seriously, this thing is massive, which I love because it really gives you a ton of great ideas for what you can do with the X-Factor. Just looking at everything you can do with the X-Factor my mind started reeling with the possibilities. I just had to attach it to a door and try it.

I live in a very old house with old doors that aren’t always the standard size. That being said, the Weider X-Factor was incredibly easy to setup. They aren’t joking when they say it attaches to the door in about a minute. You literally just attach it to the bottom corner and then pull up to place it on the opposite corner of the door. It’s just about idiot proof.

The only problem I encountered thus far is that when you take the X-Factor off the door sometimes the resistance bands can get twisted a bit, but it’s very easy to fix. Not a big deal.

Now, on to the real question. Can you get a great workout with the Weider X-Factor?

Yes, you can.

This machine is awesome. As I said, I watched the Explosion training DVD last night and so this morning my workout was based around the moves I saw in DVD. I used my Timex watch to setup a 1 minute timer for each exercise.

Holy moley, this thing is a workout. Admittedly, I’m not in any kind of “peak physical condition”, but I’ve done my share of Football and distance running training and let me tell you, this thing is a great workout.

What I would suggest is picking a 4 or 5 exercise circuit and do 1 minute for each exercise with a little break in-between. This is similar to what you would do for P90X. In fact, I might just have to try using the X-Factor for some of the P90X workouts instead of free weights.

Anyway, doing 3 or 4 circuits would give you a straight up awesome workout in probably 20-30 minutes. A lot of te exercises work both your upper body, lower body, and core all at the same time, so you don’t have to spend a lot of extra time targeting specific muscle groups unless you want to.

So, after one day do I think that it was $100 well spent?

100% yes. For sure.

The Weider X-Factor is a great piece of equipment. It’s super duper versitile and it really works. My muslces are tired and I feel great. It’s definately something I’m going to be using on a regular basis, and even when I travel to visit family, I’ll probably take it with me just because it’s so convenient.

So those are my first impressions of the Weider X-Factor. I’ll probably wait a few weeks before I give it a “full review” because I want to try the other workouts as well as just to see what kind of weight loss/fitness benefits even a month of training with the X-Factor will bring.

This is going to be fun.

BOWFLEX ULTIMATE
Current Price: US $600.00
Bowflex PR1000 Mint Condition
Current Price: US $179.00