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Boflex Ultimate vs. Total Gym : Community Message Boards
 AuthorTitle / Message Body
thompson8855 thompson8855
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 17:02
 Unrated
Boflex Ultimate vs. Total Gym
My question is for those who have tried by machines. Which is better the boflex or the total gym and why? I have used a knock off version of the total gym but I am at the highest level and I do not have the version to add weight. I have lost over 85 lbs in under a year and have only 16lbs left to loose. I need to build more muscle so which machine is right for me. A lot of my friends swear by the Boflex for building muscle, but before I spend that much money I want to know how other non buyest people view both machines. Thank you for your help.

psirenny psirenny
Washington DC
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 19:02
 Unrated
.
I've used both products and own a total gym. IMHO, if you are interested in building more muscle mass after reaching the limits of a total gym then a REAL gym is a lot more practical. With that said, if you are set on getting a home gym then you should go with the Bowflex. Due to the way that one holds the grips on a total gym they will reach a point where there is a lot of stress on their shoulders (in particular their rotary cuffs.) This will hinder the resistance you could normally be applying to a muscle group. I experienced this when I maxed out my total gym and started wearing weighted vests and other such things to increase the resistance. You won't have this problem with the Bowflex which allows for more resistance anyway. But again, if you're at THAT point on the Total Gym anyway then free weights will be more effective then a Bowflex which, isn't cheap. Anyway thats just my $0.02.

P.S. Those bowflexes look like a bitch to put together, lol.

justgoingheavy justgoingheavy
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 19:02
 Unrated
actully if you want to get big and strong check it
i learned this from a state record holder and he was also head of the powerlifting commity for awhile. you might get bigger when using the machines, or dumbells but you will not actully get stronger. its callled carry over strength. the dumbells and machines will give you a good look thats really cute but if you want power size and strength you need to turn to the barbell. hey you can look good or you feel good and be good. if you want strength size and looks pick up the bar man vs machine. nobodys ever set a world record using a bow flex oh and i lost 125 pound and am gaining muscle from what im speaking of. hey take care dude

psirenny psirenny
Washington DC
Sun, Feb 7, 2010 01:02
 Rating: 4.0/5.0
.
Ok, I just wanted to address a few things the previous poster stated. First off, there is a place for everything in a training regiment... machines and dumbbells included. Secondly dumbbells are great for developing strength and actually recruit a lot more stabilizers muscles. People reaching strength plateaus using barbells often time switch to dumbbells to get past a sticking point. Also, machines can be useful at the end of a workout when your muscles are fatigued. I also want to point out that strength and mass training are different animals. The record state holder was training for strength where technique, training a whole movement (not individual muscles) and the ability to recruit various muscle fibers is a lot more important than causing muscle hypertrophy (making muscles bigger.) This persons inclination towards barbells was almost certainly related to the fact that almost all olympic/powerlifting exercises involve barbells. Despite the different emphasis in training for strength vs. mass there is still a correlation between muscle and strength. If you are getting bigger than you are definitely getting stronger. Regardless, none of this has to do with the ops original question which, was if he should invest in a total gym or bowflex. For building muscle I think he is better off with a bowflex as his home gym. It will allow him to incorporate higher resistance into his workouts and avoid the awkward position that sitting on an incline can create in some exercises.

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