any bowflex users?

[gltrgrl1]

I've been wanting a Bowflex for a while now. I just saw the infomercial again this morning so I decided to check out e-bay. They have a few good deals. My DH is not too thrilled about me getting another piece of exercise equipment- we are running out of room- but this is something that he could and would use.
I really like the leg extension machine that comes with it. I'm currently doing physical therapy for my knees and if I could do these exercises at home I could cancel my gym membership! I also love the rowing feature.
If you have a bowflex or have used one before how did you like it? Was it easy to use? How well does it fold up for storage?
Thanks in advance for any input!

[gabbyh]

A Happy Bowflex owner here!

I got mine on ebay 2 years ago...it has the leg and pull down attachments also...

I had been a member of the local YMCA for 23 years, and the cost of membership kept going up, up, up...I got tired of broken equipment and waiting in line..

My BIL is a heavy lifter and he loves my bowflex also...

Right now it is in the corner, folded up, as my exercise room is under heavy construction...but it is VERY easy to just wheel to another part of the house and set up...the first few times I used it I wondered what I had gotten myself into...but now it's a "piece a cake"...

I had used a Universal Gym for over 20 years...so the different type of resistance system took a bit of getting used to...but I worked at adapting my same routine...you can do soooo many exercises...

The rowing feature is GREAT...very smooth..and as I also have "not good" knees...the leg extension part is really helpful...

Feel free to PM or e-mail me if you have any other questions...

Just do it :D

~Gail~

[Chiffonade]

We own one. We found out the hard way that just owning one does not do a thing for the size of your a$$. (That's unfortunate!)

Seriously, though. If you are really committed to exercising and think you'll actually use a Bowflex if you buy one, then go for it! E-bay is an excellent place to start. Paying full price is $$$$$$$.

I joined a gym in January (not only for New Year but my 44th birthday as well - talk about pressure to re-invent yourself!). I've found that the support and perceived "appointment-committment" have all to do with whether or not I work out. I really wanted to do 2 days in my living room with tapes and my old Fonda step and 2 days in the gym with a teacher, weights, step class, etc. Some weeks, I only clock in at the 2 times I attended the gym. I've been averaging 3 days a week of exersize.

So first, come to an honest decision. Do you have the discipline it takes to put in 40-50* minutes a workout 2-3 times a week and not run to the garage to do laundry instead? Not grab the vacuum? (* The Bowflex ad talks about 20 mins a day - if you're ALLY McBEAL maybe but if you've got a serious amount of weight to lose, disregard this "20 minute" crap.)

I'm a morning person so exercise, if it's going to happen on a given day, must happen in the AM. I leave at 6:00 a.m. to get to the 6:15 a.m. class Tue & Thu. If I workout at home, I start by 5:30 a.m.

Can you begin the day with exercise before work or commit to doing it after a day's work? Will family support you by letting you get in your "you" time without interruption or distraction? (When I exercise at home, daughter is asleep and DH has already left for work.) Think about this stuff before plunking down your hard earned dollars - and consider all your "home" exercise options as well.

[Valerie226]

DH and I are dedicated home exercisers. we've got a small weight machine, free weights, and lots of other stuff. we looked at Bowflex but decided against it. our thought was that the exercise movements were too uncontrolled, too random for us. maybe if you are more experienced with weight training than we were it would be OK, but for us it seemed like we needed something that was more 'structured". we were able to try it out at a equipment dealer which I strongly recommend even if you don't plan on buying one from the same place.

P.S
I've been doing weights and cardio for years regularly & I DO NOT resemble the models in the infomercial. 3x a week for 20 minutes is horse pucky. not trying to be negative, just realistic...