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2002/11/27, 11:00 AM
I am moving because of my job, and I'm going to a location that doesn't have any health clubs. I have olympic style free weights but I was looking to add a home gym to my new home. Any recommendations? I see the infomercials for BowFlex and Gold's Gym, but do these really work?
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2002/11/27, 11:06 AM
I worked out at home for years. I would suggest sticking with the free weights. You can get a Body Solid squat rack for much much less than one of the systems you mentioned. With this and a generic flat bench (I had a weider bench that inclines and declines) you can do almost anything. Also, the safety provided by the rack always let me push myself without worrying about not having a spotter. Also, even places like Wal-Mart are now carrying olympic weights which you could add to your collection. They have olympic dumbbell bars as well. As for the machines on infomercials, the guys using them didn't get like that because of that machine, but I have heard positive things about the BoxFlex. However, when you consider the cost and restrictions a machine imposes, I would go with the free weights. Just be safe.
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2002/11/27, 11:07 AM
By the way, you can add a lat attachment to the squat rack which provides additional lat exercises plus tricep capabilities.
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2002/11/27, 11:13 AM
From what I've heard (and read a bit), most home 'machine' gyms (not free weights) don't really help in gaining mass/muscle. They are more for toning and cutting.
Hopefully someone more experienced can verify.
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2002/12/04, 02:27 PM
I read a study one about machines. They trained several men on machines for a certain amount of time. Though their weight lifted on the machines went up, their practical strength actually decreased. Machines leave far too many fibers and small muscles untouched and don't provide quite the workout that you think you get.
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"Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!"
-- Bob Dylan
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2002/12/07, 10:14 AM
I have a Total Gym, which I enjoy, but I also have free weights (dumb bells). Since I work out at home without a spotter, I try to be sensible about safety.
You can do a lot with the Total Gym that mimics free weights. I suppose the Mr. Universe types scoff at this stuff, but for the vast majority of people who exercise, some of these devices work just fine.
A friend of mine has a Bow-Flex, and he loves. it. He uses it exclusively, and is built more like a gymnast that a weightlifter - which is fine.
I also have a Cal-Gym universal type device, that I love. I suppose the amount of home-gym stuff you have is limited only to your budget and the space you have. If you boil it down to basics, you really don't need any of this stuff to get in shape. Pushups, pull ups and lunges, if done correctly, can work wonders.
My opinion -- I think the Total Gym is a worthy addition to any home gym. It's fairly inexpensive, provides a good overall workout, a great ab workout, and you can usually pick up a decent used one if you keep your eyes open. After that, I'd stick with a set of dumbells (if budget allows, those single DB's with the pins that adjust the weight are terrific space savers) and an adjustable bench. I have my stuff in a well lit corner of my basement, and have DB's from 5 to 60 pounds, and that's plenty for me.
Good luck. Hope this helped.
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Rick
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