Question regarding home gyms.

[Susan Calvin]

I'm considering buying a strength training one to save the time going back and forth to the gym, having discovered that there are some things I will do at home, like Zoom classes with a good instructor, and I think doing strength training with a machine may be another thing that I might be able to bring myself to do at home. (I already know cardio equipment at home is a no-go - I just won't use it. Won't use individual strength training equipment either, except with a live class, but I think I might use a machine.)

From the research I've done so far, Bowflex doesn't look like a good idea. So it's between one with a weight stack and Total Gym. I'm interested in opinions, if you would be so kind, as to which one someone who will go through the machines on the 30 minute circuit at the gym would be most likely to use, and which one is the easiest to switch between exercises, as convenience is another thing that might cause me to be more likely to use it.

Any recommendations on brands and models also appreciated. I'm hoping to keep it in the hundreds rather than the thousands as far as cost, since I think I would use it but cannot be sure until the thing is sitting there.

TIA

[multigraincracker]

1. Exercise rubber bands..

Take up no room and tons of strength training for the whole body.

[Susan Calvin]

5. I know and I have some.

I won't use them. I have to fool myself into exercising, and apparently I will use a machine.

[multigraincracker]

9. For me, machines are great to

hang cloths on. Live in a tiny home and the only machine I have is a Back to Life machine that Is a miracle for my back and hip pain. I have 2. One in the garage for a back up. You can find them on Graigslist and other resale places for about $35.

[Susan Calvin]

12. Thanks

What I'm looking for is a full body workout on one piece of equipment.

[multigraincracker]

14. I mostly buy used and cheap.

If I had the room, I’d buy a Nodic Ski machine. Had one years ago and enjoyed it. Arms and leg exercise. I see them at yard sales for $25 to $35.
I’m a jogger. 3 to 6 miles three times a week. Have a 1/10 mile track in my back yard. When there is snow or heavy rain, I go to the local Rec Center. They have an indoor track and they $1.00/day. They have about 5 basketball courts and a work-out room, but they are expensive 4 or 5 hundred a year or $10/day.
I’m 73 and have a pacemaker. Got the pacemaker because I have Bradycardia. Slow pulse.

[Ahna KneeMoose]

2. No Halp (for you) Here

I have Bowflex skier; what with it's pointy snout, tall center post, and leather side saddles it presents the perfect spot in the bedroom too hang warm permanent-press clothing straight out-of-the dryer...

[Susan Calvin]

8. Same here in the past.

But I'm currently mad at the gym and also could use the time I spend commuting to it for something else, so I'm thinking about trying one more time.

[Ahna KneeMoose]

11. Your Thoughtful Thoughts Are Most Thoughtful

And of no note what-so-ever, those two models (just below) standing next to that Weider X-Factor have never seen nor touched that machine...they were both born with 'good-physique-genes' (!).

[Scrivener7]

3. I have a total gym. I have to say, I love it. I've lent it to my sister to help with

her recovery from knee and ankle surgery and, though it has helped her a lot, I can really tell the difference in my body from the lack of it.

Arm weight machine exercises are pretty easy to replicate on it. The legs are less of a direct equivalence, but there are options with the total gym that get at the same muscles. Hams and quads are easy to get at. The leg pulley attachment lets you get to leg adduction and abduction, but those exercises are pretty awkward. I just do resistance bands for those muscles.

It's pretty easy to switch between exercises. You just snap on different attachments or raise and lower the body pad with pegs.

Where it really has an advantage over the strengthening machines in the gym is with stretching, again with the leg pulley attachment, especially of the legs and lower back.

I have a pretty basic model. It was @$400 three or four years ago. Just make sure you get the leg pulley (which is just a cord with an ankle strap). Also, the foot platform which comes with the machine was not tall enough. I'm 5'8" and it didn't allow me to do knee flexion without going past a 90 degree knee angle. I sprang for the $60 for the taller foot platform, and it was well worth it for knee health.

[Susan Calvin]

6. Thank you.

That's exactly the advice I was hoping for. I had heard that total gyms were very good in theory, but wondered if they were enough like the gym machines that I would actually use them. It sounds like maybe they are.

[Scrivener7]

10. One other limitation: the upper limit of the weight

you are working against is determined by the maximum angle of the slider pad and your own body weight. That is fine for me, but if you are working with very heavy weights, the total gym might not be enough resistance for you.

[Susan Calvin]

13. Oh no, I don't need humongous amounts of weight.

Just a reasonable amount. I'm not trying to be a bodybuilder or anything.

[Scrivener7]

15. Me too. So this should be fine.

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. You might find one of these used...

Weider X-Factor

It's super easy to use. There are similar styles that simply attach to doors.

[Susan Calvin]

7. That's what I hadn't heard of.

I will certainly look into it. Thank you.

[Mysterian]

17. Body Solid makes excellent machines

But they are kind of expensive. BUT - I see they have a nice home machine on sale right now for about $1,600.

https://www.fitnessfactory.com/item/3239/exm2500s/body-solid_exm2500s_home_gym/

[KewlKat]

18. I recommend a Total Gym Fit

You can gain a lot of strength by exercising with your body weight. If you ever achieve the top spot on the machine, then you could use some "bands" on the total gym hooked at the bottom of the frame.

I highly recommend you check out this youtube channel of a man who uses all brands of slider benches. His workouts are great.

https://www.youtube.com/@SlidingBenchTrainer

Here is some information about this guy -

My name is Mike and I have been working in the fitness industry and higher education as a professor of Exercise Science for my whole adult life. This channel is all about sharing information on home fitness, "natural" bodybuilding, and basic health education. Since 2020, I've grown increasingly passionate about the promotion of using simple low-footprint equipment as an alternative to expensive and large equipment. The channel grew organically in sharing one of my favorite types of home gym equipment (we've dubbed sliding bench trainers) as they are an example of providing simple, effective, and efficient workouts that everyone can take advantage of. I'm grateful to everyone who lands on this channel. I sincerely hope that the content improves your quality of life, gives you more time to do what you love, increases performance, and makes adhering to physical fitness easy.

HTH

[JanMichael]

19. Bought a Soloflex 11 years ago for 75 bucks and love it!

Have replaced the rubber bands with shock rings and it is damned near like free weights. Also have suspension straps, think TRX, to supplement.

[Susan Calvin]

20. I take it they don't make them anymore?

I saw some on eBay for not very much money. Couldn't tell much about how they worked, though.

[JanMichael]

21. Holy smokes looks like the online store is gone!

Up until last year they still sold the machines off of their online site along with all the accessories. The problem is they ran about $1,200 for the basic machine. And the fact is they last forever. It's a lever setup, the four main pieces are solid steel.

The only disposable part are the black plastic straps which kind of suck or the shock rings which are really just airplane o-rings. They were great because they have a fairly smooth start to finish resistance rating. Meaning if you start with 10 lb of resistance you end with about 10 pounds of resistance. All the way through the movement. The o-rings that I have or shock rings as they call them have lasted 10 years without fraying.

I need to measure the o-rings that I have now and try to order them from aircraft companies.

You can also easily adapt them to a standard weight lifting bar and actual plates and can work without a spotter.

I will add that moving the main bar up and down takes some strength. Once you get used to it it's super easy to use but not exactly meant for novice or totally novice lifters but it is safe.

[Susan Calvin]

22. That sounds really interesting.

There are several for sale on eBay at the moment. Amazon seems to sell replacements for the resistance thingies.