Much publicity surrounds modern exercise machines, as seen in infomercials. There are many to choose from, and while different systems offer different exercises, they all promise the same thing: the body you’ve always wanted, as well as an overall improved lifestyle.
However, there is an obstacle to overcome: some systems may not be practical for the way a person wants to exercise.
Nautilus has been producing Bowflex systems for approximately 20 years at the time of this writing, and these systems are extremely popular. However, they are not cheap, so be prepared to part with a considerable amount of cash when buying a new machine. While the company has a trial period and will refund your money if you’re not satisfied, it won’t refund shipping costs, which can be huge for exercise machine-sized products. Therefore, it may be useful to test the product you are interested in, if possible, before buying it.
Does an exercise machine at home have any merit? Only if used as directed, at the specified frequency and maintained as a habit. That is what most consumers simply will not do. One reason could be that exercise is never enjoyable or convenient enough to become a likely habit. Another could be laziness. Yet another could be that the equipment is so large and cumbersome that it takes up too much living space, which creates resentment and would actually be more useful if the person went to the gym to use it.
Bowflex has a system that mimics traditional weights by using multiple discs with built-in tension coils, unlike bars. When purchased new, this system, the Bowflex Revolution home gym, comes with 220 pounds of discs and is capable of performing around 100 exercises. How many people will really benefit from the 100? Probably very few. Most will probably do the basics: bench, leg extensions, curls, etc. It can definitely do something good, although there is no real sense of weight balance because everything works through two pulleys. The Bowflex Revolution works on resistance, so it’s not as specific a workout as you would get with free weights or a machine with a fixed bar.
The revolution is not meant for tall people either. Those over 6 ‘will probably find it too small. There simply won’t be enough extension to make proper leg presses, for example.
There are pros and cons to any outfit, and no product is completely perfect. The Ab Lounge, for example, is highly sought after for what it can do to strengthen the abs, but some people find it so comfortable that they end up using it as a chair to watch TV instead of exercising. It’s nice that it’s comfortable, that’s the point, make it comfortable to do sit-ups, but that comfort may signal to some that they need to relax rather than exercise. Therefore, it is impossible for all machines to be winners for all people.
The bottom line: do your homework and take opportunities to test the equipment before you buy. You know yourself better than infomercial writers, so do what’s best for you and it will contribute to your ultimate fitness goals.