Is the Bowflex or Total Gym Better?

Fitness comes in all shapes and sizes. Researchers understand that developing an overall fitness goal for an individual means eating a well balanced nutritional diet, getting cardiovascular activity to exercise the heart, lungs and muscles as well as weight training or resistance training to provide added stress to bones and muscles. It requires all three of these factors in order to achieve significant overall health and well-being as well as achieving weight loss and toning.

Today, individuals have a greater range of choices when it comes to accessing weight training or resistance training. Where before in order to have access to weight machines we had to visit the gym, today there are several options of gym equipment which can be purchased and kept at home. The two most popular and effective machines are the Total Gym and the Bowflex.

There are approximately 127 million adults who are overweight and approximately 60 million who are obese. This is a problem that affects both men and women, children and the elderly. Researchers estimate that approximately 400,000 people die every year in the United States alone that can be traced to bad diet and lack of physical activity. It is in this environment that infomercials for weight-loss products, nutritional supplements and exercise gizmos has blossomed.

Two of the biggest advertisers who are bidding for your dollars are the Total Gym and the Bowflex.

The first question to be answered is whether or not these gym systems can deliver on their promises. The answer is a resounding yes, but only if the purchaser uses the gym. Each of these systems comes with significant promises of positive benefits toward toning and weight loss but they don\’t work when the gym sits idle in the corner of the room and the purchaser continues to eat chocolate cake and drink soda.

Each of the two systems continues to make substantial improvements as the years pass. The Bowflex Ultimate 2 is approximately 92 inches long and 46 inches wide with a height of 82 inches. The manufacturer claims that the machine can be folded to 44\” x 46\” and that the machine requires a workout area of 9.5\’ x 6.5\’. While the Bowflex ultimate 2 does fold the process is difficult and time-consuming. If an individual has the opportunity to leave this machine set up it is probably best left that way.

The Bowflex has approximately 95 different exercises which can be done with the resistance of up to 310 pounds. Users can purchase extra power rods which will upgrade the resistance to 410 pounds. It has a 12 year warranty that is unlimited on the power rods.

The Total Gym XLS is the newest unit in the total gym family and features a 400 pound weight capacity for the machine for total strength and stability. The machine is able to vary the amount of weight which the individual uses from between 6% and 50% of the athletes total body weight. The total gym has approximately 80 different exercises which can be done and all weighing attachment which allows the purchaser to also perform Pilates moves.

The Total Gym also has versions which are less expensive and have less attachments. One of the biggest differences between the Total Gym and the Bowflex is that the Total Gym requires no assembly and the Bowflex comes in approximately 10 different boxes and requires several hours of assembly. The Total Gym has a lifetime warranty on the frame and a six-month warranty on parts.

The difference between the two gyms will actually help the purchaser make their ultimate decision as to which model works best for them. Take a good look at your ultimate goals and what you want to achieve before you choose the model you bring into your home. In getting in shape and losing some weight is your ultimate goal than the Total Body Gym is your best choice. He if you want to build strength and muscle while increasing your athletic performance the Bowflex is your better choice because it can offer a greater range of exercises and a higher rate of resistance.