If you are ever up early in the A.M. hours, you have more than likely come across TV infomercials advertising some new contraption that they call, an exercise machine. Its interesting, no matter what the product is, it will always be a "revolutionary" system. As far as I am concerned, exercise is exercise, and there is rarely anything revolutionary. For your own knowledge, the only thing that is constantly revolutionizing fitness is new nutritional understandings, but exercise is almost always the same.

While these mechanical devices aren't the most useful modalities through which exercise is implemented, some still have benefits. One of the more popular machines and most widely used one, is the Bowflex. Oh yes, I am sure you recognize the image that comes to mind: carbon rods bending like a primitive bow and arrow being pulled by a muscle bound man or lean sleek women. If you go on a search engine and type in "Bowflex", you will get thousands of hits, reviews and advertisements on the infamous Bowflex. I did the same search and came across many reviews stating that the machine was no good. This was said on the grounds that the machine does not compare to free weights and isn't as useful or versatile. The machine is actually, very versatile and can be used for a complete full body workout. Some people who are bias towards weight lifting, will claim that Bowflex is worthless. In its essential nature, the machine is actually good for a "machine" and is an effective tool for what its made to do. It is true that the Bowflex would not be very useful for gaining large amounts of muscle, and you won't look just like the guy on the infomercial from it alone. That guy has been working out for years with weights.

So now, lets get something straight. The body gains muscle, or shreds fat, because of the simple mechanism of adaptation. You stress your body and it changes to handle that stress. Machines consequently put less stress on your body than free weights, because you do not have to handle weight or stabilize it, but it's also true that the Bowflex and other machines put a lot less stress on the joints than weights do, while giving you an effective strength workout. The Bowflex is actually excellent all in one fitness solution for those people who do not want to be bodybuilders, are not active in sports and who have modest goals in search of their physique. Yes, you can lose fat and gain "some" muscle with the machine, and for those who were sedentary before purchasing the Bowflex, it will greatly change their lives and it will help improve their quality of life like any other exercise program. This is not because the machine is "revolutionary", resistance is resistance. The only differences between weights and machines, is how your body learns to handle that resistance.

I'm currently studying to get a Bachelors in Exercise Science, and at my university, we had a chance to see this machine and several models like it. (the imitations) I conclude that the Bowflex is the best of quality out of all those rod machines. Bowflex is very sturdy and the resistance is better situated than that of other machines.

Good Luck on your fitness quest!

Learn more about this author, Ramon Castellanos.
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