Bye Bowflex, Hello Bench Press

[Iman74]

After 4 years of using the bowflex, I must say I have nothing bad to say about it. I just prefered just doing benchpresses. But since the bowflex and being it's been 4 plus years since I done free weights on a weight bench I am going with <a href="http://www.omnifitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/OmniProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10001&productId=11620&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10711" target="_blank">this</a> so I do not need to worry about safety. I guess if you stop using free weights for a period of time, and want to go back and push the limits that you realize not having a spotter is more dangerous than you wanted to admit back then.

By the way, I have the top model Bowflex and I am selling it for half the price of a new one which means I am selling it for $1000. Anybody interested just PM me.

That aside, what do you guys think of the decision of going with that bench?

[Blakhart]

Free weights are "the way".

[Dswissmiss]

that thing still looks like it doesn't give you much room to play with. i suggest using dumbells if you dont have a spotter. ive used nothing but dumbells for the bast year and a half and seen a lot of improvement over even regular bench press (everyones different though) guess the extra strech and using more stabilizer muscles does it for me rather than the bar. i do try to switch it up though, cause your muscles get used to anything if you do it for too long.

[bigandy]

Nice looking set. Just wondering, why do you only like benching?

[Blakhart]

To be honest, I have no room for a bench anymore, so I only do pushups, situps, knee bends, and a bit of walking. I saw my fastest and greatest improvements via freeweights tho, and yeah the dumbells add lots of endurance if you use them for range of motion sets.

[Iman74]

Originally posted by bigandy
Nice looking set. Just wondering, why do you only like benching?

Not really sure the answer on that. I started with benching and pretty much that is all I did from 16 to 25. I went through two benches which were both free weight. The first one was great and served it's purpose, but one day I added more weight to the bar and the bench folded. So after the destruction of my bench from Hermans I bought a really nice one from Champs Sports with a Olympic bar. When I hit 25 and realized I wanted to change my workout and push myself I realized I could not do that with free weights safely without a spotter. So I bit the bullet and sold the weightbench and weights and got a Bowflex. That served me well through the years: so well that every six months I had to get new shirts and every year a new suit for my shoulder and neck was growing at a rapid rate. But about a year ago I stopped that workout and just been doing one that keeps what I have now. But I grew tired of the bowflex, and I know I have gotten big and stayed big just doing bowflex. We actually have a member is much bigger than me and all he does is bench using an olympic bar and chest flies with dumbells. But the difference between him and me is he has his setup in his garage on a concrete floor: so when he finds the bar too heavy and can't get it back on the rack, he just let the weights slide off. Due to the location I will be having my bench I don't have that luxury so I have to think ahead. So that is how I came about leaning towards the bench I posted the link to.

[afoctober2]

While I was at work I was thinking and got a crazy idea the other day. Has anybody ever had idea to make there own weight bench Menards sells the materials if you have the time you could weld it together. I'm going to probaly buy a new bench soon mine is cheap I'm worried that its not strong enough as I go add more weight. I don't want to be lifting one day and have the thing colapse from under me

[Iman74]

That's what basically happen to me. What I learned from that experience is ask for the benches weight limit and remember it. I didn't even know mine, but it was from a chain sport store back in the day before it went out of business. What do you expect?

[bigandy]

Wow, that's pretty crazy that the thing just collapsed like that. I like benching a lot too, but I would have to say my favorite lift is the clean. I've started getting into lifting and enjoying it because I play football for my high school and we have a lifting and running program during the winter and summer.

[Iman74]

I got the bench on Saturday and used it on Sunday and man I am soar. Even though I have been benching using the bowflex I am hurting like I have not done this before. Anyway, the bench is awesome and it feels just like free weights, without the hassle of having to get a spotter or deal with the possible problems yourself like getting a bar stuck on your chest.

[Mr N8]

I see that that bench has a rowing capability. I can't tell from looking at it, but how is that done?

You really should think about doing rows, and such. It is essential that you work opposing muscles. Bench, flys, and curls will make you look big, but you need to work the back muscles, or you will regret it in the future.

[Iman74]

You stand straight up and you pull it up with your grip facing your body. I couldn't figure it out either till the guy at the store demonstrated it and then I said to myself...DUH!!!

I am not doing flys or curls, only benching and shoulder shrug. Knowing this, can you go into more detail on the following:
Why will I regret not doing the back exercises?
Do you think the exercises I am doing is enough for what I want to do or should I add curls and flys?

[Mr N8]

The back excersizes become important as you age, because while you will be bulked up in the shoulders, arms and chest, your back will be not stronger than any other guy on the street. You back will get hurt easily, because you will be able to lift things, but your opposing back muscles will not have the strength to support the weight properly, once you've lifted them.

As for curls and flys, they just work a broader range of muscle. I do a sets of curls, flys, and tricep extensions 3 days a week. The bench and incline bench will work the pectoralis major, but the flys will work the pectoralis minor and the stabilizers.

Look here for a good chart of what excersized work which muscle groups:
http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

[Iman74]

MR. N8...please check your PM.

[Trent Steel]

Great link Mr H8, being looking for something like that for awile.

[Iman74]

Mr. N8's link was really good, but here is one just as good. It's on the Soloflex website (not trying to push their website) but on this link they show the back and front of a person, pointing to muscle groups, where they are, and then listing below that the names of the workouts that develope those muscles. That really takes all the time research out of the equation. Without further ado, here is the link...
Da Link (http://www.soloflex.com//index.asp?m=toolbar&d=soloflex&sd=workouts&p=3)