A Comparison Between Home Gyms & Gym Equipment

by Mark Farmer

In a departure from our usual article format, Total Life Success Founder, Mark Farmer decided to answer a members question here:

Total Life Success Forum Member, Lily writes

Has anybody who has worked out at a gym for a while and also used home systems like the Bowflex and/or Soloflex machine compare the two? How does the equipment at the gym, namely Nautilus and Cybex equipment, compare to the Bowflex and/or Soloflex machines?

Since the Bowflex and Nautilus machines are made by the same company, are they comparable?

Is it worth the $$$ to spend for one of these home systems or is it better to just keep going to the gym?

Just wondering.

Lily

Hi Lily!

Ok, Although I don't own a Bowflex or a Soloflex, I'm pretty familiar with home work out equipment; and, as a former body-builder who got his introduction into weight lifting by reading Aurthur Jone's book and starting on Nautilus equipment, I'm fairly comfortable making a comparirison.

Lily, you're actually asking two questions. I'll take "Are Bowflex and Soloflex comparible to Nautilus and Cybex?" first:

Nautilus and Cybex machines are designed to isolate and optimally work a specific muscle. They're manufactured with high-grade materials, and built for intensive, heavy, high-use work. They can handle WELL over their rated max, poundages up to a half-ton for most machines. They also cost several thousand per machine and you'll need 10-12 to get a full body workout.

Bowflex and Soloflex are build as consumer items, for one or two users. They're built to adapt to different exercises for different body parts -- doing a adequate job on most, but not an incredible job on any. They're built out of sturdy materials, but will be subject to wear and tear -- even with only one user -- over a few years. They're built to handle a few hundred pounds of resistance (~400 lb.s max).

You simply cannot get the work out on one, consumer model machine you can on an industrial built, full-line of gym machines. However neither will you have to pay $100k for your complete workout line.

Your second question is "Should I buy a home machine or continue my workouts in the gym?"

Both Soloflex and BowFlex are going to retail around $1000 by the time you get everything you need for a full body workout. Your gym membership is likely costing you $300-$1000/yr. But the gym membership is probably only in $20-50 increments.

A few questions to help you decide to workout at home or stay in the gym:

How important is the social aspects to you?
Do you use a trainer?
Do you need external motivation?
Do you not have the $1000 you'll need to buy, or are you not willing to finance?

A "yes" answer to these four questions would say, stay with the gym.
Do you work out alone, or prefer working out alone?
Are you self motivated?
Can you stay self-structured to workout every day at the same time?
Do you dislike people watching you; or having to get dressed a particular way to work out in the gym?
Do you hate the extra time it takes to drive to the gym, get inside, shower afterwards, and drive to the next appointment -- or, at least, could you use that time better?
Do you have the $1000 it'll take; or are you willing to finance?

A "yes" answer to those questions make you a likely candidate for home workout equipment.

But understand that there's a 3rd question: Should you spend your $1000 on Bowflex/Soloflex or $1000 on:
315 lbs. of freeweights and a professional weight bar
a professional quality weight rack with chinning bar and bench
a complete dumb bell set from 5 - 65 lbs.

Why buy Soloflex or Bowflex!?

1) You hate (or are intimidated by) free weights
2) You simply don't have the room for a weight rack and weight bar (figure 100 sq. ft. minimum, 10'x10' room)
3) You're just looking for a light, easy workout in 10-20 minutes a day
4) you like the status of owning Bowflex or (particularly) Soloflex
5) you already have the freeweights and are looking for variety
6) You workout alone and are afraid of getting yourself trapped under freeweights
7) You're not a serious lifter and you don't intend on becoming one

Lily, both Bowflex and Soloflex are good machines.

Buy freeweights if:

1) You're interested purely in results (sorry, freeweights just build muscle better and quicker than machines)
2) You intend on the quickest results for the least amount of time (ditto)
3) You (or someone in the family) is likely to get more seriously into lifting
4) You're exceptionally strong so that a machine's typical limit of 200 - 400 pounds will probably be too light (Even a relatively untrained woman can probably leg press ~250 pounds)
5) You want equipment that won't wear out in 2-3 years
6) You don't have $1000, you've only got $250 and want to start out with just weights and a decent quality bench (which will provide a full workout for $750 less than the machines).

AND either would make a fine purchase...

...IF you're a beginner level to mid-level consumer; with perhaps one or two other family members who are similarly fit; and all of you have no aspirations to lift heavily; and you're consistent in your workouts; able to self-motivate and don't mind working out alone.

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions!

Mark

Mark Farmer is the author of several books on life success, including 'Goal Setting Success'. He is the founder of http://www.TotalLifeSuccess.com. Subscribe to his powerful, life-changing newsletter with original, cutting-edge "how-to succeed" tips at subscribe@totallifesuccess.com.

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