Equipment Suggestion?

D

dela

0
Hi all,

I have a treadmill and exercise bike that I use regularly. I would like to add a wheight machine and was hoping for some suggestions on what would be good quality machine to buy. I would like to keep this purchase under $400 if possible. Also, I am not interested in free wheights.

What I am looking for is a compact machie that would provide enough exercises for a relatively complete work out. I was looking at the bowflex machines, but they are a little out of my price range.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
why not free weights? With machines you'll just end up injuring yourself and you wont get good gains either.
 
It's far more wife friendly. She is OK with a machine, but would be terrified of free weights around the kids. Also, she might actually use a weight machine, but would not use free weights.

And to be honest, I like the idea of not needing a spotter.

Sorry, I didn't see the section on equipment.

Can you elaborate on the hurting yourself bit? I know free weights are supposed to be better since you have to balance, have better range of motion, and are not limited by the machine's range of motion, but in this case, it's doubtful I will work hard enough and be dedicated enough to really “reach my full potential”. This is more about being active, fit, and healthy than it is about bulking up. Although not hurting myself would be a huge plus!
 
You can get a pretty good range of motion with a cable machine, and the stabilizer muscles are definitely used. I ordered a Proform Crossover, it is an elliptical/home gym combo. It uses cables for the home gym part. Provides up to 240 lbs of resistance, which is more than many home gyms I've seen in this price range.

It was $550 with free shipping from ****'s Sporting Goods (I know, out of the price range you mentioned). I have no room for separate cardio and weight equipment, since this device combines both and it costs less than many ellipticals I thought it was worth it. Also, I saw good reviews for it:


It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I'm very eager to try it out.
 
You don't really need a spotter, just a brain. You can get good results without lifting to failure, and I think the only free weight exercise where you could have anything happen other than the weight falling down would be the bench/incline bench. Squat racks have bars in case you fall, other exercises it'll simply fall to the side.

If you're keeping your program as varied as it should be, monotony should never be an issue, and you should always be 100% aware of what you're lifting anyway to achieve the best results. I plan on getting free weights in a month or so because in the couple years I've been going to a gym regularly I've yet to have an injury-threatening accident.

If anyone has opinions on the safety of free weights when used by a sole lifter, I would love to hear them. What I said above is open to change if subjected to an intelligent and constructive response.

*Edit* I'm sorry, I just re-read that you had children involved. Obviously you're the parent, and if you think free weights could lead to their injury, trust your intuition. Having a way to bar access to the weights would be something to look into though.
 
Last edited:
Rakoczy said:
*Edit* I'm sorry, I just re-read that you had children involved. Obviously you're the parent, and if you think free weights could lead to their injury, trust your intuition. Having a way to bar access to the weights would be something to look into though.
Click to expand...

I have a two year old daughter, and I just got myself a set of adjustable dumbbells. What I do to keep my daughter away is I put a safety gate in the door of my home gym.

She can't get in, she can, however, stand right next to it and keep calling me. Not that easy to concentrate when your daughter is going "daddy!, daddy!", while you are trying not to drop a 70 pound dumbbell on your toe :D.
 
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