Total gym and free weights

Ekmo · 15-Jan-07, 01:30 AM

Whats everyone's opinions on the total gym???? Also how does combining that with free weights sound???

etothepii · 15-Jan-07, 09:58 AM

Here's the research I was able to compile on the Total Gym, as sold by Chuck Norris on TV:

Quote:

Chuck Norris can grant wishes, as long as you wish for roundhouse kicks to the face or a Total Gym.

Quote:

chuck norris doesntneeed the total gym the total gym needs chuck norris

Quote:

Chuck Norris began selling the Total Gym as an ill-fated attempt to make his day-to-day opponents less laughably pathetic.

**maverick** · 15-Jan-07, 11:11 AM

You money would be better spent on some freeweights and a bench

**LiftGirl** · 16-Jan-07, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick

You money would be better spent on some freeweights and a bench

I have to agree with maverick. Much more versatile.

Ekmo · 16-Jan-07, 08:24 PM

Already have free weights and A bench lol... I was asking if thats a good combination???

tim_mcf · 16-Jan-07, 09:35 PM

I think if you have the free weights, you have everything you need. You can get a total gym if you like, but a coathook would probably be cheaper, and just as functional.

**LiftGirl** · 17-Jan-07, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekmo

Already have free weights and A bench lol... I was asking if thats a good combination???

Then how about a power rack instead of a total gym? Again, more versatile, but I am a big free weights fan, so I might be biased.

Ekmo · 17-Jan-07, 02:54 PM

Well I got the total gym lol.... I think its actually good to combine it with free weights.... U can do some preacher curls with free weights, then jump on the total gym and curl, it feels to me like u get more stretched, and u feel more of a blow. If I had to choose 1 tho, I would take free weights, but the total gym aint bad..

**.V.** · 17-Jan-07, 03:02 PM

To be honest, for bodyweight exercises, for not having a goal of "hugeness", I think the total gym is a decent piece of equipment. Norris claims to use it. I don't know if he does or not. However, in interviews I've seen with him, and the one time I met him, he seems to be rather honest. Would he claim to use something he doesn't? Lets hope not. For a martial artist, who is getting older, doesn't want "hugeness", something like that would be great to use. To use along with freeweights for a "light day" or for something different, it would be OK to use.

Let us know how it works out for you the way you use it.

Oh yeah, liftgirl. You don't know how happy it makes me to read where a girl says she likes freeweights best.

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**LiftGirl** · 17-Jan-07, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_welch503

Oh yeah, liftgirl. You don't know how happy it makes me to read where a girl says she likes freeweights best.

:

Not to hijack, but.....

Freeweights feel more "natural" to me. I feel like machines aren't really built to take into account a woman's longer legs, shorter torso (proportionally) and slighter build. Plus, machines make me feel like I'm forced into a specific track of motion (I'm not sure if that made sense).

**.V.** · 17-Jan-07, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

machines make me feel like I'm forced into a specific track of motion (I'm not sure if that made sense).

perfect sense. Except I always felt machines were made for girls...they don't fit me either.

Un-hijacking the thread now. I did try a total gym that a friend bought (against advice to either join a gym or get some free weights). It didn't fit me at all, and all the movements felt very foreign. Perhaps it was because I only used it once though. And a true evaluation of anything takes more than one workout.

He doesn't use it to hold socks on though. He keeps his coat on his.