Bow Flex...

[Sunshine85]

So I was offered a Bow Flex for free....problem is I know nothing about them. Is it worth taking?? What exercises can I do with it?? I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[Anim07734]

The Bow Flex is one of those "full gym in your home" style machines, so there's very little you can't do with it.  And while we tend to recommend free weights over machines, it's hard to beat free equipment, especially when starting out.  Before considering the offer, you should check the condition of the equipment though.  If it's unusable, you'll just end up paying to get rid of someone else's garbage.  In particular, the Bow Flex uses resistance bars in different "weight" ranges, so check the bars in your expected starting point and make sure they're still in good shape.

 

The other major consideration is: will you actually use it?  Most people get workout equipment, use it for a couple weeks, then quit.  And it just sits there for years, taking up space (which is probably why you go the offer).  This again puts you in the position of paying to get rid of someone else's garbage, if you're going to be in the same position next year.  If you're one of those people who works out at home regularly, go for it.  But if you're like me and getting off the couch once you get home from work is too much effort, then you need to look for something else (like a gym on the way home).