Anybody here ever bought the Total Gym?

[BeachBaby]

You know the one - the one with Chuck Norris, Wesley Snipes, Christie Brinkley, and Janine Turner in the commercial?

I don't want to join a meat market, so I want to get something for home use.

[kimmerspixelated]

1. Actually I love it.

We've had ours for awhile. It's time for me to start using it again. When I use it with any kind of regularity I seem to notice results right away. It's worth it.

[BeachBaby]

5. I can't find a price for it.

Do you remember how much it cost?

[kimmerspixelated]

33. I bought mine from Pennys

I think it was around 200.00 or so.

[flvegan]

2. First Rule of home "gym" equipment, especially the gimmicks...

Nobody uses them after the first month. If you want something for strength training, you're better off with a decent set of dumbbells (and I don't mean TZ and DuhStrange, either). You can also use those in front of the tv, during work breaks etc. For cardio, just get a decent exercise bike. Your young'uns might get use out of them too (if they're into that).

[BeachBaby]

3. FWIW, I used my elliptical machine until it died.

I would need a personal trainer if I started using dumbbells/weights, I think. And I can't afford one of those.

[Left Is Write]

9. Try a Jari Love DVD.

She's got dumbbell and barbell workouts for every skill/fitness level.

Also, bodybuilding.com has a section that demonstrates several dumbbell exercises and what muscles they will work.

[BeachBaby]

10. Cool - thanks!

:hi:

[flvegan]

11. Elliptical machine isn't a strength training device.

The Total Gym is a bizarre bastardization of the two formats. There are plenty of decent DVDs out there geared towards basic lifting exercises, or even ones that incorporate the two. Jilian Michaels (from The Biggest Loser) has one called 30 Day Shred which is supposed to be excellent. I'd get no exercise done watching it, cuz she's a hottie.

[BeachBaby]

13. I know it isn't.

I was just pointing out that I've had exercise equipment in the past, that hasn't become a dust collector.

If I go to all the trouble to shop and save for something, you better believe I'm gonna use the thing to death.

[no name no slogan]

21. I may have to check that DVD, despite Jilian Michaels

Like you said, if I got it, the only workout I'd get would be my right forearms. I'd look like Popeye the Feaking Sailor Man.

However, I need to get some strength work in once in awhile. Thanks for the recommendation. :thumbsup:

This is the DU member formerly known as PopeyeTheSailorMan.

[TZ]

6. excuse me?

dumbbells? May your house be visited by drunk SB fans looking for the local titty bar! :grr:


oh wait..the whole dog thing might discourage all but the drunkest fools.....:rofl:

[Dr. Strange]

14. This is good to know.

I'll tell my wife I don't have to exercise tonight 'cause 5gan says so.

[flvegan]

15. No, this means you exercise TWICE as much to prove me wrong.

Every night. Otherwise I'm right, and I win.

And you don't want that.

:rofl:

[Dr. Strange]

26. Curse you, 5gan!

You've outwitted me.

[BeachBaby]

16. Stop referring to me as your "wife".

You're ruining my mojo.

[Dr. Strange]

31. Serves you right for buying generic mojo.

Get the brand name next time.

[TZ]

17. dude.

Come on. You have a wife.Its winter. There must be an indoor "exercise" routine you wouldn't mind "performing" every night....:evilgrin:

[XemaSab]

24. What's a good starter weight for dumbbells?

:shrug:

[flvegan]

25. Depends on the exercise, gender of the user and general fitness of the user.

Best bet, if one isn't going to be doing any of the cardio/weight combo exercises, is to buy a set of adjustable ones. They sell 80 lb sets (40 lbs each dumbbell) for $50 or so at the sporting goods store. That way, there's a range from as little as 2lbs to 40lbs depending on what you want to do.

Another thought, you might find a used sporting goods store (Play It Again, etc) that has the dumbbell "tree" sets, marketed largely to women that go from 2 lbs to 5 lbs. Decent starter set, if one has never lifted before. 5 lbs may not seem like much, but when you haven't isolated moving 5 lbs 12 times in a row, for 3 sets, you'll feel it.

In the end, it's always best to start as light as possible, focus on form, learn the movement and then increase the weight as strength increases.

[supernova]

4. Ha. I bought a TG clone

a while back used one in very good condition on craigslist.

It's sitting in my living room unused. One of the problems I discovered was, it's not the right size for me. I would need a proportionally smaller machine since I'm a petite person.

I wound up joining the YMCA instead and I enjoy that much better.

So, I have no use for it. I'll sell it to you if you want it.

[BeachBaby]

8. I'm not a big fan of gyms.....

and I'm a working single mom, so it's kinda hard to get out of the house.

I'll shoot you a pm later. Thanks! :)

[Left Is Write]

7. Any product being pitched by Chuck Norris and Janine Turner is not a product I want.

[BeachBaby]

12. Yeah, that has been my delay in ordering it.

That commercial is Republican Central.

[KitchenWitch]

18. Try to find one on craigslist.

I have one. I have not used it in awhile but I do like it.

[BeachBaby]

20. Carla!

How are ya, hon. :hug:

How much room does the equipment take up?

[KitchenWitch]

22. It folds up really compactly

If you take the foot thing off you could store it under a bed.

[BeachBaby]

23. Cool! Thanks! eom.

[Blue-Jay]

19. How did Chuck Norris work out before the Total Gym?

[XemaSab]

27. Kickboxing the VC

in the jungles of 'nam.

[TK421]

28. He came out of the womb looking like that....in fact, when he was born

the impact was so great that it destroyed his mothers birth canal and she disintegrated. Also, the entire hospital shook with the force of an earthquake...

[Taverner]

29. Jog and buy a weight set

That's all you need

[buzzycrumbhunger]

30. I love mine

Got it for just over $100, though--the basic model in a special deal on QVC or something. Told my brother to watch his classifieds for one (for some reason, Chuck Norris convinced him. . .) and it took him only two weeks to find the $1700 model, which he talked the guy into lowering his asking price by another $100--paid only $125 for the damned thing. I would never advocate buying new equipment. Besides CL and the local classifieds (are those dying off, or what?), you might also look around and see if your area has one of those stores that specializes in used stuff where you can trade in what you don't use and find the occasional bargain.

It is easy to set up, but damn, it's HEAVY. And long. I have a tiny FL cracker house and ended up leaving mine set up in the garage so I don't have to dick around with it, and it still gets in the way.

[NJmaverick]

32. I bought one for my father

He liked it and used it. I think he stopped for a bit, because his Senior Housing complex has a gym, but he used it for over a year, with no complaints.