Got a free Total Gym 1000 ...the chuck norris informercial thingy...

[Nthman]

OK my friend's sister gave me their Total Gym...as seen in many a cheesy Chuck Norris informercial. I don't have any instructions or a tape or whatever just the machine. I spent a few hours messing around with it last night and seems like you have to be DAMN careful not to overextend yer joints and consequently hurt yourself. Other than that it seems ok. I can see the resistance being too weak very soon though. Does anyone know of a site with different techniques used on this machine?

heh heh heh I don't want to surf late night tv in the hopes of picking up the informercial again!

[Fighter]

Total Gym alternate

Fighter@jkd.com.hk

My advice would be to get rid of the Total Gym 1000. You are right the resistance is going to wear out. So whats the point if you want something worth while to get fit hear are 2 main exercises:

1. Chin-ups 20 reps add weight when neccercary
2. Road work 30 min

These 2 exercises will give you better results than the Total Gym 1000 would even if you did all the exercises. Dont bother finding a website.

[mjmnam]

i've tried the total gym 1000 and a Bowflex...go with a bowflex if you can get your hands on one

[Biker]

In the land of resistance, isn't the angle adjustable? If it is, a steeper angle will add resistance. And be very careful about over-extending.

[mjmnam]

yea, the angle is adjustable. at it's highest level you're lifting 60% of your body weight, i forget the rest of the levels. you can put a bar through the board and put some free weights on to add weight if you wanted.
to the overextending. i've had one for years and have never once over extended a joint, never even come close in fact.

[Fighter]

I think today too many people are drawn in by flashy new machines when they are not necercary here is a list of the only equipment you will need to get fit:

A rowing Machine
A Chin up bar
A dip bar
A barbell that you can add weight to
A pair or running shoes

[Nthman]

Heh heh heh let me just point out that it was FREE cuz there is no way I would ever have put down ANY money for it...it seems to actually work fairly well but again...have to be careful not to damage my shoulders mostly..maybe I am too flexible or something. I always have it on the highest setting and I can do 12 of each pretty easily so I think it isn't going to help me much. But it was freee.eeeeeeeeeeeeeee hhe heh heh

[GrdStorm]

Total Gym isnt that bad. Actually it is really good for people trying to strengthen muscles where they had an injury. this is because the free-range motion helps develop stabalizer muscles. Also it stretchs you out a little more than other machines so u build more lean type muscles.

Total Gym is geared more for the General Public. Its not specifically made for fighters.

Since you have it for free, its good to use when you can't get to the gym or don't want to run for 30 mins lol.

I got the total gym, its very handy. I do more shoulders, arms and back more than anything else. Its pretty helpful.


Bowflex is better if your using it as a primary work out machine. If not the Total Gym is fine.

[Fighter]

Heres a challange

Every one who uses the TotalGym 1000 and thinks it good and there getting a great work out, try doing 30 chin ups. Then post your results. I beleve that 80% of the people who use it and think there strong couldn't do it.

People now days use the newest, most complex, fancyest machines to do all this stuff when all they need to do are some simple ones that dont invlve all these bits and bobs. 30 chinups is more benifical than entire arm work out on one of those things.

[mjmnam]

i use one. what exactly dictates "pretty strong"? i mean, im 150 lbs and i'd consider myself "pretty strong" for my size. and as for the chin-ups, i think i can only do about 20 something. *shrugs*

[Fighter]

Well stop using the Total Gym 1000, because even at the biggst setting your still only lifting 80% of your weight. Where as if you do Chin Ups your lifting 100%.

Your only limiting your self using fancy machines that make things easier than doing harder better exercises like Chin-Ups.

[mjmnam]

60% dude. at it's highest you're lifting 60%

and i can make up for the lack of resistance to the pull-up exercise by doing 70 of them in a row...then taking a break and doing more

[Fighter]

60% than sorry bout' that. So whay do alot of work (time wise) when you can get better esults by doing exercises that take half that time.

[mjmnam]

because if i do exercises that take a long time i build more endurance because i make everything work for a longer period of time.

[JAV]

How would you compare the exercises and results on the machine as compared to free weights?