Bowflex Xtreme SE Home Gym

Ok, I was fat (50 lbs. overweight). I started running and dieting, but then I remembered what it felt like when I was young (mid 20s) to lift weights. Cardio is great, but you have to do strength training as well, if you want to lose weight effectively. Now, the weights I used before were free weights, which are heavy to move around and not too safe when you are lifting by yourself (unless the thought of instant plastic surgery is appealing to you). Researching various gyms meeting my criteria (lightweight, not taking a lot of room, one-person use, not silly Chuck Norris marketed garbage), led me to the Bowflex SE Home Gym. I purchased one and, for an old fart, I am pretty buff now. Grant it, I'll never be a young Schwarzenegger as I don't have the genes, but I am extremely satisfied with this purchase and it has my full recommendation.

My Bowflex arrived well packaged but after I unpacked it I found it was full of dents. The pieces were so messed up I couldn't assemble it and needed to return it. It was apparent that the shipping wasn't the issue. It must have been packed with the dents already in the heavy metal of the equipment.

I have owned other home exercise equipment and this is my fist Bowflex. Definitely a good choice. The machine assembles easily, in about 2.5 hours consistent with the assembly manuals estimate. It is solid machine and I have been using it for about 3 months 3 to 4 times per week. I didn't buy it to get those "picture perfect" results you see advertised, I bought to expand my home aerobic workouts and limited free weight workout that I was currently doing.

I am very pleased with this machine. It's easy to use, although it will take a few workouts to become accustomed to changing the exercise setups for each exercise so you can maintain a good pace, no more that 1 minute between exercises as recommended in the book. This machine is not for a body builder, but more for someone who is interested in general fitness. Currently using it as configured with 310 lbs rods. An easy upgrade to 410 lbs when I need to. To maintain the Rods suggest you get the optional Power Rod Rejuvenator available on the Bowflex website, the included strap just doesn't cut it. Got a great deal from amazon.com the least expensive on the web and free shipping.

A great piece of equippment. It costs more than many exercisers but it does more. A great variety of exercises are available and a total body workout is possible with this one piece of equippment. It is large so make sure you have room for it.

I've never used such a versatile, compact, easy to use gym ever before. This gym will meet ANYONEs needs....every age, every fit level. Love it!