I'm just curious...Why are home gyms in general frowned upon? I don't mean this in a bad way, I'm just wondering. I know the infomercials are chessy as they can be and they make the gyms sound like miracle machines but all in all, I'm satisfied w/the crossbow. Like I said, the leg developer could use inprovements but that's it. I do find myself wishing I had basically what John has now though...

Mick

Are you talking about multi gyms?

Are you talking about multi gyms?
It seems like if a person buys a home gym you see on tv, it's a little comical.

I'm a little tired so i don't think this will make much sence. If you are talking about multigyms. Just think how much they cost, and every pully in that thing takes some of the weight off the excersise. They do keep you on form but they don't work on your stabalisers. So in conclusion free weights are better in everyway but one and you can pick them up for next to nothing. Oh and if you out grow your gym, you're fucked. Unless you get an upgradable one.

I'm just curious...Why are home gyms in general frowned upon? I don't mean this in a bad way, I'm just wondering
they're frowned upon?

It's hard to beat the value and versatility of a good old fashion barbell set, power rack and multi adjustable bench. For the price of many home gyms you could add a nice set of dumbells to the above and be set up well.

Of course, having both is even better... I like doing low cable rows, tricep pushdowns etc on our Vectra home gym but the vast majority of my workout is done with the free weight.

Mo's home gym
http://community.webshots.com/user/mo_photo

I think it's the "gimmick" aspect of it- "As seen on TV" has a bad association

I'm satisfied w/the crossbow. Like I said, the leg developer could use inprovements but that's it.
Mick

Do you have the Platinum with the 6-Roll Leg Developer? This is the one I am considering and I have read that it has a better leg work out than other models.

First of all, most home gyms "seen on TV" will be cheap trash. I do think there are some very good home gyms out there.

When I got my eliptical machine, the store gave me a free home gym to sweeten the offer. It's a Body Solid 1500S. It's pretty basic but has a small footprint which was important. I like it, but I am finding that I will not be able to do a comprehensive workout with it alone. Keep in mind, I'm not in this to do amny major muscle building-just a little toning and for general health.

I am going to get a set of adjustable weight dumbells and a very basic colapsable bench (seated, incline, flat, decline-with a spot to hook my ankles for abs).

Between these, I can do the basics

Chest press Machine and bench
Chest fly-bench
Shoulders-bench
Lat pulldowns-machine
Seated Rows-machine
Bicep curls-bench
Tricep pulldown-machine
Abs crunches-bench
Leg extensions-Machine
Leg curls-Machine

So, for me, it's an even split. They both have there uses. I do find that my machine claims to have 20 different exercises. 6 are truely usable, some are quite awkward or silly...

It seems like if a person buys a home gym you see on tv, it's a little comical.

Mick,
The only people that would really frown upon a Home Gym as sold on TV would be serious weight trainers. This is only because they know what kind of results can be had from a bench and dumbbells.
Let's look at your first comment here though...on one hand you're saying that you're happy with the Crossbow. But then you say you find yourself wishing that you had Johns set up.
You've simply reached a point where you recognise the benefit of having something else.

I think that home gyms are really cool!!

In fact, while I only have a bench and a few free weights, I always think about how i wnat my home gym to look someday.

Sometimes I think people say "Well, it costs the same as a gym membership so why not jsut do that..." but I'd really like to workout in the comfort of my home (assumign I had a good design, excellent equipment, and etc.). My friends talk about wanting to own badass cars and huge houses, and I just keep thinking about how much I want a giant rack, free weight set, a SELECTION of cardio machines (treadmill w/ incline, elliptical, stairmaster, and bike) and etc. Plus I want a HUGE kitchen (maybe w/ a microwave too, since we don't have one) to make all my meals RIGHT next to my home gym so i can have PWO food instantly at my fingertips :)!!!! :::sigh::: Its like a daydream man, everytime I'm at the gym I think about it.

Don't hate on home gym's ya'll!!

I think that home gyms are really cool!!

In fact, while I only have a bench and a few free weights, I always think about how i wnat my home gym to look someday.

Sometimes I think people say "Well, it costs the same as a gym membership so why not jsut do that..." but I'd really like to workout in the comfort of my home (assumign I had a good design, excellent equipment, and etc.). My friends talk about wanting to own badass cars and huge houses, and I just keep thinking about how much I want a giant rack, free weight set, a SELECTION of cardio machines (treadmill w/ incline, elliptical, stairmaster, and bike) and etc. Plus I want a HUGE kitchen (maybe w/ a microwave too, since we don't have one) to make all my meals RIGHT next to my home gym so i can have PWO food instantly at my fingertips :)!!!! :::sigh::: Its like a daydream man, everytime I'm at the gym I think about it.

Don't hate on home gym's ya'll!!

lol, Of course not: a gym in your home is cool.

But a Home Gym type product, such as you would see on an infomercial -- a monster of pulleys and cables with built-in bench and collapsible accessories -- is what they are talking about.

lol, Of course not: a gym in your home is cool.

But a Home Gym type product, such as you would see on an infomercial -- a monster of pulleys and cables with built-in bench and collapsible accessories -- is what they are talking about.

AKA...The Crossbow, The Total Gym, The Bowflex, those electric shocking machines, where you don't even have to move at all, the unit just zaps you into shape... :lol:
I've tried 3 out of 4 of the above, and I can't say that you don't get any results from them. Home gyms like these are meant to be compact, convenient, and produce a result.
A full blown home free weight gym is not compact. The only real convenience is that you don't have to drive someplace else to train. Loading and unloading hundreds of pounds of plates can't really be called convenient. I'd say that's closer to being part of your w/o.
"If" you use it, you'll definitely see a result...just a different one than the home gyms above.
So the only real differences are size of equipment, and the results.
An advertised home gym may fit in the corner of a room, where a free weight gym will probably need it's own room.
My set up is made up of two "big" pcs. of equipment, two "medium" size, and while the footprint of my weight tree might be fairly small, I'd have a hard time saying that the 700lbs of plates is a small pc of gear.
:rolleyes: