GolfHos

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I love Infomercials. I seriously get sucked into them and can't quit watching. I don't know what it is. Perhaps a feeble mind, perhaps the fact that I don't have cable. I don't know. But I love infomercials.

I've never bought anything from an infomercial before. Laura has (ProActiv, TaeBo, Winsor Pilates, etc) but for the most part, I just like watching them. I seem to be immune to the sales pitch. Until last week, that is.

We've been looking for a new home gym dealie to replace the antique universal weight stack system that I've had for a while. Neither of us like it for a variety of reasons. I read a while back that the Total Gym is the real deal and was about ready to buy one, until I saw the infomercial for this (http://www.bioforcetnt.com/BIOFORCEVIDEO.html). Something about it just rubbed me the right way.

If you buy it new, they want upwards of $1300 for it. I found a seller on Ebay (that I later found out to be Fitness Quest, the actual retail distributor for them in the first place) selling returned demo units that are "refurbished to new condition" for half price. After some inner turmoil, I finally pulled the trigger last week, it arrived today.

Quick initial thoughts: not difficult to assemble, though quite time consuming (took about 2.5 hours). Very solid construction, seems pretty bullet proof. I've never used a non-stack (Bowflex, Soloflex, etc) weight machine that feels so close to actual weight stacks, if it weren't for not hearing the metal plates clang together it would be easy to believe they're actual weight stacks. Since it's mostly cable exercises, the lack of range of motion that you sometimes get from traditional weight machines doesn't appear to be a problem. I was a little worried about 220lbs max resistance, but after messing around with it a bit 220lbs should be ample for an average guy.

I think we made a good purchase. If anyone cares, I'll offer a better writeup after using it for a few weeks.

(http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5mgpYs5GnBcBxD6jzbkF/SIG=12r7ddbcs/EXP=1188017065/**http%3A//www.thanedirect.co.uk/images/thumbnails/magicbullet-thumb260.jpg)

Infomercials can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.

(http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/thumb/4/4c/Mindtrick.JPG/250px-Mindtrick.JPG)

(http://www.totalgymdirect.com/images/chucknorris.jpg):isaac:

Let me know your thoughts after a couple of weeks.

Bountiful doesn't have cable TV yet?

I think you wasted your money.  You should be fit enough from hauling buckets of water from the crik.

I love infomercials too.   [sm_anon]  I could watch the Medicus and Qray Saturday morning shows forever.    Straight Shootin' Golf was my first, from then I was hooked.  I rarely buy anything, but I do love to watch them.

The Total Gym is the real deal.  I've been on one.  As soon as I scrape up the several hundred bucks, I'm buying one.

Not from them, or online.  They sell the 1500 model at *8==>*'s.  Best deal I've seen.

I bought the Little Giant Ladder after watching their informercial a few times. It's a little heavy but it's rock solid and very versatile.

I will agree with you though. Something about informercials seems to always get me to think, hey I could really use that!

Probably would work great as a place to hang laundry to dry.  That is what we'd turn it into after a few weeks.


BTW, I totally want the rotisiere cooker thing that cooks stuff in like 5 minutes.  It looks badass.  That and the magic bullet.

I think that might be the simple truth of it.

'zacktly.

Will do.

I'm thinking about digging a well in the Spring though.

I love that one. I was all set to buy it until I saw the price tag.  :o


MIL gave us one of those for Christmas a couple of years ago. Meh. We ended up giving it away.

You're a Regifter!!!!!

Well, not exactly. It was used and the recipient knew it. It was more of a "do you want this or should we just give it to Good Will?" kind of thing.

Dude.  Buy it at Cous Cous.  I did.  Same exact ladder, but only a hundo!   8)

Component ladders vs. OEM.

Wifey o.k.'d it as a "Christmas" gift a few years ago.

Plus, Little Giants are forged from German Stainless Steel. Not cast like cheap knock-offs. They also offer the Tour version for a minimal upcharge.  ;)

That looks cool.  I've love to get something like that, but we don't have a basement, so we've got space issues.  The Bio Force doesn't look to massive, though.

It's tall, but the footprint is smaller than a treadmill. It's a little bit wider than I was envisioning, but not too bad.

I've now logged 8 workouts and about 10 total hours on the Bio Force and feel I can now offer a pretty reasonable take on the machine.

The good: Excellent workout, feels very much like using a weight stack (e.g. Nautilus) machine. Way, way better than a Bowflex, Crossbow, Soloflex, etc, in terms of range of motion, smoothness and consistent positive and negative resistance through the range of the exercise, and change out between exercises. Resistance is ample, particularly if you're looking for toning rather than mass. (Serious bodybuilder types probably wouldn't be impressed.) Low enough resistance for the wife to use, and it increases in 2.5lb increments, rather than 5, which is nice. The included workouts are well structured, give a serious full body workout, and will make you sweat. The machine is solidly constructed, fits decently in a small area, and is generally quiet*.

The bad: Some exercises are kind of awkward to perform, particularly some of the lower body exercises like squats, deadlifts, and leg curls; they remain effective, however, once you get used to how to do them. At 5'9" I max out the cable range on some of the standing exercises, which might be problematic for taller people, but most of these exercises can also be performed sitting. It doesn't stow or fold away, the size it is during the workout is the size it remains when you're not using it, and it's too heavy to easily roll out of the way, so you need a dedicated space for it. While generally quiet, some exercises seem to make the resistance pistons "hum," particularly those that require slow and controlled motion. (I'm considering a dry lubricant on them to see if it quiets it up at all.) The numeric resistant indicators are just silkscreened onto the metal arms and will probably wear off, I plan on eventually having to renumber it with a Sharpie or the like.

The ugly: The price tag and the sweaty fat guy after he's done using it.

Bottom line: A good home workout option as long as you have the space, don't mind spending the cash, and are okay with a little bit of quirkiness. Much more recommended than most other informercial workout systems I've seen or tried. That P90X is a serious sumbich, though.

Is this what you're talking about?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/spo/414877472.html

I love the music ones from time-life.
Especially the 70's, disco and love songs ones (I the love song one, was hosted by Air Supply!!).
I sit there with my glass of wine and sing along!!!(It dosen't take much to make me happy!!!! ;D ;D ;D).

Air Supply makes me (http://www.golfhos.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=1285;type=avatar)

That's the one.