Best total gym buying guide
Are you thinking of buying a total gym? You’re not alone; these versatile machines are popular for good reason. But before you buy, it’s important to do your research and make sure a total gym is the right choice for you. In this best total gym buying guide, we’ll take a closer look at what makes a total gym so special, and help you decide if one is right for your home fitness routine.
back to menu ↑What is the best total gym?
When looking for the best total gym, it’s important to look at all of your options and know what you’re getting yourself into. With our research experience we’ve done just that! We have read through countless reviews from people who own different models so that YOU can make an informed decision on which one will work well with YOUR needs!
back to menu ↑What are the types of total gym?
A few types of total gyms are laid out below.
back to menu ↑The Total Gym 1100
The Total Gym 1100 is the basic, cheapest model of the total gym line. It features no frills or special features and includes two workout DVDs.
back to menu ↑The Total Gym 1100XL
The next model up is the Total Gym 1100XL. It comes with all the features of the basic model, but also includes a leg strap for doing pull-ups and dips, an adjustable incline bench for chest presses and crunches, and three workout DVDs.
back to menu ↑The Total Gym XLS
The next model up from the 1100XL is the Total Gym XLS, which costs about $400 more than its predecessor. It has all the features that the 1100XLhas, but also has a horizontal bar for doing push-ups and inverted rows.
back to menu ↑What are the benefits of total gym?
These are among the benefits you can get when using a total gym machine:
back to menu ↑Cardio-vascular training
When you use free weights, momentum is generated that makes it more beneficial than when you use isolation movement machines since these machines focus on one muscle group at a time. That means when using the total gym machine your body will get more of a workout than it would if you were using an isolation movement machine.
back to menu ↑Good for strength training
This is because when using the total gym, more than one muscle works together to perform an exercise so your body will get stronger faster since it must use more muscles during the exercise.
back to menu ↑You can do it alone
When you work out alone for strength training, isolation movement machines are just not as useful. Isolation machines do not require the same type of stabilization that free weights require which makes it easier to train with them.
back to menu ↑Joint Friendly
Do not put pressure on your joints since it’s low impact machine. It is perfect for people who have high blood pressure, arthritis or suffer from other joint diseases.
back to menu ↑Recovery
It’s also great for people who are recovering from an injury since it won’t place pressure on the affected area of the body.
back to menu ↑Weight
It is perfect for people who suffer from weight problems since it will help you build muscle mass and reduce body fat percentage.
back to menu ↑Flexible
You can adjust the resistance of the machine depending on how hard you want to work out. You can also do contracting exercises that work for more than one muscle group at a time.
back to menu ↑What exercises can you do with total gym?
There is a myriad of exercises that you can do with total gym, and these are below.
back to menu ↑Push-ups
The push-up is a very simple exercise that can be done with one of the bars from the total gym. It’s an easy way to tone your arms and chest without having to deal with weights.
back to menu ↑Ab Crunches
This is also a very simple exercise that uses a bar on a total gym. You lie down on the floor, then place a bar just below your knees and raise your legs while simultaneously doing a curl. The movement should be fluid and controlled.
back to menu ↑Squat
The squat is an effective exercise for toning the glutes, quads, and hamstrings. It’s basically done by bending at knee joints, keeping your back straight, and squatting down.
back to menu ↑Lunges
The lunge is an exercise done with a total gym bar to tone your legs, glutes, and hamstrings. You start by placing one foot on the ground behind you, then bend at both knees until your front knee reaches 90° and your rear knee almost touches the floor. Return to the starting position.
back to menu ↑Abductor/Adductor Press
The abductor press is done with handles on a total gym. This movement works your outer thigh muscles, particularly the glutes. Keep your back straight and start by standing in front of the total gym, then you raise both arms at right angles to each other.
back to menu ↑Vertical Press
This is an exercise to work your deltoids (shoulder muscles), with the help of the handles on a total gym. It’s basically like doing push-ups by bending at the elbows and pressing up.
back to menu ↑How to choose the best total gym?
These are the key things to watch out for when choosing the best total gym:
back to menu ↑Features
The most popular features with home gym owners are the upper and lower pulleys. These allow for free motion training, which can greatly improve your strength-training results over time. Having a full array of pushup bars is another great feature.
back to menu ↑Weight
If you plan on moving the machine up and downstairs, you’ll want one that can be easily moved. The lighter it is, the easier it will be for you to move around, so make sure to find a model that’s light enough for your needs.
back to menu ↑Size
Of course, you’ll probably want to find a machine that is one size fits all. The more adjustable the Total Gym model is, the better your experience will be while using it.
back to menu ↑Safety
You don’t want to buy something that is not secure and might fall apart while you use it, so take your time and research all your options before making a purchase.
back to menu ↑Comfort
You’ll want to make sure you choose a model that is comfortable to use for its designed workout. The more intuitive and easier to use the machine is, the more likely you are to continue using it every day.
back to menu ↑Budget
There are many models to choose from, so make sure you do your research before buying anything to ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible.
back to menu ↑Accessories
If you end up spending more money on additional accessories that you want, your overall cost of the machine will increase.
back to menu ↑Conclusion
The Total Gym is an excellent piece of exercise equipment because it offers the best in both fitness and relaxation. With this machine, you can get all your cardio by doing stomach crunches or using the leg extension bar to work on your quads while watching TV. If that’s not enough, we hope that this buying guide will help you!
Happy training!
Rich
Rich is an avid bodybuilder who has dedicated over 20 years of his life to the sport. He has a strong passion for health and fitness, living a clean lifestyle with a commitment to helping others educate themselves and fulfil their true potential.
