The Total Gym is an all-in-one gym that is manufactured by Fitness Quest and was popularized by infomercials featuring celebrities Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley. Even though the celebrity hosts marvel on television at the body transforming properties of the machine, you may have your doubts. To know whether the Total Gym is better for you than a strength training program with free weights, you must understand your exercise goals.
Resistance System
The resistance system used in the Total Gym is unconventional when compared to free weights. Rather than requiring you to lift weight plates or barbells, your body weight creates the resistance for the exercises. This is accomplished through a pulley system that attaches to a sliding board you lay on while you exercise. The amount of resistance on the Total Gym is increased or decreased by changing the angle of the backrest in relation to the ground.
Versatility
According to Fitness Quest, the Total Gym can accomplish more than 80 different exercises that target all of the major muscle groups in your body, including your arms, chest, core and legs. Free weights are more versatile, however, because you can accomplish hundreds of different exercises with a barbell, weight plates and a few pairs of dumbbells or kettlebells. This is mainly because your range of motion is not limited with free weights, thus allowing you to target the same muscles in a variety of ways.
When to Choose Free Weights
Physical medicine specialist Edward R. Laskowski states on MayoClinic.com that free weights are a good training choice because they promote "whole-body stabilization" and can be adapted to simulate real life lifting situations. Mixed martial arts instructor Mike Fry adds on Bodybuilding.com that traditional exercises such as the bench press, squats and deadlift are the best way to build your power and strength. If your fitness goal is to become as strong as possible, the Total Gym will most likely not deliver enough resistance or range of motion for you to be successful.
When to Choose the Total Gym
The Total Gym is mostly designed for people that want to lose weight and generally tone their bodies. Certified sports physiologist Mike Behnken says on AskTheTrainer.com that the Total Gym excels at building core muscles because they are engaged in most exercises on the machine. Though you will not become excessively strong, the Total Gym exercises can be cycled between quickly to keep your heart rate elevated and your body burning calories. Because you can isolate muscles on the Total Gym, it is more useful for rehabilitation after an injury than free weights are.
Member Comments