The Total Gym Review
The creators say that Total Gym is so versatile it's the equivalent of a gym's worth of weights and machines.The solid steel unit is an all-in-one home exercise machine that allows you to strengthen and tone your body's muscle groups with resistance training on an incline/decline bench. It features 60 different exercises which have you lifting your body weight against gravity, so the resistance is always smooth and fluid. The lowest settings have you lifting 4% of your body weight, the highest setting have you lifting 60%. It's heavily promoted on infomercials by Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley, who, if nothing else, are both legitimate fitness enthusiasts. Total Gym is also reportedly popular with professional athletes and physical therapists in hospitals and rehab centers.
There are several versions of the unit. They are the Total Gym 1100 ($199.99), 1700 ($380), 3000 ($450), XLS ($650) and 14000 ($1,195). The price escalation reflects the stripped down models and the machines with multiple upgrades (which are cosmetic, comfort, and for a broader range of exercises, including pilates.)
Total Gym units come out of the box fully assembled, and set up in minutes. The deluxe model includes a nutritional guide and meal plan, an exercise chart and workout DVD's including the Total Gym Pilates routine Brinkley touts on television.
Nothing to sneeze at here, and it's important to note that some of these products are very reasonably priced. The only problem with home exercise machines like Total Gym is the tendency to become bored by them, and start draping clothes over them. If you can stay committed there's no reason a Total Gym wouldn't be an excellent addition to your fitness routine.
