total gym models

[mark12b]

what are the pros/cons of the different total gym models? looking at craigslist, i'm seeing these models: 1000, 1500, 2400, XL, XLS, Platinum, "no model number"...

[some call me...tim?]

Yo Mark, I've gotten a good amount of info from Blake on the models. If you want to send me some links of the models you're looking at, I can try to give some advice. Basically, model numbers 2000 and up are the good ones, as well as the XL and XLS. The main difference between them and the lower end models is that they're sturdier construction, more accessories, easier to adjust, and a bigger glide board.

[Blake_T]

super high end ones that i don't know anything about:
10000, 11000, 14000, etc. these are all $1200+ new, used they tend to pop up anywhere from $200 to $1000+. these are the clinical grade models used for professional rehab. the suck part is that the accessories cost like 8-10x as much as they do for the consumer grade models, so unless it comes loaded with accessories you probably won't want to buy them.

high end models (in descending order):
XLS, XL, 3000, 2000. sturdy tower, easy to adjust incline, tons of accessories, squat plate capable, high build quality. these 4 models all use the same accessories.

mid-end models (in descending order):
1800 club, 1700 club, supra. narrow tower, lower build quality, tons of accessories, squat plate capable. the supra uses the same accessories as the XL/XLS/2000/3000. the 1700/1800 can use the same accessories.

low-end models (in no particular order):
1000, 1100, 1500, achiever, elite, ultra, pro, performer, etc. narrow tower, lower build quality, minimal accessories.

best ones:

XLS. new $1300, used $350-900. super wide glide board, new came with squat plate, pilates bar/kit, leg pulley, wing attachment.

XL. new $1200, used $200-400. super wide glide board, new came with squat plate, leg pulley, wing attachment. there was an informercial promo that included the pilates bar/kit or press up bars. the XL and XLS are nearly identical (the handles are the only real difference), so they are "worth" roughly the same amount imo.

3000. new $900, used $100-300. new came with squat plate, wing attachment. there was an informercial promo that included the leg pulley and press up bars. total gym logo on board is white/silver outlined in blue with no model number.

1800 club. new $350, used $200-300. new came with pilates bar, leg pulley, wing attachment, press up bars, dip bars, ab crunch boards, floor mat.

1700 club. new $350, used $150-250. new came with pilates bar, leg pulley, wing attachment, press up bars, dip bars, weight bar, floor mat.

2000. new $600, used $100-250. new came with no accessories. there was an informercial promo that included the press up bars, wing attachment, and squat plate. the handles on this model can't be changed.

the accessories for the XL/XLS/2000/3000 usually cost $20-35 each. the 1700/1800 came with pretty much everything and i don't think you can get the accessories separately without calling the manufacturer.

i would avoid the lower end models unless budget is your primary concern. in that case, you should be able to get one of them for under $60. all the standard exercises can be performed with any model. the 1500 is a solid one and probably the most common one floating around used. most low end models came with the wing attachment and leg pulley.

[mark12b]

awesome, blake, thanks for the writeup!

i'm keeping my eye on craigslist. cost isn't a super-big issue... mainly i want to avoid over-spending if this turns out to be something i can't stick with (somewhat likely, as i've never really been into exercising) -- but i also want to avoid under-spending and getting something i don't enjoy using, or that i *do* like but which isn't expandable enough.

there are a few XLS with "all accessories" listed for ~$500, which is tempting but a fair bit beyond a casual purchase for me. gotta figure out how dedicated i really think i can be.

[Blake_T]

let me know if you want me to dig through your CL. i found tim's (and disc junkie's, but he's not in seattle). tim got a 3000 w/ a bunch of accessories for $150. you may have to be willing to drive. when i was searching the seattle one there was a 3000 in tacoma for $30 and an XL for $100 near olympia.


this one is actually a 2000 and not a 3000.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/for/1510980843.html

here's an XL for $150:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/hab/1514514500.html

a 2000 for $100:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/hsh/1515049011.html

a 1700 but i wouldn't pay more than $200-250 and that's if it included everything:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/hab/1513811420.html

this one looks like it's an 1800 club w/ a standard glide board... wouldn't go more than $200ish:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/spo/1518861967.html

this is a 3000 model w/ accessories:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/spo/1521742938.html

there's usually a ton of $50 or less ones up for sale... but not right now.

that guy w/ the XL up for $350 seems like a douche... he's had it at that since like august and keeps flipping the price between $400 and $350.

on those $500 XLS's you can always offer $350 and see what they do. used exercise equipment is supposed to sell for like $0.10-0.20 on the dollar new.

total gym also sells the ones that were returned for the 30-day trials on ebay at a discounted price but you can get used ones way cheaper:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Total-Gym-2000-Thes ... 5885108d81

[Blake_T]

here's a link to the new 1800 clubs:
http://www.fitnessquest.com/scripts/cgi ... l_Gym_1800

$350 w/ free shipping. those basically have everything but the squat plate and weight bar (and i don't think you can add either of them). the customer service person told me that the pilates bar wasn't weight bearing enough to do squats on it. you can do something that resembles squats using the leg attachment. these don't have nearly as high of build quality as like a 3000 or XL, but it's a good value if you want all the attachments. i got an XL for $150 and then spent another $150 on accessories.

[mark12b]

this is great, thanks... gives me a better idea of what to look for. once we get past christmas i'll see what's out there and let you know if i have any questions.

tim -- buff yet?

[some call me...tim?]

tim -- buff yet?

Hahaha, ummm, in a word, no. Just as I was getting comfortable in a routine, my friend came up to visit from CA, and I didn't feel like entertaining her with my Chuck Norris antics. Now I'm back east at my parents' place, burning approximately 1 calorie a day, and taking in significantly more. I'm just telling myself I'm giving that much more room for improvement once I get back to the routine.

I will say though, that before my recent lethargy, I was feeling some good results.

[mark12b]

alright, scored a 2000 for $150, came with the bundled infomercial-promo accessories described above.

[Blake_T]

cool. how'sit working for ya so far?

i'm in the midst of re-working my workout routines.

after shedding 17 lbs of fat in the first 5 weeks i proceeded to put on 37 lbs of muscle over the following 7 weeks. wtf. everyone complains about being unable to bulk on total gyms but i only did exercises on inclines 2-4 (out of 6).

currently recouping from a sprained thumb and wrist. going to experiment a bit on level 1 with some really high rep counts (e.g. 40-50) to see if i can go for strength without the mass.

maybe my body just has a really messed up sense of what its equilibrium build should be.

[lefty-hyzer]

cool. how'sit working for ya so far?

i'm in the midst of re-working my workout routines.

after shedding 17 lbs of fat in the first 5 weeks i proceeded to put on 37 lbs of muscle over the following 7 weeks. wtf. everyone complains about being unable to bulk on total gyms but i only did exercises on inclines 2-4 (out of 6).

currently recouping from a sprained thumb and wrist. going to experiment a bit on level 1 with some really high rep counts (e.g. 40-50) to see if i can go for strength without the mass.

maybe my body just has a really messed up sense of what its equilibrium build should be.

37lbs. of muscle in 7 weeks is not possible (trust me, barry bonds would have been all over it in the 80s....or 90s). the total gym is solid, and i own one, but it will not magically turn you into a christie brinkley banging super pimp in that amount of time.

[Blake_T]

i've been told that it's impossible time and time again, but this isn't the first time i've had this kind of rapid bulk up happen.

my goal with the total gym was to go from 220 to 190... and i ended up going from 220 to 203 to 240. that isn't something i wanted to have happen and it's usually only happened with free weights.

working under the assumption that this did in fact happen, can you make any positive contributions on workouts that will help deflate the mass?

[lefty-hyzer]

if you are looking to lean up, you have to start with the diet. i'm sure you know that more weight and less reps will supply bulk, while less weight and more reps will cut you up. what do you do for cardio? i recommend swimming, it is the only thing that has worked for me when i need to get leaned up quick.


i was recently at around 240lbs. as well, after shattering my 5th metacarpel, and breaking my 3rd and 4th, in my dominant hand, all at the same time. started back on my exercise routine which consist of walking my dogs +/- 10 miles per day, then playing up to 3 rounds of dg for fun, followed by a 30 minute total gym session in the evenings (usually down a can of tuna about an hour after, to feed the muscles). i also like to sneak in 100 push ups, and 100 sit ups each day (not all at once, typically break them in to 25 of each, 4 times a day). gotten back down to 190ish now, and feel great again.


if you want more clarity, hit me up, a good friend that i work out with is a nutritionist, and helps me with my diet.

[Blake_T]

i spent 2 years cutting my protein intake and working on low weight high reps in order to deflate my pectorals. trimming is definitely my primary focus.

bodies respond differently to exercise and mine tends to do rapid bulking, especially if i'm working from an out of shape state.

my cardio right now is generally circuit training with my total gym. i'll have days where i'll perform the exercises aerobically at high reps/low weight and change muscle groups rather than resting between sets and working out that way for 40-70 minutes. that's the limit of my cardio right now, which i know isn't enough, but it's what i can consistently make time for.

i can't stand how quickly my body puts on muscle. it was nice when i was playing football but not something i want.

[rehder]

if you want to lose weight you absolutely have to focus on the diet. Find out on how many calories a day you gain, and reduce your intake. Dont cut your protein intake, but make sure you have a wellrounded diet that is low in calories. (Lots of greens and fish is really good as well.) No matter how you lift weights will change your bodyweight if you dont look at the diet. Especially if you gain easily.