| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | or purchasing a machine for use in the home. In |
| How does Bodylastics stack up against a gym | | | | Michigan walking outside is available most of the year |
| membership such as the YMCA? Can it duplicate the | | | | with the exception of some exceptionally cold and/or |
| weight and resistance training available at a facility like | | | | snow filled days. Thus, this may be an area that is |
| the Y? What services can it not duplicate? How do | | | | going to be limited with just the Bodylastics approach. |
| the costs in terms of money and time efficiency | | | | How about a cost comparison? Bodylastics’ |
| compare? | | | | basic unit for beginners of average strength is $49.95, |
| So you have made up your mind to get into some | | | | with upgrades to $59.95 for those of above average |
| training, or you have been training and are looking for a | | | | strength, and $99.82 for exceptionally strong individuals. |
| less expensive and less time consuming way to train. | | | | Now let’s compare this to belonging to a gym, |
| One of the areas you might explore is the Bodylastics | | | | specifically, in my case, to the YMCA. Monthly |
| home training system featuring resistance elastic | | | | membership fees are $44/month. This includes weight |
| bands. This system was developed by Blake Kessel | | | | training and cardiovascular, but also a swimming pool, |
| and first marketed in 1998. Total customers are over | | | | Jacuzzi, basketball gym, and a roller blade rink. The |
| 1,200,000. | | | | latter 4 areas I do not use at all. |
| For the last 4 years, I have been a Michigan wintertime | | | | Travel: The distance from my home was 6.9 miles, or |
| member of the local YMCA and under the supervision | | | | a round trip of approximately 14 miles. With my MPG |
| of a personal trainer directed system there. My | | | | of 22, and an average exercise frequency of 5 times |
| motivation to join was brought about by my being a | | | | per week, and cost of gas at $2.25 per gallon, travel |
| prostate cancer survivor and recognizing the need to | | | | costs were $7.15 per week, or $30.80 per month. For |
| stay in good physical shape to help prevent any return | | | | the 6 months each year that I am a member, the cost |
| of the cancer. In the summer I leave my exercise to | | | | is $185.00. |
| approximately 100 plus rounds of golf. After some | | | | The total cost of the YMCA for membership and |
| dissatisfaction with the time and money associated | | | | travel for 6 months that is duplicated each and every |
| with the YMCA program, I started looking for some | | | | year is $449.00 versus the beginning Bodylasts set |
| alternatives. Having heard much about the Bodylastics | | | | cost of $49.95, a one time expenditure. Needless to |
| system, I thought I would do a comparison. The | | | | say, this is a significant difference. |
| following is a summary of that comparison as to | | | | With regard to time efficiency, Bodylastics does not |
| effectiveness, cost, and time efficiency. | | | | require a daily 20 minute round trip to the YMCA. This |
| Is Bodylastics an adequate substitute for free weights | | | | trip can be considerably longer in Michigan when the |
| and weight machines in a gym atmosphere such as | | | | snow flies, or icy roads are encountered. Once at the |
| the YMCA? Each year I start out at the Y with a | | | | gym, there is time check in, change into workout |
| 30-60 minute session with a personal trainer. She puts | | | | clothes, and sometimes having to wait to use a |
| together an exercise program that best keeps me in | | | | machine. |
| good health ( I am not a muscle builder, but simply | | | | Probably the most significant time savings occur when |
| want to be in reasonably good shape) These | | | | out of town. This is when I have to search for the local |
| exercises make use of the myriad machines available | | | | YMCA, find out how to get there, actually get there, |
| and generally consist of 3 different machines for the | | | | and then pay a guest fee. With the Bodylastics |
| legs, and nine different machines for the back, shoulder, | | | | contained in a 3# bag with a door attachment, it can |
| and arms. There is also a small amount of time | | | | simply be taken to and used at any travel destination. |
| devoted to free weights. Total time to perform these | | | | In comparing Bodylastics with a gym program like the |
| exercises usually is 20-25 minutes, followed by a | | | | YMCA, Bodylastics appears to be the clear winner. It |
| cardiovascular routine that consists of fast walking | | | | duplicates all the weight machines and free weights |
| laps on the indoor track for about an hour. In looking at | | | | available at the gym and it offers significant savings. |
| Bodylastics I found at minimum it offered 140 different | | | | There are a couple of negatives, however, one being |
| exercises, many of which duplicated the ones done at | | | | the lack of an indoor track for getting a good |
| the YMCA. In terms of the amount of resistance, the | | | | cardiovascular workout, and the lack of people to |
| special Bodylastics quick clip system allows not | | | | exercise with to maintain your motivation. The 60 day |
| only quick changes to different exercises, but also | | | | money back guarantee for Bodylastics, however, |
| allow adding up to 7 resistance bands to give all the | | | | offers a sufficient period of time to see if you can |
| resistance needed. | | | | motivate yourself and get your cardiovascular workout |
| Even though the Bodylastics system compared | | | | by walking outside or perhaps purchasing a machine |
| favorable from a weight resistance training standpoint, | | | | for your home. No matter which exercise program you |
| there is one negative
..it does not offer | | | | choose, it is of utmost importance to choose one. |
| cardiovascular exercise such as the indoor track at | | | | Don’t delay. I have found it is vital to |
| the Y. Of course, a substitute is simply walking outside | | | | one’s health. |