Bodylastics vs. Total Gym

Get the benefits of Total Gym for hundreds even thousands less with Bodylastics

Let's begin by comparing the resistance generated by the Total Gym with Bodylastics Elastic Resistance. The Total Gym creates resistance by mixing the principles of gravity with a sliding slant board. The slant board is attached to cables which are fed through a fly wheel and then attach to handles or ankle straps.

When you sit on the slant board which can be set to different incline angles, it naturally slides down (gravitational pull) creating resistance. When you pull on the handles or ankle straps it moves the slant board up against gravity. The more of an incline that you create the greater the resistance.

Bodylastics elastic resistance has a unique clip system so that any of the four elastics (included in the basic set) can be combined and substituted. Each elastic is a different thickness and therefore creates a different level of tension when you stretch it. Since any combination of elastics can be used, multiple levels of resistance can be created.

The bottom line: I recently tried a Total Gym system at Sears. It was not bad. I did feel my muscle working. Even though it seemed like a decent machine I still do not feel as though it can hold a candle to Bodylastics.

Elastic resistance does have a few advantages over gravity. Gravity applies to the Total Gym and free weights as well. The tension from gravity is consistent as you shorten your muscle and perform the exercise. For example as you curl your arm the gravity tension will stay the same from when your arm is straight until your arm is bent.

This is not the same with elastic resistance. When you stretch an elastic the resistance increases. This is a naturally occurring property of elastics. So, you will be placing more stress on the muscle at a more optimal time. When your muscle is fully extended it has the least amount of leverage and therefore is weaker (this is where you want the least amount of resistance).

As you shorten the muscle the leverage improves and the muscle can handle much more resistance (this is where you want the most amount of resistance). The Mega expensive machines at the health club use a cam to create this situation. The cam is used to create less resistance at the beginning of the movement and more at the end.

Elastic resistance used by Bodylastics does this naturally without cables or a cam.