Total Gym vs. Ironmaster Super Bench
I'm 5'5" tall, weigh 190 pounds and am about 30% body fat. My goal is to tone. I am thinking about buying a total gym or a weight bench, specifically the superbench by ironmaster. Which one is better?
Personal Trainers // We get dozens of questions each week. There is more Q & A on the Following Page:
If you have read the website and haven't found the answers you are looking for, fill out the following contact form with your question.
Ask the Personal Trainer a Question
For expert guidance and a fitness program tailored to your specific goals make sure to check out:
QUESTION:
I'm 5'5" tall, weigh 190 pounds and am about 30% body fat. My goal is to tone. I am thinking about buying a total gym or a weight bench, specifically the superbench by ironmaster. Which one is better?
ANSWER:
Both are great pieces of equipment and viable options for a home workout. The Ironmaster Super Bench is a multi-purpose weight bench which requires dumbbells and other equipment to get a full body workout. The Total Gym can give you a full body workout with no added equipment with few necessary upgrades.
You can find the Ironmaster Super Bench Combo on Amazon along with a set of adjustable dumbbells for $699 USD or the bench alone for $289 but keep in mind you will be paying for all the attachments which make the Ironmaster Super Bench a versatile piece of equipment. The Total Gym models vary in price.
Since both pieces of equipment are good, consider price first. Do you already have a full set of dumbells and/or barbells to use with the bench? If not, that is going to cost more than the cost of the bench itself. Dumbbell free weight exercises tend to have a tougher learning curve than Total Gym cable exercises if you're a beginner. Also keep in mind that the Total Gym can be used as a standard weight bench for dumbbell exercises as well.
Most importantly consider which machine will help you achieve your goals most efficiently. At your current physical dimensions, the Total Gym is going to allow you to start off with a small percentage of your body weight. As you make progress you can simply move the platform up a notch to use more of your body weight. Your goal is not to build maximal strength which is the only real weakness of the Total Gym as it's better for muscular endurance.
Personally I would get the Total Gym if price is not an issue and you do not already have dumbbells. If you already have dumbbells I would probably get the Ironmaster Super Bench I would probably not get the because dumbbells are available at every gym in existence which is often the natural progression for people who get in shape at home with their own equipment and you can't find the Total Gym or machines like it at most gyms.
These 2 Links May Help you Decide:
QUESTION:
Hello, I'm a 5'8" tall 180 pound woman. Will recumbent exercise bikes help tone and reduce cellulite in legs?
ANSWER:
That is a very general question and the very general answer is: Yes! Is a recumbent bike better than a treadmill, stairmaster, a track or eating less calories? No. Cellulite is a by-product of having excess body fat for most people. Your dimensions would indicate your body fat percentage is high. You can check the page about Body Fat Percentage in Women to learn more about it.
A cardio exercise program which can include a recumbent bike will burn calories based on the time and effort you put into your exercise sessions. It is up to you to eat less calories (food energy) than you burn to provide a stimulus for your body to burn fat as fuel. Once you lower your body fat to a healthy percentage then cellulite will be reduced. If you're asking whether exercising on a recumbent bike will magically lessen cellulite in your legs at your current dimensions the answer is no. You have to lose weight first.
QUESTION:
I want to buy a treadmill but don’t know the best brand to get. I have been looking on the internet and have found the Smooth 7.35 but no one has ever heard of this brand. Was wondering if you could help me? I have a budget of about $1400. Thank you for any help you can give me.
ANSWER:
If you're set on buying a treadmill you're in luck because there is not much difference (if any) with the design of treadmills from brand to brand. They all can be set to go at a specific speed and incline and have various electronic controls to manipulate the intensity of each workout.
What you should worry about when choosing a treadmill is the build quality. Of course $7,000 commercial Precor or LifeFitness treadmills are going to be more durable than a machine designed for the home cardio machine market but you may want to look to those aforementioned brands if you want the highest quality build. You may be able to find gyms going out of business in your local area with discounts on previously used commercial equipment and get a deal.
If you want to buy a new machine in the price range you listed, your best bet is to search the most widely used vendor in the world, Amazon.com. The best part about looking on Amazon.com is you may find someone in a situation very similar to yours by browsing through the hundreds and thousands of reviews by people who actually bought the product. People also amend their reviews over time so you can really dig deep in some research.
Find the Most Popular Treadmills & Reviews from Owners on Amazon
QUESTION:
When using the Total Gym are the kneeling exercises the same as the sitting. Should I do both or only one?
ANSWER:
Good question. I can tell you have never used the Total Gym before because anyone who has knows how much more challenging the kneeling exercises are than the seated ones. Since the majority of the resistance comes from your own body weight kneeling forces you to stabilize an additional joint making each kneeling exercise much tougher on your core.
Whether you should seated/lying or kneeling versions of each exercise depends on your goals. If you are looking to build functional core strength and stability and/or attempt to elevate your metabolism, performing each exercise from the kneeling position will help you develop core stability and balance while you strengthen your muscles.
If your primary goal is to build muscle, performing the exercises from the seated or lying position will allow you to target individual muscle groups and isolate individual muscles best because you will not have to use up as much energy and focus trying to stabilize your body from falling down.
There is really no straight forward answer as far as whether you can do both the exercises on the same day. Your program should be consistant with your goals. Add floor exercises and maybe a couple dumbbell exercises on the Total Gym to get the best results and accomplish a variety of goals. You can also use kneeling exercises as a progression if the top level of resistance becomes to get too easy.
BEWARE: If you haven't tried any kneeling exercises on the Total Gym or the commercial GTS yet, make sure you have a spotter or start at a low level. While the person in the videos may look as if it's easy to perform these exercises from a kneeling position, most people lose balance and even fall on their first few tries.Read: Total Gym Overview
