Rating: 
Summary: RIP OFF!
Review: great book to further market their product. you can get the same advice from any fitness magazine or book on circuit training and nutrition. nothing revolutionary here. spend your money elsewhere... what a rip off!
Rating: 
Summary: Something Old Something New
Review: Having read a couple of Dardens previous books much of the information concerning nutrition and exercise theroy is the same. Darden, the Consumate student of Arthur Jones, applies the nautilus principles to the bowflex in a manner that is consistent with his earlier works. He presents a series of routines that are work-able by most any one and should produce results in begginers and early intermediates. The book is artfully photographed, well laid out, and will appeal to the same audiance as the bowflex itself
Rating: 
Summary: Repeats the Bowflex Ultimate Manual
Review: I bought a used Bowflex and the seller didn't have the manual. I wanted to use the machine properly and ordered a manual from the company, but it was back-ordered so I bought this book. It's well written and the photographs are good, but once the manual arrived I saw the book was pretty much a repeat. If you want a hardback, then buy the book, otherwise buy the manual since it's much less expensive.
Rating:
Summary: Exactly what I was looking for.
Review: I don't know strength training, at all. Unlike other reviewers I have no idea who the author is or even his credentials (having read they book they seem to be pretty good). I do have a Bowflex. And while the routines presented in the Bowflex Users Manual that shipped with the machine are good, I found them lacking because I also needed to lose weight, not just build strength. This book is right up my alley. It presents an integrated program for beginners (my wife and I are in our 30s and 40s but neither of us have ever worked out) that blends a steadily advancing work out routine with a reduced calorie diet. And if we persist and stay on program, this book should last us for a few years (if not longer) with the advanced programs for targeting specific muscle development as well as additional, more advanced strength training techniques. The menu plans are specific, but we'll be modifying it slightly simply because a few of the meals (Lunch particularly) aren't all that appealing. But because the meals are based on calories consumed - substitutions are no problem. For those that don't want to worry about meal planning, you've come to the right place. And for those that are more finicky eaters, you'll come away with the base knowlege to build your own meal plan and still achieve your goals. Overall I think this book is well thought-out, with specific workouts and meals. The photos are clear and the explanations on how to do the recommended workouts are slightly better than the manual. More useful is the fact the author selected what he thinks are the best of the exercises (in total, only about 30% of the total possible workouts are presented). You'll be happier if you have the Leg Attachment, although you can just substitute other leg exercises that are also in the book. But eventually you'll probably find the variety lacking.
Rating:
Summary: Exactly what I was looking for.
Review: I like Ellington Darden alot. He DOES know his stuff. So Anyway I own the Ultimate Bowflex. I used to own the regular Bowflex with no attachments and I really never used it. It just sat for a very long time. Alot of it was I just wasn't sure how to do the exercises. So I went on a low carb diet, started walking and lost weight. Then I hit a HUGE stall. I always new I needed to strength train but never did. I hated going to the gym and wasted my money on a year membership. So this past winter I got an offer to send back the regular bowflex, trade it in, get 1000 toward an ultimate with EVERYTHING. So I did it. Get a brand new machine with all the bells and whistles. Again I still wasnt sure what to do. THe video that comes with the ultimate is great, gives a good description of what to do. So I was looking around one day and saw this book and brought it. Well I love it. It is great. Gives GREAT detail instructions and tips for the best exercises on the bowflex. It also has several plans, for gaining muscle, losing fat, for your hips, for your arms, for your chest and for your abs. I still need to lose fat before I can try other routines. But I went on his meal plan which is real simple and good for you. I am eating stuff that was restricted on a low carb diet. And I lost weight. I used to not be able to go down past 168 no matter what I did. Now I am 5'11" and 162 lbs (which is actually just right I just need to lose fat and gain muscle). Also if I cheat I don't balloon up. I highly recommend this book if you have the bowflex. His workout routines and eating plans are also worth it. There is also background information on the bowflex and he also explains healthy information (such as increasing water intake and the like). Ellington Darden knows his stuff and I want to read his other books. Take care.
Rating:
Summary: I really like it
Review: I like Ellington Darden alot. He DOES know his stuff. So Anyway I own the Ultimate Bowflex. I used to own the regular Bowflex with no attachments and I really never used it. It just sat for a very long time. Alot of it was I just wasn't sure how to do the exercises. So I went on a low carb diet, started walking and lost weight. Then I hit a HUGE stall. I always new I needed to strength train but never did. I hated going to the gym and wasted my money on a year membership. So this past winter I got an offer to send back the regular bowflex, trade it in, get 1000 toward an ultimate with EVERYTHING. So I did it. Get a brand new machine with all the bells and whistles. Again I still wasnt sure what to do. THe video that comes with the ultimate is great, gives a good description of what to do. So I was looking around one day and saw this book and brought it. Well I love it. It is great. Gives GREAT detail instructions and tips for the best exercises on the bowflex. It also has several plans, for gaining muscle, losing fat, for your hips, for your arms, for your chest and for your abs. I still need to lose fat before I can try other routines. But I went on his meal plan which is real simple and good for you. I am eating stuff that was restricted on a low carb diet. And I lost weight. I used to not be able to go down past 168 no matter what I did. Now I am 5'11" and 162 lbs (which is actually just right I just need to lose fat and gain muscle). Also if I cheat I don't balloon up. I highly recommend this book if you have the bowflex. His workout routines and eating plans are also worth it. There is also background information on the bowflex and he also explains healthy information (such as increasing water intake and the like). Ellington Darden knows his stuff and I want to read his other books. Take care.
Rating:
Summary: Like a commercial!
Review: I was looking for exercises I could do with the used bowflex I recieved. This book actually contains very few exercises, almost all of which require the optional bowflex accessories that I do not have. In general, it makes me feel that the bowflex I have is a piece of junk, and I should get the "Ultimate" one, with all the bells and whistles for a few grand. Again, there are very few exercises in this book - the author discuesses food, the merits of exercise, and what else - the bowflex machine, more than anything. My search for finding bowflex exercises continues! (Now I am off to the store to return this book!)
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT
Review: I'VE HAD A BOWFLEX FOR 4 YEARS BUT I LEARNED ALOT FROM HIS WONDERFUL BOOK. DR. DARDEN SHOWED ME NEW IDEAS. MY FAVORITE IS HIS ARM BUSTER ROUTINE ON PAGE 236 AND THE CHEST PUMPER ON 228. USING HIS PLAN, I LOST 18 POUNDS OF FAT AND GAINED 4 POUNDS OF MUSCLE. HIS PLAN GOT MY WIFE DOING IT.
DR. DARDEN'S GENERAL PLAN IS SOUND ON FITNESS BEYOND BOWFLEX. HE SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING SMALL MEALS, SUPERHYDRATING WITH ICE WATER. NOT TAKING UNNEEDED SUPPLEMENTS. GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. CHILLING YOURSELF. AND WHY STRENGTH TRAINING MORE IMPORTANT THAN AEROBICS.
MY DIFFERENCES. DR. DARDEN SAYS TRAIN 3 TIMES A WEEK. BUT I TRY TO DO MIKE MENTZER'S HIGH INTENSITY PROGRAM ON A BOWFLEX. I TRAIN ON BOWFLEX EVERY 4 DAYS, ALTERNATING AMONG ARMS/SHOULDERS,CHEST/BACK AND LEGS/ABS. I ADD DEADLIFTS, SQUATS, DIPS AND CHINS. I DO LEG PRESSES ONE LEGGED WITH A RIG I BUILT BECAUSE BOWFLEX ONLY GOES TO 410 LB. IN BETWEEN BOWFLEX WORKOUTS, I RUN UP STAIRS WITH 84 POUND FIREFIGHTER'S WEIGHT VEST AND USE HEART MONITOR TO TRAIN HEART.
ALL IN ALL, WHETHER YOU ARE A BEGINNER LIKE MY WIFE OR SOMEONE EXPERIENCED AND EVEN WANTING SOMETHING HEAVY DUTY, YOU CAN FIND IT IN BOWFLEX AND DR. DARDEN'S EXCELLENT BOOK. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE AT A GYM TO GET IN GREAT SHAPE. I'M 53 AND CAN DO MORE CHINUPS NOW THAN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Rating:
Summary: What's So Special?
Review: There was nothing Revolutionary about this book! It was a fast way for Darden, and Bowflex to make a buck if they were even able to do so with this "Watered Down", waste of good paper!
Rating:
Summary: bought the bowflex? buy this book - or make them give it!
Review: This book gives excellent insight into the science of the bowflex plans, provides a comprehensive strategy to get best results (dietary and workout), details motivating success stories, and is definitely worth a read. If you haven't bought your bowflex - I would encourage you to have them toss this in to close the deal (among price reductions). Life is negotiation - don't believe the sticker price on the bowflex! If you aren't purchasing (don't own) a bowflex...I wouldn't purchase this book (weight lifting for dummies might be a good read).
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