Weider Total Body Works 5000 Gym

Short of a multi-station weight & pulley system, I think the Weider Total Body Works 5000 is the best single piece of equipment for a great total body workout. It's heavy weight construction, has 8 incline (resistance) settings and 4 bands for an added 50 lbs. of resistance. It easily changes incline positions with a simple pull of a pin. It comes with a wall chart illustrating 29 different exercises. I only paid $125 at Amazon with free shipping.I've been using a Total Gym 1000 for a few years. I used it mainly for doing pull-ups. At the highest incline, I had to pile on 85 lbs. of metal weights to get enough resistance for a decent workout. On a good day, I could still do 22 reps. I get a much better workout on the Weider 5000. I can only do 11 reps of pull-ups on the Weider 5000 with 4 resistance bands & maximum incline. That's a much better strength builder. My only complaint with using the 4 stretch bands is that I tend to gradually pull myself off the rolling platform while doing pull-ups with the 4 bands attached. I don't have that problem while doing seated rowing. I guess I'll have to bungee myself to the platform. :)The incline changes are also easier to set on the Weider 5000. The pin is spring-loaded and snaps into place whereas the pin the Total Gym 1000 has to be pushed through 2 holes while you're holding up the bulk of the machine. It's a pain compared to the Weider 5000.I calculated the resistance settings of the 8 incline positions. Since it uses a percentage of your body weight, I placed a bathroom scale at the squat platform and divided that reading by my body weight. (185 lbs.) The following should be very close to what you can expect your resistance to be:Position Percentage of your weight8 ---------- 55%7 ---------- 50%6 ---------- 45%5 ---------- 40%4 ---------- 35%3 ---------- 26%2 ---------- 18%1 ---------- 5%Keep in mind that you can add from 12.5 to 50 lbs. of resistance with the 4 stretch bands. I still use dumbbells for curls and presses but I use the 5000 for everything else. I give it 5 stars for price, design and ease of use. BTW my 7-year-old grandson loves it. He wants one. Maybe for his birthday?

For some of us on tight budgets, 150 dollars is still somewhat of an investment. It is not a mater of Total Gym Vs. Total Body, but more of a matter of: will this machine give me better results than if I actually just got off the couch and did some push-ups. I debated it strongly for about a month before finally diving in an purchasing this.First, it did arrive in a rather destroyed box, and looking at it, I was skeptical at first how it could ever equal something. It seemed like a loose congregation of metal, screws, and odd looking handles. But the instructions were idiot proof, and an hour later, I emerged with a device that was a scary 8 feet long, and looked well built enough to support my 250 pound frame. I rolled it into my room, whipped off my shirt in a frenzy Chris Farley would be proud of, and hoped aboard.The workout itself is a somewhat surreal experience. I know I am getting a decent workout, because I feel it work, however, sometimes I also feel like I'm on a mildly exciting kiddie ride in an old amusement park. You slide up and down, back and forth, looking slightly ridiculous to anyone who should pass by. You grip handles for dear life, stand on a somewhat narrow platform, and all in all feel like your training for the Olympic Ring Event.It is two months later, and yes, I feel it. This machine uses the simple idea of using your own body weight as resistance, meaning that instead of bulking up, you will burn fat and tone muscle. It should be stated that this machine will not accomplish what free weights can do. It is a cardio machine more than anything, but it does it's job well. With every exercise, you will use your core as well as the target muscles. This is important for several reasons, but the most prudent is that it means more overall strength. Weight trainers teach core, which helps build the muscle of one area very well, but also teaches it to work in isolation of the others, making it rather useless to the overall strength of the body. This machine however is much like swimming. No matter what you focus on, you will need help from the rest of the body.In conjunction with a proper diet, and cardio activity, this machine will show you results. And since chances are you are not a strength athlete, they will be the exact results you want to see. When people go to a gym, they expect results from bench presses and left lifts, but the truth is those machines will simply build upon muscle, and only when combined with cardio will actually reduce size. This machine will do both, without making you learn the complex ideas behind the statements I have just made.As an added note, I am just a touch over 250 pounds, and I feared the weight limit of the machine would be an issue. It is not, you may use this machine up to 300, maybe 350, just keep in mind the machine is not guaranteed for that.I don't like 5 star reviews, as they imply this machine was perfect. Perfect it is not. Construction was long, finding space was an issue, and the sliding track needs to be lubed from time to time. However, this product is damn good for what its made for, which is someone looking to tone and reduce body fat. I would recommend it to anyone who either does not have the time, hates big city gyms, or wants to have more control and customization over their daily workout. For the price, it is a great bargain.

This is an amazing gym. I started getting compliments within 2 weeks of using. The bands for extra weight are amazing. I think this gym is great for almost any strength or fitness level.

Very sturdy, and can't wait to get in shape. Bigger than I thought it would be... so if you lack space, don't buy this one. A little hard to set it at different heights...almost need to be 2 people so you dont get hurt, because it's really heavy. Overall, good exercise equipement to have, glides easily.

Had hip replacement done and I use this exerciser daily. Love it.

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