So you’ve made the decision to participate in some training, or you’ve been training and are looking for a less expensive and time-consuming way to train. One of the areas you can explore is the Bodylastics home training system with resistance bands. This system was developed by Blake Kessel and marketed for the first time in 1998. Total customers exceed 1,200,000.
For the past 4 years, I have been a Michigan Winter Member of the local YMCA and supervised by a personal trainer run system there. My motivation to join was because I am a prostate cancer survivor and recognized the need to stay physically fit to help prevent the cancer from coming back. In the summer I drop my workout to about 100 more rounds of golf. After some dissatisfaction with the time and money associated with the YMCA program, I began looking for some alternatives. Having heard a lot about the Bodylastics system, I thought I’d do a comparison. The following is a summary of that comparison for effectiveness, cost, and time efficiency.
Is Bodylastics an adequate substitute for free weights and weight machines in a gym setting like the YMCA?
Every year I start at the Y with a 30-60 minute session with a personal trainer. She puts together an exercise program that best keeps me in good health (I’m not a muscle builder, but just want to be in reasonably good shape) These exercises make use of the myriad of machines available and generally consist of 3 different machines for the legs, and nine different machines for back, shoulders and arms. There is also a small amount of time devoted to free weights. The total time to perform these exercises is usually 20-25 minutes, followed by a cardiovascular routine consisting of fast laps walking on the indoor track for about an hour. Looking at Bodylastics, I found that it offered at least 140 different exercises, many of which duplicated what was done at the YMCA. In terms of the amount of resistance, Bodylastics’ special “quick clip system” allows not only quick changes to different exercises, but also allows you to add up to 7 resistance bands to provide all the resistance you need.
Although the Bodylastics system compared favorably from a weight resistance training standpoint, there are negative one…..doesn’t offer cardio like the indoor track at the Y. Of course, a substitute is simply walking outside or buying a machine to use at home. In Michigan, you can walk outdoors most of the year, with the exception of some exceptionally cold and/or snowy days. So this may be an area that will be limited only by the Bodylastics approach.
Cost:
The basic unit of Bodylastics for beginners of average strength is $49.95, with upgrades to $59.95 for those with above average strength and $99.82 for exceptionally strong individuals. Now let’s compare this to belonging to a gym, specifically, in my case, the YMCA. Monthly membership fees are $44/month. This includes weight training and cardio, but also a pool, hot tub, basketball gym, and skating rink. The last 4 areas I don’t use at all.
Trip:
The distance from my house was 6.9 miles, or about a 14-mile round trip. With my MPG of 22, an average exercise frequency of 5 times per week, and a gas cost of $2.25 per gallon, trip costs were $7.15 per week or $30.80 per month. For the 6 months of each year that I am a member, the cost is $185.00.
The YMCA’s total cost for membership and travel for 6 months which doubles each year is $449.00 compared to Bodylast’s initial stated cost of $49.95, a one-time expense. Needless to say, this is a significant difference.
Time Efficiency:
Bodylastics does not require a daily 20-minute round trip to the YMCA. This trip can be considerably longer in Michigan when snow flies or icy roads are encountered. Once at the gym, there’s time to check in, change into workout clothes, and sometimes have to wait to use a machine.
Probably the most significant time savings occur when you’re out of town. This is when I have to find the local YMCA, figure out how to get there, get there, and then pay a guest fee. With Bodylastics contained in a 3# bag with a door accessory, it can simply be taken and used at any travel destination.
When comparing Bodylastics to a gym program like the YMCA, Bodylastics seems to be the clear winner. It duplicates all the weight machines and free weights available in the gym and offers significant savings. However, there are a couple of negatives, one being the lack of an indoor track to get a good cardio workout and the lack of people to work out with to keep you motivated. However, the 60-day money-back guarantee for Bodylastics offers enough time to see if you can get motivated and get some cardio by walking outside or perhaps buying a machine for your home. Regardless of the exercise program you choose, choosing one is of the utmost importance. Don’t delay. I have discovered that it is vital for health.
