Silly question: would you trade a gun for exercise equipment?

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docnyt

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A little levity here but serious question. Been mulling over trading a kit built AMD65 for a BowFlex Xtreme locally. The AK has been sitting in my safe, shot maybe a grand total of 2 times, 100 rounds of Wolf at the most. I don't believe in safe queens. I do have some in my collection that I would never trade or sell, such as an M1 Garand, FN49, and so forth, and I do have other AK variants like a Saiga Legion, Bulgarian Arsenal and even GSG in .22 that will suffice to fill the AK void.

The BowFlex Xtreme seems to be in good condition and according to the seller, used very little.

I know people trade guns for other guns all the time, and even guns for gold or silver (and maybe even comic books if I recall). This seems to be an even trade in terms of value.

I'm not in bad physical condition but I can do better. My schedule and family obligations don't allow me to go out or go to the gym much. I can definitely stand to be in better physical shape and this would be an investment in the right direction. I've recently taken up biking and am trying to make home exercising more regular.

So would you trade a gun for gym equipment?

:)
 
Yes, BUT NOT FOR A BOWLEX!!! I've seen dozens of blowflexes over the years and they are almost always sitting on the back porch or folded up in the spare bedroom collecting dust. This is solely because they are a gimmik, joke, and not really worth trading a gun for.

I sugguest you just sell the AK and invest in a 300lb olympic weight set, and learn to do real exercises. I've been lifing seriously for years and I have yet to meet a single person who has built even a decent physique using a bowflex. Get an olympic weight set, a bench, and a good book that has you focus on the squat as it's staple lift and you sould do fine. Just my opinion.
 
Yeah I know what you mean, but it's true of a lot of exercise equipment. Heck we have an elliptical machine sitting in an upstairs storage area, used maybe the first month we bought it.

The problem with me using free weights is I don't have a spotter. My 3 year old is not quite big enough for me to be doing 150 lb bench presses. I can do dumbbell flys and other free weights and even squats but I'm not comfortable not having a spotter.

Appreciate the input though. From the reviews I've read on the Bowflex, owners seem to love it. I realize it's not a perfect or complete system but nothing is. I'm not trying to glamorize the Bowflex - I know its limitations - but it seems to be a decent system.
 
Oh, well if you think you will use it then go for it. Physical fitness > guns (.. as long as you have at least one) ;)
 
No, I would never trade a gun for excercise equipment. Checkout the site in my sig, I have tons of tips in there on how to get in shape and lose weight withough equipment. I just posted another article about this a couple days ago. Also make sure you're drinking lots of water.
 
Exercise equipment takes up too much room for me, so "not at present"

OTOH, I get a bigger place and yeah, I'd go for a machine. I also have issues with free weights for a couple reasons I won't go into, but know this: the average bowflex does not have enough resistance to do anything for already muscular individuals. Expect to pay up to $400 for more resistance limbs.
 
You seem to have plenty of other guns so if it is something you want to do then I would. The extreme is roughly a $2000 piece of equipment. You would have to have an entire gym full of free weight equipment to equal the exercises you can do with it. If you take it serious the machine weights will give you the best look because it is perfect form each repetition. Now of you want to become a bodybuilder then no, this is not what you want. I never knew that all bowflexes just sit and collect dust bc they are no good. I thought all exercise equipment sat and collected dust bc the owners have a lack of commitment and self motivation. I guess when you "work out seriously for years" that means you know it all that you have your pic in several bodybuilding magazine and pick up new sponsors at every show you compete in.
 
Later down the road you would probably have a hard time getting rid of the bowflex. My buddy got one for 200 dollars as the could get no one to give him what he paid and he wanted it gone.....good luck tho.
 
I would trade a gun for another gun, but not for exercise equipment; in particular a Bowflex. Every fitness instructor I've ever talked to have told me the same thing; that resistance machines like the Bowflex cannot duplicate the bodybuilding effect actual weights provide (i.e. free weights, Nautillus equipment, etc.). As for working out indoors, I have found free weights, exercise bikes, and treadmills to be useful for staying in shape.
 
I'm not going for the Governator look, just something to keep me occupied and keep the flab away until I can build a more "serious" gym.

Besides, I look at it this way, since I am not using the AMD much, at least some other gun enthusiast can put it to good use.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
@ falloutmike and bannockburn: Yeah I know. My experience has mostly been with free weights. When I used machines in the past, I felt like I was cheating in a way. It was still a good workout though.
 
I personally would not trade it for a Bowflex. If you do not have the money for any equipment without selling the gun, then I'd say sell it and buy something else. Just speaking from personal experience, a man can get in really good shape with just a couple sets of dumbbells and a cheap bench. The key to burning fat and building LEAN muscle is low weight and more reps. Also using dumbbells, as opposed to a barbell, builds all of your smaller stabilizing muscles.

That can be had for much less than the value of your gun and even cheaper if you get them used from someone else whom had the same idea, but not the willpower.

Just a thought. Good luck.
Shawn
 
Personally, I would not trade for it. In the end, it's a tool, whether it's a gun or an exercise set.

I would sell the gun, join a gym and work out.
 
Too late now. I said goodbye to my AMD65 and said hello to a Bowflex.

It wasn't as hard as I thought to trade a gun away. I've only traded one so far and only regretted it for a week or so.

Now if I can only squeeze time to exercise and go to the range, life will be perfect. Work gets in the way of life as you know.

Thanks to all who replied. Work out those other muscles besides the trigger finger ones. :)
 
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Well at least with the exercise equipment you can hang your laundry on it not so much with a Ak :neener:
 
Too late , but my vote was NO,,trade it for another gun,, hopefully clothes rack,, errr i mean exercise machine works for you, I've found that hiking thru intense up-hill terrain will build my legs,then i use 20# dumbells to do high-rep arm/chest exercises,, Ive lost 18 pounds since March , feel great everyday,and sleep well at night,, Do whatever works for you, but i vowed NEVER to out-right sell a gun again, only trade or upgrade
 
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