So you have made the decision to do some training, or you have 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 that includes elastic resistance bands. This system was developed by Blake Kessel and was first marketed in 1998. Total customers exceed 1,200,000.
 
For the past 4 years, I have been a winter member of the local YMCA from Michigan and under the supervision of a system run by a personal trainer there. My motivation to join came from being a prostate cancer survivor and recognizing the need to stay physically fit to help prevent any return of the cancer. In the summer I leave my exercise to roughly 100+ 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 would make a comparison. The following is a summary of that comparison in terms of effectiveness, cost and time efficiency.
 
Is Bodylastics a suitable substitute for 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 devises an exercise program that best keeps me in good health (I am not a muscle builder, but I just want to be in reasonably good shape) These exercises make use of the myriad machines available and generally consist of 3 different machines for the legs and nine different machines for the back, shoulders and arms. A small amount of time is also spent on free weights. The total time to perform these exercises is usually 20 to 25 minutes, followed by a cardiovascular routine that consists of doing fast laps on the indoor track for about an hour. Looking at Bodylastics, I found that it offered at least 140 different exercises, many of which were double those performed 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 give all the necessary resistance.
 
Although the Bodylastics system compared favorably from a weight resistance training point of view, there are negative one….. it doesn’t offer cardio like the indoor track on the Y. Of course, a substitute is just walking outside or buying a machine to use at home. In Michigan, walking outside is available most of the year, with the exception of some exceptionally cold and / or snow-filled days. So this may be an area that will be limited only by the Bodylastics approach.
 
Cost: 
 
The basic Bodylastics unit for average strength beginners is $ 49.95, with upgrades to $ 59.95 for those of 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 dues are $ 44 / month. This includes cardio and weight training, but also a pool, hot tub, basketball gym, and a skating rink. The last 4 areas I don’t use at all.
 
Trip: 
 
The distance from my home was 6.9 miles, or a round trip of about 14 miles. With my MPG of 22 and an average exercise frequency of 5 times per week, and the cost of gasoline at $ 2.25 per gallon, the travel 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 total cost of the YMCA for membership and travel for 6 months that doubles each year is $ 449.00 compared to the initial cost established by Bodylasts 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 is blowing or icy roads are encountered. Once in the gym, there is time to check in, put on sports clothes, and sometimes have to wait to use a machine.
 
Probably the most significant time savings come when you are out of town. This is when I have to search for 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 attachment, it can simply be carried and used to any travel destination.
 
When comparing Bodylastics to a gym program like the YMCA, Bodylastics appears to be the clear winner. It doubles all the weight machines and weights available in the gym and offers significant savings. However, there are a couple of negatives, one of which is the lack of an indoor track for good cardio and the lack of people to work out with to stay motivated. The 60-day money-back guarantee for Bodylastics, however, offers a sufficient period of time to see if you can get motivated and get cardiovascular exercise 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. Do not delay. I have found that it is vital for health.