+1 on using them for neutral grip pullups. I like them better than the wingbar attachment because they allow you to keep your head in a neutral position while performing the exercise.
If you haven’t tried this already I would highly recommend using the dip bars to work your traps/ upper back. Lying in a supine position with my head towards the bottom of the machine, I will grab the dip bars and pull myself up. Contracting my traps and squeezing my shoulder blades together. I get a great pump from doing that. My TG is an older 11000 model, so I am not sure if it would work the same on the newer models.
I have to get some now lol. Got an xls for 50$ today, just has some cat claw pokes in it but hardly noticeable. Had pilates + standard foot attachment, ab attach, pull up and leg pulley attach set. Just need this and a weight bar now ... Reminder to self - always check craigslist for used fitness equipment towards the end of the month. Oh ... added bonus, the seller location was less than a mile from my house!
Hey Mike, your videos never disappoint 👍🏻 I've owned a Total Gym for about a year now but have only started using it consistently for the past 2 months or so. I'm not seeing much gains on my upper chest. Any workout suggestions on the Total Gym that target the upper chest? Thanks!
Thanks for the comments. I know this is an issue for a lot of people with the TG working the chest. I will plan on making another video on this in the future. Some things I'd say (might be obvious)...focus more on pressing more at an incline with a squeeze at top, incorporate weights/resistance, pressing with the Pilates Bar (possibly with a straight bar, low to high flys, and or slowing the tempo down to focus more on that area. There's also just genetics, I don't have the biggest chest muscles and I really never saw much of a difference even back when I could bench press from various angles >315lbs to not doing nearly as much weight/chest volume as I've been doing.
Just tried doing dips on the total gym in the supine position (which normally feels uncomfortable) with a foam roller propped under my shoulder blades between my back and the glide board. Feels much more like a normal dip and I can feel it hitting the chest and triceps like a normal dip station dip. If you try it, let me know what you think.
Get on your knees…lean forward, face down. Almost child’s pose like. Your position on the bench will be below dip bars. Now try those dips… hits the chest well.
Definitely one of my favorite accessories. I also mount the dip handles to the top of the machine and use them for chin ups and neutral grip pull ups.
Can't believe I never thought about attaching up top! Thanks for sharing that.
+1 on using them for neutral grip pullups. I like them better than the wingbar attachment because they allow you to keep your head in a neutral position while performing the exercise.
If you haven’t tried this already I would highly recommend using the dip bars to work your traps/ upper back. Lying in a supine position with my head towards the bottom of the machine, I will grab the dip bars and pull myself up. Contracting my traps and squeezing my shoulder blades together. I get a great pump from doing that. My TG is an older 11000 model, so I am not sure if it would work the same on the newer models.
Thanks for sharing that, I never thought or tried that. I'll check that out for sure!
I have to get some now lol. Got an xls for 50$ today, just has some cat claw pokes in it but hardly noticeable. Had pilates + standard foot attachment, ab attach, pull up and leg pulley attach set. Just need this and a weight bar now ... Reminder to self - always check craigslist for used fitness equipment towards the end of the month. Oh ... added bonus, the seller location was less than a mile from my house!
This is the one attachment I really want, but the steep price gives me pause. Great info, thanks!
This channel is the great! Huge help. Finally picked up an newer (older) total gym.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I really like. Also good for doing jackknifes instead of trying to do those from the boat pose with cables
Hey Mike, your videos never disappoint 👍🏻
I've owned a Total Gym for about a year now but have only started using it consistently for the past 2 months or so. I'm not seeing much gains on my upper chest. Any workout suggestions on the Total Gym that target the upper chest? Thanks!
Thanks for the comments. I know this is an issue for a lot of people with the TG working the chest. I will plan on making another video on this in the future. Some things I'd say (might be obvious)...focus more on pressing more at an incline with a squeeze at top, incorporate weights/resistance, pressing with the Pilates Bar (possibly with a straight bar, low to high flys, and or slowing the tempo down to focus more on that area. There's also just genetics, I don't have the biggest chest muscles and I really never saw much of a difference even back when I could bench press from various angles >315lbs to not doing nearly as much weight/chest volume as I've been doing.
Just tried doing dips on the total gym in the supine position (which normally feels uncomfortable) with a foam roller propped under my shoulder blades between my back and the glide board. Feels much more like a normal dip and I can feel it hitting the chest and triceps like a normal dip station dip. If you try it, let me know what you think.
Great idea. I'll give that a go.
Probably a dumb question but is there a difference in muscles you are working from doing the dips laying on your back vs laying on your stomach?
I'd say you get a little bit more range of motion face down than face up.
Get on your knees…lean forward, face down. Almost child’s pose like. Your position on the bench will be below dip bars. Now try those dips… hits the chest well.
Thanks for that recommendation. I'll try that out!
do you mean facing the column or facing away from the column?
Dude are you at the Vistana Village in Florida?
Pretty sure that was Harbour Lake
@@hybridresistance oh ok, it looked a lot like the resort my wife and I went to at one point
Do they make a dip bar for the xls? Or do those fit the xls even though the board is wider?
You select the machine and it sends you the appropriate dip bar, but I think they are the same for XLS and Fit.
Can't you just use the pulley cable and handles to do dips? why is this accessary even needed?
I'm personally not a fan of this accessory in general.
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