There is a great article from About.com about women and lifting weights. This article reminds women how important weight lifting is and how they should not worry about bulking up but slimming down. To read more click here
We have received the funnest email from a long time customer recently and I feel like sharing it with you. He is a delight to talk to and has also sent us some great photos, that his wife took, that I would also like to share. He looks great for any age.
Here are the emails……
You have any promotional use, quite aside from mere and exceedingly mild curiosity, in a pix of a naked-to-the-waist, firm and muscled (but not a body builder) 76-year-old male who credits 20 years of Soloflex usage three times a week for his appearance and, at last report, good health? That is I (me). If not, NO NEED TO REPLY. If yes, I will require my wife’s technological skills to take the pix on her irritating I-phone and transmit it on this infernal computer, so there would be some delay. I am David N. Mitchell, and I live in Santa Fe, N.M., and am very old. The question arose in my increasingly demented mind when I took off my t-shirt upon arising this morning, looked in the bathroom mirror and said to my 5-foot-9, 156-pound self, “self, that’s pretty good for a codger.” I then began my (your) machine workout, which took 90 minutes and still needs three sets of tricep effort to be complete.
all of which is far more than anybody making a living at Soloflex should have to read. So don’t, Oops, too late. Sorry. As the cliche has it, have a good day. I (we) must go to a neighborhood party this evening, a fate not to be wished, at least by me, and which precludes a nice day.
dm
Courtesy of my amused but tolerant and skilled spouse, here are a couple of photos, taken today, Monday, of me at age 76. Looking at these, I realize that I am not remotely as lovely as I thought I was, and I will not be emotionally damaged if you and your fellow employees of Soloflex have a good laugh before destroying them and sending me a nice, thoughtful, courteous, well-meaning but in-the-end untrue thank- you note. I fear the dog, who was at my feet during this absurd posturing, did not show up in full fur, but he still looked a lot better than I do.
dave mitchell
I noted to him in my email that we were most interested in his photos and so glad I did. I want to publicly thank Mr. Mitchell for taking the time to use the Soloflex and to share it with us. He is proof that if you use it you will not loose it. Exercising is the best medicine we can offer ourselves. Keep up the great work and enjoy your many years to come. Thank you wife too for her amazing photography skills. 
A couple of very important dates were not mentioned in Part I of the Soloflex history. Let’s begin there.
The Super Bowl ads began running in 1985 and were run again in 1987 and 1995. These were the most expensive forms of advertising for any business and absolutely the most expensive advertising Soloflex had ever done. These ads on the Super Bowls were huge for Soloflex. Just like any company would dream of, these launched the Soloflex world into more homes than any other type of advertising could do. One of the ads was just mentioned in US Today’s “Sexy” Super Bowl ads. These were fantastic ads. Soloflex has been a leader in putting sexy in advertising and that is one aspect about the company that will never change. Soloflex took the body beautiful exposed out of the motorcycle world and put it in over 10 million house holds.
By late 1991 Soloflex was running two shifts just to keep up with the demand. Their advertising agency, 53rd Street Advertising, was putting out some of the most popular ads of the day. Sexy, Sexy, Sexy. These ads were in major magazines, television and newspapers. By the end of the 90′s television was soon to end however. Ad costs along with DVR and TIVO just made the television ads not a good investment any longer.
Two buildings were added in the late 80′s and early 90′s. Production demanded it. A total of 125,000 square feet was now available for ordering, making and shipping all Soloflex products.
A peak of 400 employees were running Soloflex by the mid early to mid 90′s. Selling the number one home weight lifting equipment took a lot of people.
Soloflex introduced the Rockit in 1993. This lower body exercise machine has been Soloflex’s 2nd best seller. It is the perfect equipment for legs. All of the strain put on the back when doing lower body exercises is eliminated. Over half a million have been sold to date.
The rubber coated hand weights plates were introduced in 1995. These are very special and unique in that they have a rubber coating around the iron plate to help with the clanking of noisy plates as well as adding some protection if dropped on a foot. Their sales have been climbing ever since.
The Armchair Quarterback was introduced in 1985 but I forgot to mention that in Part I. Sorry. The Armchair was made famous by Gold Medalist, Mitch Gaylord. It was a full body exercise machine. The use of your own body weight was how this machine worked. That is very hard for the average person. The Armchair Quarterback is no longer in production for that very reason. A very well made machine just too hard for all of us.
In 1994 Soloflex was forced to into battle with NordicTrack. A lawsuit was filed. NordicTrack was in violation of copy right infringement and trademark. This was settled between the two companies and an undisclosed amount was paid to Soloflex by NordicTrack. Both companies said the settlement was fair.
In 1999 a second lawsuit was filed against Direct Food, Inc. or Nautilus, Inc. This is the company that manufactures Bowflex and Nautilus Fitness equipment. The suit was also won by Soloflex. The same reason for the lawsuit, copyright and trademark infringement. Nautilus tried to copy the Soloflex way too closely. When you make the best home weight lifting equipment you are bound to be copied. Others want to be like you, the best.
Soloflex is still a family owned business. Marilyn and Jerry Wilson are still involved in the company along with their daughter Connie.
P.S. The picture at the top of the story will is from a book Mr. Wilson wrote. It covers Soloflex from day one to now.
Aging is not age alone. It’s also a person’s lifestyle, and that is true for the mind as well as the body.
Studies show that exercise maintains your thinking agility and cuts your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes.
The American College of Sports Medicine urges older people to do strength training. Walking is simply not enough.
Soloflex has, for years, urged customers and future customers to “use if or lose it”. If you sit around and do nothing , you will become weak, no matter what your age.
Strength training is good medicine for depression and improving your life. Yes, exercise can help you feel and look better, no matter what your age.
What are you waiting for?
For more great information on this please read Colin Hoobler’s article from The Oregonian here.
US Today has posted some of the “SEXY” ads from past Super Bowls and Soloflex is right there. Check out these fun films here.
This is pretty easy. Good Luck!!!!!
w
Have you, just like most of us, thought about the standard New Years Resolution? The one that we all tell ourselves every year and still often miss the mark. Getting fit, healthy, skinny, muscly, faster, stronger, just over all happier with our weight and appearance. So many of us are at it again. Well there are many dos and don’ts. Lets start with the don’ts….
1. Do not think it all happens over night. It can take even an entire year to loose weight healthfully. So much depends on what you think you need to loose and if you go about it in the right way. Which is number 2.
2. Do not crash diet. It has been proven over and over again that you will almost always put the weight back on and often more than you had when you started. Your body goes into shock. It thinks you are not going to give it the nutrients it needs to survive and will store what ever it can once it feels some is being provided again. This does not mean you should not change your eating habits- just do not stop eating.
3. Do not think the change in your diet alone will ever give you the results you are hoping for. Exercise and Eat Right. They go hand in hand. Exercise is equally as important as the food intake. Couch potatoes eating only rice cakes are sure to be unhealthy.
4. Do not give up. Anything worth doing is usually hard. Find friends that may be trying to change their life styles and hang with them more. Make sure that everyone close to you is aware of what you are trying to do so they encourage you and understand why you say “no” to many evenings out. You will learn to eat right when you go but it will take some time.
Let’s get to the fun stuff…The Dos.
1. Do have fun with the new changes in your life. Just because you are changing your eating habits and your exercise routine does not mean you have to dread it. Particularly working out. So many different types of exercise out there that you can take advantage of muscle confusion as well as cardiovascular levels.
Let me explain what muscle confusion is first. Simple. Do not perform the same exercise on the same muscles and do not do them at the same time everyday or in the same order. Lift weights, climb, bike, walk, run, swim, dance, do it all. Just make sure you exercise. They say at least 30 minutes for 3-4 days a week. With all of the options and levels I say you can easily build up to as much as you are healthy to do.
2. Do watch your calorie intake. Not only do you want to watch the calorie in take you also want to watch where you are getting your calories from. Do eat healthful, fresh, local, organic, produce and meats. Try to avoid what comes in a box. Not very natural. Try to avoid the over load of carbs. You have heard this as much as you have heard eat right and exercise. It is true. It is hard too. So much of the really great tasting foods are in the carb zone. With all of this said- be sure and treat yourself to very small bites now and then. Just like starving you may give in too easily and go over board. A small treat now and then will actually help you stay on track.
3. Do Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. I can not talk enough about the immediate benefits as well as the long term benefits. Your entire life will change forever if you exercise on a regular basis for as long as you can. Bones will be stronger, blood flows better, skin is even healthier. Muscles are important and they can only get better and stronger if you work them. Once you work them they will work for you. Just like all good relationships you must work together.
I have not said anything that you probable do not already know I am just reminding you again. Have fun and have a healthful life. You will be so much happier when you feel better.
Thank you for reading. I hope you feel inspired.
This article was written by Mr. Colin Hoobler of the Oregonian. This is a fantastic article for anyone and everyone. To treat and avoid, all together, the threat of Type 2 diabetes we have to exercise. There is so much good information in this article that should be read. You can read the entire article here.
Health magazine contributing editor, Dr. Roshini Raj gives some simple tips for keeping your mind, body and soul youthful on the Today Show on NBC. To watch this great video and interview click here.
I bought my first Soloflex over 25 years ago after working out on a friends’s unit with the wood bench and the Shock Rings. I’ve loved it from the start. I gained muscle, lost inches and became stronger. I have never thought about buying a competitor’s brand in all of these years. Recently, I went back and read ALL of the blogs on the Soloflex website and became interested in Jerry Wilson’s (inventor of the Soloflex) assertion that using shock rings WITH weight plates on the end of the Soloflex lever arm gives the best and smoothest feedback to the body in his opinion.
I don’t have the Shock Rings yet but I have just begun to workout using Weight Plates with my Straps(a 50/50 percentage approximately) on many of the exercises and let me tell you, I am nearly as EXCITED as I was when I first got my Soloflex. I feel that I am working out on a NEW, IMPROVED Soloflex muscle machine. Here are the advantages from my perspective:
1. Using weight plates with the straps(or shock rings which I intend to buy as my straps wear out) add a new dimension of smoothness to the reps when doing the exercises. I don’t know why but I know that they DO! Jerry Wilson could probably explain it.
2. One reason many “free weight” believers including some fitness experts like free weights over machines is that it makes you focus on balance which is important especially as you get older. Adding Weight Plates to the Soloflex lever arm by using their free weight attachmant rods along with the straps/shock rings gives one the best of both worlds: You can still work out by yourself without a spotter but you still get the feel of balancing the weight plates.
Finally, how many products have you bought in your life that you can honestly say “almost” NEVER requires maintenance or repairs? For 25 years, the only thing I have had to do to my Soloflex is keep it clean and replace the straps as they wear out. It’s built so solid and well. So, here I am after all of this time, still enthused about a product I bought 25 years ago. THANKS SOLOFLEX.
Tennis Teacher(a.k.a. Richard Shirley)
Soloflex revolutioned the home fitness industry with the introduction of the Soloflex Muscle Machine in 1978.
Read more about Soloflex’s values, history, and plans for the future.
© 2009 Soloflex, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Shipping Policy | Return and Warranty Information.