Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

Can Tech Make Your Workout Better? Bowflex Max Trainer Says Yes!

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I am a work in progress, especially when it comes to my physical fitness. Four years ago I signed up to run my very first half marathon as to . Having a fundraising goal was the only way I felt I could commit to working out on a regular basis again. It worked but I soon realized running wasn’t enough.

Over the years I’ve adjusted my training. Last May I added 60 minute HIIT (high-intensity interval training) for more consistent strength and endurance workouts to the cardio I get from regular runs. When I ran my last half marathon in December 2018, I felt stronger than ever.

But change doesn’t come from living within a comfort zone so when Bowflex reached out to see if I’d be interested in incorporating their Max Trainer M8 into my training, I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

Gone are the days when I could go to the gym, take a class, and feel like what I did was good enough. These days I want to know I’m working to my fullest potential. I love having the personal touch of coach in the room checking my form, the satisfaction of seeing my results on a screen, and knowing how these efforts add to my cumulative efforts during the day as tracked by my smartwatch.

I want to SEE results as much as I want to FEEL my body changing. I know I’m working hard but how hard? Fortunately, my Bowflex Max Trainer M8 can tell me.

About Bowflex Max Trainer M8

Bowflex Max Trainer M8 provides interval-based training in 14-minute blocks. 14 minutes may not sound like a very long or challenging workout but the machine’s Athletic Intelligence® app leverages artificial intelligence to take my workouts to the next level.

Athletic intelligence? Yes! Like artificial intelligence, Athletic Intelligence is powered by data-driven insights that are designed to create optimized results. Bowflex combined artificial intelligence with Athletic Intelligence to help maximize caloric burn so you get a convenient, full-body workout that’s even more efficient than before.

Max8 also uses artificial and Athletic intelligence capabilities provide dynamic coaching during your workout to maximize time spent. This smart pairing is the future of fitness since it provides a more efficient, convenient, full-body workout. * swoon * This is the kind of thing that sets my tech savvy heart aflutter!

Getting to Know My Bowflex Max Trainer M8

Since my Bowflex Max Trainer M8 arrived, I’ve been integrating their 14 minute Max Interval workouts into my half marathon training. I’ve found the best strategy for at-home workouts is to carve out time in my calendar, just like I would for a HIIT class. Sometimes I’ll combine a session on my Max8 with an evening walk with our dog, Oliver, or I’ll do one in the evening after a morning where I’ve taken a HIIT class.

I love the flexibility of having the Max M8 in our home to work out when I want (rather than according to a class schedule) and the rest of the family feels the same way! 

This December my family will join me in Memphis to run for St. Jude again. In the past there hasn’t been much training they’ve done in advance of running their 5K and 10K races but Max8 is changing that! My husband and teens have discovered that they like their personalized 14 minute workouts too. Despite busy schedules, 14 minutes is more than manageable! If you’re really strapped for time, there are also 4 minute workouts available.

Just as there’s a learning curve for any new sport or addition to your training plan, there’s a lot I’m still learning about my Bowflex Max Trainer M8. I wonder about the positioning of my hands on the multi-grip dynamic handles like where they should be and when, how I can maximize them to engage my upper body and core.

I wish Max8 could tell me when I should increase the resistance because so far I’ve just increased it based on how I’m feeling. Tech savvy me is also very curious about the exact technology and algorithms behind Athletic Intelligence that contribute to my workouts!

For now, I’m enjoying the new challenge Max M8 workouts bring to my fitness routine and appreciate that I can complete a highly efficient workout in just 14 minutes.

For more information about the Bowflex Max Trainer M8:

Bowflex provided me with a Max Trainer M8 and accessories for the purposes of this post. No additional compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are included in this post.