How the Max Trainer Got Me in Shape Post-Injury

Posted On Feb 9, 2024 By Lisa Traugott

Woman using a max trainer

Let me take you back to last summer, when several injuries, including a calf muscle pull and twisted ankle, left me very nervous to do any cardio even after I fully recovered.

When I was ready to re-start my fitness journey, I eased myself back into cardio with the BowFlex Max Trainer® and JRNY® and set a goal of getting ready for a hiking trip. Fast forward five months later: not only did I complete that hiking trip with ease, but I've rediscovered my love for cardio.

As a now-experienced Max Total® 16 user, let me share the top three reasons why I love this fitness machine and why I'd recommend it for anyone's home gym.

Reason 1: The Elliptical/Stepper blend. 

The Max Trainer is like a traditional stair stepper meets a treadmill, meets an upper body workout. Plus it's easier on your joints.

While stair steppers give you an intense workout, they can be tough on your knees and only work your lower body. A treadmill lets you walk or run on a continuous loop, which is great if you're training for a race, but it can also put more stress on your joints than an elliptical. Plus, not everyone wants to run.

The Max Trainer gives you the best of both machines because you get to run, walk and climb without the impact on your knees. Also, with multiple options on the hand levers, you can push and pull, for an upper-body workout too. Beyond just doing cardio, the Max Trainer helps you prepare for having fun in the great outdoors – hiking, climbing, hill running, biking, swimming – because it works all the muscles in your body, not just your lower body.

Woman exercising on a Max Trainer while using the JRNY app features

Reason 2: HIIT. 

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) takes cardio to the next level by combining bursts of high-resistance, fast-paced movements with a short recovery of low-resistance, slower-paced movements. The Max Trainer includes tons of program options for your goals and schedule. HIIT workouts help you work up a sweat fast, raise your heart rate, boost your metabolism, and build muscle. As a bonus, studies show you burn calories for two hours after a HIIT workout.

The best part about HIIT training? It saves time.

I don't know about you, but sometimes between my work deadlines and my kids' uber-chaotic schedules, I don't have the time to exercise as long as I'd like. That's where HIIT training and the JRNY app have been super helpful. The app has five-minute workouts for those days when that's all I have to give. Those short workouts remind me that I'm still able to move forward with my fitness goals even on busy days. I love that it gives me options and flexibility based on my specific needs. (Exercise = me time).

Reason 3: Compact and sleek.

I love the high-end look of my Max Total 16's black and stainless steel and appreciate that it doesn't take up a lot of space. When my husband set it up, we were both surprised that its dimensions were on par with a stationary bike and much more compact than a treadmill or even a traditional elliptical you'd find in a gym.

When I started using the Max Total 16, I was out of shape and could barely finish the initial fitness assessment. Today, I do two 15–25-minute HIIT trainer-led workouts a week on the JRNY app and one long, 65-minute walk through a faraway location using the Explore the World® feature in JRNY. I have more energy and I feel stronger. Overall, I'm thrilled with my Max Total 16 and highly recommend it or any Max Trainer to anyone looking for a versatile cardio machine for their home.