When I bought our new Total Gym system, I never regretted it because I knew it would jump-start my exercise program. But coming up with the best Total Gym workouts for each member of my family took some thinking. It is a worthwhile exercise because I learned from the instructional literature that working out on my Total Gym unit for three or four times a week for just 20 minutes would do me a world of good. And that was not an idle prediction because I did feel better, lost weight, slept better and had more energy in just a few weeks after getting started.

To find the best Total Gym workout for each member of the family, Total Gym provides dozens of suggested exercises, how they will benefit you and how to do them on your Total Gym unit. Along with printed materials, there is an exercise video and pictured cards to step you though each exercise. Here are a few of the Best Total Gym Workouts to get your exercise program off to a great start.

One of the best Total Gym Workouts to work your upper back, your abs and your lower back is called a twister. It is an easy exercise that involves sitting on the board near the top with pulley in you hand. Then you pull from side to side with maximum resistance to give those muscle groups.

The arm pullover is one of the best Total Gym workouts for the shoulders, triceps, lower abs and upper back. To execute this exercise, you lay on the board on your back and pull your knees up. Then you use the pulley and use both of your arms to pull yourself up on the board. So it is like a horizontal pull up in that way. As with all of the best Total Gym workouts, repeat the exercise 10 times per repetition.

For a great workout for your calves, abs and your hamstrings, the leg pull is one of the best Total Gym workouts you can use. It is unusual because you actually hook your legs into the pulleys. Then with just your legs, you pull yourself toward the top part of the machine. After ten repetitions, you will feel the good workout this exercise provides.

The seated row exercise is on of best Total Gym workout for your upper back, your biceps and your trapeziums. To get set up for the seated row, lock your arms in the pulleys and sit at the top of the Total Gym board. Then you simply pull your body up to the top of the machine with your arms. Again, ten repetitions is the right level of stress.

Finally another one of the best Total Gym workout can be done by sitting at the bottom of the board with your legs straight out ahead of you on the board facing the top. Then you hold the handles of the unit and allow gravity to pull your hand down to the bottom of your body. Then you execute a slow sit up and keep the curve of your back consistent. And as with off of these great workout routines, repeat ten times and then rest the muscles.