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Free weights force you to use your muscles in a more equal manner. From my experience at a gym - Nautilus machines, and I'm guessing the Bow-Flex/Soloflex, allow you use your dominant arm/leg/hand/whatever moreso than free weights allow. What I'm saying is that with enough strength in your right arm, you could bench the bulk of it with your right arm, and the left just comes along for the ride, whether you're aware of it or not. Which IMO is also why you can lift more on a machine than you can in free weights.
Mirrors are also a good thing to have in your (home) gym. When using free weights, check your form, and you'll likely be favouring one side a bit - the bar will be uneven. Work on getting your technique nice and even.
I have a basic bench and free weights at home. It's all about the level of commitment. I'm sure the Bowflex is great if you use it - and so is a solid concrete block - if you use it.
As for losing weight, my wife and I went on the South Beach diet and I dropped 30 lbs. in a few months. (260 lbs. to a far more fit 230lbs.) - though we've been a bit lazy with adhering to the diet, and I'm back to 240lbs.
Basically lay off the obvious crap, don't eat anything after 7pm.
I'm getting back into my workouts again - I've laid off for the past while due to renovations in the house that are more than a workout on their own!
Good luck with it. I think the bottom line would be to test YOUR commitment level first with some cheap free weights (there's lots available at the salvation army/goodwill/thrift stores), and if you're being diligent about sticking to a routine, then go for a machine if that's what you want.
Remember that advertising is a wonderful tool, and that Big Mac's never look in real life the way they do on TV.
I guess the other advantage of any home gym vs. free weights would be the safety issue. If you're on your own and don't have a spotter, you have to be more careful about how heavy you go, or going for that one last press with free weights. I have pinned myself to the bench, and you can't just magically fling it off you.
I'll shaddap now. Good luck!
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