I am saving up to buy something I can get a little exercise with at home. Mostly just to get in shape again, but hopefully also to lose a little weight I’ve gained since I quit smoking. My job is pretty sedentary, so I need to get moving a few times a week, and I want your input on what the best equipment is. I don’t want to spend a fortune ($500 max.). I have been thinking of a treadmill so far, but now I am seeing those elliptical machines and I wonder if they are more fun. Everyone is having good sales now so I can probably get a decent machine. I like to walk outside, but Michigan weather is too crazy to rely on, and I don’t like walking outside enough to be out in -20 degrees.
I need your input! Do you have a great treadmill, or bike? Did you buy something and now it is your coat rack? I would love to hear your experiences (good and bad).
My Air-Dyne bike has 8000+ miles on it. Most of them mine. I used to use a NordicTrak, but it gave my rotator cuffs trouble.
The bike has been thru 2 servicings at the bike shop, one routine maintenance, one emergency repair for seized bearings. I use it 4 or so times a week. I have it set up in front of the big screen TV, and play Nintendo on it. I don’t allow myself to play video games usually, unless I’m riding it. My scores are higher on the games if I ride the bike, and my exertion levels (Mets) higher if I play a combat game while I exercise.
My cardio equipment collects dust - currently I have a Nordic Trac Sky Flyer sitting in the corner of the computer room, and I had a ski machine in the past that I barely used. I just worked out this evening at home, though, with my weights and balance ball, and I’ve been using my yoga stuff fairly regularly the last few weeks. I despise cardio workouts, so I guess my suggestion is to think about whether it’s something you really like. I like lifting weights, doing yoga, and using the balance ball because I notice the results (increased strength, more visible muscle, increased flexibility, less back pain); I never noticed any difference in stamina when I did cardio. So I guess my suggestion is to make sure you really like the workout before you spend the cash.
Though I don’t like either, I prefer an elliptical trainer to a treadmill because it doesn’t aggravate my herniated disk. Putting the treadmill on an incline used to cause lower back pain for me, and keeping it flat got to the point where I’d have to run, also not good for my back. I had similar problems with the recumbant bike not having enough back support, and obviously the standard bike was right out for me. I never felt any stress on my back when I used the ellipical trainers.
I have a Total Gym; bought it used for under $100 at Play It Again Sports. I just set it back up again. It had to be stored (lack of space) for a while. I used to use it pretty faithfully most week nights. It’s set up by a large television. Just about the only time I watched the dang thing was while working out. I’d catch “Ground Force” and/or “Changing Rooms” , which whiled away the time fairly enjoyably.
And it gave me a great excuse to not tackle my own garden or rehab projects because I was too tired from exercising.
The family got a treadmill about a week ago (so we’re still new to it, take this with a grain of salt, and there are 4 adults, one teen living in this house) and we all use it, just about every day… so far, we’ve gotten our money’s worth out of it!
I ride my exercycle 60 to 100 miles every week. I’ve been doing this for years, it never has much of an effect on whether I lose weight or not, I don’t particularly enjoy my rides, and I keep at it religiously.
Up until two weeks ago, my exercise bike made a perfect laundry tool. I used the handle bars to hang clothes up to dry. I finally unclothed it and started using it properly.
Our stuff sits a lot. My advice is to scan the classifieds and you will find a good machine at a bargain price. A lot of people do not use their equipment and wind up selling it. You could save half of that $500.00.
I don’t believe in exercise, personally, but my husband has burned through three Nordic Trak skiers in the last twelve years. Now he’s using the Nordic Trak elliptical whatsit, and he says it’s a much better (read: more thorough) workout. He does NOT use the stepper, the Abdomenizer thingie or the rowing machine - says they’re a waste of time.
I’ve found that a treadmill is best for me, but it took some trying. Went through a bike, yoga, various other routines before I found one that didn’t bore me to tears or challenge my lack of coordination too much. Even better, I finally got a clue about the best time to use it (right after work when I’m still riding the last of my afternoon energy, oddly enough) and so now I actually enjoy my exercise time. Not a clothes rack so far.
Maybe a trial membership in a gym would help you pin down the best equipment, time, etc. Then check out Consumer Reports for their recommendations, I found them to be good buying guide. Since this is IMHO I’ll say that I’m really happy with my ProForm treadmill and though my model was a little more than what you’d like to spend, they have others that are just about 500 bucks and were well reviewed.
I have a stairmaster I do use pretty regularly when I have the time. I just recently went back to working only one job, so for a few months I didn’t have the time.
I have tried biking, cross-country ski machines and treadmills and I would bet a fair amount of money that a stair machine can give you more exercise faster than any of those. You can get a little workout or a lot, but when you want a lot quickly, the stairmaster wins. If you’ve got bad knees it might not be very attractive though.
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I own a ProForm treadmill as well, and I use it just about every day. When I started my diet/exercise program a little over a year ago, the wife and I wanted to get a treadmill for the house, because we never went to the gym, and I hate running outside. So we picked up a ProForm 750 (I think) for about $650 or so. A bit more than you wanted to spend, but as I’m taller, I wanted one with a longer belt for my strides. One of the biggest reason’s I like the ProForm line, is that they’re Ifit compatible. Which means you can download programs as .mp3 files to work out to, or if your computer is close enough to the treadmill, there are programs that you can run right from thier website. I like programs to start with, because I don’t have to make myself increase the speed, or incline, the thing does it automatically. And even if I have to slow it down a little, that just makes my next goal to be able to do that same program without slowing down. It’s held up great, the wife and I both use it 5 days a week.
Whatever treadmill or eliptical thing you end up getting, try getting one that is Ifit compatible. Then you can use I2Workout to create your own pre-set program to work out to. You can even put it to music if you want to. Great program. Good luck with whatever you do. I found it easiest to start with just running, and after 6 months, add in sit ups, push ups, and some bicept/tricept lifts with small dumbells. Then after that first year, once I’m used to the idea of working out and exercising, I added in more seriouse weight lifting at the gym.
When I had excersize equipment at my house, I used it. Quite frequently in fact, to the point where I actually broke some of the equipment. I had a stairmaster, which I ground into the floor with such frequent use. It would make funny, extremely loud sounds whenever it was operated.
I have a treadmill at home, but I go to the gym 3x/week and use the treadmill, elliptical trainer, and weights there. Why? Because I know myself, and I know if I’m at home and no one is watching part of my brain will think ‘this is too hard’ so I’ll stop. I won’t do that at the gym, as I do not want to appear to be the wuss I really am.
I suggest, as others did, that you get a trial gym membership to see what equipment works best for you.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I have had gym memberships in the past, but had bad experiences with the gyms being bought out, put under new management, etc. and losing or having to pay for new memberships. My gym did not have elliptical machines, though. I usually used the treadmill and the stairmaster.
Atrael, that’s a good idea about the IFit. I’ve never heard about that before, but it sounds fun. ProForm is one of the brands I have been looking at. I am keeping an eye out for used machines, too.
I like to do yoga and Pilates too, but want to add a cardiovascular workout. Yoga doesn’t really help me lose weight. I like to watch tv when I work out, or I get bored easily (playing video games is a good idea!), so I think I would use a home machine.
I haven’t been doing my yoga / pilates workouts as much now anyway, because I have a young dog who likes to help me when I am on the floor by standing on my chest or laying across me, which might work as increased resistance if she wasn’t so squirmy. It is also her goal to knock me out of any balance poses. So I wait for my husband to get home to distract her, but he is working long hours now and takes evening classes. I know, excuses, excuses.
Does anyone have one of those glider / flyer things on the informercials? Thanks for all your advice!
I don’t have a glider/flyer thing but had a chance to use one a few times. It did nothing at all for me, but I’m not big into using that kind of stuff. We have a treadmill, which is predominantly my wife’s domain. We have a pretty decent sized home gym which is predominantly my domain.
I get my cardio work in by using a basketball and a goal.
I have a treadmill that I bought right before Christmas. I make myself get on it for at least 30 minutes every day, but sometimes I allow myself to miss a day or two.
So far I like it. I feel guilt whenever I don’t use it, so this motivates me. Plus, because it’s at home, I can exercise naked, with the music blaring, and I can do crazy arm exercises without being embarrassed. I too am also sedentary, so using a treadmill every day makes me feel like at least I’m not lazy.
I use those glider/flyer things at the gym - they are honkin’ GREAT! I am 48, my knees aren’t what they used to be - the treadmill can hurt! But the Freerunner & FX trainers give you a pounding workout without the strain on your knees. I do love to run, though. Just not as far and as fast as I used to.
Ummm…just to give a bit of encouragement. I personally think that the people that I see in the gym riding a bike, or using a treadmill that can read at the same time, aren’t working themselves hard enough. Sure, we all have to start slow, nobody jumps on a treadmill and runs a 6 minute mile right away, but the idea is to work your body. When you get off of whatever machine you pick, you should be tired. And remember, try to do whatever it is for at least 20 minutes a session 3 times a week. Good luck.
Meep, psychic-simul-post! I have been thinking of asking basically the exact same question for the past two days. Does anyone here have a rowing machine? It seems like stepping machines, bikes, etc work lower body mainly and I have the impression that a rowing machine would work the whole body hard?