Looks like I will be between horses for 6 or more months. What would be the best home exercise machine that can help me with fitness (cardio, core etc) and easy on the knees? I am thinking an elliptical but if any of you have used anything else that is inexpensive ($300 range) that can help, I would appreciate it.
I just got a rowing machine because I wanted more of a full body workout and I love it. I’ve done the bike, the treadmill, and the elliptical, but the rowing is so far my favorite. Gets the legs, core (really does the core… or maybe my core was just really weak lol), and arms/back. You can definitely get reasonable models for under $300. (I got a magnetic mechanism, for what it’s worth.)
FF, is a rowing machine hard on your neck?
I haven’t found that to be the case, and I have a lot of neck tension/pain. I think if you have good posture/technique the neck is not involved at all.
The office I used to work in had a room in which people stored their cast-off exercise equipment. Anyone was free to use the room and anything in it. We had a wide selection - a rowing machine, exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and a Rodeo Core Exerciser.
The very unhelpful answer to your question is that the best one is whichever one you will use. And even more unhelpful is that it’s hard to tell what that is until you’ve used it long enough for the little problems to become obvious. For example:
Elliptical - Stride length and distance between the feet matter. One of the ellipticals had a shorter stride length than the other and I found it uncomfortable after 5-10 minutes. One was wider than the other and it bothered my hips.
Rowing machine - Seat comfort matters. The one we had was great for 5-10 minutes, then the uncomfortable seat made it a torture device.
Treadmills - The track width and length matters. The track has to be wide enough and long enough to accommodate your normal stride.
And so on.
Without having spent time using all the different machines, I probably would have considered purchasing a rowing machine or a treadmill. What I found in the end was that the recumbent exercise bike was the only one that I used regularly for meaningful durations.
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I had not considered a rowing machine, I have never used one. I will look into it. Thanks!
I agree that if you can only have one piece of equipment it might as well be the one that you enjoy using it. Don’t bother buying something if it’s just going to turn into a clothes hanger.
I’m a runner so a treadmill is always at the top of my list.
When I worked at the hospital we had a one hour lunch and there was a staff gym. Sometimes I would try out the other equipment.
I always found the elliptical to be too wide and was uncomfortable.
I like the bike, and it has the plus that you can do hand weights at the same time.
The stairmaster and rowing machine were nice for 5-10 minutes, but weren’t things that I would do a long workout on.
I bought a super cheap stationary bike off Amazon. Not the most comfortable thing ever but I get a decent sweat (I’m also super chubby right now, had 2 babies one in 2019 and 2020) I also try to do some jump rope and beginner HIIT stuff. I’m knocked kneed. I really enjoy the elliptical but we have a small home. The bike doesn’t take up much space.
Thank you!
So what this thread is saying is - what piece of fitness equipment should I buy? - is just like asking - what brand of saddle is best?
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Thank you!
Most any fitness starts with walking.
If you walk, you are already getting fitness benefit.
You can walk any place, any time, but nothing insures that you will walk like having a treadmill right there in your house to use.
The downfall, they do use more space than many other exercise machines.
They are versatile, you can walk slow or fast, on an incline, even run sprints on one.
You can still go walk outside, but if you can’t, got dark, is raining or other inconveniences, you can always walk on a treadmill and watch TV or DVDs or computer feeds with travel documentaries or lectures to pass the time.
I think most any other is secondary to what we get out of a treadmill and would be considered a welcome addition to any exercise program.
All that above is what any trainer I ever asked explained, backed by the many treadmills used in fitness centers.
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I bought a pilates reformer with a built-in vertical tower. I can do rowing exercises, lunges, and jump on it. Its pricey but has changed my life. I’m stronger, far more flexible, and its helped my core/pelvic floor.
I’ve been thinking about a set of pedals to use sitting on the couch, or a cheaper version of the Cubii. Anyone have recommendations on these?
That does looks like a great machine for a total workout but I looked at some videos of how it works and think it would not be good for someone like me with knee issues (torn ACL, meniscus, arthritis etc)
What brand did you buy? I’ve used one at PT before and really liked it. It was huge and I have no place in my home for something so big.
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I ended up buying the Allegro 2 with a tower. I can’t remember if it came with the storage set or not. But, we have one and it allows us to store the reformer vertically, if needed.
My entire family uses it (except for the littles) for cardio, stretching, and strength training. Its actually very fun.
I have to say I honestly can’t imagine they actually give you enough of a workout to bother with if you’re sitting on the couch. And/or, if they do - you will need to sit on a towel.
Which leads to the question, is a little movement better than no movement?
I think that pedaling with little resistance may cause overuse injury type damage more than help with any kind of fitness?
