Ellipticals

I have a treadmill that is just not working for me - I get very bored.  I am looking at getting an elliptical trainer - any suggestions?

Hello Lady_K1126,

My wife and I have this one Livestrong LS10.E. I use it every other day, or at least I try to. ;)

If you're bored on the treadmill, you'll be bored on the elliptical. They are pretty close to the same thing.

Think about what kind of exerciser you are and what will work for you. Are you a social person? Do you need routine? Do you get bored doing the same things all the time? Are you more successful if you workout in the AM or at lunch or the PM?

Based on that you'll get an idea of what things to try. And then try a lot of things that are cheap to try before you start spending a lot of money on equipment.

Here's a link to some articles that helps you figure out your exercise personality that I use in one of my talks I give to bariatric support groups:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-exercise-personality-quiz/

http://exercise.about.com/library/blfitnesspersonalityquiz.h tm

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=72

http://experiencelife.com/article/your-fitness-personality/

Thanks for the insight!  I'm really trying to figure all this out.

It can be hard if you aren't use to exercising to figure it all out! And I think we as a society have a very limited idea of what "exercise" is. We immediately think of joining a gym or maybe going running. But there are a lot of things you can do that are "exercise" besides that.

Most treadmills go unused after the first 1-3 months and so do most gym memberships. Obviously they do work for some people. But it's a good idea to think beyond them in case you are part of the majority that just doesn't get into that sort of thing.

I tried so many things right out of surgery until I settled on what I liked and what worked for me. I found out that I am a social exerciser. That I need somewhat of a routine but that I also crave variety. It also turned out that I'm good at endurance sports. I thought I sucked at all things athletic but that's because I was trying the wrong things!

So now I workout with a club doing triathlons. There are 3 sports plus strength training. So that's my variety. But we have a weekly schedule so that's my routine. And it's with a group so that's the social aspect. I even do my strength training in a group class! (But I like to run by myself -- it's very meditative. Go figure.)

I also do fun things that aren't so hard core just because I like them. I go geocaching and I sometimes do Aqua Aerobics. I think it's more important to LIKE what you do than that it burn tons of calories!

Just keep trying things and you'll figure out what works for you...