Exercise machines? Your opinion???

Because our weather is so unpredictable and NOT FUN to be in much of the time... I want to get some sort of in door exercise machine. Something that is relatively quiet that I can work out on while kids are napping etc. Dh wants a treadmill. I used a "Cardio Glide" thing at a hotel this fall that seemed to pull all the muscles I want pulled- and was kinda fun- as well as not that hard on me. My friend has a recumbent exercise bike and loves that?  What about those Gazelle's? I know I need SOMETHING cause with my job and my LIFE... I'm NOT getting enough exercise! I will loose faster AND feel BETTER once I get going with something. What burns MORE calories and what burns them faster? Anyone know all this????   I also don't have a lot to blow on something but maybe up to $400? On the "ME" front...... I braved it today and stepped onto the scale. I was 194. So  2 pounds from my lowest logged in weight since starting WW. I DID see 191 a few weeks ago but had actually seen as high as 197 last week... so I'm workin it again :) :)  It's begining to HAPPEN :) There IS light at the end of this tunnel :) I switched my WI (to log) from Mondays to Wed. because the weekend I tend to eat more salt etc., it was getting to frustrating to KNOW I was doing things okay... but it seemed I'd always see a gain- or VERY TINY drop. Wed. work very well for me.  So I'm sucking in the water and we'll see by Wed where I sit.  At least I know I'm not TO far from what I was BEFORE the holidays :)    Oh! About 3 days ago, I was working at my computer and got up- walked upstairs and could feel this weird *pop* in my knee every time I step down. No pain- just a LOUD *pop*.  This has continued ever since. I am so afraid my knee is "going out" on me :(  Here I am WAY lighter than my highest weight and NOW my knee goes?  I'm VERY worried :(   At least my Dr. is FINALLY back from Africa and I can go see him if it starts hurting. Anyhow.... as Willie Nelsen says:  On the road again...  just can't wait to get on the road again.....  

look in the paper to see someone unloading a better machine. Hmmmm, I would likely buy an elliptical, or a treadmill, but for $400, i am not sure how good a one you can find.  I think that is a great solution for you to buy anything and use it indoors.

i have an exercise bike and a treadmill....i use neither :/ my sister is giving me an elliptical she no longer uses. i'm hoping that i will love that. i'm getting quite bored with workout videos. i also live in a very rural area. i think the only gym we had (and that was a 30 min drive from my house) shut down this summer. so i really don't have any choice about finding something to do on my own.

I use a recumbent bike.. but because of my weight initially, I had to get an industrial one which was like $1800.  If I had my CHOICE though, I'd be on the eliptical every darned day!!!!  My legs just can't handle it though.. maybe one day. I'd be off to an orthopoedic guy about that knee.  I don't want to be an alarmist and I don't mean it like that.. it's just that going proactive on these things can sometimes prevent problems..   God Bless

my knees are bad too. i hope that doesn't mean the elliptical will be too hard for me because i've actually heard they are easy on the knees?

I have a treadmill, gazelle and an exercise bike....they all work for me if I dust them off, don't use them as a valet and actually get on them...LOL!  The treadmill was too hard on my knees so I bought the gazelle.  Really loved that and you can crank it up to really get a workout.  However, now I'm having ligament issues also and anything weight bearing is bothering me....just starting to use my bike.  I'm a VERY sedentary person, so anything is better than nothing.   Good for you for being only 2lb away from your lowest WW weight.  I'm 10lb from mine and anxious to get back there and start the countdown once again!! Keep on truckin....Sherrie

Sherrie's got a whole gym going on up there in Rochester!  Well I know where I'M workin' out on my way to Syracuse!  LOL

OK... I LOVE LOVE LOVE treadmills.  That said: some points to consider:

1)BITS-  to get one with nifty gadgets like auto incline, heart monitor, weightloss programs, adjustable speeds and a quality strong motor you're looking at several thousand dollars- the cheaper ones tend to burn motors from what I have researched

2) They are very BIG... you need to have a space to dedicate to an object roughly the size of a 2 seater lounge

3) they can be quite noisy

4) big and heavy to move out of the way if required...

 

Exercise bikes- (this is what I use)

value for money you get more 'BITS' (like above mentioned) for your buck

modern ones are very quiet

take up less room

portable to some extent

long lean muscles are built

The only down side: you might need wait a bit to toughen your butt muscles!

If you're set on a treadmill can I suggest hiring one for 3-6 months as a trial? Some places even offer buy after hire and refund hire charges.

Personally, I LOVE working out at home- air conditioned, toilet is nearby, phone, grab a drink, watch TV...  LOVE LOVE LOVE home workouts.  I supppliment that with walking about the local area.

Good luck,

Em

Ellipticals are my fave!!! And they aren't too bad on my knee. I have a bad knee that I had ACL and Miniscus Reconstruction on when I was 16. So it is pretty  easy on my knee. :)

My opinion for home equipment: If you can get an elliptical or arc trainer it will be best for caloric burn and far more valuable for cardio than "just" a treadmill.  I say that as I own a very expensive treadmill.  Benefit is that the arc and elliptical (with moving arms) give a full body workout.  The value of this cannot be overrated and the ease on joints is a bonus.  The treadmill, even with an incline (look for 30% grade, not 15%) cannot give you the same workout.  Only get the treadmill if you want to be a runner.

In addition, free weights (I use versa belles which are adaptable and allow you to do most weight movements and easily change weights), a bench with a leg attachment, and videos, such as Tae Bo, or even the Biggest Loser tapes, round the workout out.