Exercise bikes vs ellipticals
My exercise bike is the old 'chain and clunker' type. Hubby reckons he's sick of it because it's noisy- so wants me to update to something magnetic. Frankly, I don't care about all those features- only feature I want is that it can change resistance.
I usually just sit pedalling while I watch the TV ... but I know alot of you like your ellipticals. Not sure how long I would stand there doing that though.
Space is a factor. Don't have alot of space for it.
Any thoughts? I used to love the treadmill I hired- but it took up too much space.
Em
The thing about biking is that the stationary bike doesn't burn a ton of calories, usually 1/4 of what you can do with an elliptical or arc. And it's not a full body workout. My old trainer used to say, "why sit to workout?" and I got what he meant.
I do it on occasion, to stave off boredom, but when you look around the gym and see folks reading while on it, you have to question how much of a workout is possible.
I would recommend an elliptical, but I would actually suggest the arc over an elliptical as while they are similar machines, the arc has proven in studies to be easier on the joints. I've noticed in my own workouts I burn more on the arc than the elliptical. At my weight and level, I burn about 900-1400 calories in an hour. Also, make sure you go for one that allows arm movement, otherwise you're cutting your workout in half.
Google Cybex Arc to see what I'm talking about.
However, if space is an issue, why not join a gym? That way you have the most available to you and a place to go. For me, I found that while I had a home gym, getting myself to go out actually improved my consistency with my workouts.
I do it on occasion, to stave off boredom, but when you look around the gym and see folks reading while on it, you have to question how much of a workout is possible.
I would recommend an elliptical, but I would actually suggest the arc over an elliptical as while they are similar machines, the arc has proven in studies to be easier on the joints. I've noticed in my own workouts I burn more on the arc than the elliptical. At my weight and level, I burn about 900-1400 calories in an hour. Also, make sure you go for one that allows arm movement, otherwise you're cutting your workout in half.
Google Cybex Arc to see what I'm talking about.
However, if space is an issue, why not join a gym? That way you have the most available to you and a place to go. For me, I found that while I had a home gym, getting myself to go out actually improved my consistency with my workouts.
Good morning:
I use both, at the gym. ( our membership rates are very reasonable and inclusive so thankfully don't need to purchase in-home equipment )
But I make sure that on both machines that the rpm's don't go below a certain level and that the resistance is up high enough to give the heart a workout.
A fellow who runs 2 1/2 hour marathons ( he is in his mid-50's ) uses both and when am next to him on the bike, I peek and his resistance is way up and his rpm's never go below 75. He really sweats.
All the best to you and everyone. The good thing, of course, is that we are doing SOMETHING and that has to be better then doing NOTHING.
I use both, at the gym. ( our membership rates are very reasonable and inclusive so thankfully don't need to purchase in-home equipment )
But I make sure that on both machines that the rpm's don't go below a certain level and that the resistance is up high enough to give the heart a workout.
A fellow who runs 2 1/2 hour marathons ( he is in his mid-50's ) uses both and when am next to him on the bike, I peek and his resistance is way up and his rpm's never go below 75. He really sweats.
All the best to you and everyone. The good thing, of course, is that we are doing SOMETHING and that has to be better then doing NOTHING.
I have an eliptical machine, and I LOVE it. I'm not familiar with an Arc, so can't speak for those.
I have a Horizon eliptical, and there are about 6 different programs (i.e. manual, intervals, hills, reverse training, weight loss mode, etc). The resistance level goes from 1-20.
I like to watch TV while doing the elilptical. I can sometimes read (even while doing my arms), but most of the time, the book's pages flip on my, so i end up giving up. :(
space-wise, it's not the tiniest thing in the world...I would say it probably takes up about the same amount of space as a treadmill. I told myself that since I was making excercise a priority, any visitors would just have to deal with it! :)
I have a Horizon eliptical, and there are about 6 different programs (i.e. manual, intervals, hills, reverse training, weight loss mode, etc). The resistance level goes from 1-20.
I like to watch TV while doing the elilptical. I can sometimes read (even while doing my arms), but most of the time, the book's pages flip on my, so i end up giving up. :(
space-wise, it's not the tiniest thing in the world...I would say it probably takes up about the same amount of space as a treadmill. I told myself that since I was making excercise a priority, any visitors would just have to deal with it! :)
(deactivated member)
on 9/1/08 9:39 am
on 9/1/08 9:39 am
Hi Em:
I workout at a gym and I use the treadmill, elliptical and bike so I can't really give you any input on in-home equipment but as long as the RPMs on the bike are high enough, it's a good workout. What I think is even better is the bike used for spinning classes. It has a 50 pound fly wheel and the resistance can be changed. It is one of THE BEST cardio exercises, IMO.
I also highly recommend bikram yoga. It's intense yoga done in a room that is 105-110 degrees with 60% humidity - 26 postures done over a period of 90 minutes, heart rate is elevated the entire time. I lost most of my weight doing bikram yoga. The fat literally felt like it was MELTING off of me! Of course all of my trainers thought it was a bunch of bun****il they saw the results. My muscles were amazingly sculpted and the fat loss was amazing. None of them had the guts to try it though!
(many people run out of the room in hysterics because of the heat).
As soon as I recover from my next (and LAST) round of PS, I'm going to start back w/bikram yoga because I believe it is the best exercise there is - for the body and mind.
I workout at a gym and I use the treadmill, elliptical and bike so I can't really give you any input on in-home equipment but as long as the RPMs on the bike are high enough, it's a good workout. What I think is even better is the bike used for spinning classes. It has a 50 pound fly wheel and the resistance can be changed. It is one of THE BEST cardio exercises, IMO.
I also highly recommend bikram yoga. It's intense yoga done in a room that is 105-110 degrees with 60% humidity - 26 postures done over a period of 90 minutes, heart rate is elevated the entire time. I lost most of my weight doing bikram yoga. The fat literally felt like it was MELTING off of me! Of course all of my trainers thought it was a bunch of bun****il they saw the results. My muscles were amazingly sculpted and the fat loss was amazing. None of them had the guts to try it though!
(many people run out of the room in hysterics because of the heat).As soon as I recover from my next (and LAST) round of PS, I'm going to start back w/bikram yoga because I believe it is the best exercise there is - for the body and mind.
Hey Em, that arc sounded good and I looked it up. The home version cost $3,000! 
I could see justifying that if you was huge, but you is skinny.
I know we have discussed your calves and that you want to shape them, which is one of the things an elliptical does. But if you think they are too big, mine is as long a full size treadmill, there are versions that are smaller with a shorter stride...13 inch. My monstrocity has an 18 inch which makes my short ass work too hard, so I may sell it and go with a 13 inch stride. So if I were you, I'd go to a big athletic store where they have all sizes and see what you would prefer.
I hope you find something you love,
Mary
I could see justifying that if you was huge, but you is skinny.I know we have discussed your calves and that you want to shape them, which is one of the things an elliptical does. But if you think they are too big, mine is as long a full size treadmill, there are versions that are smaller with a shorter stride...13 inch. My monstrocity has an 18 inch which makes my short ass work too hard, so I may sell it and go with a 13 inch stride. So if I were you, I'd go to a big athletic store where they have all sizes and see what you would prefer.
I hope you find something you love,
Mary
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