Foo - What Exercise equipment should I purchase.

When we move I get a choice off one off two Items.

1) An exercise bike

2) A home gym

3) Get off your fat arse and do something.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/04/36/19/41/0004361941776_500X500.jpg

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/09/63/62/99/0009636299886_500X500.jpg

I chose get off your fat ass. The only exercise equipment I have is a Swiss ball, yoga mat, and a ton of bicycles.

Nearly all home exercise equipment devices end up in garage or as a dirty clothes hanger. You really need to get "out" if you want to exercise else almost surely it will be put off for other household distractions.

freeweights > *

Just to add to this I already have a treadmill, that is getting regular use.

You can get a better work our with push ups, chin ups, dips, crunches... and a few dumbells, than 95% of the people I see in the gym get.

2007 CycleOps Fluid Trainer 2 http://brandscycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=7468

Still just $225 at the special discount price, which includes free shipping. Ordered mine on a Sunday night late, had it Wednesday afternoon. :D

And, get out and ride, too, dammit. Weather is turning nicer here, though we have a wee cold snap on the way by Sunday, with highs only in the 40F's . :eek:

And +1 on the free weights and weightless exercises. I use free weights.

Join a gym. I have a home gym that I only used briefly and got bored with, mostly because it was in an unheated/uncooled garage. I joined a gym and I go there four times a week. Its definitely more motivating to be around people and to have a wide range of machines to choose from.

I do have a stationary bike that I use during the winter, I would recommend that. Just make sure you can put it in front of a TV.

If you're wanting to loose weight, get a heart rate monitor and a pair of running shoes. Running (NOT on a treadmill - that doesn't count) is insanely effective at taking weight off and maintaining proper body weight. Most people don't like it because at first its "too hard". What's happening is that they are not in good enough shape to run for any length of time without going anaerobic. Hence the heart rate monitor. With that you start by running until you hit the peak of your aerobic zone, then walk until you drop back down to the beginning of it, then run again until you hit the upper end again, walk again, ect.... Eventually you'll be able to run continously without walking and keeping yourself in the aerobic zone.

Running in the "real world" (in other words, not a treadmill but a track or outside somewhere) works because you're pushing and pulling your own body weight. The more you weigh, the more energy is required to sustain the effort, the more calories you burn. When I was running 3 - 5 miles 4 or 5 times a week I could eat/drink anything I wanted just about and not gain weight.

Treadmills are not as effective because you're kind of lifting your feet up and down and the machine does part of the work of moving the surface beneath you.

Cycling isn't as effective because you're adding mechanical assistance to your effort.W/running its just you vs. your body weight.

I'd go to a running store and let them analyze your stride to see what kind of shoe is best. And watch out for strain type injuries in the beginning. You'll likely make something sore at first - shin splints or the like. Simply back off the training a little if that happens. But seriously, if you just want to lose weight there is no better way than running to get there.

Great advice, alas cannot comply.

I used to be a marathon runner, not allowed to run any more I can walk or cycle.

freeweights > *

You can get a better work our with push ups, chin ups, dips, crunches... and a few dumbells, than 95% of the people I see in the gym get.


+1.

Get the home gym. Then dust off the Raleigh and get back on the saddle. :D

Weather is starting to warm up so I need to get my arse on the bike

is this a trick question? Why waste money on that stuff? Spend the money on cycling stuff.

Not just for me for the wife as well. (she does not ride and not likely to)

So it is not a trick question.

Great advice, alas cannot comply.

I used to be a marathon runner, not allowed to run any more I can walk or cycle.

Ah, that sux. I have cartilige probs in one knee that aren't too bad right now, but I dread if/when they get worse it'll force me away from running. If you were a marathon runner then you know how addictive running can be once you get over the initial hump of getting started.

I can run a little short sprints are about it, if I try going any longer I can do it but not worth the pain.

Get a excerball that is the correct size for you and a resistance band workout kit like iFit or the like. A set of those bands and a ball...and you'll have all the weight/resistance training you need. Regardless...get up and get moving/exercising of any kind regularly is the main thing.

Do ultradistance riding, Yoga and light weight freeweights (Dumb bells), as well as using your own weight, doing Hindu Squats, pushups, etc.

i've always wanted a home gym, but still don't have one. free weights seem to do the trick.

yoga + yoga ball + free weights might just be the answer for you and your spouse.

Come down here and I will put you to work 8 hours a day using a machete to clean around trees. This is in the tropics. I promise you, there will be a lot less of you when you finish! :D

You can pay me for the service if you want. ;)

Do something. Hiking, walking, skiing, dance classes...etc. It's much more fun that routine exercise.

Nearly all home exercise equipment devices end up in garage or as a dirty clothes hanger. You really need to get "out" if you want to exercise else almost surely it will be put off for other household distractions.

:roflmao: We specifically chose our exercise bike for its clothes hanging potential. The tension belt broke after 1 year's use and has become a superb hanger ever since. We keep it right next to our clean clothes folding table (ex-ping pong table).

2007 CycleOps Fluid Trainer 2 http://brandscycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=7468

Still just $225 at the special discount price, which includes free shipping. Ordered mine on a Sunday night late, had it Wednesday afternoon. :D

And, get out and ride, too, dammit. Weather is turning nicer here, though we have a wee cold snap on the way by Sunday, with highs only in the 40F's . :eek:

And +1 on the free weights and weightless exercises. I use free weights.

Hi VegaVixen. I'm still waiting to hear how you manage to make the trainer exercise interesting. I'm not kidding. I would love to use it more often, however I find it extremely boring and too noisy to hear the TV while I'm pedaling. Unfortunately I currently only have a MB to use however I will be purchasing a road bike in the spring. Hopefully this will help with the noise level next winter. Any suggestions?

i have an elliptical machine and a few dumbells. the elliptical is great but it only gets used in bad weather, i like my bike much better.

Hi VegaVixen. I'm still waiting to hear how you manage to make the trainer exercise interesting. I'm not kidding. I would love to use it more often, however I find it extremely boring and too noisy to hear the TV while I'm pedaling. Unfortunately I currently only have a MB to use however I will be purchasing a road bike in the spring. Hopefully this will help with the noise level next winter. Any suggestions?
Check PM. :)

Thanks for the interesting responses, I figured best advice was gett of my arse.

Here's a another question though for the wife stationary bike or home gym, not any chance of her getting a bike and cycling outside. (cost of both is the same).

If she is going to exercise it would be with a peace of equipment, and she is not likely to go to a gym.

Your thoughts please?

I'll second the cycleops fluid-2 trainer. It's compact, and so can pack away and travel easily. And come on people, is it really that boring? Place the freakin bike in front of a television, start a movie you've always meant to watch, and an hour or two can pass pretty quickly. I've used indoor training to watch many classic films that I otherwise might not get around to.

And yes, I'd prefer the outdoors, but the salt, slush, flooded streets, and freezing rain have driven me indoors these last two months. Still, I've lost 27 lbs since January by pedalling indoors.

As to whether or not you'll actually USE whatever you buy, that's up to you. The past three winters I've used my trainer a LOT, and feel happy about the purchase.

When we move I get a choice off one off two Items.

. . .

You don't need any of those things. Come to our house and you can:

Ride your bike up and down hills, split eucalyptus wood, clean our chicken coop and dig our garden (in which we have many, many large rocks).

If that doesn't get you in shape I am sure I can think of other things for you to "help" out on.

Great idea! Hey, fsm, I think you should come to my house and help me prune my hollies and boxwoods. :D

I'll even let you do all the work, um, yeah, to maximize your workout. I'm nice that way. :)

A CLT Foo Yardwork Party! :beer:

Maybe I should pimp myself out and earn some money!!!

:eek:

I meant doing yard work

I meant doing yard work
Sure. Now bend over and show VV what she's workin' wit. :eek:

Sure. Now bend over and show VV what she's workin' wit. :eek:

:D :D :D :p

Great idea! Hey, fsm, I think you should come to my house and help me prune my hollies and boxwoods. :D

I'll even let you do all the work, um, yeah, to maximize your workout. I'm nice that way. :)

A CLT Foo Yardwork Party! :beer:

Doesn't every home owner have their "yard chore(s) from hell?"

If a home owner doesn't have "yard chore(s) from hell" they are either very wealthy, live on a VERY small lot or are quite masochistic!

if you have to choose between those two, ig go for the home gym, You can also bike outside or get a trainer, but going to the gym to left is a pain...
all I have at home is a trainer, a stair master, a ball, a threadmill and a cabana boy..
cabana boy??:eek: how did THAT get in there??

I don't know, BDG, but I wish you'd tell me what website you found him on. ;) :D

I don't know, BDG, but I wish you'd tell me what website you found him on. ;) :D
www.Iwish.com:p

:roflmao: I actually clicked on it! :p




:(

:lol:
your cabana mail order in on it's way!

Oh, if only you knew.... :eek: ;)

I have a treadmill, a stair climber, and a Smith machine. I hate them all. I like riding bikes. Damn, winter!

Does that Smith machine have an optional Wesson attachment, which, when properly aimed, makes you want to work out? :eek:

no it just makes you dance

Dance! <bang,bang> Dance! <bang> Like that? NH? :lol:

oo ouch ooo ouch ooo that will take the pounds off plus a little healthy bleeding

:roflmao:

fsm! Be glad I don't being my friends, Smith and Wesson, to the CLT Foo lunches with me. :D

:roflmao:

fsm! Be glad I don't being my friends, Smith and Wesson, to the CLT Foo lunches with me. :D

My former boss used to keep a loaded magnum in the car, one off the days I took his car to drop his daughter lunch off, bloody gun was sitting there on the floor it had come loose from where he kept it.:eek:

Could just imagine that one as I turned into an elementray school with a loaded magnum......

you own bikes....so no sense getting another that looks ugly and doesnt move. the home gym is nice, but i think you might find that its tough to get motivated if you're not around other people.