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Best machine for cardio

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
I'm thinking of getting into cardio, but when I go to the gym and am done my workout I'm too dead to even think about doing that, so what I'd like to do is get a machine and doing it at home. Just the drive from the gym to home will be enough of a break not to mention when I'm sitting home not doing much I might be more tempted to go on it as it will be right there.

I'm thinking an exercise bike as they are rather simple yet versatile since I could mod it to generate electricity and use it for something (charge my phone? lol) :biggrin:
 
The rowing machine would be great, but i have very little motivation to lift or exercise at home as compared to being at the gym. So just consider that before you actually buy the equipment.
 
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Treadmill if you are able to run. Nothing really beats running for cardio AND can be done easily anywhere, anytime. C2 erg, rower is great as well. A great choice if you can't run. C2 also has the ski erg which looks particularly brutal.
 
What are your goals? That is, why do you want to do cardio? For weight loss? To increase your fitness? Training for some sport?
 
brikis98 said:
What are your goals? That is, why do you want to do cardio? For weight loss? To increase your fitness? Training for some sport?
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My goal is to get more fit in general, and also get more endurance as far as cardio goes. Right now I get out of breath very fast if I run or do something very fast. I can run very fast but not for long.

There's actually a track right in front of my house, but it kinda sucks to run in 3+ feet of snow, and even the roads would suck to run on as there is always at least a few inches of thick mushy snow/ice that creates an uneven unpleasant surface to run on. I rather something I can just do in the comfort of my own home and not worry about the weather. I'd just point my big industrial fan in front of me and go at it. Eventually I'd like to maybe even get a weight set but I rather start with a machine and see if I do in fact use it a lot, then maybe eventually transition to just working out at home.

I did not realize those machines were so expensive though, really, a thousand? I figured a couple hundred bucks at most.
 
RedSquirrel said:
My goal is to get more fit in general, and also get more endurance as far as cardio goes. Right now I get out of breath very fast if I run or do something very fast. I can run very fast but not for long.
Click to expand...

General fitness consists of more than just being able to run far - I highly recommend reading the "What is Fitness?" article. Of course, it depends on what your priorities are - maybe you only care about running - but if you want to be in shape "overall", I highly recommend a more diversified exercise routine than just using one cardio machine. In particular, I highly recommend looking into Crossfit, which is the best routine I've seen for developing not just endurance & stamina, but also strength, power, speed, agility, coordination and so on. It does this through constantly varied, high intensity workouts that consist of functional exercises like running, rowing, olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, climbing, kettlebells, etc. For more info, check out What is Crossfit?, Start Here and the FAQ. If you are short on equipment, there are many bodyweight only Crossfit workouts as well as substitutions and DIY options for most exercises.
 
brikis98 said:
General fitness consists of more than just being able to run far - I highly recommend reading the "What is Fitness?" article. Of course, it depends on what your priorities are - maybe you only care about running - but if you want to be in shape "overall", I highly recommend a more diversified exercise routine than just using one cardio machine. In particular, I highly recommend looking into Crossfit, which is the best routine I've seen for developing not just endurance & stamina, but also strength, power, speed, agility, coordination and so on. It does this through constantly varied, high intensity workouts that consist of functional exercises like running, rowing, olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, climbing, kettlebells, etc. For more info, check out What is Crossfit?, Start Here and the FAQ. If you are short on equipment, there are many bodyweight only Crossfit workouts as well as substitutions and DIY options for most exercises.
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Oh I wont be doing just that, this is just something I want to do after I get home from the gym.
 
Cardio doesn't have to equal a machine like a treadmill, stepper, etc. More times than not, it'll end up just being an expensive clothes hanger. I should know, I have a nice Precor elliptical machine in my house but it's fell out of disuse as I've found another cardio machine that I get a better workout from, that's less mundane, and hits more muscle groups than just my legs. What this new machine? It's probably own you already own: a TV and DVD player! Since doing P90X a year ago or so (I'm back to a 5x5 routine now) one thing that has stuck with me is doing cardio to workout DVDs. They are just more fun than doing the same movement on a machine, it feels more social as well since it's like you are working out with the people on the DVD.

If you want some recommendations, I like the Interval workout on the P90X+ series. That's my go to cardio workout right now and it's only like 40 minutes including warmup and cooldown. If you want to get an intense workout and if you're already in good shape, try the Insanity series, they are crazy difficult.
 
brikis98 said:
Well, then you can do the cardio and lifting all in one via Crossfit. Save time and get a better workout.
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Also, you won't inhibit hypertrophy like you will with a plan like your's. Doing endurance cardio within three hours of a lifting session inhibits the mechanisms that induce hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is not necessarily mass-gain dependent and is the primary source of strength gains. If you do go for long runs after your lifting sesh, your lifting gains will be dominantly from neural coordination, which will plateau in about 6 weeks. Keep that in mind. That's why I run on my off days or just mix lifting and cardio in a CF-like manner.
 
So I'm better off to do cardio on days I don't do lifting? I can do that instead then. I would probably have more energy that way too so I could go longer.
 
RedSquirrel said:
My goal is to get more fit in general, and also get more endurance as far as cardio goes. Right now I get out of breath very fast if I run or do something very fast. I can run very fast but not for long.

There's actually a track right in front of my house, but it kinda sucks to run in 3+ feet of snow, and even the roads would suck to run on as there is always at least a few inches of thick mushy snow/ice that creates an uneven unpleasant surface to run on. I rather something I can just do in the comfort of my own home and not worry about the weather. I'd just point my big industrial fan in front of me and go at it. Eventually I'd like to maybe even get a weight set but I rather start with a machine and see if I do in fact use it a lot, then maybe eventually transition to just working out at home.

I did not realize those machines were so expensive though, really, a thousand? I figured a couple hundred bucks at most.
Click to expand...

1000 bucks for the machine my dad got is a good deal considering you will pay the same for garbage ones at Sears. This is a commercial grade one that they use in gyms, it's retail is like $ 3500...
 
While in Iraq, my guys would do the P90X video at like 0200 in the morning, then go lift some weights, then eat at the chowhall, then go to sleep. That P90X is the shiznit, no joke.
 
scorpio110367 said:
While in Iraq, my guys would do the P90X video at like 0200 in the morning, then go lift some weights, then eat at the chowhall, then go to sleep. That P90X is the shiznit, no joke.
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But the question was about cardio... not P90X. Machines are meh. They're a lot of money to spend. It's usually cheaper to find the closest gym to your house/work and use their's. Even $1k covers years of gym fees, where you can use a wide array of cardio and weightlifting equipment.
 
SociallyChallenged said:
But the question was about cardio... not P90X. Machines are meh. They're a lot of money to spend. It's usually cheaper to find the closest gym to your house/work and use their's. Even $1k covers years of gym fees, where you can use a wide array of cardio and weightlifting equipment.
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Agreed. YMCA membership is $49 a month for me, they have lots of machines to choose from (I know running outside is better but it's COLD right now, and I'm much more likely to get off my ass if I can exercise in climate-controlled comfort) and TVs to distract me from the boredom of running.
 
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