Cardio machine suggestion?

[slackerinabox]

Wife giving birth very soon, by the weekend, and has to lose some baby weight but can't leave the house for most of her maternity leave. I'm also quit my gym membership to save some money.

Any suggestions? I want it to be as affordable as possible and, if a manual treadmill's going to burn as many calories as a powered one then I'd rather spend $100 than $800 (but am willing to spend more if necessary). Elliptical? Bike? Treadmill? Running in place? Any help would be great.

I have resistance bands and a total gym knock off being cardio. Eventually I'd like to move everything to the basement but, right now, size is important as well.

Thanks!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Whatever your wife will actually do is the best solution. I know a lot of women like the elliptical. I'd make that or the bike my suggestion (reduced impact forces compared to running), due to the ligament laxity that comes with childbirth. I definitely wouldn't have her running early on. I think the elliptical would be good - low impact, but weightbearing. Allows her to get her cardio in, but minimizes her risk of pelvic, knee, and foot injuries.

 

[blackdogdeek]

why can't she leave the house? my wife used to go for walks and push the stroller with the baby around Hoboken, NJ during the day. we also got a jogging stroller for faster paces in parks.

 

[slackerinabox]

why can't she leave the house? my wife used to go for walks and push the stroller with the baby around Hoboken, NJ during the day. we also got a jogging stroller for faster paces in parks.

Well, we live kinda in the hood (Bushwick), in Brooklyn New York. It's not an unsafe neighborhood, just Caucasian women with expensive strollers make easy targets, and we don't want to take any risks. She'll also be working from home so (besides the expense) the nearest gym is about 40 minutes away so round trip with working out will be over 2 hours, vs. just hitting the elliptical for an hour during her lunch break.

An elliptical sounds great as per the earlier suggestion. Any brand preferences? We're hitting craigslist for the used market.

Thanks!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Well, we live kinda in the hood (Bushwick), in Brooklyn New York. It's not an unsafe neighborhood, just Caucasian women with expensive strollers make easy targets, and we don't want to take any risks. She'll also be working from home so (besides the expense) the nearest gym is about 40 minutes away so round trip with working out will be over 2 hours, vs. just hitting the elliptical for an hour during her lunch break.

An elliptical sounds great as per the earlier suggestion. Any brand preferences? We're hitting craigslist for the used market.

Thanks!

I'm not so keen on the brands, unfortunately. Sorry, man.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Eliptical is a good idea. My wife uses hers and loves it. Got one for maybe $300 from Sears. It's been years of on again off again use and it still works.

I hate it. I don't like he motion it provides. I wish we had a higher end machine with more natural motion to it.

When it comes to health, I abide by the concept that if you are going to use it, there should be no budget .... within reason. If you will use it every other day, spend money on something better.

Example.... I hope to get a treadmill this winter. Might spend $1500. Want a squat cage but will get a higher end model that gyms might have in them instead of what Sears has.

Etc, etc, etc.

 

[gar655]

Concept 2 erg gives a better total body workout. Works more muscles but is non weight bearing which is both good and bad. The dynamic version is quite a bit more space saving although the regular one comes apart very easily.

If you both plan on using an elliptical or any form of cardio equipment the cheap ones won't last, especially the ellipticals. Too many moving parts and joints.

Gene

 

[prism]

My mom has an Octane and has used it 3-4 times per week for the last 4-5 years and it still works perfectly. They're pricey, but worth it imo.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Concept 2? Rowing machine?

http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

What model do you have?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Octane?

Which model does she have?

http://www.octanefitness.com/

 

[prism]

Octane?

Which model does she have?

http://www.octanefitness.com/

Either the Q37 or Q47, can't tell for sure and haven't been to their house in a bit.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks guys! I ordered a low end but well reviewed rower because I remembered how much fun I had using one at my gym. It's also small enough (and flat) so storing it under our couch will be very easy. I also plan on getting an elliptical if necessary but my wife thinks they're boring.

Thanks agin!

 

[shortylickens]

My experience:
If you get a hundred dollar treadmill you will stop using it soon and then it will be a hundred dollars wasted. And you've got another piece of useless furniture clogging up the house.

Normally I'd say a gym membership is the way to go but you already stated thats not gonna happen. Go to the Goodwill or check Craigslist. You will find plenty of hundred dollar treadmills. When you see all of them, ask yourself: "If they are so great, why are there so many for sale?"

Maybe just get her a mat and have her run in place. Mats are cheaper and can be used for lots of activities, and when you're done, you've got something that folds up neat for storage.


-CRAP! Too late!-

 

[Doppel]

Just remember it's more diet than anything else that will have her losing that weight.

 

[slackerinabox]

My experience:
If you get a hundred dollar treadmill you will stop using it soon and then it will be a hundred dollars wasted. And you've got another piece of useless furniture clogging up the house.

Normally I'd say a gym membership is the way to go but you already stated thats not gonna happen. Go to the Goodwill or check Craigslist. You will find plenty of hundred dollar treadmills. When you see all of them, ask yourself: "If they are so great, why are there so many for sale?"

Maybe just get her a mat and have her run in place. Mats are cheaper and can be used for lots of activities, and when you're done, you've got something that folds up neat for storage.


-CRAP! Too late!-

It's ok - my investment was so low that, if we need to flip it for 1/3rd of the price on Craigslist, I'm only out 2 months of our old gym membership. Speaking of gyms, I dug and dug until I found a local one that's 20 bucks a month (compared to $99 per person for my last gym) so, when she's ready for it, we'll do that as well. Actually, I'd love for us to take tae kwon do or another martial arts, once her body's ready for it

 

[gar655]

Concept 2? Rowing machine?

http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

What model do you have?

I have a model C. I've had it for 13 years or so and the only thing I've had to do was replace the seat rollers once. I don't use it that much due to some bicep tendinitis issues.

 

[darkxshade]

Just get her a shake weight for $20 and watch as the fat shake right off on just 6 mins a day.

 

[adlep]

get her a rower.
www.waterrower.com
This is a great cardio (you will be lucky to last 10 minutes on it at first) and it works 85% of the muscles on your body...
It also emits this nice swoosh, swoosh sound, so it might be baby compatible....

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I usually go for elliptical when I'm doing non-mandated exercise. My knees have been bothering me for a while now, and the elliptical lets me push myself without hurting them and it mimics running decently.

 

[Red Dawn]

Thanks guys! I ordered a low end but well reviewed rower because I remembered how much fun I had using one at my gym. It's also small enough (and flat) so storing it under our couch will be very easy. I also plan on getting an elliptical if necessary but my wife thinks they're boring.

Thanks agin!

Put it in the room with a TV and she can work out while watching Oprah and you can watch Football or ESPN while you work out

 

[Exodist]

Well, we live kinda in the hood (Bushwick), in Brooklyn New York. It's not an unsafe neighborhood, just Caucasian women with expensive strollers make easy targets, and we don't want to take any risks. She'll also be working from home so (besides the expense) the nearest gym is about 40 minutes away so round trip with working out will be over 2 hours, vs. just hitting the elliptical for an hour during her lunch break.

An elliptical sounds great as per the earlier suggestion. Any brand preferences? We're hitting craigslist for the used market.

Thanks!

I 2nd the elliptical, but I am not a brand person either. I recommend just going to walmart or any other dept store or local fitness store and looking at the equipment and pricing first hand. Also watch the weight limits on the equipment. I purchased a Golds Gym elliptical "Stride Trainer 380" for my wife, but lately have been using it more then her. It has a weight limit of 225LB since its a smaller version of the really good ones. But it was best price/quality one in my area when I got it. But myself being 240LBs at the moment is sure to cause extra ware on it. I also recommend trying them out if possible. Their are different styles of ellipticals and I really dont like ours, the hand bars are connected directly to the paddle bars. I am used to the models that have tracks and seem to flow more smoothly. But they cost more. Hope this helps and you have good luck on finding one you like.

- Joe

 

[Pia]

A Concept2 rower is the only machine I would buy if I could afford a home gym. Great for stationary indoor aerobic exercise. In a home setup, I think it would actually be reasonable to watch TV/etc while rowing.

I currently get my aerobic exercise from commuting with bike (which makes for great time savings compared to separate commute and exercise), but the pedaling motion is too isolated and the upper body too stationary. Would much prefer to row a Concept2 for equal time and then teleport to work.

Rowing has been my go-to way of warming up at the gym, but recently I have moved to wrestling-type warmups that have specific benefits over simply waking up the body for lifting.

 

[Rudee]

I do a lot of hiking up mountain trails on weekends here in Alberta, and the one exercise that has benefited me immensely is Interval training on the Elliptical. Just 3 times a week is all I need to stay in shape and fly past people half my age on mountain trails.

 

[shortylickens]

Hello all,
what is the best cardie exercise for good health and fitness?
please suggested me guys !!!!

Swimming.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Ya, swimming is pretty good. As is running. And Weights.

Things that are not as good as running include treadmills and elipticals.

Matters what your goal is. Most iportantly though, do something.