How is a stepping machine for an early morning cardio workout?

[BigToque]

It is impossible for me to get to the gym in the morning before work (I start at 7:30, earliest bus arrives at 6:45).

I always feel great when I can use the elliptical at the gym to get my body warmed up before my day. I wouldn't mind running, but the weather here is brutal in the morning and I have pretty bad knees.

I've got an old stepping machine that I could use in the mornings. I'm just curious to know what it might be like to use that for like 20-30 minutes each morning since I can't get to the gym. (ie, how effective is it compared to running/using the elliptical)

 

[apex32]

I'm not sure, but I have always preferred a nice run in the morning over a stair stepper

 

[sygyzy]

Even if it wasn't, what's your alternative? I think any exercise is better than none.

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Even if it wasn't, what's your alternative? I think any exercise is better than none.

This is true, I'm just curious to know how hard it is on the knees.

 

[SZLiao214]

Originally posted by: BigToque

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Even if it wasn't, what's your alternative? I think any exercise is better than none.

This is true, I'm just curious to know how hard it is on the knees.

That would depend on the resistance that you put it on. If you just use a brisk pace with low resistance it should be fine on your knees.

 

[BarneyFife]

I bought a stationary bike because the step-machine I have just wasn't doing it for me. I can get a nice work on the stationary bike while my calves would kill me on the step machine before I even started to sweat.

 

[IGBT]

..I had a PreCore some years back and it's a great sweat out but the machine's shocks would overheat and fail. The shocks back then were 60.00 each. I have the same prob.wit my shock rowing machine. For some reason they don't make good shocks for the things. What ever you do use low to medium resistance. It's real easy to cause a knee or hip joint injury.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
I bought a stationary bike because the step-machine I have just wasn't doing it for me. I can get a nice work on the stationary bike while my calves would kill me on the step machine before I even started to sweat.

..that's what I use now. With dynamic resistance there's no parts to wear out.