Workout Machines

[SgtBuddy]

What do you think of those oval crosstrainer machines over running on a treadmill

Exercising outside is not an option (134F yesterday)

My options are

treadmill (hurts my knees to run my fat old butt around the "track")
oval machine thingy (I find it fun, going backwards and using arms only and stuff)
Exerbike (boooooring)
Rowing thingy (havent tried it yet, hmmmm)
Stairmaster (ugh)


I just want to make sure I am not fooling myself. I do get a good cardio workout, but it just feels like I am not working the muscles hard enough. I am not really out of shape, just husky. The selling point on the machine is to work out without killing yourself.

It just seems odd to workout and not feel like you are going to die.


LifeFitness Cross-trainers

 

[Jfur]

I like the elliptical trainers because they do not stress the joints as much. I find I need to set it on incline at at a high level to get a really goos workout. Much better than an exerbike IMO.

edit: if your knees are sensitve, stay away from rowers.

 

[TNTrulez]

Bow Flex

 

[nafhan]

Hmm, are those bowflex machines any good? I've seen all the commercials and stuff, but I've never actually talked to anyone who owns one. Are they worth anything?

 

[richardycc]

funny, I am looking for an elliptical machine myself... I will most likely get the Reebok Rel8, since it is the cheapest (700$) decent looking machine with incline. I just need to go try it out in a B&M store first.

rich

 

[Jfur]

Originally posted by: richardycc
funny, I am looking for an elliptical machine myself... I will most likely get the Reebok Rel8, since it is the cheapest (700$) decent looking machine with incline. I just need to go try it out in a B&M store first.

rich

We bought a Nordic Track Elliptical from SEARS for less than that on sale. Try and see if they have that, too. It was originally around $900 but was about $650 on sale. It has incline and is well constructed.

As for BowFlex, it is probably ok (but really expensive) if you are not a harcore weightlifter. Some exercises will be awkward on it, and it is certainly not a cardio machine.

 

[Goosemaster]

ERg's ROCk


I love the little bastards...do cardio and burn fat after a while...plus my excercise can be counted as "training"😉

 

[Toasthead]

Stairmasters are the best workout ever...theres a reason people like those eliptical machines so much...they are too easy. And we all know that if its easy then it just aint workin!

and by the way move out of death valley!

Exercising outside is not an option (134F yesterday)

--Toast

 

[ZaneNBK]

Elliptical machines are great. You can run on them like a treadmill and do resistance at the same time, all without hurting your joints. Search the web and do some research, from what my trainer tells me they're better than stair machines. They are NOT easy if you have the resistance set properly. With the one I use I go with the interval workouts. Forty minutes of intervals on that thing I have two pools of sweat a foot wide under the point where I'm gripping the handgrips. I get as good a workout on this as I do running four miles on the treadmill, but without killing my knees.

Anyway, my point is that they are good safe ways to get a great cardio workout.

 

[SgtBuddy]

I sweat plenty! I do feel like I get a good cardio workout, it is just I am not dead after a 45 minute "run" on the thing. I set the resistance right in the middle since I am just starting on it (after converting from the treadmill)

Death Valley, I wish

Ali Al Salem, Kuwait here. Defending American's rights to sit on the couch and eat Pork products.

I am going to do 30 minutes to warm up and get back on the treadmill. Need to get my 2 mile time under 17 minutes.

After I drop 2, or 3 or 20 pounds, my knees should stop complaining. 🙂