Help! What to buy

[zippy_francis]

My DH and I are looking to purchase a new piece of workout equipment and was wanting ideas/thoughts/opinions on what you all like best/dislike about these.

We are thinking of either a treadmill, eliptical or stationary bike.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated!

Size, price is not really an issue. Just trying to figure out what is best and most effective in about 30-45 a day

[425lisamarie]

Depends what you're looking to do. I can't stand stationary cardio equipment. I walk/run outside periodically, weather permitting, of course more in the nicer weather. I have a couple sets of dumbells, a couple kettlebells and a pullup bar and it gives me a killer workout with some resistance which is better IMO than constant cardio

[zippy_francis]

Well with a 11mo old and a 2yr old it is hard to find the time to run outside at this point. We have talked about bikes, but they are just too little for me to feel ok with attaching them to the back. I have resistance bands at home I like for toning, but I am looking for an alternative to running/walking outside. I work outside the home full time and my DH does too along with long hours sometimes so I need something that I can do after I put my kids to bed. I dont really want to spend money on gym/YMCA memberships, plus I enjoy my time in the evenings with my girls so I am not ok with losing more time by dropping them off in a gym daycare to workout.

But I sure do miss my kickboxing days (pre kids and pre marriage). That was the best workout, tons of fun and I was in the best shape!

[425lisamarie]

My mom has a really nice eliptical. It's the only piece of stationary equipment I like. You can do hard intervals, slow and steady, whatever you want. i think it' s just your personal preference and what you would use

[nolansmummy]

We bought an elliptical about two years ago. I like it, but am looking to sell it for a treadmill. I like running better. My husband is the one who convinced me to get the elliptical in the first place and now he doesn't use it at all.

What i like about it:
Its quiet
ipod speakers
fan
various intensity and incline
very low impact
fairly safe around the kids- no moving belt like treadmill- i did have to limit my w/o to naptimes when my dd was little, but since she turned two she knows to stay back. Also, when they were little i could fold it up so they wouldn't mess with it.


Don't like:
Repetitious - with a treadmill, you can walk or run with an elliptical you just can ellipticise (i know not a word)
Boring (to me)

What really helped us when looking was going to stores like Dicks sporting goods, and sears and trying out the machines, even ones out of our price range. It really helped us figure out what we really wanted/needed in the machine.

[gmvh]

Originally Posted by zippy_francis

Well with a 11mo old and a 2yr old it is hard to find the time to run outside at this point. ... I work outside the home full time and my DH does too along with long hours sometimes so I need something that I can do after I put my kids to bed. I dont really want to spend money on gym/YMCA memberships, plus I enjoy my time in the evenings with my girls so I am not ok with losing more time by dropping them off in a gym daycare to workout.

I could have written these parts word-for-word. Any other machine suggestions out there?