Consumers Digest

What is REALLY the best piece of exercise equipment to own?

For someone under the usual equipment max weight of 250, who isn't very fit...what is the best piece of inexpensive fitness equipment to buy (preferably a full-body workout machine)? Please give an explanation!

Public Comments

1. There are 2 answers: 1. A piece of equipment that you will actually use 2. Your own body Before investing in any piece of equipment remember that 80% of exercise machines go unused after 3 weeks and an additional 10% go unused after 30 days. Do you really want to invest in something that you may not use. Are you currently doing any type of exercise routine? If so have you been doing this consistently for over 1 year? If not then I would wait before purchasing any equipment. Also learn a few isometric exercises where you use your own body weight and muscles against itself. These are free to do, don't take up any room in your house, work very well, and you can do them in short bursts of 1 minute here and there whenever you have free time. If you have been exercising long term start by adding resistance bands or a swiss ball to your routine. If you are still using them after 3 months, then you can start looking at machines. Don't go for any of the gadgets on TV, Although they sound great you won't get the results that you think you will and you will become disappointed. The tried and true, treadmills, recumbent bicycles, stationery bicycles are the best. Which do you feel you would like to use? Which one would be be more apt to use in the long run? Someone can tell you that there is a perfect piece of equipment but if you are not going to use it--it's a waste. Start with the less expensive bands and swiss balls and while you are doing that wait for all the summer garage sales and keep an eye out for some that are on sale. You'll find a lot of them.
2. Walking sticks, or poles. Even if you start out slow (and depending on your age if you are over 40 actually slow is better if you can build that up to 45 min 5 X a week) or if you are younger slow is fine till you get into better shape. You can start with just ten min. 5 X a week but try to increase that time till you are doing at least 30 or more min. 5 X a week. The poles help in many ways but they also help by working your tummy, arms, and chest as well and the walking works the butt, thighs and legs so it ends up being a totally body work out. To learn more and check out some poles go to these web sites try www.exerstrider.com or www.leki.com or www.fittrek.com and for an easy way to find out what size you need X your height in inches by .72 then adjust poles to that height. One woman who was 425 lbs and had been told she was about to end up in a wheelchair if she didn't lose the weight used them and lost more then 200 lbs in two years. Read the article in the magazine listed below. Good luck.
3. Initially, I would have said a treadmill because you walk, jog, run...do hills, intervals, and heart-rate workouts. But if you're looking for a "full-body" piece of equipment, I would lean towards an elliptical. They burn a lot of calories, which will help you lose weight and they also are lower impact on your joints. No matter what...go with something that you'll use...it's far better to get something that YOU like because it's more likely to get used a lot. Hope that helps. See the links below to help you decide. Best of luck! - Mike
4. an elliptical trainer, low impact, hi calorie burning, variable programs so you don't get bored