Need home cardio machine...options?

jranaudo · 05-Aug-05, 08:45 PM

ok, I have one child already and we just had twins(B&G). I will not be able to make it to the gym for at least the next couple years.

I want to do cardio at home but can't determine what the best machine would be. I am willing to spend up to $1500. I also could fit a treadmill but would prefer something with a smaller footprint.

Can I get some opinions from people who do cardio at home?

oh and by the way, hemmoroids run in my family, I am hesitant to get a bike. Would a recumbent be better that an upright for this issue?

**threenorns** · 05-Aug-05, 09:14 PM

talk to gearloose about a recumbant trike.

why not just push the babies in their stroller around the neighbourhood?

AvgGuy · 08-Aug-05, 09:17 AM

Get a tread mill and a big screen hd tv. it is the best way to run. cool temp, and entertainment.

**threenorns** · 08-Aug-05, 09:59 AM

also, what about dragging?

get a real sled (they're fairly inexpensive) or have one made up. if all else fails, you can always drag a tire and put stuff on it for weight (the baby, for example, lol).

CF-OC_gal · 08-Aug-05, 11:05 AM

Oh yeah! If you can get a decent "all weather" stroller for the money then that would be awesome for you. I would have been forever in gratitude if anyone could have helped me out with decent stroller (I wore the wheels off 3 hand me downs with mine kids ).

Having twins your situation is different. Around here there are places that help out twin and triplet familys with loans or buy-backs plans for parents like you.

If you really want to spend the money on equipment, I'd get myself a good set of freeweights, mirrors , bench and a skipping rope. In the long run it will last you and your hubby longer.

**threenorns** · 08-Aug-05, 11:13 AM

seriously - an old steel-rimmed tire, a couple of 20lb weights, a couple pieces of rope, and a narrow weight-lifting belt are all you need for a backwoods-style home gym.

dragging it is cardio - sends your heart rate straight up and keeps it pumping. dragging foward works glutes, hams, calves, lower back, and abs. dragging backward works quads, soleus, and lower back. side-stepping works inner and outer thighs and hips.

use a second rope tied in a 'T'-formation to the first, make loops on the ends, and you can do upper body work (presses and rows), pull-thrus to works hams, glutes, lower back,recumbant lat pulls (kneel right down, then pull the loops to drag the tire toward you), bicep curls, seated cable rows (walk backward using your buttocks), and many more.

08-Aug-05, 02:48 PM

Save the $1,500 and don't buy the treadmill.

Assuming you don't have any knee problems, I suggest high repetition, full-range bodyweight squats. Try 10 sets of 10 reps to see where you are at and go from there. Set a goal for 500 reps. Advantage of full-range bodyweight squats is that at the bottom position you give your hemmorhoid a chance to breathe.

Ditto for walking lunges with small dumbells in hand, and performing an overhead press with the dumbells as you step up from the lunge. You can do the same with the bodyweight squats.

Check out the heavyhands workouts of Dr. Leonard Schwartz.

I use a treadmill alot but at the gym. I wouldn't buy one though.

Good luck.

gymrat · 08-Aug-05, 03:55 PM

As a resident of Arizona, I have had to be a little creative with my indoor workouts as well. I have recently discovered the joy of workout videos. Yes, I feel like a complete moron while I'm doing them

but my heart rate rises and I'm breathing hard afterwards. It's also no big deal to store a few DVD's and I can always get new videos when I'm bored with the ones I'm using.