If you were to going to invest in one exercise machine,

[WinkyWinkola]

which would it be in order to keep up aerobic fitness and maintain weight?

• Running machine?
• Cross trainer?
• Bike?

I find them all equally boring but I've got some wedding vouchers left and would like to have something at home so I can fight the flab without having to shell out for a babysitter while I go to the gym.

Any recommendations?

[QuintessentialShadows]

Bike? My dh cycles and watches movies.
Personally I want a cross trainer, as my pubic bone objects to the bike.

Why buy a running machine if you can go out jogging?

This was not very helpful. Sorry.

[poshtottie]

I personally would have a cross trainer as its low impact and would involve the upper body aswell. However if you find it boring are you sure you would use it?

[bubblerock]

We have a rowing machine and a lateral thigh trainer. I never felt the benefit of exercise bikes.

[hatcam]

morning

why not hire one just for one month, before you use up your wedding vouchers - if you haven't really used it in that month and it's turned into a clothes horse then you haven't used up your vouchers unnecessarily! Try www.hirefitness.co.uk

There's not much difference between the three in terms of the benefits that you'll get - it's really dependent on actually using it and working hard enough. Definitely think you need tunes or movies to relieve the boredom (and I'm a personal trainer!). The x-trainer's a good safe choice but the upper body benefits are minimal (sadly). You haven't listed a rower - that's better for upper body/abdominasl as well as lower body and cardio fitness? (Lots of people don't like them though so understand if you're not interested).

Slightly biased (I run Buggyfit locally) but have you thought about a class like that where you can take a baby along with you? Sadly I don't accept wedding vouchers

[harleyd]

i would love to have the space for a cross trainer or a running machine

my exercise bike turned into a clothes hanger before i got fed up with it and threw it in the skip

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

a real bike to get about the place.

[thumbwitch]

i have a rowing machine - low impact but very good workout. mine is the Concept ergometer though - but that's because I used to be a rower and those are what we used.

[WinkyWinkola]

I'd love a proper bike but with two little ones I'm kind of restricted. When they're older, I dream of cycling holidays.

A rowing machine? Never thought of that. Concept ergometer? Would that be ok for anyone to use, thumbwitch, do you think?

I've always exercised and found it dull but always been motivated by the feel good afters. Honestly, it's weird how much better I feel.

Will put a small telly or use ipod when exercising on home machine.

If anyone could recommend models of exercise machine, that would be really helpful. Many thanks.

[hatcam]

recommend

concept rowers
water rowers
tunturi bikes
nordic track treadmills and x-trainers

[ThePettyandIllinformedGoat]

i use my cross trainer all the time but only paid £40 for it from ebay. plus folk are giving them away on freecycle the whole time. i wouldn't buy a new one.

[thumbwitch]

WW - anyone can use the concept rowers but it might be wise to get someone to show you how to do it properly! Also they are not the cheapest option, i bought mine on ebay. Not sure if ebay takes wedding vouchers! They are definitely better than the cheap'n'cheerful rowers, though.

I had a tv to watch while I was rowing, best option. One of the nice things about the concept ergs is that they come with useful monitors that tell you how far you've "rowed", how fast, how many strokes per minute, how many calories you burnt off and the more modern ones can even tell you your heart rate etc.

[ChopsTheDuck]

I think a cross trainer prob best for all round exercise, but I'd actually go for the treadmill. It burns calories far quicker than anything else, and is easier to get into. You can read a mag while on a treadmill, so it's less boring than a cross trainer. I suppose if you used weights or something, you could give your arms a workout at the same time too.

Cheaper cross trainers tend to be really uncomfortable to use too, I had one and it didn't feel like it was big enough to really work properly. I love the ones at the gym but I can only do about 20 mins on one of those, whereas can easily spend an hour on a treadmill, so I burn most of my calories on the treadmill.

Def not bike or rower. A bike isn't going to help your bum much, and there is only so long you can spend on a rower.

[QuintessentialShadows]

None of you have seen my dhs bum, though.
But he cycles a couple of hundred kilometers per week. mad that he is

[maidamess]

Quint, have you joined the Cycling WAGS thread?

[Cod]

Message withdrawn

[QuintessentialShadows]

Maidamess, no I havent, what is that? Like, cyclists anonymous?

[SSSandy2]

QS so his bum is alright. How about his knees? Just wonder if those bikes are not too tough on your knees if you use them so much.

Think I'd go for a bike, you can watch a film or chat on the phone and take your mind off the sport.

[NomDePlume]

A proper rower. Get a Concept I, they are expensive (looking at £1k+) but the cheaper ones are a false economy. The resistance on them is rubbish. Beware though, the Concept is a very long machine - 10ft, make sure you have the space before you shell out !

[NomDePlume]

ARGHHHHH Concept II

[Cod]

Message withdrawn

[thumbwitch]

SSSandy2 - if you can chat on the phone while on an exercise bike, you're not doing it hard enough!!

[harleyd]

is there a rowing machine that can be cleverly disguised as a coffee table or something so (d)h face wont turn inside out when he sees it

[SSSandy2]

ha ha! You're onto me thumbwitch! Exertion in moderation is my motto

[poshtottie]

hatcam, where do you teach buggyfit? I used to go to one until I moved and have also taught it. I also reccommend it to some of my new mums.

[HonoriaGlossop]

Well it's not a coffee table but we have a water rower which when not in use stands up against the wall and looks a bit like a sculpture I think! It's really nice wood, etc.

Tis a lovely object but rather expensive...