Thinking of getting an exercise bike or cross trainer - appreciate views and recommendations?

[SophiaLovesSummer]

Pretty much that. I'm struggling to get the exercise I need as my daily movements are pretty much dictated by someone else's for up to 12-14 hours of the day then it's too late or I'm too tired to go to the gym.

Asking for 'views' as I'm acutely aware exercise bikes and cross trainers could be one of those things that, even with the best intentions, end up being clothes dumping grounds Sooooo... have you bought one and would you recommend or d'you wish you hadn't?

Appreciate any experience of bike vs cross trainer? Also, any recommendations for specific spec/features I should be looking for? Ditto, any specific brand/model you'd personally recommend?

TIA

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I think exercise machines can be good tools for training, but they don't solve the motivation problem just because they are at home. My experience with home machines is that they are very ineffective unless you spend a lot of money (look up Peloton!).

Have you looked at exercise programs like Fitness Blender or Body Project? Available online, low cost, quick and you can do the body weight programs before investing in a weight set.

I would buy a single daypass for a gym. Try each piece of equipment for 15 minutes or so (cross, rowing, treadmill, bike). You will then know what is best for you. I prefer outdoor running for cardio, indoor bodyweight (no equipment except mat) and only use gym equipment for weights. It's so personal, so give everything a go before you decide.

Buy an aerobics step and see if you can be bothered to keep up using that regularly with YouTube videos to follow. Decent cardio and doesn’t take up a lot of space. If the person controlling your movements 12-14 hours a day is like my tiny overlord they will enjoy climbing over it too and can do so safely unlike a bigger piece of exercise equipment.

Cross trainer out of the 2 as you'll exercise upper body as well as lower. We've got a lifefitness bike (husband uses in winter), it's certainly not the cheapest but it has lasted 6 years and was about £1000. I don't recommend getting really cheap versions of this equipment as they don't run smoothly, so unless you know you are going to use it regularly I'd go for some free exercise workouts on YouTube or cheap DVD's to start off, otherwise you will end up with an expensive clothes rack. If you are time poor, 30 day shred with Jillian Michaels is quick.

Great for hanging your clothes from 😂

I've used x-trainers for years. They actually vary quite a lot in terms of how many calories they say you burn, and apparently it's difficult to know the true amount, because you're moving your body in an unnatural way (or something). Certainly be skeptical of the ones that claim you burn 200cals every 15 mins or so. Fwiw, I lost weight after getting a dog, even though I no longer had time for what I regarded as 'proper' exercise. Not advocating getting a dog as a solution, but how about walking outdoors with ankle weights?

Surely a cross trainer would take up crazy amounts of space.

I lost tons of weight using my mums crap 80s exercise bike back in the day, but teenagers are insane and do nothing by halves.

I would recommend renting one for a month first and see if you use it

I got a (spotless and I suspect used more as a clothes horse) bike off Ebay. Like you I wasn't sure how much I'd actually use it. I've surprised myself by finding that I actually am, but my main motiviation is using it to "multitask" and catch up with programmes that I've recorded but not had chance to watch yet. (Got to admit that I reckon crosstrainer would be better for "all over" but reckon some movement is better than none!). Either way, maybe look for a second hand, but up to date model to try out first?

Of your 2 choices, cross trainer for a better overall workout. But actually if I could have only one bit of kit I’d go rowing machine. And a kettle bell to use with YouTube tutorials. I have a home gym and it gets used most days by me and/or DH. Our machines we’re expensive and we got them over a number of years once we were sure we’d use each piece. Also the resale value is high on the branded machines so if you did decide to sell on you might not lose much money

Peloton

Oooh, lots of great ideas - thank you

This made me laugh out loud tho: If the person controlling your movements 12-14 hours a day is like my tiny overlord they will enjoy climbing over it too. Even on an annoymous forum I need to be reasonably circumspect but as a headline, the idea of watching the pristinely designer turned out principal I take care of clambering over kit is very fucking funny

Haha I did think it might be amusing if it wasn’t a toddler you were talking about but it seemed a fair guess on mumsnet.