Question:
Exercise equipment, what's best?
I am 10 weeks out from my RNY surgery and feel the need to step up the exercise. Living in Michigan I can only walk at the mall as we still have snow and ice on the sidewalks. I know that the weather will break soon (?), but I am thing of a long term option. I have been given different suggestions, but want to know what has worked for everyone else? please give me the good and the bad. Have a great day!! — JOAN100 (posted on March 20, 2008)
March 20, 2008
I have been going to Curves 5 days a week and I love it. I am 16 weeks
post-op and my doctor recommended it. It has given me quite a boost of
energy.
— msimon
March 20, 2008
My regular exercise is basically free...a good pair of sneakers, some wrist
and ankle weights and some pavement. I walk to maintain in cooler
weather...In the summer I get a pool membership or use the local lake
(free) and swim for 15 straight minutes every hour for several hours...When
I get tired I tread water or just kick and move my legs at the side of the
pool or on a raft in the lake! (I never go in deep water without a
floatation device (I get charlie horses sometimes)...You don't feel
yourself sweating in water...It is easy on achy joints and bad backs, yet
uses every single muscle in your body to swim. Laps...I do different
styles each lap to utilize every muscle I can work. I do that 3 times a
week on summer weekends or more if I have time. The results are AMAZING!
Such an easy work out! Water gives such good resistance too! Since you
don't sweat noticeably, remember to hydrate! I bring a cooler with ice and
water!
That's my suggestion...and while you're out there you soak up some Vit C
and D from the sun...and catch up on good reading! No ugly equiptment in
your space that gathers dust as soon as the novelty wears off.
— .Anita R.
March 20, 2008
Find out what Gyms you have in your town and what they want per month.
There are deals all around florida for less than $25.00 per month, but the
one I joined was a 24 hour local facility with lots of equipment that
charged $35.00 per month, but they offered a $1.00 rebate toward your next
month for every day you come in and work out for one hour. So it runs me
only $5.00 per month. Now I use one of their personal trainers and they
don't charge a monthly fee, so ask about all the options. A personal
trainer for a few sessions will help you to learn how to use the equipment
correctly. Treadmill is a no brainer. Start slow and get to a pace where
you feel the strain slightly in your legs, then keep it there and go for as
long as you confortable can. The next day do 3-5 more minutes and do that
every day until you are up to 30-40 minutes. Then increase the speed or
the incline rather than the time. The same for the stationary bike. It is
easier as you are sitting. The gym should show you the basics. Do not be
upset if you are the biggest person there. I was by far, and now the
regulars are my support team, always offering to help because they see I am
serious about my workouts. Best of success to you. You will not regret
the effort. By the way, before the gym, I walked the isles of the largest
store, and each day I added an isle until I did the whoe store in one walk,
then I did it twice and then three time as day, until some of the employees
asked if I was lost. Guess they got tired of seeing me not buy anything.
— William (Bill) wmil
March 20, 2008
Joan, Why does your profile say, "waiting a revision?" Did you
have a previous surgery for weight loss? I did, you can read my story. I
swim 3 times a week and do free work outs on "On Demand" with
comcast. My knees are shot so walking, running is out for me, so I swim.
How much have you lost? What area in Michigan are you in? I live in the
Metro Detroit area. Good luck, Lori
— reretheplaylady
March 20, 2008
Walking is the cheapest. Gyms cost money for the membership and gas to get
there. I use a machine I have at home. My wife bought it for rehab
purposes many years ago. It's called a recumberent Nu Step machine. She
first saw it at our insurance comapy's rehab department. She liked it so
well, she bought one, so she didn't have to drive so often to rehab. A
photo of it is on my profile page, where I talk about my journey. You sit
on a built in seat, place bothe feet into pedals that are pushed back and
forth, and two poles are there to grab onto to work your upper body too (if
you want to). It monitors your heart, and has 10 tension adjustments,
several seat adjustments, pole adjustments, and a monitor panel. I'd put a
picture here but haven't had luck in doing so in past replies.
— Dave Chambers
March 20, 2008
I also invested in a recumbent bike and a treadmill to use when the
weather's not good and I can't walk outside (I live in the Northeast). I'm
disabled and can't afford a gym membership, so I waited until Sears had a
good sale and had them delivered. Well worth the investment!
— obeseforever
March 21, 2008
Check with your local Parks and Recreation district for classes they offer.
If money is an issue they usually have scholarships you could apply for,
also try the YMCA they have lots of different classes and scholarships
also.
— ntssmith
March 21, 2008
Hi Joan! I like the Leslie Samone indoor walking CDs. I have
the 1, 2, and 3 mile DVD and her streachy band. You can order on-line.
Pat
— pjennjr
March 21, 2008
Lots of great advice.... I do not enjoy being hot and sweaty (and I have
mobility problems) so I love to swim when I can. But Massachusetts, like
Michigan, is too cold for outdoor stuff most of the year.
If you can afford a gym, that would be a great place to start. Some health
insurance policies have agreements w/ gyms and will give you some type of
discount... and as people have mentioned, a lot of places have scholarships
if you are low income.
If you are interested in home equipment, I would suggest looking around for
a gym that offers a free trial.... sign up, check out the different
machines, decide what you like and then buy.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
March 21, 2008
All these answers are good, but I have found that an eleptical gives you
the best bang for your buck. I use to run marathons and do triathlons
until my back started to degenerate to the point where I can no longer even
walk for more than a few blocks. (enter the weight gain) I can do a
treadmill workout without my back hurting too much, but I just can't get my
heart rate up to a decent amount without my back starting to hurt. The
eliptical really gets the heart rate up. I can workout at 85%-90% of max.
heart rate w/o my back hurting. When I finish, I feel as good as I did
when I could run. It's a peice of equiptment that you have to work up real
gradual but once you've worked up you get a tremendous workout. It's not
for everyone, but I get so much more out of it than a treadmill or a
stationary bike. Paula
— paulajaneb
March 24, 2008
swimming has work for me and local hotels has good deals on the use of they
pool also communinty college has swimming two nights a week for two bucks
— cab
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