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Meet Your Machine
Especially in cooler weather, a lot of people turn to at-home, indoor exercise. But how do you keep your machine from becoming a clothes rack or an eBay bidder's dream? Check out our advice to help you buy a machine you'll love and actually use.
The TV ads for at-home exercise machines sound so good: Break a sweat for only 20 minutes a day and you'll melt away pounds. The reality is that you may have just bought a very expensive clothes hanger. "Those ads don't tell you that certain types of home-gym equipment are better for certain types of people," says Henry Rivera, a certified personal trainer for more than 11 years and a corrective exercise specialist for Peak Performance in New York City. To avoid defeating your fitness goals even before you step on a new workout machine, check out Rivera's take on five popular kinds of at-home exercise equipment:
Elliptical
Like cross-country skiing indoors, an elliptical machine has slats for each foot that move forward and back. Some models have the feature to incline to boost the intensity.
Best for: Those rehabbing injuries or who have a weak back or knees
Not for: People who spend most of their days on their feet
Buying tip: Be sure the motion doesn't hyperextend your knees. There should be a slight bend in your leg even at the farthest range of motion.
Workout tip: "A lot of people mimic their slumped sitting posture on an elliptical," Rivera says. "Keep your upper body from caving in by checking your posture in a mirror—your head shouldn't be in front of your shoulders."
Expect to spend: $300 to $3,000
Rower
Picture a dingy in your living room. Rowers feature a bar and a seat that moves against resistance.
Best for: Those who run or cycle and want to develop upper-body strength
Not for: People with back injuries and those who sit most of the day. "The motion of reaching forward to pull can cause bulging disks to flare up," Rivera says.
Buying tip: Look for air- or water-resistant models.
Workout tip: "Don't lunge forward too fast," Rivera says. "Keep your head in line with your spine and your knees as wide as your hips so they don't touch as you go through the motion."
Expect to spend: $200 to $1,000
Stairclimber
It has platforms that move up and down to make you feel like Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Best for: Those in generally good health and who want to ratchet up their fitness
Not for: People with hip or knee problems
Buying tip: Select a model with an easily reachable handlebar, a quick-start switch, and an emergency-stop button.
Workout tip: "Grab the bar only if you need to stop," Rivera says. "When you lean on the bar, you take 50% off the intensity."
Expect to spend: $500 to $3,000
Stationary Bike
Ride into fitness while going nowhere on this mainstay of home exercise equipment.
Best for: Those who need distractions during exercise; it's easy to read, watch television, or do Soduku or crossword puzzles.
Not for: People who sit most of the day, but generally good for just about anyone
Buying tip: Look for models with a revolutions-per-minute display, a quick-start button, and variable resistance. Check for a seat comfortable enough to sit on for at least 20 minutes.
Workout tip: "One of the biggest mistakes is positioning the seat too low or too high," Rivera says. "At the bottom of the pedal stroke, your knee should be slightly bent."
Expect to spend: $300 to $600
Treadmill
As easy as strolling down the street, treadmills can offer a range of intensity, from walking pace to a sprint. For more avid runners, models can incline to simulate running up or down hills.
Best for: Anybody, from senior citizens to college athletes
Not for: Those with hip injuries
Buying tip: Look for an emergency-stop button, a quick-start switch, and heart-rate monitor if you don't have one of your own, says Rivera.
Workout tip: "Stay in the dead center of the belt," Rivera says. "Look in the direction you're stepping. I've seen lots of people gaze off to the side and slip off."
Expect to spend: $500 to $3,000
