Hi Hayley,
Have you ever purchased any cardio equipment for your home as I am considering purchasing some. I am a breast cancer survivor 12 years and I have had some other health issues over the last few years, including falling off a ladder and breaking my wrist, elbow and concussing myself.
The challenge for me is I have gained 30 pounds and with the gym being closed I don’t have many options. Walking is ok, but I find it boring and, in the winter, it is too dangerous with the ice, and I just don’t have room in my home for a treadmill. I am still in physio and lymphatic massage and when all that shut down for a couple months, I know more than ever I need to move.
I am lucky that I work from home, but like everyone else I spend many hours sitting.
I am thinking about a good bike not Peloton as they are too expensive for me, but I want something like that with an app I can follow. (Unless you think Peloton is worth it?) I also plan on doing yoga until things somewhat come back to normal. And then use and do yoga until life becomes somewhat normal.
Love an opinion not on google with possible kickback.
Thank you
After spending these last 3 months training people virtually out of their homes, I have learned that you really don’t need much for home gym equipment to give yourself a good workout. I have had people show up to classes with textbooks, soup cans and laundry detergent jugs for weights. Some people don’t have anything but with some creativity their heart rate goes up and they sweat. I don’t expect you to know how to work yourself out with zero equipment but there are lots of resources online and on Instagram where you can do free workouts from home. You can check out my workouts here, but I also want to mention a colleague of mine who has fantastic workouts available on his Instagram channel.
Now to answer your question about home cardio equipment, just like other gym equipment you do not need to spend a lot of money or buy more than one piece.
The first thing you need to do is ask yourself if you see yourself using this piece of equipment for 30 minutes, 3 times a week. If the answer is a hard no, save your money. But if you can motivate yourself to work out from home then make the investment and invest in a bike. A bike will give you the most benefit for an at home workout as cycling will give you a good cardio workout and strengthen your lower body at the same time.
Now you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a bike, even if you want a Peloton-like experience. A decent stationary bike, the kind that you would find in the cardio section of the gym, will run you anywhere from $300 to $1000, depending on the model you buy. Because it is just you that will be using it, you don’t need to spend much as the more expensive models designed for industrial use in a gym. You can find a bike like this at any large distribution center or fitness center.
You can also purchase a stationary bike like you would find in an indoor (or online) cycling class. They won’t have the fancy screen, but they will give you as good of a workout, if not better. You could search for a used bike (studios are always selling their old bikes when they replace them) or buy one brand new and you really shouldn’t have to spend more than $300. Again, just like the electronic bikes, spending more just means they are meant for heavier use and may come with more features, but all you really need is a seat, handlebars, and some pedals.
Another option is buying an indoor trainer that you hook an actual bike onto (like a bike you ride outside). These range in price from $100 to $1000 and again, you don’t need to spend much. When I used to compete in long course triathlons, I would hook my road bike up to my trainer and spend hours pedaling. This was long before fitness apps were a thing so I just put on some music or turned on the TV and would ride. Why I love these so much is they require minimal space and they allow you to use your own bike, so when the weather is nice you can get outside.
So how do you get that indoor cycling class experience from home? Well you do not need to buy a branded bike. Of course, the fancy bike that goes along with the fancy app will give you the best experience, but you can get a good workout regardless of the bike you are riding. I am biased to a particular way of riding and I don’t do classes that have any type of choreography involved. I’m sorry, but have you ever seen someone riding down the street doing pushups on their bike or lifting weights? My worry is that those types of classes when done repeatedly will lead to nothing but an injury, but I acknowledge that they are fun, challenging, and engaging so I can see the draw.
All of the cycling apps offer free trials so my suggestion is trying a few and see which ones you like best. Peloton, Zwift, and the Sufferfest are all great options and offer vastly different styles of riding. Some stream you into an indoor cycling class and some put you into the French Alps riding alongside some of the best riders in the world. Each offers their own equipment (bikes or indoor trainers) but you don’t need it. You can use any bike you have; you just have to do a little more work (like change your bike gears or resistance). You can also join a cycling studio virtually, which is another great option. As COVID has either closed indoor cycling studios completely or cut their capacity way back, many are offering virtual access to classes. I love this option as signing up for a class holds you accountable. You would just pay a drop-in fee and then most likely join the class on Zoom (or another platform they offer).
As you can see there are a lot of options, so I am going to narrow it down for you.
-Buy any kind of stationary bike and sign up for either a virtual studio workout or a paid subscription to a cycling app (which is much cheaper at $15-$20 a month). Do 1 or 2 classes a week plus 10 – 20 minutes before you do yoga. This is the cheapest option and will take up the least amount of space. For anyone that has a bike that rides outdoors, buying the indoor trainer for it is an even better option.
If you are to take away anything from this post, you do not need the new and shiny workout equipment to stay healthy. Trust me when I say that just because you spent $2000 on the latest fitness trend you will not end up looking anything like the people in the ads.
