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My Precioussssss.

Ariadne

Veteran

I'm pretty thrilled by my Gap bargains today, but I'm even more excited about my newest baby--an elliptical trainer. I am not kidding. I'm SO. BEYOND. EXCITED. I've finally accepted the fact that I simply cannot fit the gym into my life right now. It turns out I CAN, however, just barely fit a secondhand elliptical trainer into my bedroom--and my budget. So I did. It's not the prettiest arrangement, but it's a heck of a lot better than not exercising. I can even watch Netflix on my computer while I work out. I've used ellipticals for years at the gym, so I know I'll use this one too. I also got some free weights for Christmas (haven't yet figured out how to fit a squat rack into my little home yet, sadly). Happy, healthy 2014, here I come.

Anyone have great at-home workout tips or videos or, heck, Netflix shows I should watch?

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

rae

(website)

Veteran

Cool! I always get grossed out by gyms - really wish we still had room for a machine at our place. Lucky duck!

Anonymous

Nice! Even better that you can watch Netflix while exercising!

Neel

Veteran

I know that feeling!!!!! We bought our first treadmill and I am so glad I now have no excuses for not exercising :). Here's to a healthy 2014 for both of us

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I LOVE Tracy Anderson workout, and the toning part doesn't require much space.

Diana

Veteran

I have a mini elliptical (no room for a big one) that has no arms. So, less of an arm workout but supposedly better for developing balance. Anyway, I actually enjoy READING while using it, believe it or not. I read fun novels on my Kindle, and it goes really fast. But I find books in general more compelling than tv. I'm weird that way.

Glory

Veteran

Wonderful! I love the idea of watching netflix while working out, says the addicted to several shows person

Linda

Congratulations on the GAP *and* the eliptical!

I have been a longtime home gym fan. Unfortunately that bad sinus infection knocked me for a real loop, and then after that, the icy cold has somehow made me forget how good exercising feels, and how quickly you warm up when moving. I have GOT to get back in the groove. I've been tossing in some bits of ab work, or some bicep curls, or a bit of a Jillian Michaels video here and there, but haven't run for ages, and am fighting inertia.

We have a converted sunroom that holds a very old treadmill and our free weights and a bench. So I really don't have any excuse. I was reading up though, on some of the latest on post-menopausal weight gain, and it seems the long, slow runs I did for years, may not be the best strategy. I am reading up on "burst training" or high intensity interval training, and I'm trying to work myself up to doing that routinely. The pro is, that you need a lot less time to do a HIIT workout; the con is that you have to constantly feel kinda awful about the work while doing the workout! (That is, you are SUPPOSED to push it hard, which most of us don't exactly enjoy, in comparison to jogging along comfortably for mile after mile, for instance!)

If I do an interval workout on the TM, I find the mental effort of keeping track of when to change intensity means I don't need the TV or even music. But, I have been using the TV a lot when I was running indoors on the TM. I like watching home dec shows, but I'd really love to watch Project Runway or Under the Gunn now!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

That's awesome! I always liked the elliptical in the gym more that the treadmill, and easier on the knees. We've got a stationary bike in the garage which DH likes more than me - I wish we could swap it out for an elliptical but they're more expensive and take up more space. I've always listened to music or podcasts while exercising - I find tv too distracting.

Anonymous

I love jessicasmithtv. She has lots of toning routines and they're free.

Thistle

Veteran

I hear ya on the elliptical! I bought one years ago and still use it regularly. I have mine set up in our finished basement, also in front of netflix :). Can't handle commercials when working out!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous!! Good for you for doing this.

I really have to give you kudos since I loathe the elliptical and can barely force myself to get on one, ever. I will do anything else.

minimalist

Veteran

Linda, thanks for that HIIT tip.

Ariadne:
Lilyhammer
Orange is the New Black
Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I'm binging on "Once Upon a Time"... I really liked my home stair step in the day. Now I have a dog tho and get more than enough of that. Lol.

rabbit

Veteran

I like my elliptical a lot and it removes all the excuses of the weather being too bad to venture out. I like reading, but I listen to audiobooks or podcasts because I bounce around a bit to much and sometimes get seasick when looking at a printed page.

If I need to be hitting it hard for short bursts, I either go with dance music/remixes that I can't stay still to, or watch dance movies. The Step-up series is a guilty pleasure

Ariadne

Veteran

I used to do HIIT when I was weight training but I forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder!

Suz, too funny--the elliptical is always the *first* thing I choose. Different bodies, different preferences, I guess?

Rachy, I just started that show. I like it so far!

Thanks for the other recs, Amy K.

Alicat, I'll check that out, thanks.

LBD, is Tracey Anderson the one Gwyneth Paltrow does?

Glory

Veteran

More netflix recs: Downton Abbey, Homeland, House of Cards, Scandal.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

As much as I hate the dreadmill, I kind of wish I had one at home for times when the weather is really awful. Instead I have to motivate myself to go to the gym. So I am a little envious of your purchase. Not sure where in our house I could fit one. It sure would make it easier to justify binge-watching Netflix shows!

Ariadne

Veteran

Janet, do you have nine feet by four feet of space anywhere? If you do, you can fit one. Ours is at the foot of our bed in our tiny bedroom, next to my desk. It's ugly, but I decided it was more important to me to get exercise than it was to have a marginally nicer-looking bedroom. We're in cheap temporary housing, though, so it's never that nice anyway. You can find amazing deals on Craigslist.

AJ

Veteran

I'm enjoying the free Blogilates videos:

http://www.blogilates.com/blog.....rting-out/

It's my third month attempting the beginner's workouts, but that's OK, they're fun and Cassey is hilarious.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ariadne, I could probably figure out a way to make it work in our den/TV room or the other "downstairs" space, which is a finished storage room that has served as a practice space for my stepsons' music -- the drum kit is gone now, which helps. I have grand plans to redo the den one of these days -- it's a big room but not well-planned as it currently is, because we just kind of put our old furniture in it however we could make it fit. Craigslist is an excellent idea -- so many people get brand new exercise equipment and end up never using it!