If you could invest in 1 at-home exercise machine what would it be?

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Peloton here. I’ve had the bike for years and recently invested in the Tread. Now that Peloton has so much content, I almost exclusively do their classes at home on weekdays. I also kept my Planet Fitness membership so that I can lift heavy when I have more time on the weekends.

Peloton is worth the monthly fee for the yoga classes alone. My hips have never felt better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rowing machine. I’ve tried Pelaoton and find their classes boring.

How do you keep the rowing machine interesting? I do it, but kinda hate it. I haven't tried Peloton so I can't say for sure, but I just can't imagine how anything can be more boring than the rowing machine. Blasting loud and fast music is the only thing that gets me through erging. What's your secret?

I erg and don’t love it, but I rarely find it boring. What kinds of workouts do you do? Maybe try something like 10 x 500m with an pyramid rating. So, like 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 36, 32, 30, 28, 24. Or maybe if you are just doing a long piece, change the rating every few minutes, back and forth between 22 and 24. Or vary the times or distances. So, like 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1000, 750, 500 with 2 minutes rest between each. Something like that.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod

I do that, but I still find it boring. I mean it's difficult and challenging, but there is no human interaction which it sounds like the Peloton has. I think there are people like yourself that find compelling to look at a number and really enjoy watching it stay constant (I know how difficult that is-- I really don't mean to sound dismissive!) and those that enjoy looking at another person's face and getting a charge from hearing that person's voice.

I don't know that that's true. I definitely prefer to be on the water with real people rather than on the erg in my basement. Everyone I know prefers to be on the water. This is just how I get through the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rowing machine. I’ve tried Pelaoton and find their classes boring.

How do you keep the rowing machine interesting? I do it, but kinda hate it. I haven't tried Peloton so I can't say for sure, but I just can't imagine how anything can be more boring than the rowing machine. Blasting loud and fast music is the only thing that gets me through erging. What's your secret?

I erg and don’t love it, but I rarely find it boring. What kinds of workouts do you do? Maybe try something like 10 x 500m with an pyramid rating. So, like 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 36, 32, 30, 28, 24. Or maybe if you are just doing a long piece, change the rating every few minutes, back and forth between 22 and 24. Or vary the times or distances. So, like 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1000, 750, 500 with 2 minutes rest between each. Something like that.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod

I do that, but I still find it boring. I mean it's difficult and challenging, but there is no human interaction which it sounds like the Peloton has. I think there are people like yourself that find compelling to look at a number and really enjoy watching it stay constant (I know how difficult that is-- I really don't mean to sound dismissive!) and those that enjoy looking at another person's face and getting a charge from hearing that person's voice.

I don't know that that's true. I definitely prefer to be on the water with real people rather than on the erg in my basement. Everyone I know prefers to be on the water. This is just how I get through the winter.

DP, but if you're a rower on the water nine months out of the year and only erging to get through winter, the OP's question doesn't really apply. There's a world of difference between how you use the erg and how someone who is not an actual rower would use it, i.e., it's a lousy choice as your only at-home exercise machine.

-Competitive rower for 8 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rowing machine. I’ve tried Pelaoton and find their classes boring.

How do you keep the rowing machine interesting? I do it, but kinda hate it. I haven't tried Peloton so I can't say for sure, but I just can't imagine how anything can be more boring than the rowing machine. Blasting loud and fast music is the only thing that gets me through erging. What's your secret?

I erg and don’t love it, but I rarely find it boring. What kinds of workouts do you do? Maybe try something like 10 x 500m with an pyramid rating. So, like 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 36, 32, 30, 28, 24. Or maybe if you are just doing a long piece, change the rating every few minutes, back and forth between 22 and 24. Or vary the times or distances. So, like 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1000, 750, 500 with 2 minutes rest between each. Something like that.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod

I do that, but I still find it boring. I mean it's difficult and challenging, but there is no human interaction which it sounds like the Peloton has. I think there are people like yourself that find compelling to look at a number and really enjoy watching it stay constant (I know how difficult that is-- I really don't mean to sound dismissive!) and those that enjoy looking at another person's face and getting a charge from hearing that person's voice.

I don't know that that's true. I definitely prefer to be on the water with real people rather than on the erg in my basement. Everyone I know prefers to be on the water. This is just how I get through the winter.

DP, but if you're a rower on the water nine months out of the year and only erging to get through winter, the OP's question doesn't really apply. There's a world of difference between how you use the erg and how someone who is not an actual rower would use it, i.e., it's a lousy choice as your only at-home exercise machine.

-Competitive rower for 8 years

It is my only at home exercise machine. I just posted above to respond how to keep it interesting, but I think it’s a good sneaky way to get more people involved in masters rowing. Get an erg, like it, come see what it’s like on the water, then join us forever! Muahaha!


~competitive rower for 8 years. Recreational rower for 15 years.

[Anonymous]

TRX Straps—-love them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would just get my as to the gym. Once you are there you are committed, much harder to do that at home. Just look at statistics of those home machines, they are a definition of wishful thinking.

I feel the opposite. Between work and being a mom, I have trouble finding the time to go to a crowded gym, worry about fighting people for machines, and spending extra time driving there and back. I can say more easily find time at home (while my kid sleeps, when he has friends over, etc).

My latest favorite home exercise is using a small step with risers, a bosu ball, and exercise bands.

Agree. I have an elliptical and a gym membership. I go to the gym about 5 times a year. I just don’t have time. I use my elliptical between 2 and 6 times per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rowing machine. I’ve tried Pelaoton and find their classes boring.

How do you keep the rowing machine interesting? I do it, but kinda hate it. I haven't tried Peloton so I can't say for sure, but I just can't imagine how anything can be more boring than the rowing machine. Blasting loud and fast music is the only thing that gets me through erging. What's your secret?

I erg and don’t love it, but I rarely find it boring. What kinds of workouts do you do? Maybe try something like 10 x 500m with an pyramid rating. So, like 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 36, 32, 30, 28, 24. Or maybe if you are just doing a long piece, change the rating every few minutes, back and forth between 22 and 24. Or vary the times or distances. So, like 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1000, 750, 500 with 2 minutes rest between each. Something like that.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod

I do that, but I still find it boring. I mean it's difficult and challenging, but there is no human interaction which it sounds like the Peloton has. I think there are people like yourself that find compelling to look at a number and really enjoy watching it stay constant (I know how difficult that is-- I really don't mean to sound dismissive!) and those that enjoy looking at another person's face and getting a charge from hearing that person's voice.

I don't know that that's true. I definitely prefer to be on the water with real people rather than on the erg in my basement. Everyone I know prefers to be on the water. This is just how I get through the winter.

DP, but if you're a rower on the water nine months out of the year and only erging to get through winter, the OP's question doesn't really apply. There's a world of difference between how you use the erg and how someone who is not an actual rower would use it, i.e., it's a lousy choice as your only at-home exercise machine.

-Competitive rower for 8 years

I have a treadmill and an erg. I got the erg for my daughter, who is a rower, but I have found myself using it consistently for a year now. The treadmill's been gathering dust for years. I don't find the erg any more boring than the treadmill, personally. I am not sure why people consider the erg among the most boring of machines. I've used treadmills, bikes, stair masters, those ski-contraptions. They're all dull.

I think I use the erg more than I have other machines because it has a lower barrier to entry. When I'm exhausted, I tell myself I'll just sit down on it and get back up. That's something, after all. Practically a squat. But usually once I've sat down, I can usually convince myself to row for 500m, or 2 minutes, or some small amount. And if I do 15 minutes on the erg, it can actually feel like a workout, whereas 15 min on a treadmill/bike is just getting started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Peloton and an old treadmill and I love both. I stream the Peloton app to an old HDTV set up in my basement to do their Tread boot camps with my treadmill. Whatever equipment you buy needs to be something you love in order to use it regularly. I don’t recommend making the investment to buy the Peloton if you don’t really love indoor cycling. I have been taking indoor cycling classes for ten years and I used the Peloton app with a cheap spin bike for a year and a half before making the plunge to buy the Peloton bike. I don’t understand people who buy it without ever having taken an indoor cycling class.

Following along with classes makes the workouts much more fun, IMO. The instructors really know what they are talking bout, and they play really good fun music. I am able to work out 5x a week using my home gym. As a fulltime working mother with two kids, this is the only way of working out that I have found that fits into my lifestyle and that keeps me excited about working out.

+100. Full time working mom of 4 kids - do cardio 5-6x a week. I have peloton, treadmill and erg (I rowed in college). Love my bike and treadmill I do peloton app on treadmill which I actually like better than bike. But being in my 40s and Decades is running, I have to watch on injuries. If I had to choose order at this point it’s bike, treadmill, erg. With the erg, you need very good technique to start and discipline to get results. You can get that with other cardio workouts and weight training. I use it as cross training and prevent injuries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Peloton and an old treadmill and I love both. I stream the Peloton app to an old HDTV set up in my basement to do their Tread boot camps with my treadmill. Whatever equipment you buy needs to be something you love in order to use it regularly. I don’t recommend making the investment to buy the Peloton if you don’t really love indoor cycling. I have been taking indoor cycling classes for ten years and I used the Peloton app with a cheap spin bike for a year and a half before making the plunge to buy the Peloton bike. I don’t understand people who buy it without ever having taken an indoor cycling class.

Following along with classes makes the workouts much more fun, IMO. The instructors really know what they are talking bout, and they play really good fun music. I am able to work out 5x a week using my home gym. As a fulltime working mother with two kids, this is the only way of working out that I have found that fits into my lifestyle and that keeps me excited about working out.

+100. Full time working mom of 4 kids - do cardio 5-6x a week. I have peloton, treadmill and erg (I rowed in college). Love my bike and treadmill I do peloton app on treadmill which I actually like better than bike. But being in my 40s and Decades is running, I have to watch on injuries. If I had to choose order at this point it’s bike, treadmill, erg. With the erg, you need very good technique to start and discipline to get results. You can get that with other cardio workouts and weight training. I use it as cross training and prevent injuries

+1 from another mom who works full time. I get up and do Peloton workouts at 5:30 or 6 am and am until 7. Get the kids and myself ready, and we are out the door by 8. If I’m tired and need the extra sleep (like today) I will work out at 7:30 or 8 pm after they go to bed. I invested in the bike first then the Tread and love both!! The classes are great, very challenging, and the time flies by! Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

A pull-up/dip stand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do the "bootcamp" workouts on the Peloton app using my rower for the cardio portion rather than running. Works well for me, so I still get the class engagement aspect. I also row while watching TV or listening to podcasts if I don't feel like doing it with a class and just want to zone out. I have a Concept 2 rower that pulls apart into two pieces and takes up less room than a bike does.

Can folks recommend non-peloton apps that work with rower or cross country machine?? Maybe websites?

[Anonymous]

" Mindless rowing / running in your basement will drive you crazy after a few weeks and that machine will turn into laundry rack. "

I listen on a NPR mega-station to a panel of aging UWS radicals while I row and bike indoors. The lively conversation makes my blood boil and the 90 minutes per day seem more like nine.

[Anonymous]

kseniiash wrote:TRX, resistance bands, crossover cable machine are the best!

just stop.

[Anonymous]

Rower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peloton

Or Echelon. Cheaper.