Im curious what everyone does for exercise. Its been snowing here since this morning, and I had promised myself a walk. I was actually looking forward to it. However, the sun dissappeared behind some clouds so the sidewalks stayed icy, then it started to snow.....ever seen a snowstorm with lightening???? Today was the first time Ive seen it.

Geez I get off topic easy........anyway, from Im told around here, they dont plough the sidewalks!!!!

Ive been thinking about some sort of exercise equipment and Id love to hear what everyone has, and how much they like it or dislike it. Or exercise tapes or gadgets....and where I can find them.

Bikes are out for me, if I cant get on one and dodge traffic, I cant be bothered, going to a gym is a waste of money for me, I get the membership, then dont go, but other than that, Im open.

Thanks Ladies
Robin
p.s. Im still looking for a moose mascot costume pattern if anyone knows where I can get one....pls tell me!!

Hi!
I've been exercising since August. I started doing 2 1/2 minutes a day (I was ready to fall over after that) and now I'm up to 1 hour a day. I don't like to go outside to exercise, it's too hot in the summer, too cold and slippery in the winter. We don't have a gym close, so I made my own home gym. Here's what I've got and what I think about it-

Gazelle-love it, use it every day. It is easy on the joints, gives me a good cardio workout and moves my arms and legs, I even feel it working my butt and abs some. Folds flat, is on wheels, but it's heavy, so you get an added workout if you want to move it around.

Abdoer-started with this. It is good to help work out your abs, not a real intense workout, more for the beginner or someone like me when I started. You don't have to get on the floor and it gets the kinks out of your back too. Not something you'll use for the long term.

Orbitrek-eliptical machine. Excellent workout, boring to use. It is a better workout than a tread mill, uses more muscles and you can barely walk when you get off the thing. But it's really no fun. I don't use it. But, DH does, he also never tires of the treadmill. He watches tv and zones out, I guess. What works for one, doesn't always work for another.

Had a cardioglide, threw it away.

Torso track-good for the abs, only does one thing and you can get this with other equipment.

I use different videos for stretching and toning-pilates, cardio sculpting with weights, yoga.

DH and I are buying a Total Gym for our Christmas present. I think it will be a great piece of equipment to add to my "collection".

Robin, I have belonged to a gym here in NYC (NY Sports Club) for about four years now. Until recently I had been very regular there, fell off the wagon last summer. But now I'm getting back on track with that.

The only reason I managed to go so regularly is that there is a branch of the gym in my building where I work, and two branches within short walking distance of my house. Were it not so easy to attend, I would not go probably.

I do the Precor (elliptical training machine) for 35-40 minutes. I then try to do the Gravitron (assisted pull up machine) for an additional 6-10 minutes. There's also a Wednesday yoga class I have attended frequently. I need to do more free weight work.

I find it really makes a difference both mentally and physically for me when I go at least 3-4x per week. If I had exercise equipment in my home I would not use it - I know from experience.

I use the " Walking off the Pounds" video's.... easy, no equipment, cost 6.99 and i can mute it if she gets annoying. ( Woman never has anything new to say )
It is working for me... cheap, easy and I didn't need a lot of room.

and by the way, i see that even dottiej is doing walking tapes now!!! i wonder if she was abducted by aliens while she was in florida and we now have a different dottie????

as for me, well, i started with an exercise program on cable TV. gilad's bodies in motion [he's very cute]. and then i started walking outdoors. and then i started walking with the dog. and we always do at least a mile, more often 2, and 2-1/2 on weekends. and with winter coming, i'm not so sure that this will continue, especially since i seem to get asthma attacks in the cold [yeah, a call to the doctor is probably in order!]

but now, as of friday, i officially joined the local spa and racquetball club because it has a pool and that's the only exercise i really like. but i admit that i'll have to do the weight training, but will need a trainer for that because i'm so stupid about all those machines and exercising in general.

as soon as the physical therapist says that i can do this stuff... but for now, at least i know i can ride the stationery bikes.

so, tonight, i'm planning to ride the bike and then do laps.

oh, and i've also done some richard simmons tapes.

Hi Jiff!

Yes, it's really me. Doing Leslie Sansone 3 miler WITH the weights!

What?!! you say?

I am so desperate to take off some weight that I am going to give it a try! Exercise and eat less. Can't hurt. I am skeptical, and I hate it, but I am really stuck.

I love to swim, too, but it was too cold in FL this time.

dottie