I'M FAT. Exercise Bike or Stair Stepper?

[Linux23]

Okay, i'm not that fat, but I really need to increase my exercise during the winter. I'm torn between getting an Exercise Nike, or a Stair Stepper.

Which machine has the most effectiveness?

 

[conjur]

Get a membership at the Y and go swimming...go jogging.

I'd get an exercise bike.

 

[LordJezo]

Treadmill.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

http://www.geekfitness.com/

 

[Spoooon]

Stair stepper.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Treadmill. Run a lot and eat healtheir.

 

[BD231]

Get the bike if you want to burn calories while keeping lactic acid build up low, this will let you work out far more often than a stair stepper. If you want to get your legs ripped get a stair stepper.

 

[Linux23]

I don't want to get ripped, I have way too much muscle on me now that's doing nothing.

I really can't believe that a stair stepper can get your legs ripped. I know just sitting on a stationary bike has its limitations, but i'm curious which one burns more real calories.

 

[Nelmster]

Stair stepper.

With a stair stepper, you are carrying your own body weight, which will lead to a greater number of calories burned and greater utilization of the muscles, IF your cardiovascular capacity is great enough to last for 20-30 minutes.

With a bike, you're sitting on your butt and moving your legs. MUCH easier...

 

[Bryophyte]

Neither. Elliptical trainer works like both, only better.

 

[IGBT]

I use a recumbent stationary bike . The stepper over time hurt my knees. The bike is impact free and a real sweat generator. I sometimes use ankle weights with it to really up the pulse rate. And I can listen to my cd's/mp3's/talk radio cause I'am in a recumbent position. Get the recumbent stationary...

 

[kalster]

1 word


PRECOR

 

[Sundog]

My vote would be an elliptical trainer. I hate stair steppers.....most people use them incorrectly.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Seems like most exercise equipment ends up sitting in some dusty basement corner. You can run for free, plus it's less monotonous than any stationary bike/machine.

 

[nick1985]

RUN

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: nick1985
RUN

I Hate running. When I run, my thighs start to heat up, and I get this burning/itching sensation in my buttocks and my lower back. I do more scratching than running.

I refuse to run, unless I drop 30 lbs.

 

[Kenazo]

get one of those cool electrical stimulation things..

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: nick1985
RUN

Not everyone is able to run. The only way I can run is if I'm being chased and that's because the adrenaline blocks the pain in my knees (think repeated abuse from several icepicks type pain).

 

[astralnaut]

Originally posted by: conjur
Get a membership at the Y and go swimming...go jogging.

I'd get an exercise bike.

Same here, plus for me, and the Y being 28/month and being 1 block from my house, it's a deal.

 

[astralnaut]

Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
Seems like most exercise equipment ends up sitting in some dusty basement corner. You can run for free, plus it's less monotonous than any stationary bike/machine.

Good thing about a stationary bike, you can read, watch tv, maybe even surf the web while cycling (never tried that one though).

 

[jsbush]

Tredmill.

I hardly get a cardio work out on a excersice bike, compared to a tread mill.

 

[LordMorpheus]

get a real bike: very few things are more enjoyable than an extended trail ride . .

Right outside we have the Katy Trail, an old railroad covered in limestone, nearly level (haybe a half-degree or less slope), smooth, and through missouri wine country (not that missouri is known for its wine, but the area is beutiful.).

On a nice fall or spring day, nothing beats doing 20 miles or so on it.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Neither. Elliptical trainer works like both, only better.

Agreed.

I'm sure the stepper would use more cal./min., but you wouldn't get as sustained of an arobic workout as an ellipical. Plus, steppers are much harder on the joints.

I have a NordicTrak ski machine.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Originally posted by: astralnaut

Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
Seems like most exercise equipment ends up sitting in some dusty basement corner. You can run for free, plus it's less monotonous than any stationary bike/machine.

Good thing about a stationary bike, you can read, watch tv, maybe even surf the web while cycling (never tried that one though).

I used to ski on a NordicTrack basically every day. Watching TV gets old. And if you can read a book while exercising, you aren't exercising hard enough (if you can surf the web you might as well forget it, you are not getting a workout). I find actually running (especially at night) is much more enjoyable because it isn't so static. You actually get the impression that you are accomplishing something and going somewhere. It's largely a matter of personal preference though.

 

[Amorphus]

this