Exercise Bicycle for Couch Potato

[dave1949]

Having some health issues that lead to a stress test. No heart problems, but BP skyrockets. Cardiologist basically said I've become an out of shape couch potato. I think I'm a victim of my own success in getting my tractor to do all the heavy work. - It's tractor related. Moving the joystick is apparently not an aerobic exercise.

I have looked at exercise bikes and so far have decided on the recumbent style from Nordic Trac.

Thoughts, experiences to share?
Thanks, Dave.

 

[MarkV]

Dave you live in the country, get back on the tractor and cut yourself some trails to walk on. If you keep that up all summer invest in a machine for winter. May also want to check E-bay for a machine. So many of them get bought, used for a couple of months, sit for a year and then get sold. Just my opinion.

MarkV

 

[beersngars]

So many of them get bought, used for a couple of months, sit for a year and then get sold. Just my opinion.

MarkV

Yea... I will sell you the one sitting in my corner.

 

[Chuck52]

I got a cheap Gold's Gym elliptical from WalMart that I use in the winter. I probably need to use it the whole year, but even those outdoor tasks that aren't all that much exercise, like mowing, do require time and some energy. I'd like to get a bike, too, so I could swap off between the two exercises. I've got a really nice trail nearby that I could use a real bike on, if my son hadn't decided he liked my bike. Could you do some real biking safely? Lots of folks in spandex go up and down the road I live on, but they are taking their lives in their hands IMO. The trail is about all I'll do anymore. You can get a pretty good bike for around $300, and I bet a Nordic Trac would cost more....and it won't even come with a generator to charge your batteries while you pump away.

Chuck

 

[Egon]

Aw, just go walking. Get a nice dog and go for walks over hill and dale!

I got the same problem and can't force myself to use a machine.

Also got three bikes in the basement but don't like the roads around here for riding on.

 

[bstrom]

Yeah, don't waste your money on an exercise machine. They are extremely boring and almost no one keeps it up at home. If you go that route go to a gym so you can socialize while you are doing it or else find someone to walk fast with.

 

[dave1949]

You guys think like me. I fear it will end up in the corner too unless I am VERY dedicated to the process. I think that's where most of them end up.

I do go walking with our dog on our trails, we have lots. I guess I got into the habit of ambling instead of really putting effort into it. Before the stress test I was worried about my heart, as it turns out the odd feeling I was getting was my BP shooting up. I have started to push myself now. Also on some BP medication but I would like to hopefully limit that through conditioning.

Real bike riding is iffy here too, narrow roads, no berms, hills and curves. I wouldn't feel safe doing it.

Winter can keep a person inside here for several days. I snow shoe when the conditions are right.

I will have to check out the gym idea - not sure there is one nearby.
Dave.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Walking just doesn't cut it unless you speed walk. You have to get your heart rate up to max. Did they give you a limit - high end - on your heart rate/pulse? If not I would request some numbers. This gives you a safe range to work in. Also stretch after you get warmed up a bit. Although stretching is good before it can tear some muscles... Also, you want to monitor your cool down... it is just as important... don't go from 0 to 60 and back to 0!

I need to start phase 2 of my health regime. My Dr still wants to be around 160 lbs. I lost 45 lbs am presently at 190.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

lloyd

 

[bstrom]

If you live in a hilly area like I do - walking is a good work-out. You don't have to kill yourself - just get your heart going and sweat a little. All this heart rate monitoring is nuts - IMHO. Just get out there and get some exercise everyday. I x-country ski in the winter.

 

[dave1949]

Walking just doesn't cut it unless you speed walk. You have to get your heart rate up to max. Did they give you a limit - high end - on your heart rate/pulse? If not I would request some numbers. This gives you a safe range to work in. Also stretch after you get warmed up a bit. Although stretching is good before it can tear some muscles... Also, you want to monitor your cool down... it is just as important... don't go from 0 to 60 and back to 0!

I need to start phase 2 of my health regime. My Dr still wants to be around 160 lbs. I lost 45 lbs am presently at 190.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

lloyd

I does help. Thanks Lloyd. The heart rate target is a good question to ask when I go back to the Doc in a couple weeks. I thought an exercise bike would have the advantage that you can get your heart rate to a known level and maintain that pace since most have monitors. I need to lose some weight too. I'm 5'-9" and weigh 202 currently, would like to get back to 175-180.

Since retiring, I started playing around with cooking, mostly during Winter - well that doesn't help I don't see much Alfredo sauce (butter, heavy cream, parmesan cheese & garlic) in my future.

I did a lot of walking when we lived in Germany, it's a national pastime there of sorts. It was nothing to go on 8-10 miles walks there across hilly land. It took me a couple years to get really conditioned to do that. But that was 16 years ago, too much desk and seat time since then I guess. And seriously, a tractor with FEL and backhoe makes your life so physically easy, it's easy to vegetate. I am busy a lot but, not much of it is the type of activity that gets the heart going.
Dave.