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.

 

[dave1949]

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.

Your point is well taken. I think monitoring my heart rate and max BP on a repeatable exercise might help to be a sort of motivator. I would know if I am making progress.

True, if I go for a brisk walk over the same course and do it faster without getting as tired, I know I am making progress too. Just can't put numbers on it.
Dave.

 

[2manyrocks]

the local thift stores periodically have piles and piles of exercise equipment. People pay a fortune for this stuff new and then can't give it away.

You could get an exercise bike and hook up a 12 v. genset system with converter to power your PC while on TBN. Looking forward to seeing it in the Build it Yourself forum soon.

Got to find something that you want to do. :thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

the local thift stores periodically have piles and piles of exercise equipment. People pay a fortune for this stuff new and then can't give it away.

You could get an exercise bike and hook up a 12 v. genset system with converter to power your PC while on TBN. Looking forward to seeing it in the Build it Yourself forum soon.

Got to find something that you want to do. :thumbsup:

I don't want to do any exercises. If I did, I wouldn't need this thread Looks like I will have to do some if I want to maintain any decent level of health. If I start out being honest with myself about that, I may have a chance of sticking to it.

The Doc suggested looking a used stuff when I mentioned to her that most of the exercise equipment ends up collecting dust. Her point was that it was there to get cheaply - removing my excuses.
Dave.

 

[Big Bri]

I'm with the guys that say it will collect dust. I have a nice home gym $3k, a $600 bike, $800 tread mill. have had them for 5 years. i used them for the first 2 months and now i hang my cloths on them to dry. I joined a gym 2 years ago and i go 3 to 5 times a week.

 

[Chuck52]

I only really use my exercise equipment during the cold weather. You'd think that hard work outside during the summer would substitute, but cutting down a tree and lugging around the pieces don't get the old ticker working like 30 minutes on the elliptical. I guess splitting the wood might, but so far all the axe wants to do is bounce back in my face. Weeding doesn't get it either, unless dripping sweat form the heat and humidity equals sweating on the machines.

Chuck

 

[dave1949]

I only really use my exercise equipment during the cold weather. You'd think that hard work outside during the summer would substitute, but cutting down a tree and lugging around the pieces don't get the old ticker working like 30 minutes on the elliptical. I guess splitting the wood might, but so far all the axe wants to do is bounce back in my face. Weeding doesn't get it either, unless dripping sweat form the heat and humidity equals sweating on the machines.

Chuck

I've never had a lot of success splitting with an axe. I use an 8 lb. splitting maul. All ugly pieces go to the campfire stack. For hand splitting, elm isn't worth burning the chainsaw fuel

I think you are right. There a lots of chores a person can do that aren't really aerobic. You may exert a good bit of effort, but it is only in short bursts.
Dave.

 

[ham]

People don't like being active because they don't have natural energy which leads to poor calorie consumption.

Heres the plan...of course if you have a problem with any of these don't do them.

One baby ASA a day.
Two large "fresh" fish oil tabs a day...smell it and taste it...if it is rancid it doesn't work.

Get Steve Masley's "Ten Years Younger" and read it three times. It is mainly a cook book. Make all of it your bible...don't try, do. Its the best food in taste and health you will ever eat.

In my opinion regardless of your cholesterol you should take a max dose of your choice of statin drug (they work as an antiinflamatory of your blood vessels...not so much the cholesterol lowering).

I also think your BP should be as low as you can make it without side effects (like getting up and being dizzy for a few seconds). This adds years to your life...which shouldn't surprise the readers on this forum with their knowledge of hydraulics. Thats why ACE inhibitors or ARBs are perfect.

Do these things and health will be yours.

Yes you should eventually wind up at your BMI of 25...work on that core body strength to save you from back injury so you can enjoy that tractor!

Yes...I do this every day.

 

[RobertN]

Check freecyle.com, and the free section of Craigslist too.

the local thift stores periodically have piles and piles of exercise equipment. People pay a fortune for this stuff new and then can't give it away.

You could get an exercise bike and hook up a 12 v. genset system with converter to power your PC while on TBN. Looking forward to seeing it in the Build it Yourself forum soon.

Got to find something that you want to do. :thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

I got one of those Polar heart rate monitors for working out. It interfaces with lots of equipment(treadmill, bikes ect) at the gym. Or I can use the bracelt(looks like a watch) to monitor while I am running on the track.

Polar Electro - USA

Your point is well taken. I think monitoring my heart rate and max BP on a repeatable exercise might help to be a sort of motivator. I would know if I am making progress.

True, if I go for a brisk walk over the same course and do it faster without getting as tired, I know I am making progress too. Just can't put numbers on it.
Dave.

 

[bstrom]

I had a exercise bike with a heart rate monitor, timer, speed all that stuff. It got so boring looking at that thing that it became torture after about a month or two. And I'm somebody that has a lot of self-discipline. It you do get one, don't buy a new one - get a used one they will be happy to sell it to you cheap.

I tried listening to music, I don't watch T.V. so that didn't work for me but maybe it would help some people. I think I tried reading but that sucks too.

You might want to try swimming if you can find a pool and like to swim.