Treadmills

[Bird]

Bird,

I'm sure I don't have to tell you this. But, I hear people all the time talk about exercise this way or that way, this time is no good, you should exercise this time of day instead. Your heart rate should be this and not that, etc, etc. My feeling, any exercise is better that none. If it doesn't kill you, it's good exercise. I equate it to a buddy I have that watches these moon charts and other hooey about fishing. He won't go because it's not a good time according to blah blah blah expert. To me, exercise is kind of like fishing, there is no bad time to do it, just do it.

You seem like a smart guy. You look a little lazy, but who am I to judge.

My opinion, exactly. And I really am lazy; just never realized before that it showed.

 

[HickoryNut]

My wife came home from a garage sale Saturday with a "Gazelle". I laugh at it and then start thinking what a great PHD stand it would make. She then tells me she wants it IN the swimming pool. Okay, thats an idea. So I pad the legs real good and plop it in the middle of our round pool. Great workout machine, she's so smart.

 

[jdbower]

My uncle once told me the secret of living a long life. You see, when we're born we only have a limited number of heartbeats and once we use them all up it's over. He makes an effort to ensure that his heart rate stays low so he doesn't use them up prematurely which means that the best thing for your heart involved a TV, a beer, and a comfy couch.

On the plus side you're not in California. Since exercise increases the respiration rate I've heard that they're imposing a carbon offset tax to treadmills.

 

[slewisma]

My uncle once told me the secret of living a long life. You see, when we're born we only have a limited number of heartbeats and once we use them all up it's over. He makes an effort to ensure that his heart rate stays low so he doesn't use them up prematurely which means that the best thing for your heart involved a TV, a beer, and a comfy couch.

On the plus side you're not in California. Since exercise increases the respiration rate I've heard that they're imposing a carbon offset tax to treadmills.

Laughin'. Who was it that wrote the old joke about exercise adding 10 years to your life but unfortunately you spend them all exercising?

Glad I put my tractor's picture instead of mine in my avatar. Next thing you know someone's going to tell me I'm lazy because no one's on my tractor and it isn't doing anything but sittin' there in the picture.

According to James Taylor's song, "The Secret of Life is enjoying the passing of time." Not sure he meant seat time but he would've if he'd had a tractor at the time.

 

[Bird]

You know I was a fan of Mark Twain and he supposedly said he'd never taken any exercise and didn't intend to take any. Said he could never see any benefit in being tired. Sounds good to me.

 

[Bird]

Bird,
Around here there are a few used exercise equipment stores. You can try out the different models there, if you have one near you.

I visited such a store today. The guy said he didn't have any used treadmills at this time, although he does get them in now and then. However, he had several "scratch & dent" new Ironman and Health Trainer treadmills that sure looked like good heavy duty stuff to me. Prices ranged from $499 to $799. Until I started this, I had no idea there were so many brands and models available. Incidentally, he also had some good lucking recumbent exercise bikes, too. And they're cheaper.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

On my best day and Bird's worst, I look (I have a black belt) lazy(er). Actually kind of proud of it. I am old, fat, balding (what's left is gray), poor, but otherwise charming.

This is the beauty of having your skills and knowledge. Walk softly and carry a big stick.

 

[ragkar]

I bought my Pacemaster treadmill after doing a lot of research in the forums that talk about fitness equipment. I found a dealer in NJ and went to see, I was impressed.
The sales/owner guy was knowledgeable and obiously exercised a bit with the sales room equipment.
After buying the unit, taking it home and setting up, I was putting the sales receipts away when the penny dropped. The dealer was 'Ferrigno Fitness Sales' so I called and asked the guy if he was related to Lou Ferrigno (the Incredible Hulk). He's my brother he said!
How about that.

 

[ragkar]

A tv set up in front of the treadmill will alleviate the boredom of exercising. You can schedule your exercise so that you watch a favorite program, or maybe the news.
Previously I bought the complete Friends dvd's, all ten years of them. They lasted quite a while and had me looking forwards to the next episode/exercise session.
Last week I bought the complete dvd set (28 dvd's with three 50 minute programs per disk) of an old favorite tv program 'All Creatures great and small' At three half hour sessions a week that ought to hold me for over a year.

 

[toy]

I visited such a store today.* The guy said he didn't have any used treadmills at this time, although he does get them in now and then.* However, he had several "scratch & dent" new Ironman and Health Trainer treadmills that sure looked like good heavy duty stuff to me.* Prices ranged from $499 to $799.* Until I started this, I had no idea there were so many brands and models available.* Incidentally, he also had some good lucking recumbent exercise bikes, too.* And they're cheaper.

Where I live we have a weekly trading paper and they often have treadmills used and for a good price. We have a sears treadmill, I beleive its a lifestyle model , we also have a stationary bicycle ,I am concerned about riding it though because it don't have rearview mirrors on the handlebars so I can see if anything is coming up behind me and if that one wheel ever gets traction whoever is using it has had it. Having a tv to watch or listen to some good music while using these types of exercize would be a big plus.* The elipticle exercize machine will get your heart racing in a hurry for a quick exercize, it will build stamini and improve mobility. We recently bought one of the total gymns ,like Chuck Norris advertises for, out of the trader considering what they cost originally we got it for nearly nothing. We haven't got to use the total gymn much yet but from what I have used it I beleive I'll like it better than the others [good stretching exercise and easy to target different muscle groups]. If I was going to make a suggestion on exercise equipment I would say go to a sears and check out their exercise equipment , we tried out the elipticle one there to see if it would give a good workout and if it would be something that we would use. Having more than one exercise machine will allow more than one to exercise at the same time if you have room for them, and that will make for a better exercise session.

 

[toy]

Well, I said I was overweight, so you're right there. And I'll even agree that I'm lazy and spend too much time on the computer. But I never heard of anyone with the ability to tell by a person's picture that the person was lazy. And I've been accused of a lot of things, but a lack of discipline has never been one of them.

Let's see . . . so far this morning, I've mowed, edged, and trimmed the yard. Then did a little tree pruning and tied a couple of bundles of brush for the garbage men to pick up. Then I hand watered a few tight areas and now came in to cool off after I got the sprinklers going front and back.

And I found it's 2,000 ft. to walk around the block where I live (long block), slightly uphill the first 500'. And I only walked around it 4 times recently, but gosh, that's boring, and besides that, it's HOT!

And what did you do after lunch, just kidding. I don't see the same thing in your picture that chimp saw could you by any chance enlarge it, lol. No what I see is a fellow tbner that sees a need in his life and he asked us for suggestions that he might improve his life. From Byrds posts I see a man that has had some sickness or injury that has caused him to have to slow down his life a bit but I hope he will get to resume full activity soon. Being incapacitated for a while will cause you to pack on the pounds, but of course bananna cream pie or chocolatepie or lemon pie will also. Well I got to go to the kitchen for a while talk to ya later.

 

[Bird]

I appreciate everyone's input. Prices for treadmills seem to just run all over the place; sometimes with little rhyme or reason. Anyway, I just bought this CardioZone Elite Plus HR T Treadmill to be delivered this afternoon. I bought it from Second Hand Sports, but they said they didn't have a used one; just new "scratch & dent" models with a full one year warranty. They also told me it's a last years model that's being discontinued. And they had it plugged in so I could try it out before buying.

Now for what I said about prices. You'll notice in the link they claim retail is $3,200, but they'll sell it to you for $2,395. Well, I paid $399 plus $32.92 sales tax plus $50 delivery fee.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Wow, looks like you did real good!. But, that is one beefy chick in the picture. She would hurt ya'.

 

[tallyho8]

I would like to do a little more exercise a day but I hate to waste my time on an exercise bike. It gets boring and I want to quit before my recommended time is up. I thought of an invention to make it easier to bare, now if someone will just make one.

They need to hook it up to a generator to make electricity to power a tv in front of the bike that shows mystery movies that last the required time of your exercise. If you stop early you miss the end of your suspense movie and it resets so you have to start over. That might keep me going till my time is up so I can find out if the butler really did it.

 

[Bird]

I don't know about the movies, but I do remember seeing on TV once where a fellow had a little generator attached to a stationary bike and a TV so that his children could only watch TV as long as one of them was peddling.

 

[Bird]

I know I'm reviving a rather old thread, but if I can keep anyone else from going through what I've been going through, maybe it'll be worth it. If you've read the earlier posts, you've seen that DocHeb recommended the exercise bike instead of the treadmill, but I wasn't sure why. I bought the treadmill and it was a good one; started out with just one mile at a time on a level surface. I was gradually increasing the distance and incline. I also found a route around my neighborhood that was 1.25 miles in distance. And the nearest shopping mall has a marked .75 mile walking trail. So, depending on weather and my mood at the time, sometimes I walked on the treadmill, occasionally in the mall, and sometimes on the asphalt street.

When I walked more than 3 miles, especially on the hot asphalt, my feet would be a bit hot and tired, but recovered overnight. However, on Sept. 6, I walked that 1.25 mile route 4 times; i.e., 5 miles. The next morning, I could hardly walk; right foot had recovered, but the left one did not. It hurt like the dickens to put any weight on it. I went to the mall and walked that track a couple of times; couldn't work out the soreness. I tried a variety of exercises, but it only got worse. Finally, on Sept. 15, I called and made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. I thought I must have a bone spur in my left heel (I remember my mother having surgery for that in the early '50s).

Now you may be familiar with Plantar Fasciitis since apparently it's quite common, but I'd never even heard of such a thing. And if you're not familiar with it, I can tell you it's quite painful and you want to avoid it, if possible. So I also learned about something else I'd never heard of; a Formfit Night Splint which I've been using for 4 months now.

Better? Yeah, a little bit. Getting well? Not by a long shot. The orthopedic doctor I saw on Sept. 22 was, shall we say, less than impressive, but I saw another one today that I'd have a lot more confidence in and while I think he gave me much better medication and exercise instructions, he also said to be patient, don't get discouraged, and expect at least another four weeks.

I was going to try to sell the treadmill on craigslist, but my youngest daughter wanted it. Her 40 year old husband, who retired last year after 20 years active duty in the Navy, also has Plantar Fasciitis, but his is in his right foot while mine is the left foot.

 

[studor]

Bird - try physiotherapy with ultrasound -- worked pretty well for me. The bill was a couple of hundred bucks but beats the heck out of feeling like someone drove a nail in your foot . I also used orthotic inserts in my boots.
Regards
Steve

 

[tglass]

Bird, I also have Plantar Fascjitis and tried about everything. Foot specialist, taping,high dollar inserts the specialist sold me, shots in the heal, sonic relief machine, night splint, etc.. Finally I was looking on the internet and found heelspurs.com. They have a powerstep insert they sell. I thought I'de bought every type and brand known to mankind but the pain. I ordered the pinnacle and got to say they didn't look like much till I put them in my boots. You might give them a try, it took alot of pain away from me.

 

[LMTC]

Bird--I was diagnosed with it in the early 80s. Unbelievable pain at times, I mean to the level of putting me down. Treated at first with a physiatrist (a specialty that I think is no more), then most effectively with a super competent podiatrist, who made orthotic inserts for me that cost me around $250 in the early 80s (2 weeks salary), but eventually continued use of them eliminated the pain. I had a 2nd pair made in the mid 90s, and have not used them for probably 5 years now. I don't walk much, but the pain just never came back. I do try to use a recumbent stationery bike as it takes the weight (which I have way too much of) off my knees, back, and feet. We have one from Sears, made by Nordic Track, and really like it.

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the additional information, everyone. I guess everyone gets told to do about the same stretching exercise but most things I've seen say to hold the stretched position for 10, 15, or 20 seconds. My doctor says to hold that stretch for 3 full minutes 3 times a day. The first doctor only looked at an x-ray; didn't even look at my foot at all and told me to get arch supports. The doctor today said I have good arches, and even the cheap sneakers I wear have a built-in arch support, so he said I don't need any kind of arch support; just a gel heel cushion. And he told me to continue wearing the formfit night splint and to take Aleve twice a day. The bottle says one pill and he told me to take 2 at a time which gets you near the prescription strength. Anyway, he told me to try that for 4 weeks steadily and then come back if it isn't better.

Studor, I've read about the ultrasound, but didn't ask the doctor about it. I've also read some pros and cons about cortisone injections.

Tglass, that powerstep insert looks good, but mentions especially if you have flat feet. My doctor says I have good arches and told me to take out the inserts I've been trying and use only a heel cushion.

LMTC, I visited one of the stores for Ideal Feet and I think they have some good orthotic inserts and would have bought them if they'd been one or two hundred dollars (I really think they should be worth about $20), but the con they tried to put on me for about $500 just wasn't going to happen. It's an interesting game they play, though. And of course, if I really thought it would cure this, I'd fork over $500 in a heartbeat.