Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I am interested in purchasing either a recumbent bike or elliptical. My husband and I currently have a treadmill. He needs to lose a lot of weight (like 50 pounds,most of his weight is in his belly) and while I am not overweight am pretty lazy about exercising. Which machine do you think would be more helpful for us? I have a brother who lost weight with a recumbent bike, but it seems like you wouldn't get as good a workout sitting down. I've heard from my nieces that the elliptical is good,but can be very tough if you're not used to exercising. Opinions,please! Karen

I've used both, and you can definitely work up a sweat on a recumbent bike if you set the resistance high enough! When I first decided to start exercising, I started out on an elliptical, and I didn't think it was really tough, even with my bad knees.

It might be good to just go to a sports store and try out a few different machines because they can definitely vary in terms of comfort. I know it isn't completely helpful, but the best machine is the one you'll enjoy using!

I guess I prefer the elliptical because you can get your arms and legs involved, so you can operate the machine with just your arms, just your legs, or both.

If you're torn on it, a lot of gyms offer a free trial period and you guys could test out both machines that way. I'd choose elliptical, though, just out of personal preference. If you're used to the treadmill, you'd probably like it. It's like really light impact running. They often come with the upper arm bars and that adds to calorie burning, whereas all the recumbent bikes in my gym were strictly leg workouts, but I know they make some with arm bars. I guess I just don't like to workout sitting down.

This. I agree that it's probably a good idea to go to a sports store and try a few different machines out. The eliptical will take some getting used to, compared to bike, but it is probably a better workout.

Thanks! I think we will go to the store and check them out. Does anyone know how much a good quality elliptical costs? I'm seeing them online for a few hundred dollars to over a thousand!

Yeah, I love ellipticals. I always feel weird when I'm using a stationary bike and I'm not using my arms, I feel like they need to be doing something.

A good one would probably be at least $800 new. The cheaper ones look really flimsy. You should try craigslist though because there's usually a lot of barely used ones in good condition.

I don't think you have to spend that much. My cousin has a really great one that she uses frequently that she got from Wal-Mart 2 years ago for about $250. It's smaller than the ones in a gym, but using it feels the same and it has the same good quality display.

I bought an 'orbitrek' ellipical from thane and have it had it for years. I use it regularaly every week and have not have a problem. Its an awesome piece of equipment and only cost me about $350

Coming from someone is overweight and a mostly non-exerciser (I'm just lazy), when I belonged to a gym I really loved the recumbent. Even if I didn't feel like exercising I could convince myself to sit my behind on a recumbent. Also, I'm not one of those people that can read on a treadmill or elliptical, buy on a recumbent I could. So I really loved that I could sit, ride, and read all while getting a decent workout for someone who doesn't work out. Now all that being said, I did own an elliptical and I liked it, but, for me, even though it was a great work out, it wasn't as simple/easy for me as using a treadmill or recumbent.

I love elliptical machines that have programs for weight loss, cardio, intervels. The one I use at my gym really works me out when I put it on cardio.

I'm all about the elliptical. In 2010, I lost 50 lbs and part of that was cardio on an elliptical 3 x week (along with sugar freedom). I started just doing 15 mins a day because that was all I could do without passing out. Eventually I worked my way up to 1 hour/day 3 times a week. The elliptical is a great workout. It doesn't neglect your arms, either. Just make sure you get one with bars to hold on to. Also get one that inclines, not the flat ones. It's great to adjust as your fitness level changes.

My mom has an orbitrek and I've used it a couple of times and it's really good. I feel like running outside or on a treadmill gives me a more intense workout because I can go faster, but ellipticals are really good at making you break a sweat :) The model my mother has looks like this one:



She bought it when I was in high school, so it's been working for at least the last 7 years. In my opinion, if you want to lose weight, an elliptical is better than a bike because more of your body is involved.

eta: just noticed the original post is from almost a month ago! Did you end up buying an elliptical?

Actually,we haven't bought either yet! I want it mainly for my husband(though I could use some more exercise as well) but its' as if it doesn't concern him that he's around 5o pounds overweight,has high blood pressure and hight cholesterol. We looked at some last week and he pretty much just stood there showing no interest while I checked them out. I'm going to get a friend to look at them with me cause I need someone else's opinion to help me decide. Where can the "orbitrek" ones be found? The price is centainly right!