February - March 2003 Edition

Exercise Equipment    By Linda Rosen, Certified Medical Exercise Specialist    Winter is definitely here in our cozy town of Fair Lawn. Icy sidewalks and nasty weather make it difficult to go out for your walk. And, if you are like me, you really don’t enjoy bike riding in this weather. So, how do we get our aerobics workout? You can register for an aerobic dance class. You can join a gym and use its cardio equipment, join the “Y” or heath club and swim indoors, or workout in the comfort of your own home whenever it fits into your schedule. Want my advice….thought you did, why else would you be reading? I think having one piece of cardio equipment in your home is an excellent idea. With all the fitness classes that I lead, plus my other activities like tennis, you would think I wouldn’t need to workout at home. Well, in the winter, my stationary bike logs plenty of miles, especially with these past few cold, snowy days. There are many pieces of cardio equipment on the market, according to Gary and Chris at Bergen Home Fitness on Broadway. There are three types a buyer should consider – the treadmill, elliptical trainer, and stationary bike. Bergen Home Fitness is a “mom and pop” specialty store, a full service operation. I was there on two occasions and became educated about all three types of equipment. Gary Siok, the President of BHF, strongly encourages any potential customer to come in and get educated, and try out the equipment before you buy. I found BHF, being a locally owned and operated store, gives better service and more attention to the customers than a corporate-owned store. And, all the equipment is covered by “in home” service. The first day I went to BHF I wasn’t dressed for exercise, but Gary taught me all I needed to know about treadmills and invited me back for a trial run. Commonly, he says, a customer comes back three times before buying. Sixty-five percent of their sales on cardio equipment are in treadmills. But, before you buy, you should know how you want to use the equipment – to walk, jog, run, or a combination of all three. That, plus your body weight is used to determine which treadmill is right for you. There are so many treadmills to choose from. According to Gary, PaceMaster “is one of the highest rated treadmills. It has received more ‘Best Buy’ ratings than any other.” PaceMaster ranges from $1,500.-$2,000. depending on your body weight and usage. Vision Fitness ranges from $1,000.-1,500., and would be a good choice if all you want to do is walk. Both are motorized, and have inclines, but the various options such as heart rate monitor, etc., only raise the price slightly. At first I was surprised by the prices, but I now understand. I want a treadmill that is safe, and is a natural fit for my family’s needs. Plus, “in home” service sounds great to me. I’m a trainer, not an electrician. Sure, you’ll see used treadmills offered in want ads and garage sales, but it is very risky to buy one. You don’t know how many hours it has been used for, or the weight restriction. Would you put 300 pounds on a machine that can only handle 150? Ouch. And, what if it needs service, where do you go? On my second visit to BHF, Chris Iannotta helped me with elliptical trainers and stationary bikes. I had never been on an elliptical trainer, and enjoyed my short workout. Hey, exercise is supposed to be fun, too. “Competitors are getting better, but I feel Precor makes the best elliptical,” Chris said. Precor invented the elliptical seven years ago. “Competitors are no less expensive and sometimes more,” Chris added. The Precor elliptical mimics exactly the way the body moves. It gives you a cardio and lower body strength workout. The adjustable ramp allows for true cross training. It is a weight-bearing workout without any pounding to the joints, which differs from a treadmill. It is a better option for someone with chronic lower back pain, or any other ailment where you want to eliminate impact. The Precor “more naturally transfers weight from one foot to the other,” Chris said, as opposed to the stair master that you might have used in a gym. The “old” stair machines are the precursor to the elliptical trainer. According to Chris, you would need “too intensive a workout, too high a level of heart rate” to effectively burn fat on the stair machines. But that’s not so with the elliptical. He claims stair machines are “almost extinct.” Chris suggested that other manufacturers needed a marketing twist to set them apart from Precor so they created a “dual action” machine. This elliptical trainer works the arms and legs in unison. Precor now also has a dual action elliptical as well. Personally, I didn’t like the dual action. I saw a possibility of it hurting one’s lower back. You would have to be very conscious of your posture and position of your torso to be sure of a safe workout. Another thing to watch for is heel contact. When I tried the elliptical trainer made by Vision Fitness, which has a folding feature, I found my heel released from the pedal, which could eventually hurt my calf. My heel continually stayed in contact with the pedal during the stepping motion on the Precor. If I were to buy one, I would get the Precor, which starts at $2,300, not the Vision Fitness., This fitness trainer isn’t buying one, but they are a great workout if you want to spend the money.. Many people seem to enjoy reading a book while on a stationary bike. They say it makes the time go by faster. Both the recumbent bikes and upright bikes that I rode have a shelf where you can place your book so you can have the freedom to exercise your arms at the same time you ride. If you can also concentrate on a book, more power to you! The recumbent bike is a good choice for someone with lower back issues. It is a comfortable ride with back support and a wide seat base. Because it is so comfortable the rider must be conscious of holding in their abdominals and avoid slouching. Vision Fitness makes a dual action bike, which allows the rider to work the upper body while riding. According to my new friend Chris, dual action bikes “mechanically have more moving parts so they break more easily.” The resistance on the majority of dual action bikes is by a fan. In order to increase intensity you have to increase speed by pedaling faster. Chris says that makes these bikes less popular. Vision also makes a nice upright stationary bike with a great seat and smooth ride. Both the recumbent and upright are a quiet ride, which is different from my old stationary bike. The upright bike with a heart monitor has a suggested retail of $1,199, without the monitor it drops to roughly $1,000. A quality non-computerized recumbent bike will cost you about $600, and computerized begin at $1,000. Whichever piece of equipment you are considering, take the time to educate yourself. Try out various pieces to judge, which is most comfortable for you. If you are comfortable you will enjoy working out on the equipment. If not, it’ll become an expensive place to hang your clothes.   Send your fitness questions to: lrosenlaci@att.net See Linda Rosen's Previous Columns Great Places To Walk  (December 2002) On The Tennis Court - Part 2 (October 2002) On The Tennis Court - Part 1 (August 2002) Core Exercises (June 2002) Keep Your Belly In  (April 2002) Improving Your Posture  (February 2002)