Home exercise equipment...anything you really like?
 

Seems like there are a lot of pieces of home exercise equipment for sale out there. Just wondering what folks find most effective to get a workout that will maintain and promote muscle (not muscle-building), balance, strength and flexibility for the "over 60 crowd". I'm not looking for aerobic stuff (like an exercise bicycle, elliptical or treadmill).

I've heard of using Total Gym, Body Blade, light hand-held weights, Body Gym (Marie Osmond/QVC), etc. Anyone have any recommendations?

I know it also requires using the device and consistency, but I just wanted anyone's experiences with any of the above items.

Thanks for your help! I don't want to buff up...just want to maintain flexibility, build some muscle tone and not injure myself in the meantime.

I have to tell you about 4 years ago, I purchased those walking sticks that you use when walking to increase your movement and open up your "chest".... I loved them until the day I somehow tried to do 2 things at the same time and one of the sticks ended up in front of me as I was walking and before I knew it...I was flat on the ground, face down, glasses knocked off, glass out of the glasses and hands roughed up! I also ended up tearing my rotator cuff, surgery, etc. I'm not a klutz, but I need something safe! ha! Thanks!

For balance work, I really like the Wii. Several years ago I started tripping occasionally when out walking with my husband, and I noticed my ability to recover balance was very poor. Spending about 20 minutes per day on the Wii improved my balance a *lot* over a period of about 6 months. Forgot about it for over a year and am just now starting back on it. My balance is still better than when I started, but have noticed some degradation lately and my Wii scores prove it. It will take me awhile to get back to where I was, but well worth it.

Not sure there is any one thing that will work on muscles, balance, strength and flexibility all-in-one.

I've tried several DVDs for flexibility, etc. but find with all of them that I get too bored. The Wii games keep me more interested.

Yoga, Pilates, some hand weights and WALKING! Women with lots of testosterone will "look" more muscular. You should be fine. I wanted more toned looking arms when I was more active in weight training but, alas, not to be. Gym equipment tends to be space takers and clothes hanging apparatus in my house. Save your bucks. Just get moving.

sandy

I agree with Sandygirl.... equipment and motivation and regularity are three very different things...walking, yoga and I would add push-ups and sit-ups... and it does not collect dust or clothes and save you money you can spend somewhere else. I am sure you tube has something on yoga...

There are apps for yoga and pilates too.
Sandy

I've have the Total Gym for many years and love it. You use your body weight to do your exercise so it's adjusted to your strength. I am more toned than I ever was when I was young, my legs and arms are stronger and I can keep my tummy in reasonable shape. My husband starting using it about a year ago and likes that it has helped his arm strength.
Total Gym 1400 Deluxe Home Fitness Exercise Machine Equipment with Workout DVD is on Amazon for around $250 and is a step up from mine.

i too have had the total gym for many years. the newer ones are a lot less expensive and have more variety of uses. but all, even my old one can be used for pilates or total body workout. it's not used for holding clothes, it's my main source of muscle tone/strength maintenance over winter months. i have been arthritic in back & major joints since a teen. push-ups & similar high stress exercises are not possible w/o pain, but the way the total gym works i can do most everything except lateral twists w/o residual pain. my son had the wii for a while, i loved the boxing program! and did well, he was quite surprised :D! the wii is excellent for balance training like skip rope etc. walking is great if you have someplace you can walk ..someplace safe, someplace where low traffic volume so you're not hyperventilating and breathing in toxic car exhaust fumes.

basically ..just move! even if it's only to walk in place. ALL exercise routines can become boring, unless you have a partner maybe, it doesn't matter what or how you exercise, it gets boring. desire to maintain health status & remain independent is worth the boredom tho!

This past weekend we were in a Mardi Gras Parade and I thought 1/4 mile I'll just walk. Wrong, I ended up riding, couldn't keep up the pace. too much weight for these bones. walked for 15 minutes this morning and was bushed but good kind of bush. I have some 3 and 5# weights. Working few minutes at a time. My work bench is also becoming a workout bench for different exercises like squats. Need to strengthen the knees. Working on healthier meals also.

I agree with Sandygirl and helou.....save your money and space in your home. I am 72 years old. I used a kitchen chair and did "chair" yoga until I was able to do without it (most of the time). Strengthening, toning, balance, emotional well-being, stress relief....it's great - IMO. There's plenty of free you tube videos/classes online for use at home. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.

Total Gym. Easy to use, doesn't take up half a room/

I recently started using one of the Leslie Sansone walking dvds - quick and easy way to get a little extra exercise!

I bend, reach, stoop, squat, and stretch enough doing housework and taking care of two toddlers three days a week. That's enough for me. LOL I do try and walk at least 2 miles a day in the sunshine, sometimes more. I am still a fan of Jack Lalaine's workout. Only need a chair.

I use Leslie Sansone and Jessica Smith DVDs. Jessica Smith has tons of free videos on YouTube that are all free and range from beginner to advanced users and covers just about anything you want to do and length from 10 to 60 minutes. Her website is www.JessicaSmithTV.com. I just finished her 6 week Total Transformation DVD program and loved it. Leslie has lots of DVDs to chose from and I find them at my library and can keep for 3 weeks so can vary also for free.

My fitness tools are a pair of runners, a swim suit, and a dog.

I walk the dog and in the summer swim in local lakes, rivers and the ocean. I did go to the pool last week with a friend. I really do not like pool water, but it was good to do some laps and I could feel that I have lost tone in my uppers arms and shoulders from my last swim last September.

I have to bend to scoop too.

5 years ago I was given a Curves membership. I should have declined, as I knew from my work at a physiotherapy clinic many women were getting injured there. Yup, I hurt my hip and could not even walk any distance for months.

My former mother in law who is house bound by choice has a elliptical machine. It is huge, but she loves it. She also have 2 and 5 pound free weights that she uses. She will be 81 next month.

As others have said, moving, walking etc. is a great way to get started. I walk my dog 3x/day, and on weekends we try to hit local trails. I can say I wouldn't do near the amount of walking if I didn't have a dog. (I used to volunteer walking dogs at a local shelter...this helped the dogs at the shelter, and helped me to get out..lost weight while doing this). At home I have hand-weights and will use those to try to keep the arms in shape...will do leg lifts just sitting in front of the tv...In the summer I try to bike and do more walking. Watching the Ninja obstacle course, tv program helps get me motivated :)

A friend of mine has significant osteoporosis issues. She got lots of free DVDs and exercise instructions from national osteoporosis foundation. Essentially lots of strenght training, yoga, etc. Low cost, low impact, good return. Might be worth checking out. I tend to do some really intense, high impact, short term 'work outs'...lots of very heavy lifting and major resistense work but very sporadic. Not an ideal plan but it is my life.

I am prone to vertigo, so I go to a water yoga class. I love the water so this is ideal for me.
i also keep free weights, and a small foam pad under the couch. When I want to watch tv I stand and do some basic exercise with the weights, or just stretches, seated on the pad.

yoga, the best for staying flexible. I am 65 and have been doing it for 2 years. many in the class or 70s and much more flexible than most their ages! It is a good workout, if you have u tube check out Divine yoga and try a class or 2, its' free and you can do it at home

I use some free weights and I love the big stability ball. It has worked wonders for my balance and core strength. I also try to stretch everyday and I have a great yoga app on my iPad.

Way too many "devises" end up as a clothes holder. Get a DVD of what you like to do, dance, yoga, etc or just plain walk!!

I don't do any exercise standing up, for fear of falling and breaking something else. My bone number is one tick away from disaster they say. So I bought the Navy Seal roller with the knee pads. I'm already on the floor when I do it. I also have dumb-bells that are only 5 pounds and I sit in the recliner when I handle those.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and hints. I guess the main thing is to get moving and stay moving. Whatever it takes and whatever works. You've inspired me with your stories and your ideas..........As soon as I log off, I'm going to use some of the equipment I have......like they say....."just do it"! Thanks!

I love these dvds. I have a bunch of her walking workouts, she also does some yoga and strength training. I love working out at home.

We recently got a recumbent stationary bike from Amazon. It is nice being able to lean back in the seat.