Living in the northern part of the country, the weather extremes can be a challenge.
I am often trapped inside because of rain, snow and temperatures down to twenty below zero.
Whenever possible, I prefer to workout outside. I like to breathe the fresh air, feel the sunshine and have plenty of space. I don’t like to worry about causing damage when I exercise inside. Because of the nasty weather conditions for the majority of the year, I’ve needed to make room for a home gym. I’ve slowly invested in more equipment. Workout equipment and machines are extremely expensive. I’ve managed to buy a yoga mat, selection of free weights, weight bench, resistance bands, jump rope and some kettlebells. When I finally saved up to purchase a larger fitness machine, I wasn’t sure what to buy. I wanted something that wouldn’t take up a tremendous amount of room but would offer a lot of benefits. I was hoping for a machine that would operate quietly and provide durability. I researched the different makes, models and styles of ellipticals, stationary bikes, steppers and treadmills. I liked that the ellipticals and bikes minimize impact on the knees, ankles and feet. However, they are rather bulky. While a stepper takes up less space, the workout is terribly boring. I decided on a treadmill because there are options that fold up into a very compact size. I like to run and this type of exercise is great for cardio and calorie burn. I can easily increase resistance by upping the level of incline and speed.