What is your favorite piece of exercise equipment?

[wildeyed]

I'm gonna go with my ipod. It make those tedious gym workouts go so much faster! After that, I like the stability ball. Versatile and works so many muscles at once. Also, I use my yoga mat constantly.

Anyone else have a 'must-have' piece of equipment?

[flvegan]

1. Accessory: MP3 player, Apparatus: Dual pulley machine

Like this one:



The versatility to do multiple arm and chest exercises, constant tension, etc. A must have.

on edit: fixing link

[Longhorn]

2. I'd have to go with my home gym, as far as equipment.

Anytime I can exercise while sitting down, it has to be a good thing! :D

And because I get bored so easily, I must be entertained, preferably by my TV hooked up to both VCR and DVD player in case there's nothing interesting on the 100 channels of cable TV. It's not like I'm hard to please or anything! ;)

[wildeyed]

3. So actually, Tivo is probably your favorite

exercise equipment ;)

[Longhorn]

4. You are so correct!

Unfortunately, my DVR is downstairs so I've been recording shows to transfer to videotape.

It's really pretty sad that I think everything has to be "just right" in order to get in there and exercise. It's something I'm trying to work on because it is SO EASY for me to find an excuse not to do it, yet I really enjoy it once I get started and the feeling of pride and accomplishment when I'm done is great!

[wildeyed]

5. Getting started is always the hardest part.

Sometimes a change in routine is the best motivator for me. I'll go through a period thinking, this is the prefect routine. And then one day it isn't and I start to lose steam. So I change up and do other things until I get it right again. I am in a 'right' phase at the moment. But it never lasts :(

[Poiuyt]

6. Concept 2 rowing machine

I've been a runner all my life, and I'd run outside in all kinds of weather (which says something in Wisconsin). Whenever I would get injured, I would dread having to do some kind of alternate indoor cardio exercise. One day, I tried out a friend's Concept 2 and liked the feel. I'd been struggling more and more with injuries as I age so I thought I'd pick up a used one on eBay. Well, now I'm hooked. I get the same kind of runner's high that I got when I was able to run hard and long. And it gives me a total body workout.

I think the aspect of the Concept 2 that I like the best is that the monitor is accurate enough to compare times with outdoor crew. In fact, it has spawned a whole new sport. People will gather for indoor regattas or you can hook your monitor up to the internet and race people online. I've only been rowing for a few months so I'm not fast enough to be competitive. But I'm improving all the time and that keeps me motivated.

I still do a little weight training, and I hope to start running again in the spring, but my workouts are now centered around rowing.

[wildeyed]

8. Online regattas, lol!

I love it!

After loathing cardio all my life, I believe I am finally becoming addicted in my old age. This past election turned me so bitter and angry, the only thing I wanted to do for a long time after was put on my earphones and run. I am a little less angry now, but the running is becoming addicting. We will see if I keep it up.

I would love to learn to scull. I read a great novel about it once. I will think on it and see if I can remember the title. I will also check today and see if we have the Concept 2 at my gym.

[Left Is Write]

7. My only "must haves" for equipment are my dumbbells and my bench.

I need no equipment (other than a DVD player and my DVDs) to get good cardio, and my bench and dumbbells do nicely for my strength training.

When I hit the gym, I prefer the elliptical and the stepmills for cardio, and I usually still use free weights for strength. I do use the machines sometimes too.

[midnight armadillo]

9. A barbell with bumper plates.

Combine that with a lifting platform and a pair of lifting shoes, and I'm all set. A power rack is nice too :-)

Too bad gyms never have that stuff...just crappy barbells and a corner where people walk within inches of you when you're in mid-squat. Why? Why do they do this?!?

[H3Dakota]

10. Hmmm

I love my MP3 player, too. But my fave exercise equipment? Tough one between the treadmill, my kicking bag & the weight rack. :)

[MediumBrownDog]

11. My step pedometer...

If I can get 10,000 - 15,000 steps in a day, I don't have to worry much about 'working out' per se.

[Longhorn]

12. I liked mine, too,

but I lost it when it fell off somewhere! I need to get another one! It really is encouraging to move around more when the activity is being measured like that!

[wildeyed]

13. That would be fun to have.

I could figure out how many miles a day I log chasing little ones.

[CrispyQ]

14. My Soloflex Rockit.

Makes squats safe, but not easy! My knees have gotten so much better since doing squats regularly.

Second place: big screen TV for home exercise videos.

[mark414]

15. my roommate has a bowflex

and i gotta say that it makes workouts go by like that, and it's a lot of fun

whereas with a standard free weight bench i'd strain to go 90 minutes, with this bowflex i can go 3 hours and not even realize it

it really works too

[wildeyed]

16. I am always secretly interested in those when I see them on

the infomercials. But at heart I am a low tech kind of girl. I do push ups, dips and pull ups plus a few easy things with free weights and that seems to work. But if a knew someone with a machine, I would give it a try!

[crispini]

17. Wow, really?

They seem cool... I'm just afeard that I will (as is par for the course for me) get it and not use it.