thank you!! i’m so much happier. I never realized how hard it was on me (both physically AND mentally) to be overweight.
I bought this bike here.
my quick and honest review - it was easy to assemble, the seat is super comfy, and it’s quiet. i’m a little too short for it, so I had to put some pedal extenders on (I was doing a number on my knees by hyperextending them every rotation). also, the console died after like a week. they sent me a replacement one for free within a couple days but I never installed it as I track the workouts on my apple watch. oh, also, it’s light, folds up tiny, and is really easy to move around (and hide!)
Here you go. Honestly its great bike
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with 300 lbs Weight Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_fWCRCb20QDEYB
this is the one I use. I LOVE it. easy to assemble, came in two days on amazon, and the seat is super comfy. the console on mine died quickly and although I got a replacement (I switched out batteries three times in the first week so I think mine was defective) I never ended up putting the new one on. I use my apple watch to track my calories because I think it’s more accurate anyways!
Semi related to the Expanded Universe: I think the bike Noelle has is on sale on Amazon. Kindaaa want to buy it because I have been a couch potato during Quarantine and I live in the Northeast where being outside is going to be not fun soon. Anyone have one? I wish I had Peleton money tbh
This is the one I have. It’s not super fancy or anything, but it takes up very little space and it does the job really well.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse, 31.0' L x 19.0' W x 46.0' H (1200) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_1WaUFb1KTC65T
I have an elliptical that I got through my friend's amazon prime account for $100.00 not including taxes and honestly I'm very happy with it. It doesn't require a plug in or battery and you can adjust the resistance which is controlled by a belt/fan inside as you peddle. It's quiet as well, easy to move, and doesn't require much space.
EDIT: Format
I bought an stationary exercise bike for 150. Its perfect, I believe biking is better for my knees, who knows.
I got it on amazon.
I used it a lot, don't use it anymore. Its too boring for me to sit in a room and bike or run. I now go on walks, quick ones, with uphill parts. That's way better.
But yeah there's bikes for like 150 on Amazon. I picked a bike over a treadmill also because the apartment had a low ceiling.
EDIT: It was cheaper than 150. Here it is:
Would you mind explaining the difference? It might help some people who are trying to decide. For me, running was just too huge of a psychological barrier. It's definitely all about finding what works for you. I've even done a half marathon before... but I'm in a much different place in my life right now.
Here's the bike I have, we got it from amazon as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU?ref_=Oct_CABSellerC_3407781_0
This is going to be very unoriginal advice, but I would really suggest that you start exercising again, in any way you feel up for. What I did was order an exercise bike (this one) and I use it whenever I feel restless or irritable and it helps me tremendously, even if I just use it for 5-10 minutes.
Best of luck to you.
We have this one and it’s $160 (I think it was cheaper when we bought it but I’m not 100% sure). It gets the job done but I don’t love it. The resistance settings are intervals of 10 so there’s no granularity, and if you need to do a jog it’s not super conducive for that (for example, the knob gives me tiny bruises on my thighs if I’m not careful when I stand and jog). But we’ve had it 3 years now I think and it’s only just started to squeak a little and it’s slightly uneven but that could be our floor lol.
Amazon's Choice
$76 OFF
NOW: $173.52
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse
https://www.amazon.ca/Exerpeutic-1200-Folding-Magnetic-Upright/dp/B007595TKU?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&linkCode=sl1&tag=lilymcalli0ba-20&linkId=9ac7f06d3b5f8b40f71f0f1dde6ce455&language=en\_CA&ref\_=as\_li\_ss\_tl
I bought this one. I like it, but it does give me a bit of low back pain cause I'm on the taller side.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse, 31.0' L x 19.0' W x 46.0' H (1200) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Z145SMSQF8QH854WM4TJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I have no clue why I said treadmill - it's actually a folding exercise bike. Brain fart.
If you're interested, this is the bike: https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Exercise/dp/B007595TKU
I like it a lot given how inexpensive it is and how little space it takes up when folded. I'm a tall guy and my partner is super short, and it can be adjusted to work for both of our heights.
Depending upon your state or gym you may be able to ask to suspend your membership at no cost. That can save you some amount that you can spend on a pair of dumbbells.
Then, for cardio, you can go running outside or ride a bike. Amazon also sells some relatively inexpensive cardio equipment (not the highest quality, but you get what you pay for.) I used this $138 stationary bike while avoiding the gym.
I was already a runner, so running outside was a part of my routine, but I got some 10lb dumbbells that I shared with my wife and just dramatically increased my number of reps. Doing 150 bicep curls eventually started bothering my elbows, so if you can get heavier weights, I highly recommend doing that.
If you have the space and money, then Amazon sells these foldable exercise bikes for like $120-200. Mine has been a lifesaver for me so far this winter.
Don't forget to also start working in resistance/weightlifting as well. You don't want to lose muscle while you lose weight.
I bought a stationary bike back in March right after my gym closed. We are getting near-daily use out of it. But always check with your doctor first to see what level of physical activity is safe for you and baby.
i got this guy a few months ago and it’s been great. definitely overestimates the calories burned, but the resistance goes pretty high and it was super easy to assemble
Goddamn, congrats!!
I have a workout recommendation: consider pickup up a cheap exercise bike (I got the Excerpeutic 1200 for under $200 CAD).
What I do is this: either early in the morning or late at night, I'll spin on my bike for several hours while either watching Netflix, playing a video game or just listening to music/podcasts. I always spin on either 1 or 2 resistance (the lowest/easiest) and lean against the wall behind me, so it barely feels like I'm "working out". Once, I spent nearly 6 hours doing this and have lost nearly 3,000 calories -- in a single night. I barely feel like I'm working out and I'm burning hella calories while being distracted by whatever is on the TV.
My $149 stationary bike was a sound investment. I'm not even a gym rat, but I smartly parked the thing in front of the TV and pedal when I watch sports. Having a thing to watch and focus on has been key to getting me to stay on the bike.
And to think, my habit used to be going to the British pub to watch footie matches over pints. The stationary bike has turned what used to be a calorie-dense habit into a calorie-burning one.
It's not the same as an elliptical, but if you want cardio equipment that is suitable for a small apartment, I have this upright bike in my apartment that I bought off some guy on Kijiji for $100. I bought it when I was living in a 400 sq ft. studio when I first moved to Canada and couldn't afford a gym membership and I didn't have room for a treadmill. It's held up really well over the years and I have been super grateful to have it after the gyms shut down this year.
I bought a cheap folding stationary bike off Amazon a while ago and I only use it for intervals after weights when I'm not feeling running. It is way better than what I thought it would be. I thought it would have poor resistance, cheaply made but it will kick my ass on the higher setting and it's quiet as a whisper. The downsides are that it does not replicate the position of a road bike at all. It is like doing intervals on a "mommy bike," sitting upright with a big fat seat, legs sort of pushed out more in front. I'd imagine a proper spin bike is more akin to a road bike in position so no favors there in regards to cadence. However, I can jump on that stationary after weights with no special gear, kit or clipless shoes and just rip high/low resistance for 30ish minutes.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hI2xAbJQCFB8J
This one! I do think it was cheaper when we bought it but that was pre pandemic and everyone buying exercise equipment. It’s a great little bike - cons are that it’s not the most comfortable if you jog on it, and the resistance is intervals of 10 and not anything in between.
Hey! I live in a tiny New York apartment and also cannot afford the peloton, but have this bike. It’s pretty no frills, but it tracks distance, your pulse, calories (who knows how accurate that is though) and speed. It has a wheel to increase the resistance too. I do it while watching tv but you could easily prop it in front of a tv or computer with the free peloton app for your own bobo cycling class experience.
I ended up purchasing this one here from amazon:
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5VBuFb8B9Y6D0
Absolutely no complaints at all. I normally do cardio 1hr a day. Works great, and have put almost 1,000 miles on it so far.
We have a $150 exercise bike I bought on Amazon a few years ago and have been doing Physique 57's on demand program because I belong to their physical studio when it is open. Highly recommend the bike, it's held up well and I use it almost daily.
I’ve been depressed for over a year and stopped working out since then. Maybe 3 gym sessions in the past year and a half. I used to be very consistent for years doing CycleBar and orange theory but it got too expensive. I’ve always thought about getting an elliptical or treadmill but honestly thought I probably wouldn’t use it. My friend told me she just got an exercise bike on Amazon for around $150. I decided to give it a chance and seriously it has been a godsend. The other day I spent 2 hours on it just watching tv and scrolling through reddit. I feel like it’s really helping with lifting my depression also. Just thought I’d suggest it for you since it’s been a miracle worker for me. :)
I currently use a shitty $100 stationary bike for my cardio but I'm thinking about upgrading. I don't mind second hand so I'll shop FB but does anyone have recommendations for something around the $500 range. Biggest NEED is that it has to either be compact or be compactable so I can store it in my living room out of the way when not in use. I want something that I can reasonably do 30mins of LISS on; the current bike is not the most sustainable at 130HR+ for 30min as my grundel takes a beating and it's either super easy so I have to pedal fast as shit or hard to the point my quads are locking up in just a few minutes.
Thoughts? What do you meatheads use?
no foam mat, and yea its been a beast! the resistance is magnetic so there is no friction and its whisper quiet. you can easily hear people whisper in movies you are watching.
looks like its 150 now, i might have got it around xmas last yr for an even bigger discount, but its WELL worth 150, and its prime eligible.
dude try it, its an absolute game changer. I just set the bike up in front of the TV and hold the controller while i pedal. when you get into a game/movie/watching sports/etc. you forget you are even biking. Its to the point where i kinda feel uncomfortable sitting on the couch for extended periods and would rather be sitting on the bike. you can go as fast or slow as you want, anything is better than sitting on the couch, and over time you will find it easier and easier and you will naturally just want to go faster and faster.
Its like a cheat code for life, more games, more movies, feels better than sitting still, 0 guilt, MONUMENTAL health benefits, occupy's you which virtually eliminates the urge to snack while watching media, combines exercise with leisure which doubles the amount of your time allotment for both categories. youve somehow broken the laws of relativity and 'created' time from nothing...
I have this bike, magnetic resistence so its whisper quiet, would not disturb anyone in the same room at all: https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Pulse/dp/B007595TKU
i just fold it up and roll it into the closet while im not using it.
Thank you! Here is the link to the bike https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Pulse/dp/B007595TKU. It is a great bike, but it does make an annoying little clanking noise when the tension is set to about four or more. Regardless, it is definitely worth the price.
I own this guy and am happy with it. Unfortunately, it isn't like an airdyne where you use your arms to help propel as well. I've mitigated this by wrapping a light band around it and just pulling on that as I cycle.
Hopped in here to reccomend http://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Pulse/dp/B007595TKU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 as a small exersize unit.
The bike folds up great, has good adjustability, is cheap, and takes up little space surprisingly.
Edit: has been durable for the three months so far ive owned. Use on off gym days.
I am not sure if this is truly BIFL, but a friend of mine bought this stationary bike from Amazon a couple of years ago. He sets it up in front of his TV and rides for 30 minutes to an hour at least 5 days a week. He has put the equivalent of thousands of miles on it and he says it still works great. It's relatively no frills, but I would say it has performed well, especially for $150.
I always ride on my exercise bike for a half hour or so when I get home to stretch my legs. Super easy
You dont think Id get anything out of something like this?
Again my cardio is mainly hockey, basketball, wrestling, and running when its nice out. This is gonna be like a backup for when I cant do those other things.
Not at home so i can't post a pic but it's quite simple, i have an Exerpeutic stationary bike that i place in front of my 46" TV and i added these pieces that i got from Amazon on the top end of the sticks.
It's not optimal but it works. Ideally they would be lower and closer to me but that's the best i could do, though i could probably find a better fit if i took the time.
I think the best bike suited for this kind of situation would be the ones where you are laid back.
I actually went with one of the higher rated ones on amazon that were within my price range: Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aXBAAbBBQDH3M
I just bought this bike off Amazon and I really like it so far. Seems solid and works well! Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_whQIEGVgbgszp
I exaggerated. It got very good reviews so I felt confident buying it. Used it for months now. I love it.
https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Exercise/dp/B007595TKU
I feel you, I was deconditioned myself, though for different reasons. I really recommend physical therapy. They can give you exercises appropriate for your strength level and the exercises they give you don't require any gym equipment. I know for me having someone tell me the specific exercises to do was also helpful because then I had direction and it seemed less overwhelming.
I got a referral for physical therapy from my GP. You have to talk to them about how your activities of daily living are limited, such as having trouble showering or food prep because you have to stand for so long (that was an issue for me at least) or having trouble walking to get your mail. You can talk about pain, too. I first got my referral for pain in my wrist because my muscles were so weak that holding my phone for even five minutes hurt. Things like that.
If you're really committed to getting a home gym and either don't want to go the physical therapy route or want to do something additional, maybe start small. It's very intimidating when the whole body is your goal and you have to use lots of different settings on a machine to exercise so many different parts of your body and intimidating is the last thing you want with mental health issues. I got myself a stationary bike with a full seat, so I felt supported. I started out doing two minutes with no resistance. I went really slowly and was kind to myself. (Don't beat yourself up for missing a day!) Here's an example of one of the less expensive models https://smile.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Exercise/dp/B007595TKU/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=16F08P79EQAK3&keywords=stationary+bikes+for+home+full+seat&qid=1653986722&sprefix=stationary+bikes+for+home+full+seat%2Caps%2C138&...
Everyday life can be exercise, too. For instance, I challenged myself to eat my breakfast while standing up.
I also use focusmate ( http://www.focusmate.com ) to help me stay on track. It's a website that pairs up people who have trouble working on something without someone holding them to it. I have a 25 minute session set up for exercising every day. You shouldn't do that long at first, but you can spend five minutes exercising and the other doing something else you have trouble with. It's free and I highly recommend
Just be kind to yourself and go slow and you'll be fine. You don't have to do everything at once to be able to start your recovery
I have this one. It gets the job done, though I question the accuracy of the heart monitor and calorie counter. It folds up nicely and takes up a small footprint.
I have this one, as recommended by a few folks in the Facebook hip groups: https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Exercise/dp/B007595TKU/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=exerpeutic&qid=1624915174&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3
I still use it at 4mos PO! I did buy an additional gel seat pad to strap on because the giant wide seat on it can irritate if you're on it for a long time, I found.
Exerpeutic upright folding bike is a godsend. https://www.amazon.com/Exerpeutic-Folding-Magnetic-Upright-Exercise/dp/B007595TKU
Is not the greatest, but it’s good enough for me
Never heard of this brand, but HERE is what I got, and it has served me well.
if you are looking for a stationary bike for an apartment - I can recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007595TKU/
My wife and I relocated from downtown to our cabin in the beginning of this. We used to live walking distance to a planet fitness, but don't anymore (not that we'd be going right now...). We are in a 720 sq/foot cabin (not much room) but this bike fits behind a door in a corner when we aren't using it.
When folded, it only takes 22” L x 20” W x 55.5” H. It is nice and heavy (substantial). It does not wobble or shake at all when you are on it - feels as stable as a gym bike and the workout is as good.
For elliptical workouts we use this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VICRO8 - it works well (this product lasts about 1 to 1.5 years before something invariably gives out it seems, we use it almost daily). It gives a very decent cardio workout, low impact - really low if you use it sitting down (I use it free standing myself).
Both of these fit out of the way nicely when we are not using them and neither broke the bank too much. My wife (she is 5'3", reviews have said people shorter than her may have a problem reaching the pedals - but it works great at the lowest adjustment level for her) loves the bike, I prefer the elliptical and we just roll them out when needed (bike is very easy to move on little rollers it has) and hide them away when we are done.
I know that doesn't solve your gym problem, but it could give you the bike exercise you need in a very small footprint.
Its buried deep in her liketoknowit -Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse
I too was influenced by her but I bought the XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike and I really like it! Its also slightly cheaper.
This is good, cheap and folds. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I bought this one. It’s been good to me so far. Super high reviews (and a ton of reviews, which is arguably more important), and not too expensive
I got this one a while ago. It's not fancy but it does what I need (Bike)[https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OxteFbZBCPV71]
A cheap Folding one from Amazon.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with Pulse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SefsEbJBB9CES
Got this one in January and I love it. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007595TKU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hahaha! Stationary bike. /u/gnuckols said do it, so I do it.
Depressing as fuck..... but seriously Upright bike I guess