For various reasons I need to work out in my apartment

May 30, 2007 12:15 PM

For various reasons I need to work out in my apartment…

I have no real work out experience to speak of. Someone gave me an old Gazelle Glider. Is using that worth my time? I don't have any of the videos that come with it. Other than that I don’t have anything. The main goal of this exercise is to loose weight. Primarily I want to loose weight in my torso (man boobs starting to appear, stomach, love handles, also got some double chin action starting to happen). So my question is what exercises should I do to target those areas most effectively? Is there a piece(s) of equipment I should get to help with those areas? Should I buy an aerobics or other style of work out DVD?

posted by bytewrite to Health & Fitness (22 answers total)

You didn't say why you had to work out in your apartment, but a bike would go a long way to losing weight. Ride 100 miles a week and see what happens.
posted by kcm at 12:25 PM on May 30, 2007

Seconding biking. If you can afford a rowing machine, rowing is a combined strength and endurance exercise that will burn plenty of calories, add muscle mass, and has very low impact on your joints.
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 12:33 PM on May 30, 2007

You can't "target" weight loss to just one area of your body. When you shed body fat, you will shed it from wherever it's stored on your body. Aerobic exercise, anything that gets your heart rate up and sweat flowing, will help with this goal. The key is to find activities you really enjoy and build up your fitness slowly so that you don't exhaust or injure yourself and so that you incorporate activity into a sustainable lifestyle. Do you like aerobics? Do you like using the glider? Find something you like to do, and you'll be able to look forward to working out, which will make losing weight a lot easier.
posted by decathecting at 12:35 PM on May 30, 2007

I don't know anything about Gazelle Gliders, but that looks like a really wonky machine that will target some muscle groups and neglect others completely. Unbalanced.
posted by Derive the Hamiltonian of... at 12:35 PM on May 30, 2007

The oft-mentioned Shovelglove.

Also, as others will be sure to remind you, when it comes to losing weight there's not much you can to "target" areas. In fact, until you lose weight, any muscle you put on in your chest, for example is just going to perk out your man-boobs even more. So either lose weight, or lose weight AND muscle-train, but don't just muscle-train.
posted by hermitosis at 12:36 PM on May 30, 2007

An obscure relative of mine has the Glider, or something similar enough. I tried it out for a few minuted and wasn't terribly impressed. It struck me as being just another gimmick, like the Thighmaster or the Abdominizer. You'd likely get better results taking an hour walk regularly. Biking would be even better.
posted by lekvar at 12:39 PM on May 30, 2007

Is your goal to use the Glider while watching TV/reading/other evening activities you normally do while sedentary? If so, I see no harm in using it. Even if it's not the most ideal piece of equipment for muscle targeting, anything that gets you moving and burning calories where you would normally be sitting still seems like a good idea. Plus it's free - it doesn't hurt to try. Disclaimer: IANA Gazelle Glider owner or a particularly fit person.
posted by twoporedomain at 12:46 PM on May 30, 2007

The great thing about a bike is that you can put it in front of the TV and pedal while you watch a movie or the news or Jeopardy or whatever. This works for a treadmill or other aerobic devices as well. Time just flies by and before you know it you've done an hour worth of exercise when you normally would have been lying on the couch!

The biggest hurdle to exercise is motivating yourself to put the hours in. The more you dislike it, the easier it will be to find excuses to avoid it. Make it fun and very easy to do and you will have much more success. So, choose something you can see yourself enjoying.
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:51 PM on May 30, 2007

P.S. The Shovelglove looks damned awesome. First time I've seen it. Thanks hermitosis.
posted by PercussivePaul at 1:04 PM on May 30, 2007

(putting on muscle will help you lose the right kind of weight in the long run, so don't knock the weight training.)

As to your Gazelle, you can probably get some aerobic benefit from it. Couldn't hurt.
posted by konolia at 1:18 PM on May 30, 2007

I bought this exercise bike (with a free shipping deal - I've seen it elsewhere for cheaper) for my apartment. It's relatively inexpensive, light-weight, study, quiet, and full-featured. It's super-easy to hop on and bike for 15-20 minutes in the morning, and it even has a heart rate monitor.

Of course, there are much simpler and more inexpensive ways to get in aerobic exercise. I've been thinking about adding Shovelglove, because it looks cool and will help develop lean muscles as well as burn calories.
posted by muddgirl at 1:24 PM on May 30, 2007

I had a Gazelle once. It's really great for plunking in front of the TV and just going at it. Since you can easily go from easy (short, slow glides) to intermediate (longer, faster glides) to advanced (close to running), and it doesn't make a whole lot of noise, you can basically tune out exercising and focus on TV. Considering your goal is weight loss, I'd highly suggest using it. I'd also recommend getting the training video, as Tony Little takes you through a bunch of different exercises you can do on the machine that you might not notice or think of yourself.

And as others have said, targeted weight loss is an incorrect myth. Targeted muscle toning, however, is not. So lose some pounds, then bring in a weight training plan if you want to tone up in certain places.
posted by Meagan at 1:45 PM on May 30, 2007

more sex!
posted by Salvatorparadise at 1:53 PM on May 30, 2007

You could also look at getting some stretch bands (one example here) and make sure you get the door attachment. Some come with DVD workouts, they're cheap (under $20), and easy to store.

I bought the heaviest resistance band I could find, and combined with the door attachment, you can get a decent work out (i.e., it's not as easy as you think it's going to be).

Even though I don't use them as often as I thought I would, it was a very cheap investment and they take up next to no space.

That combined with some type of aerobic exercise and you should be off to a good start.
posted by jerryg99 at 1:54 PM on May 30, 2007

I strongly advise against going on a weight-loss workout endeavor without professional assistance. you do not know what you are doing -you admitted to this by asking this question- and just starting like this doesn't only mean that you will waste your time but also that you run a serious risk of hurting yourself.

get a personal trainer! meet this person once per week and have them work out a plan for you to do at home daily. have them demonstrate each routine and guide you through it. a good trainer should make you get a bosu ball and encourage you to run (which is a lot more effective for weight loss than riding a bike anyway).

do not fall into the trap of being too proud to ask for a professional to guide you. this will make all the difference.

and for the record: tony little's hair is fake. his ponytail is a hairpiece. he really has short, dark brown hair.
posted by krautland at 2:08 PM on May 30, 2007

The Gazelle Glider can be similar to working out on a treadmill inasmuch as you get get your heartrate up and maintain it for 20 minutes or so. Put it in front of your TV for 20 minutes or so every night during a program you enjoy, or put on some lively music and glide away. You won't get the same calf-toning and such as you will on a treadmill that has an adjustable incline, but it will build up your cardio strength.

I've never seen the shovelglove before - thanks for posting that link!
posted by Oriole Adams at 2:21 PM on May 30, 2007

You can often find used NordicTrack machines for little or nothing. Just plunk that in front of a TV for a pretty good aerobic workout. But better yet, get outside and walk/run. Save the indoor exercise for rainy/snowy days.
posted by DarkForest at 2:46 PM on May 30, 2007

You know, the one time I ever saw a Gazelle up close was in a Sports Authority. It was broken.

Congrats on deciding to improve something you don't like about yourself! Please don't kid yourself that exercise is going to be fun. Exercise is about getting your body to look the way you want. You looked in the mirror and saw something you didn't like. Let the mirror continue to motivate you.

The single one advantage of machines like the Gazelle and stationary bikes (I've used one for about 6 years now, finally broke even on "good bike vs health club") is that you can groove along while watching TV. That's a great motivator if like many of us, you have little time but always seem to have time for your favorite show. Machines like that are fundamentally for cardio workout.

If can bring yourself to do a little more work after spending 20-25 minutes on cardio, it would be great to do some strength and flexibility training. Shovelglove will make you stronger. I personally like military workout programs because they require almost no equipment. The workout described on page two of this item (oh I wish he included instructions on how to do each one) is pretty close to what I do (October 2003 issue of "Men's Health" if you have access to back issues). Yes I'm a woman, with curves, that's why I'm back to this from Shovelglove (I was becoming a bit, uh, bulky). Dad was a fan of 5BX but by way of disclaimer Dad is no longer with us.

As for as the "best" workout, that's whatever workout you will get up off your butt and actually do 3 times a week. It sounds like you are at a point where any movement is a good thing. I have an advantage many people don't, an exercise partner who will toss me out of bed. It helps to have somebody you can work out with, or at least someone who can call you and say "Hey, you worked out yet?"

Since your current body is the result of your current habits, you might want to examine your diet while you are in this "get myself together" state of mind. Some little changes could go a long way towards your goal: substitute diet soda for regular; think of alcohol as a source of calories; reduce the amount of snack food and sweets you eat; don't have seconds; consider portion sizes before the food ever hits your plate; eat your veggies first. If you want a really sensible diet that nobody has to know you are on a diet, the Shovelglove guy is also the genius behind the No S diet.

I've written on this topic a before, if this made sense and you want more ideas, one, and two. You can do this, I'm rooting for you. Let me know if there's something I can do to help you out.
posted by ilsa at 3:59 PM on May 30, 2007

jumprope.
posted by wayward vagabond at 11:42 PM on May 30, 2007

I never had much luck with a bike trainer -- they can take up a lot of room, and you have to be really disciplined to keep your heart rate up at a good calorie-burning rate.

I had great luck with Beachbody's P90X. I poo-pooed it when my stepmother first mentioned it to me -- flashy website, glossy ads, etc. But in the end I tried it, and it's an incredible work out. It's a set of 12 DVDs, which you compliment with a set of bands or hand-weights. These are seriously butt-kicking workouts, but if you're up for the challenge, they'll give you an incredible calorie burn, and really increase muscle definition.

Better than a machine in my opinion -- much more variety, good motivation for keeping up the effort, and they take up very little space. You could also try Beachbody's Power 90, which is a little easier, to start.
posted by waxwing at 5:55 AM on May 31, 2007

if you've got a ps2/3 lying around you might wanna look into purchasing eye toy kinetic or yourself fitness dvds. it's like having a personal trainer at your beck and call. they're also more fun and interactive than some stationary machine, but that's just me...
posted by tastycracker at 7:44 AM on May 31, 2007

A spin-off from tastycracker's idea--

If you have a PS2/3 lying around - or an Xbox, Gamecube, whatevah - then get yourself to the local gamestore and get yourself a DDR (DanceDanceRevolution) pad and a game or two. For 'older' consoles the games are going extra-cheap these days, and dance pads are all of $20 bucks.

They take up a little room when you're using it, almost none when you fold it up and stow it away, and most of the DDR games I've seen actually have a work-out program that will chart your progress with how much you dance, how often, approx. how many calories you burn, etc.
posted by Adelwolf at 8:14 AM on May 31, 2007