Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Step, step, step ...


We recently got one of these to replace our very old treadmill that was no longer working properly. This is the least expensive of the Bowflex TreadClimbers. I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, so I didn't want to get the more expensive model and not use it. If you click on the link, you can see them all and compare them from each other. For now, the TC1000 is all I need.

The first time I used this thing, it nearly killed me. Okay, that's a little exaggeration, but it was hard. It was nothing like the treadmill I was used to. It's like you're walking upstairs on a treadmill. Well, it's more like walking up stairs that never end. It has a totally different feel to it. I've found I can't walk nearly as long or as fast as before. I used to walk for about 40 minutes on my treadmill, but when I started the TreadClimber I could only go 15 minutes. I'm now up to 30 minutes, but still at a pretty slow pace. Like the treadmill, I can only walk while listening to my iPod. I've been listening to the same CD and that helps because I know where I'm at time-wise by what song is playing. Even so, I've found I really have to pay more attention to what I'm doing on this thing, unlike a regular treadmill where I could be more relaxed.

I was doing really good where I was walking 6 times a week and taking one day off. Then I had my surgery and had to miss 4 days. That was longer than I wanted, but the vertigo threw me off an extra day. Anyway, I'm back on it now and hope to keep it up. I was pretty lax about using my treadmill. I seemed to go in spurts of using it a lot and then going for weeks without walking.I'm determined to use it, so hopefully I can stick with it.

What, if anything, are you doing for exercise these days?

12 comments:

  1. I'm pretty lazy...I play with the kids outside, run up and down the stairs with laundry and such, will be walking the new dog, Wii bowling...I need to add some kind of exercise to my day...I do walk an awful lot on my shifts at the hospital, but that's probably not enough.

    The stair climber looks fun. I can't believe you can do it for so long! 15 minutes seems like forever!

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  2. I do water aerobics 4 days a week. If I didn't have the water I don't know what I'd do, cause I so dislike machines and land aerobics.

    Keep up the good work, Rena!

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  3. We just bought an elliptical a month ago, and I LOVE IT! I lost 5 lbs so far, and I'm feeling really toned. I'm doing 20 minutes a day, it's my getaway..I put the iPod earplugs in my ears, crank it up and enjoy every minute of it which is saying ALOT, because I hate to exercise. lol

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  4. I use the treadmill 3-4 times a week, and a Wii fitness game 2 times a week. If it's nice I'll walk in the neighborhood instead of the treadmill to mix it up!

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  5. We have a bike to ride indoors, my husband will not use it as his knees hit the handle bars. When I am good at it I can go for 50 minutes, but if I take time off I have to build back up from 2 minutes. Most of the time I am outdoors to walk with our pup. All winter I got my exercise from shoveling pathways for Henry in the snow, and later mopping the floods from the heavy rain that invaded my studio.

    I would love to have a Bowflex tread climber. I know my husband would love that as well and USE It.

    The least expensive one will be fine for us. I just wonder if the three flights of stairs I do climb
    so often each day are as good *:)

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  6. oh I really need to start exercising. Have put on too much weight. The only time I run is when chasing silly sheep!

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  7. Wogging - I'm trying to move from walking to jogging ;)

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  8. We have annual passes at Disnelyand. Going tomorrow as a family as soon as we pick up the kids from school. We can easily walk a total of 5-7 miles if we walk to and from the parking structure and not take the tram.

    Stephen Tremp

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  9. Good for you! I'm rake-rake-raking. And running outside finally.

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  10. I'm easily bored, so one look at a machine sends me back to bed. I'm a hiker and I practice yoga. These never bore me. Good luck on that contraption, Rena. Do a few whatevers for me. :-)

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  11. My treadmill became a very expensive coat rack for two years. I finally dusted it off, made a phone call, and a used excercise equipment place came out and was so surprised at the condition offered me more than I hoped. I now get out and walk the neighborhood!

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  12. Way to go Rena! My hubby was diagnosed with diabetes about 6 months ago and with the diagnosis, he dusted off the long unused exercise equipment in the basement and now has a great routine down. The sad thing is that he didn't make me come with him so my only exercise seems to be walking - from the lazy boy to the fridge!

    But lately I have been questioning alot of aspects of my life and getting healthy has become a priority. We have decided to take up tennis again so now I am hoping for some nice weather so we can start. Wish me luck! lol

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