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First, I started with an indoor treadmill. But I had specific requirements: it had to incline, it had to fit underneath my bed, and it obviously had to be safe for me to use. This treadmill fit the bill. I did have to get use to it, and to storing it, but once I was comfortable it made binging my favorite show even more enjoyable. Use it while you’re watching your morning news, or use it while you are working at a standing desk, or when you are listening to a podcast and educating yourself on some historical topic (just kidding, I like true crime).

OK, this one took me a minute to feel comfortable with; and also to pry from my kids hands (they were having way too much fun). In case the picture doesn’t give you an accurate idea, this is basically a trampoline. One of my doctors suggested this for days that I could not go outside because it burns calories, help with lymphatic drainage, and will get your heartrate up and moving. If you are a runner, this is an excellent indoor option. If you are a walker like me, it will still benefit you and despite what you might think, won’t destroy your joints. I did find that this model, like many of the models I looked at, require you to take off the legs and stabilizing bar before you store it; but that’s pretty easy to do.

I am going to be honest and tell you I have never been a fan of stepping. I don’t like climbing stairs when I park my car, so I am not really interested in doing it for exercise. But a couple of things got me thinking about this one; 1. Sunny Health is actually a good company, 2. the reviews stated that this was sturdy, 3. I could do this in the privacy of my home which meant I wouldn’t be embarrassing myself in a gym. It comes with bands for your arms and because it is so small, it’s easy to store. This is going to be more of a workout than the treadmill but less than the rebounder (at least, it was for me.)

I always try to be honest with my reviews so here it is: I don’t like elliptical machines, never have and never will. And home elliptical machines are not only notoriously hard to put together, but they tend to be that one machine you just don’t use often unless you are a dedicated exercise person. This machine does what it says it will, once you get the thing built, but there is no where to conveniently store it (it won’t fold under the bed). So my final opinion is this: if you are into working out, and working out everyday, this may be for you. But if you are like me, and just want a simple workout, with a machine that I can hide away so I don’t have to look at it, this isn’t it.

The first time I ever got resistance bands was in physical therapy, and once that PT was done, I purposely didn’t think of those bands for a long time. Until I realized, and researched, that resistance bands are an easy way to strength train your body. Most research out there will tell you that after a certain age, you should skip the HIT workouts and concentrate on LIT workouts (like walking) and strength training. These two things can help you lose those extra pounds faster than those HIT workouts like cycling, running…you get the idea. These bands are color coded so you can easily pick the resistance you are looking for and if you don’t like the exercise ideas they provide there are plenty of resources to find others. I have used bands that have a wider width, but these have held up through time and do compliment my daily walking.

If you are going to use free weights, please don’t look up something on Pinterest and decide to follow a workout you have never tried before. The truth is free weights have to be used correctly – the swing of the weights must be precise – or you are going to really hurt yourself. Before buying free weights either hire someone, or ask someone, to coach you in how exactly each exercise should be performed. I have been using free weights off and on since I was a teenager (I have really skinny arms) so I knew the basics, but when I went off script and decided to try a fancy new move, I had muscles hurting that I didn’t even know existed. Free weights are a great strengthening tool, and if you buy one that has adjustable weights, it can be stored easily. Just don’t get creative with them.

Believe it or not, you can still buy a thigh master (you remember Suzanne marketing them). And I have to say, they are great for those who have just given birth, or those of use who have some issues with our pelvic floor (if you know, you know). I like using thigh masters in conjunction with resistance bands; my legs feel the burn from all sides. I will say that thigh masters aren’t for everyone; they can be difficult to use, especially if you are new to resistance training, and there are other machines/weights/resistance methods that might be better suited for you. But for fun, and because my grandmother used one, I tried it out.

Let’s just say you want the hard core gym at home; and like the elliptical, you like the challenge of a good workout; then this might be for you. It has multiple exercises, at different strengths that you can build upon, and from my research, I understand that their customer service is great. But just like using free weights, you need to be careful and watch the videos that come with it to get an idea on how to best use their product. Don’t just set it up and go for it; you may really hurt yourself. This is a small at home strength training doo-dad, so it will easily fit into a small apartment.

I believe in exercising, although I don’t actually like it, and these machines are designed for many different kinds of people. Whether you are into hardcore exercising, simple and easy to use exercising, or simply can’t bring yourself to drive to a gym and pay those prices for something that you could easily do at home, there is something here for you.

I wish you luck. And because everyone else says it, I will mention that talking to your doctor before you start any exercise program might not be a bad idea; my doctor takes emails.