I need advice on what type of exercise equipment to buy. I am 47 years old and in moderate physical condition. I walk three miles weather permitting 3x week, attend dance class 2x weeks and use free-weights 2x week. I have arthritis in my hips and degenerative disks in my lower back. I cannot run or do anything with higher impact than walking. Walking helps tremendously with my lower back pain and hip arthritis. The more regularly I walk the less it hurts - unless I do more than 3-4 miles. I was advised by a physical therapist that an exercise bicycle would benefit my hip joints more that walking by providing more range of motion. But I get bored on an exercise bicycle fairly easily. Here is what my body type considerations are: I have large calves and do not want to build them up so a stairmaster/stepper is definately out. My thighs are fine. My muscles seem to be larger than most women. I do not have thin limbs. I can probably build mass pretty easily and more so than other women. I'm 5'4" and 140 lbs and need to lose 10 of those lbs. I live in an apartment on the second floor but might get away with a treadmill. Finally, cost is a real concern. Two hundred dollars is the most I can spend. My thoughts are between an elliptical and what is the minimum stride size needed to obtain long leans muscles and not mimic a stepper and build up my calves, a treadmill, an exercise bike (but what would that do for my thighs and hip joints?), and the tony little gazelle.
Thanks for any and all advice!
Thanks for any and all advice!