Hi everybody,

I'm new in the forum here. I live in the Denver area.

I'm 59, studied martial arts for 7 years starting at age 50, but they kept raising the price at the best school I found locally, until I could no longer afford to go there. Tried other schools, didn't care for them.

I've been doing 2 mile walks a few times a week since leaving martial arts 2 years ago, but it's more difficult in the hottest part of summer and in winter, especially when we get a lot of snow, like the last couple of winters.

Plus my knees are getting some occasional pains. I tried doing a little jogging with the walks but that made it worse.

I'm large framed but overweight.

The only exercise I've really ever enjoyed was martial arts, especially light fun sparring for an hour or more a week, but like I said, I don't have the school now. ( thought of starting my own, but it takes money, plus I've been having to pay the bills by process serving at night for the last 15 months.)

So I understand that the knee pains may be because of the impact from jogging or walking ( my 2 mile walks are up and down hills too ) and it would be better if I got an elliptical trainer. I saw one at Costco ( $700 ) but it's a Nordic and I understand that these machines for less than the $1000 range aren't so durable.

So I started looking around the web. I understand that rear drive is supposed to be better on the back. I bought one of those inexpensive Glider ones a few years back and had to send it back, because it made my back hurt using it.
I have some psiatic problems, though not super bad, I just have to be careful.

So rear drive is supposed to be best. Like I said, I'm also large framed and 6' tall, so I understand the stride is important. I also heard that adjustable stride is best for working various muscle groups.

Do they make machines that can electronically adjust the stride under control of their programs?

My biggest concern besides important features, is price. I understand that the really good ones run close to $4000. Eeek!

I'm getting by and paying the bills but not making a "professional living" yet.

I also understand that what they call "light commercial" built machines are the sturdiest for the home, they hold up best without being super expensive like the commercial machines?

From what I see so far, the SportsArt E825 sounds good, but whew, the price.

Or should I pay it off for 20 years with "low monthly payments"?

What's really good like that, for the "most bang for the buck"?

Or did I just hit on it?

I noticed that the newest issue of Consumer Reports magazine has test results of their tests of treadmills and ellipticals. Since I do not use those machines, I did not bother reading the article, but those interested in those machines can look up the print magazine or the web site (getting the actual ratings from the web site requires a subscription).

ConsumerReportsHealth.org - Consumer Reports Health provides information on features of treadmills.
Consumer Reports Health - Learn what an elliptical is at Consumer Reports Health.

I wouldn't purchase an elliptical trainer until you have more experience using one as your major source of cardio exercise.

This is true of any equipment, but especially so for something that:
(1) some people find the movement 'unnatural' and stressful on the body;
(2) you've had discomfort using some form of in the past; and
(3) you might find it boring to use & it will become an expensive laundry rack or dust collector.

If you enjoy martial arts and really can not afford classes you like, have you considered using dvds at home? Or if you have enough confidence to even consider opening your own class, why not just invite other people you know from prior classes over to train & do light sparring?

If you're going to get an elliptical no matter what, I'd recommend checking out craiglist to see if someone is selling a high quality one. But my guess is that there is a decent chance that you're exactly the type of person who would buy an elliptical trainer & then wind up trying to sell it on craigslist in a few months, once you realize that it isn't right for you...

I posted this awhile back, and since then I read up on some of these. Precor is considered the best. I was looking to see if they had any good used ones on Craig's List around the end of the year, and found a local company selling new ones on a year end sale. I got a brand new EFX 5.19 for $1700. If I don't use it, I can likely sell it for more than that. They're delivering it next Friday.

Yes, not motivational for me. I love sparring.



Yes I thought of that. I should teach. I wanted to specialize in women only, but don't have the money to open a school. Even if I teach at home, and do it for free, it still costs about $600 a year for insurance. Plus I work mostly at night now, irregular nights and hours. Sometimes days.


I wrote the stuff above before reading down this far. You may be right, but I'm between a rock and a hard place now. I'm 59 years old and my knees have been starting to hurt from the 2 mile walks I was doing 3 times a week. They were up and down hill.

I tried other schools that cost less but didn't like any of them enough to stay long. I really should teach, I could really help women with what I know.

I even contacted the local community center but they said they "already have" a martial arts teacher there, teaching tae kwon do, which I consider pretty much kiddie stuff. At the schools I went to, everyone used to snicker when they heard that term.

I'd suggest that if you are not in the position to pay cash for a piece of equipment like this, don't do it. It is far too expensive to pay interest on when you could join a gym for probably what would amount to the finance/interest charges on purchasing the elliptical on credit.

Join a gym and use a variety of the cardio machines, and definately make use of the weights as well. Remember that an effective training regimen includes nutrition (most important), cardio, and resistance. Man/woman, young/older, whatever...don't neglect resistance training! The gym you choose might even work something out for you to get a break on the dues, giving some classes...even if they are only stretching classes, which is something I think most martial arts folks seem to do well.