What equipment would go well with Reebok Step?

In my losing battle to keep in shape and fend off old age, I am trying
to stick to a home routine that includes (a) free weights (mainly
squats, crunches, deadlifts, pushups, presses, a rotator cuff program,
and curls) and (b) aerobics (Reebok Step and tennis).

I would like to add something to supplement the aerobic component.
Most of the tennis is on hard courts. Despite good shoes, my old
joints (mostly knees and ankles) really suffer after each match. I'm
6'3", about 230 lbs, and almost 62. After 30-45 minutes on the Step, I
also feel some joint soreness, but not nearly as much as with the hard
court pounding.

I am trying to build up my leg muscles and tendons with the squats and
this seems to be helping.

I think it would be good to add something to use along with (or maybe
instead of) the Reebok Step for the aerobics that is very low impact.
I think this eliminates treadmills, right? Which leaves stationery
bikes, rowing machines, ellipticals, Nordic track machines, and
stairmaster gizmos.

I bought a rowing machine 20 years ago and didn't like it at all. But
it was a very cheap machine (<$300), very noisy, and flimsy. I tried
one at a local gym a few months ago and liked it a lot better.

A friend had one of the original Nordic track machines. I really hated
that. It felt very awkward. Maybe that is just poor coordination and I
would get used to it over time.

I have tried stairmaster type machines in gyms and don't like them so
much. Plus, they tend to be fairly large. I would like something as
compact as possible.

I have used stationery bikes a few times and they feel the most
natural. The only problem is the seat. The reason I don't ride my bike
more is that my butt gets really sore. I have no idea how Armstrong
does it. I guess those guys rarely sit.

So, that would seem to leave me with an elliptical machine. I have
never tried one, so I need to go to a gym and give it a try before
deciding. From what I have read on various sites and here, ellipticals
do better and are safer than stairmasters and are as good as rowing
machines. My main concerns are that they ar too much like the
cross-country skiing machines, which I found awkward, and they are
kinda large.

I am also considering a rowing machine, but a good one this time. They
are also larger (at least longer) than stationery bikes.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.


--
For email, use Usenet-20031220 DeleteThis @spamex.com

"LurfysMa" <invalid.DeleteThis@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:cds2s1hc1lqko5tsr8smtnoemp9om0savq@4ax.com...
> In my losing battle to keep in shape and fend off old age, I am trying
> to stick to a home routine that includes (a) free weights (mainly
> squats, crunches, deadlifts, pushups, presses, a rotator cuff program,
> and curls) and (b) aerobics (Reebok Step and tennis).
>
> I would like to add something to supplement the aerobic component.
> Most of the tennis is on hard courts. Despite good shoes, my old
> joints (mostly knees and ankles) really suffer after each match. I'm
> 6'3", about 230 lbs, and almost 62. After 30-45 minutes on the Step, I
> also feel some joint soreness, but not nearly as much as with the hard
> court pounding.
>
> I am trying to build up my leg muscles and tendons with the squats and
> this seems to be helping.
>
> I think it would be good to add something to use along with (or maybe
> instead of) the Reebok Step for the aerobics that is very low impact.
> I think this eliminates treadmills, right? Which leaves stationery
> bikes, rowing machines, ellipticals, Nordic track machines, and
> stairmaster gizmos.
>
> I bought a rowing machine 20 years ago and didn't like it at all. But
> it was a very cheap machine (<$300), very noisy, and flimsy. I tried
> one at a local gym a few months ago and liked it a lot better.
>
> A friend had one of the original Nordic track machines. I really hated
> that. It felt very awkward. Maybe that is just poor coordination and I
> would get used to it over time.
>
> I have tried stairmaster type machines in gyms and don't like them so
> much. Plus, they tend to be fairly large. I would like something as
> compact as possible.
>
> I have used stationery bikes a few times and they feel the most
> natural. The only problem is the seat. The reason I don't ride my bike
> more is that my butt gets really sore. I have no idea how Armstrong
> does it. I guess those guys rarely sit.
>
> So, that would seem to leave me with an elliptical machine. I have
> never tried one, so I need to go to a gym and give it a try before
> deciding. From what I have read on various sites and here, ellipticals
> do better and are safer than stairmasters and are as good as rowing
> machines. My main concerns are that they ar too much like the
> cross-country skiing machines, which I found awkward, and they are
> kinda large.
>
> I am also considering a rowing machine, but a good one this time. They
> are also larger (at least longer) than stationery bikes.
>
> I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.
>
>
> --
> For email, use Usenet-20031220.DeleteThis@spamex.com
The concept 2 rowing machine is well thought of. I have used one a few
times and liked it. Walking on an inclined treadmill isn't very high
impact. Nordic track ski machine feels awkward the first few times for
almost everyone. I like mine. Ellipticals are fine too, and seem low
impact.

Are you looking for an upper body component or just cardio?