Exercise equipment I actually enjoy using.
Written: Dec 27 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Decent workout. Fun to use. Quiet.
Cons: Big and heavy. Hard to move around. Need strength to put together.
The Bottom Line: I recommend the Gazelle Freestyle Elite because it gives you a fairly varied and decently intense workout and is enjoyable to use.
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| redsprite's Full Review: FitnessQuest Tony Little Gazelle Glider Freestyle ... |
I have had my Gazelle for about a month and enjoy working out on it. It may not give you the kind of workout you'd get at the gym but it is fine for getting a pretty decent workout at home.
Mine came with the DVD which was extremely helpful - especially the section at the end that goes step by step through the setup process. I had absolutely no problem putting the Gazelle together using the DVD instructions. It does take some strength, though, and i would recommend a second person to help. Tony Little hawks pills at the beginning and that is annoying but easily fast forwarded through. I would recommend the DVD workout for beginners (it contains 10, 20 and 30 minute workouts and a toning section), though I prefer to watch TV while working out and to workout for 60 minutes. The shots of super-buff men and women is disingenuous because you cannot end up looking like them just working out on the Gazelle (though Mr. Little does say that in so many words). It can still give unrealistic expectations, I think.
The equipment itself is rather bulky and difficult to move. I keep all my exercise equipment in the basement and don't need to move it around, so this is not a problem for me. I had a problem with the pads coming off the bottom (the first time I moved it in fact). If you can set it up and leave it, that is the preferable way to go. In my experience the Gazelle is pretty sturdy and I have not had any problems in that regard, no matter how hard I used the equipment. It does make a small clicking sound but is still much quieter than any of the other exercise equipment I own.
I have always had problems with my knees and the Gazelle is low impact and causes me no pain (plus it is more fun to use than my elliptical trainer). Keeping your balance does take a little practice, but is not difficult to master. The resistance pins on this version do make a big difference on the quality of the workout. If you haven't exercised much previously, start out with no resistance and gradually work your way up. I have found I get the best results on the thighs (especially the inside), buttocks and arms.
The advertising states it is a total body workout and I would have to disagree with that. The stretching exercises on the DVD are pretty much useless and I skip them. The toning exercises are OK (especially the arm exercises) but free weights work better. You can probably get a more intense workout with other forms of exercise but I find the Gazelle to be quite decent. I alternate the Gazelle with a treadmill, elliptical trainer and exercise bike and find it fits well into my workout program. I'm not a big workout buff and mainly workout to maintain a recent weight loss and I think the Gazelle does a perfectly fine job and is fun to use (which can mean a lot when working out alone at home).
Some previous reviews made comments about short people being unable to use this equipment. Well, I am 5 feet tall and have absolutely no problem using the Gazelle.
Overall, I have no reservations recommending the Gazelle Freestyle Elite.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
redsprite
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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