A non-impact alternative
Written: Aug 17 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Non-Impact
Compact
Cons: Difficult to measure results
Non-Intuitive Calorie Calculator/Clock
The Bottom Line: With a compact design, the Gazelle can fit almost anywhere. Results are difficult to measure, so recommended, but not strongly.
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| xenoranger's Full Review: FitnessQuest Tony Little Gazelle Glider Freestyle ... |
So, you don't like running. Perhaps you're a shut-in who wants to be uber fit for their webcam audience. Or maybe, you just want to be in shape. Whatever the reason, the Gazelle Glider is a nice product. The Gazelle is a worthy substitute for running. Like jogging or outdoor activity, it's what you put into your workout that you'll get back. With this said, here's why I like the Gazelle.
First off, as I stated, it's all about what you put into the workout. The Gazelle allows you to work as hard as you want. The more effort you put into the motion, the more you'll feel the work out. Since I received this product second hand, I'm not sure what Tony claims, but the Gazelle works your glutes, hamstrings, and quads. This is before you get the arms going. The easy, gliding motion prevents the impact that's associated with running or jogging. This is great for people who have been in an accident at some point.
Unlike most workout machines, the Gazelle is very deceptive. When you first start your workout, you'll feel as if you could go forever. In fact, being slightly out of shape myself, the first time I hopped on, I just kept going until I got bored. It's when I stopped that the workout started to set in. This is both good and bad because you can work yourself to a point, and not feel the effects for a while. But it's bad because if your body isn't used to long workouts, you risk the possibility of injuring yourself.
Basically, this machine is targets your legs, but the upside is that you can target your upper body as well. In what feels like a skiing motion, you can use the handle bars for your upper body work out. The problem is that it just feels like motion. To maximize your upper body workout, you must lean forward or backward on the machine. This will work your biceps, triceps, pecs, and trapezius. The benefit of this is that it does a good job of aerobically working your arms. The downside is that unlike lifting weights, there are no quantitative results. Lifting, I could say I bench 80lbs. Then someone else could say they bench 160lbs. But with the Gazelle, there are no weight settings. Results are measured by your appearance.
On the Gazelle's display are your standard clock and calorie calculators. Since I got this second hand, I honestly have little clue how to operate the digital display. There are a couple buttons, but resetting and using the timer/calculator is non-intuitive. As such, I find it easier to just work out using another clock. From what I could tell, it appears to calculate the amount of calories burned as well as give the time you have been working out. I'm sure if it was more intuitive, their clock/calculator would be a nice feature.
One of my favorite features of the Gazelle is the compactable nature. You can fold this unit down to a 6 inch tall rectangle that will fit under a most beds. The Gazelle is about 3 feet across by 4 feet when closed. This makes it super easy to store just about anywhere. The only problem with it is that it has no wheels, so you can't slide it across the floor as easily as other exercise machines.
The bottom line on the Gazelle is that it's a workout machine. You can't classify it as a treadmill or anything of that typical nature because of its no-impact design. The beauty of this machine is that you can work out with little risk of injury. The downside is the results are only measurable by your looks and inches off your waist. Over all, I put a mild recommendation on this product. Although the benefits of no-impact aerobics are there, for those who can, they should go jogging and include some weight lifting in their routine.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
xenoranger
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Location: MN, USA
Reviews written: 347
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Even the things I really enjoy deserve low ratings at times.
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