Elliptical is a Great Shape with ProForm 485E
Written: Mar 21 '01 (Updated May 18 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good price for a home machine.
Cons: Too small foot and leg area for heavy
use.
The Bottom Line: If you exercise at home, with low impact or foot and ankle stabilization, this may work for you. Be aware
of the short stride length and try it before buying.
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| nwinston's Full Review: ProForm 485E |
Love is a strong word for a form of exercise.
But after a difficult pregnancy, broken ankle and
a bad case of plantar fascitis, weight was piling
on and I needed to get moving. Elliptical trainers
were the only form of exercise that didn't hurt
my ankle and feet. Elliptical trainers have pedals
which move smoothly back and forth on a track. When
using an elliptical trainer, the foot is stabilized
on the pedal, making the foot somewhat immobile.
Large gyms now have elliptical trainers in
most locations. I used one at my workout place
and became hooked. I can say that considering
it's exercise, I love it. I used the elliptical
every day, for 45 minutes. Weight started coming
off. Then my gym was sold and the leased equipment
went. They would buy more within 2 months but I
couldn't wait. I tried running and other
equipment but they all hurt my ankle.
Purchasing seemed my best option. I got
this Proform 485E used. It looked like
a good deal and I've gotten quite a bit of use
out of it.
Features include:
o Resistance adjustment
o Handles for arm exercise (some ellipticals don't
have moving handles)
o A stable handlebar
o Book & water bottle holder
o Electronics display with time, calories, speed,
distance and laps - automatically turns off when
not used for 4 minutes
This machine has worked fairly well. It had a
nasty squeak so my husband took things apart, oiled
and removed dust, and fixed it. My main problem
with it is the stride. When going nice and fast
to get a good aerobic head of steam, my knees hit
the vertical bar in front. If I move my feet back,
I can hit the track housing plastic with my shoes.
My husband, 6', says he can't use it at all. I am
5'5" and wear a women's 8 shoe so I am an average
sized user. The Precor professional equipment that
I use at the gym doesn't have this stride problem.
Also, these machines take some space and must be
set up on a flat surface which can hold considerable
weight.
Use of my home system is limited to times when
I can't get to the gym. Sick kids, 10 min. before
fixing dinner, etc. are good times for me to get
an extra few calories burnt off. When I need a
real workout, I go to the gym and use the
professional equipment.
Recommendations from me are the following:
1. If you need a low impact workout or foot and ankle
stabilization while working out, try an elliptical
trainer.
2. If you are a low usage user, this Proform 485e
is a low cost option which may work for you
3. If you really get going on an elliptical machine, try
the professional ones at the gym near you. Most
gyms have free trial periods or days.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
nwinston
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: US
Reviews written: 272
Trusted by: 239 members
About Me:
Loving my boys and the summer weather in Oregon!
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