My husband is researching them. He needs more exercise and is thinking of getting one to ride to work. He has tried some out and he says you definately need to work at learning to ride them. I have a recumbant stationary bike. It is way better for me than the upright, but it still hurts my butt.

I think there are good sides to both of your choices. I think that the good ellipticals are very expensive but a very good workout. People say not to bother with the ones for $3-400 dollars. They just aren't like the commercial ones. A recumbant bike can be purchased for a lot less money and seems to stand up better and you are right!! You can read and do the biking. If you are actually running on the treadmill, the bike sounds like a good option. I find when I bike on a recumbant and read that I tend to bike slower. Let us know your decision. Deanna

I use an exercise ball but just started to do it. My exercise ball came with instructions and examples. There are some exercises that I do on the ball that aren't with the instructions. I can photocopy the instructions for you if you would like or scan them and send them to you in an email. One of the things I do is sit on the ball and walk myself out so that my knees are at right angles on the floor and my back is on the ball. Then I put my hands behind my head and do mini sit ups. This helps the abdominals. One other is to sit on the ball and then balance and raise a leg one at a time and hold the leg up for a count of 10. These two exercises I didn't see on the instructions. Trying to raise my two legs at the same time is almost impossible for me at least. I'm still a klutz with the ball but each day gets a bit better.

Awm, what are you talking about? You look GREAT in that picture! You have a bicyclist's legs, too, not fat ones like mine. I've wondered how you can be so athletic when you're carrying extra weight, but it probably depends on how the weight is distributed in your body. Mine has been in my legs (mainly my thighs) all my life, so I was never able to develop the muscles in them. Bike riding is very hard for me. More power to you! And neverdone, it's sounds like you're developing some of those gardening muscles, too. You're burning lots of calories, and soon you'll have a beautiful yard as a result of all your efforts. Robin, I'm glad you're off to a good start! Hope the pressure at work levels off soon. Gibby, remember that old expression "Don't trouble Trouble, till Trouble troubles you"? Well, don't jump to conclusions about having a serious condition till you KNOW; there could be other, more innocuous explanations. But it's good that you're having it checked out. As for me, I've lost 7-1/2 pounds so far, not earthshaking, but ahead of schedule (I wanted to reach this point by the time I went to my reunion). One more pound, and I'll be down to where I was the day I retired. (Then I'll try to get to where I was a year ago.) I've made very exciting progress in my genealogical research this past week, mostly because of the kindness of strangers, who have volunteered to help me with a translation--and a lot more. It fills me with gratitude and makes me want to help others, in turn, with whatever expertise I can offer. Last night, we drove to Philadelphia to celebrate my MIL's 94th birthday and Mother's Day at a "fancy" restaurant. I had salmon cooked to perfection with just a little bit of a delicious sauce and a taste of the rice pilaf, salad with lo-cal dressing, no bread, and no dessert, so I don't think I did much damage. The weather has been very cruddy here, rainy and gloomy, but I'll be walking again as soon as the sun comes out. Hang in there, everybody! And Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are moms. Sue