Postby Kathryn-in-Canada » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:43 am
Harriet: I'm not sure the treadmill/elliptical will work in your household.
We have peace and a routine in ours. We have an 'exercise room' (ds's old bedroom which also serves as dh's dressing room since our bedroom closet is too small for both of our sets of clothing.)
We have daily routine that is occasionally interrupted by an early day out of the house, but not often. We have the equipment set up so we can use the time doing things we would have done sitting (watching movies or being on the internet.)
And we don't have interruptions (unless I'm late getting onto the treadmill and someone calls the house.)
Over Christmas, when our house resembled yours more, we barely exercised at all. Remember, these machines are not silent. Even dh's bike, which has no electric motor, makes a whirling noise I can hear 20' away with both bedroom doors shut and there's a stairwell between rooms, no common walls. It isn't enough to drive others who are awake nuts, even the treadmill doesn't make too much noise to the room below, but it is definitely enough to unsettle someone who is not part of the routine. In your household, that may not work unless your dad is getting deaf.
Ours are big, expensive, heavy, items that meant a commitment of space and inconvenience. We honour that commitment but our lives are different than most people's lives.
The Nordic Trak ski machine (no longer made) worked better for us back when I had a more 'normal' life but I hardly did it at all compared to the treadmill. Of course, that was just for exercise, whereas the treadmill also keeps me able to walk without a cane so there's a really, really, good reason to make the effort.