Exercise

I have recently started a new exercise routine involving weight training and jogging.  However being the sort of person that is not inclined to go running around town I opted for the stay at home jogging which of course means exercise equipment.

Now in my experience exercise equipment is usually bought, used for a week, then used as a clothes rack for a month then delegated to the garage / shed / attic and never seen again until you have a yard sale or a relative has a keep-fit phase and they buy it of you or you give them it free if you think its in a rough state.

Normally I would agree with that.  However I didn't buy the exercise equipment here, my brother did.  Now I know with him the above scenario will happen.  In fact it's already in the process.  Nevertheless I have a goal and the equipment may as well be used.

He bought an elliptical strider.  Now I have used these before in the Gym and from that experience at least I found them enjoyable and easy to use.  I have been on this new routine a week now.  I started with a daily half hour session and now I have worked up to hour long sessions.  You are meant to start off on 5 minute sessions and work your way up which is very easy.  However I'm not exactly out of shape.  I have been lifting weights for over a year now.

My goal isn't to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger [wow, actually spelt that right first time] but rather to reach a level of physical fitness that I can be happy with.  For the most part I have achieved this everywhere except my stomach and abdominal area.  I have tried doing sit ups in the hundreds and various odd poses and positions with weights and nothing has worked so far.  The elliptical strider I don't believe was intended to target your abs, but it does help your core when you maintain a solid posture.  It's more comfortable than running on a treadmill because your legs move in a more natural motion and I have noticed there is less pressure and more 'work' being done.