Rowing

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I'm fairly short (5'0") and so have a hard time finding some types of gym equipment that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and another leg.

Hubby and I have been looking to buy a rowing machine -- only thing is, the ones we find that we can afford (under $700) -- usually come with reviews of other users saying they wished they would've tried it out in a store first because it was too big of a machine for them at 5'4".

Anyone have any suggestions where to look online? None of our fitness stores have any rowing machines at all.

if not, anyone have an idea on how to burn the same amount of calories and build the same type of strength without the machine until we can find one?