Cross trainer, bike, or treadmill?

Interested in answers you get. I am in same boat. Also have fibromyalgia.

Wateraerobics would be perfect for you. Great work out and very low impact on joints and muscels

I agree 100%

hi, i have psoriatic arthritis and rhumatiod arthritis and was also advised to do 30-60 minutes cardio exersizes. even my physio wanted me to do much more than i was comfortable with. the water exersizes can be good but they gave me cramps in my feet. and i couldnt really afford gym membership so i opted for a exersize bike which i bought second hand for £20. when i first began i only could manage 2-5 minutes a day and only 3-4 days per week. but i gradually buit up slowly, much slower than recomended and now i can do twenty minutes every other day. if i do more days it aggrivates my arthritus, i've been doing it since july and have lost my 7lb since then. i know its not a big loss but i can now do twenty minutes instead of two, so it is progress. i also go for walks and do as much as i feel comfortable doing which has also got easier in the last few month. its keeping motivated that gets me.
Do what your comfotable with with a bit of a push but dont over do it cause it'll put you right off. Doctors are told by th goverment to tell you to do 60 minutes a day. They dont have to live with you or your condition.
your doing really well from what i see.

I totally get what you are saying about by the time you drive somewhere you are too exhausted to actually do a good work out. I'm in the same boat. I am saving up for a recumbent exercise bike.

I have Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. I started to exercise about 6 month's ago. I could only walk about a quarter mile and I was exhausted. Now I walk 4 to 5 miles a day which takes me a good 2 hours. It's little baby steps and you will increase in strength and condition yourself to work through the pain. The pain doesn't go away you just start ignoring it after a while.

I don't have $$$ for exercise equipment so mostly I just walk but sometimes I do like to workout at home. Here is a link I got from one of the forums and I love it. So many different Trainers and Types of exercise routines, all for FREE, that you can do in the privacy of your own home, in your own time, and to your own ability.

http://www.exercisetv.tv/workout-videos/all/?videotype=free-full-length

Remember baby steps...if you have the desire you will get there. Best Wishes on your journey!

I too have fibromyalgia and exercise can be very challenging. I've gone from being in a wheelchair to a walker and now nothing. My first safe exercise was water aerobics that helped me with strength and balance. After 3 months of water aerobics 2x a week I moved onto the recumbent bicycle. The first several weeks I could only manage 5 or 10 minutes at a time. I gradually made my way up to 30 minutes. At that time I no longer required the use of my walker. My gait was a bit shaky but I required no walking apparatus. After 6 full months of water aerobics & the recumbent bike I felt confident enough to give the treadmill a try. I still hold on to the handles nearly the entire time but I can say I'm able to put in a full hour now without much recognition to the horrific pain once experienced. Just this week I have gone out and purchased a regular, no frills bicycle and now ride a mile to a mile and a half once or twice a day 4 days a week.

Take it slow, don't push yourself because that will discourage you and you'll give up. You can do it! I did. 3 years ago I couldn't stand up unassisted and now most people have no clue I have a medical condition.

Oh, also, you may wish to try a senior's yoga stretch and flex class. It is a yoga style class that helps with stretching and mobility but from a chair. If you're capable the same exercises can be done from a standing position. The breathing and concentration helps with pain management as well.