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How to Watch More TV

How to Watch More TV

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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35 Comments

  1. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin

    Excellent guest post! I prety much love that watching more TV is one of your resolutions. I wish you luck on that. 🙂 I’ve always wanted one of these. Thanks for all the info!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      You should definitely get one. It’s been very beneficial in the winter time!

  2. Lisa

    Thanks so much for this! I bought a fluid trainer a couple years ago and have *never used it*. I was a little scared of it to be perfectly honest. You make it seem very doable. I think I’ll have to get it out and try it!

    1. Michael

      Grab a riser to stabilize your front wheel and you’ll feel much more stable.

    2. Lisa Eirene

      Give it a try Lisa! I was nervous the first few times too! But Michael is right, the stabilizer makes a huge difference.

  3. Christi

    Totally loved this post! I definantly feel inspired to watch more TV! I live in Texas, so with the exception of a few days a year we have pretty perfect weather for cycling or running. Unfortunatly, I haven’t owned a bike since I was like 8. Any suggestions on where to get information on bikes or where to start? Great post Michael, keep ’em coming.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Hey Christi! Actually I was going to suggest to Michael to write a post about how to choose a bike next. He’s had a bunch of different ones and has a lot of insight on what’s good.

  4. Elise

    When I had my house I had the treadmill in the basement in front of the TV with surround sound. I too am addicted to TV (seriously….it’s bad….) and I’d rent Netflix DVDs of TV shows and watch either an hour or 2 half hour shows (which was really 40 minutes) and get my walking in. I can’t read or do anything else on the treadmill but watch TV. And I can’t do it in the gym because I hate commercials 😉

    Love the bike set ups!!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s a great set up! I love it. I watch my hour long shoes (45 min without commercials) and it motivates me to go longer!

  5. Coco

    Being able to watch my favorite shows on the DVR is a big motivation to get out of bed for my workouts in the morning. I won’t subject my husband to Private Practice, but I can enjoy watching it while I’m on the TM or elliptical. And, I don’t have to worry about falling asleep and missing the last 10 minutes!

    By husband rides a bike and has a trainer. Not sure which one, but he has a riser. He watches old sci fi movies and secretly catches up on Glee.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Hehe he secretly watches Glee? Too funny!

  6. Paul T

    I still use my wind trainer from 20+ years ago (yes, the college days) but I’ve also been lucky to have access to a wide variety of trainers. Probably my favorite is the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. But… I probably log an average of 10 miles a day on my old wind trainer and in doing so have built both incredible strength in the legs with added endurance as well.

    If folks have a mountain bike, I’d recommend that they check out a rim drive trainer. Its the best scenario for those not wanting to change out the rear tire of the bike since a rim drive trainer uses the the rear rim to propel the bike.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      10 miles a day is impressive! Thanks for commenting.

  7. Amy

    I have a bike that has been sitting out in my garage gathering dust for at least….7 years 😮

    All your posts on the bike (and now your other half’s) have really made me think it might be a good idea. My husband works away and with 3 kiddies I’m not always able to make it to the gym in the holidays.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I think it’s a great option for people with kids who can’t get to a gym! And when the weather is nicer, you can just go outside!

  8. Sheri

    I do have a trainer, well its my husbands. I am also using his bike this winter. I don’t know the type of trainer I know we bought it from http://www.CycleOps.com.

    The one thing I can’t do is watch TV when I work out. I have to be plugged up and listening to PodRunner (www.Podrunner.com) music. That is the only way I can find the strength to make it through my cycling routine.

    Great Post!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Whatever works! Some people need music, some TV distraction. If I could somehow read on the bike trainer I would. 😉

    2. Michael

      It’s not ideal for everyone, but I usually watch sports when I ride. I use the clocks that countdown that they show in the corner to time my intervals with. I usually listen to music via an iPod at the same time.

      I have some serious ADD issues though…

  9. C

    I have a fluid trainer. Although I have not used it in awhile, this post makes me really want to go out in my garage and get in a good cycling workout. Thanks for the much needed motivation.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Excellent! Glad we could inspire you to dust off the bike. 🙂

    2. Michael

      What are you waiting for? Those TV shows aren’t going to watch themselves!

  10. Jennifer @ shesafitchick

    I want one of these so bad but I just have a mountain bike. Are tires inexpensive?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That would be a good question for Michael. Let me ask. Although I don’t see why you couldn’t use a mountain bike on the trainer…?

    2. Michael

      It really depends on what your tire looks like. If you have a traditional knobby tire, I don’t think it will work right.

      The resistance on these devices is created by pressing a wheel with a narrow diameter into your tire. I cannot imagine it will glide smoothly over the resistance wheel.

      If you have the smoother street or hybrid style of tires then I think it would work just fine.

      You can take your bike to a local bike store and have them put a street tire on the rear wheel. It should cost around $30 or so. Depending on your shifters, you may be able to easily remove the rear wheel and just take that to the bike store.

  11. Carbzilla

    Great informative post. So it looks like I’d have to get a different tire for my mountain bike. Bummer.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Really? It won’t work with mountain bike tires?

    2. Michael

      See my comments above to Jennifer.

  12. Jim

    Hey Michael! Do you think the “mag” trainers can hurt your wheels in anyway? When I use mine I feel like they are going to ruin my tires and wheels. Maybe I just have to get used to it?

    1. Michael

      Inflate your tires to whatever is recommended and you’ll be fine. I crank down my trainer’s resistance as hard as I can and I’ve not had any damage occur in the 3 years that I’ve been using my trainer.

  13. Too Busy to Exercise » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] convinced that you have time to get fit? What about taking Michael’s suggestion of getting a bike trainer? It’s an excellent way to getting fit without buying a gym […]

  14. For Those Ready For a Change » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] live with my boyfriend, Michael. I write about the adventures we go on a lot. Michael is my go-to biking expert. He sometimes writes guest posts about cycling. I have two kitties, Maya and Fat Kitty (not his […]

  15. I Don’t Know Where to Start » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] You don’t need a gym membership to get fit. There are a lot of ways to lose weight working out at home. There are DVDs you can get on Netflix to change your routine each time, you can do full body exercises, hook up your bike to a trainer and do your own Spin class! […]

  16. Mike

    Hey guys I have a fixed gear bike, do you think that would be an issue for trainers adaptable to track bikes?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Michael says that should not be a problem.

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