Time to get on the bandwagon?
A mini stepper is about the size of a StairMaster comb and an elliptical machine that simulates climbing stairs, but your feet don’t come off the two pedals.
They’ve grown in popularity in recent months because they’re fairly cheap and easy to fit into a New York studio or home office, though user results are mixed.
“Based on my experience using the mini stepper for a few months, I think it’s a great option for people who are busy and easily find excuses not to exercise,” Maura Hohman, senior editor of cheers from Today.com. a review of the Sunny Health & Fitness Total Body 2-in-1 Step Machine ($75 on Amazon).
The machine’s makers say the stepping motion engages the glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves, while the detachable resistance bands challenge the biceps, triceps, shoulders and core.
Hohman noted that a digital monitor shows workout time, calories burned and number of steps taken. A rotary knob takes you to the desired intensity.
He said the mini stepper is an efficient and inexpensive way to get a good workout, especially if it’s cold outside and you’re not motivated to leave the house.
Just set up the small, “silent” stepper in front of your TV and one episode later, “that’s your move of the day.”
“It really felt like my leg i my arm muscles were burning and if I made a conscious effort to try to step faster, I could definitely get discouraged,” Hohman shared.
He reported some drawbacks, such as learning the rhythm of pedaling and using the resistance bands at the same time.
He also cited problems with maintaining balance.
“I think people with a lot of fitness experience, or who enjoy going to the gym or using an existing machine at home, like a treadmill or exercise bike, might get less benefit from the mini stepper,” he concluded by Today.com. .
His review comes as a new study linked stair climbing to a 39% reduced chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.
On TikTok, Phoenix Alazam, a certified personal trainer and mother of two in Illinois, credited her mini stepper with reducing her waistline while strengthening her glutes, arms and calves.
When his followers talked about the “toning” he sees, Alazam shared in April that he had had the equipment for four months and used it three to four times a week for 15 minutes at a time.
A Texas mom said she lost 40 pounds over five months last year using dumbbells while on the mini stepper for 30 minutes at a time.
But another TikToker complained that his stepper keeps breaking.
The Sunny Health & Fitness stepper featured on Today.com averages 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon from 3,000 reviews, with the biggest complaints being the noise of the machine and the inability to work the pedals comfortably .
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Image Source : nypost.com