Expert: Ken Alan - 12/1/2005

Question
Hi there:
My father herniated a disc in his back last summer, although he has pretty much made a full recovery by now. He's 64 but has always been very fit...however, since his injury he has not been able to exercise and has put on quite a bit of weight, and misses his cycling a lot (he used to be a pretty good road cyclist). He doesn't want to go out on the road again, and I don't think he's ready for his racing bike again, and so he asked for an exercise bike for Christmas. I can't afford to get him one of those but I wondered if you had any other suggestions for smaller fitness accessories I could buy him for the home that would allow him to work out and start losing weight again? Thanks for any advice you have.

Answer
There's a lot of fitness accessories out there.  But why risk the chance of getting him something he won't use?  He's told you what he would like.  Could a used bike work?  Can another family member help out, or other friends of his?

You KNOW he will do a bike.  There's no assurance he will like or do some other fitness apparatus.  I'd try for a bike.  He'll love you for it, and you'll love him getting back in shape again.