(from the New York Times, by Tara Parker Pope)

A year ago, I bought an elliptical trainer — a gym-quality machine that I felt certain would get a daily workout.

Today, my top-of-the-line exercise machine sits idle most of the time. But I’m not alone. Every year, consumers spend an estimated $4 billion on home treadmills, stationary bikes, Stairmasters and other equipment that ends up gathering dust. A Consumer Reports survey last year found that nearly 40 percent of those who buy home exercise machines say they use them less than they expected.
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