How to dispose of your old exercise equipment
Introduction
Many of us have a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or another exercise contraption stuck somewhere in the corner of the house. If you are like me, all people are separated by their good intentions.
I bought a brand-new stationary bicycle with the good intention of spending at least 60 minutes per day, and 360 minutes per week, pounding the pedals to lower my blood glucose level. Just what the doctor ordered.
I was skeptical that riding a bicycle in one spot for a minimum of 20 minutes and three times per day would have much impact. I was turned from skeptic to believer as I saw the results of my hard work – well, I can say it was hard work because no one saw how hard I did or did not work. It lowered my blood glucose level by almost 2 points, and so far, I have dropped 8 Kg.
Bottom line: I was looking at my bicycle as a “boat anchor,” but now view it as a keeper. I am now so impressed; I think everyone with diabetes should have one as part of their diabetes treatment plan.
What Happens Sometimes?
The sad story. An exercise machine is purchased with great gusto and the dollars to match. It is used for a few weeks – or less – and then languishes in a corner. Others in the house start making jokes, and they get angry. But you cannot lift your leg to get on the damn thing and start pedalling.
After a few weeks of the persistent attack, you are forced to decide. Either use it or lose it.
Happy days if you use it, and based on my results, a sad day if you choose to lose it.
How to get rid of “It.”
The first line of defence is to remember that your “junk” could be someone else’s gold—a case in point. A friend had an old and bashed-up wooden chest. A few days later, flipping through the want-adds, he saw his chest on sale for $350. It sold in one day! He is a strong proponent where reused, repurposed, and recycled are the legs of the 3-legged stool in a circular economy and putting the chest at the end of his driveway, free for the taking, it soon disappeared.
Someone out there will want your machine, but you may have to be patient. Consider your machine's age, model and condition compared to the others. Look first in the want-adds for comparison pricing, and depending on how fast you may want to get rid of it, price a bit below or a bit above the market.
With all the information gathered, go for it. Reuse, repurpose and recycle. You certainly want to be separate from the 94% of the 22 million tons of material, including exercise equipment, that was prepped for recycling but did not get recycled. That is about a 6% success rate which is not impressive.
Getting rid of your exercise machine presents you with four options:
⦁ Advertise the sale on one of the want-add sites. (Facebook marketplace, etc.). One caveat, however, is to be extremely careful with strangers entering your home on the premise of “buying.” One never knows these days. A person could be casing your joint. If possible, hold any viewings outdoors.
⦁ Donate your machine to the Salvation Army, the Good Will, or others that may be able to bring life back to your old device.
⦁ Recycle the machine or leave it at the end of your driveway with a free-for-taking sign attached.
⦁ As a last gasp, your option may be to “deep six” the machine. Load it in your vehicle and take it to the garbage dump. Last rites given, and dumping it out of the trunk, time to go home to remember what was supposed to be and what could have been. But, hey, there is a new day tomorrow.
Conclusion
Exercise equipment is usually purchased with great gusto and in a spirit of good intentions. For many, the shine quickly wears off, and one is stuck with a proverbial boat anchor. Several options are available, from starting to use the machine for its intended uses to recycling, selling, or throwing it away.
It is your exercise machine and your choice. At Damndiabetes.ca, we would love the opportunity to help you achieve a better quality of life living with diabetes. Call on us today to talk to us.
Best wishes ...
Wayne Drury was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes over one year ago. He was frustrated
with the lack of usable information on the treatment of diabetes and how to lower blood
sugar effectively. His passion now, using all he has found in diabetes research, is helping
others on a path to a better quality of life living with diabetes, which he shares on his
personal website.