I love working out; I have a gym membership and both a gazelle and the Stamina InStride Stepper at the house. I run, I hike, my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy. I like this stepper better than the expensive ones at the gym. Its sturdy yet portable, and unlike most pieces of exercise equipment, this one really can easily be stowed anywhere. Its great for in front of the TV. I've owned my stepper for about 6 monthes now and the only issue I've had is that it needed a little WD-40 (it was squeaking). You can definitely feel it in your thighs after a good workout. I'd recommend it to anyone. For an added boost, buy a couple weighted balls to hold during your workouts.