Hope you don't mind me butting in - I was looking through darkvervain's friends list and saw this entry.
I highly recommend a really good water rower (http://www.waterrower.com/) and/or a Nordic Track classic pro skier (http://www.nordictrack.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=153&prrfnbr=988&cgrfnbr=46533&rootcat=46525). Both use all the major muscle groups and provide excellent workouts at whatever level you choose. Both are low-impact and comfortable. You should be able to get machines in good condition through online auctions, freecycle, etc. I used a friend's water rower for a couple of years almost daily, and the nordic track regularly for years, and the only reason I'm without them now is that we made a transatlantic move and couldn't afford to ship them. If you can find a better all-round option than these, I'd be surprised - and the great thing is that, though you will up the resistance, it's very hard to reach a plateau with them.
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I highly recommend a really good water rower (http://www.waterrower.com/) and/or a Nordic Track classic pro skier (http://www.nordictrack.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=153&prrfnbr=988&cgrfnbr=46533&rootcat=46525). Both use all the major muscle groups and provide excellent workouts at whatever level you choose. Both are low-impact and comfortable. You should be able to get machines in good condition through online auctions, freecycle, etc. I used a friend's water rower for a couple of years almost daily, and the nordic track regularly for years, and the only reason I'm without them now is that we made a transatlantic move and couldn't afford to ship them. If you can find a better all-round option than these, I'd be surprised - and the great thing is that, though you will up the resistance, it's very hard to reach a plateau with them.