So you know there is a problem when you work out on the Stairmaster for at least 20 minutes at the gym and, according to the little computer, successfully climb “20 flights” with no problem; but THEN cannot even breathe when your elevator breaks and you are forced to climb real flights of actual steps in a real live building...HMMMMM.

If you have not guessed already, I’m reflecting on a rather irritating personal experience. I really like using the Stairmaster at the gym because I feel that it really works out my legs and allows me to practice engaging my core (which I learned in Pilates and have been trying to apply in my everyday life); however, it just is not the same as real steps. So I decided to switch to the other stepper machine (most gyms have one or the other, but I’m referring to the one that actually has legit steps moving down as you race to climb). Anyway, this was far more challenging than the Stairmaster that only pumps your legs up and down.

After a week of my new stepping machine routine, I headed to my buildings stairwell to see if my endurance had improved. Well! Thankfully it did, but not by as much as I thought it would! So I’m going completely organic on this issue…real steps are the most challenging and in my opinion a way better work out to invest time and energy into. Plus, you don’t even have to go to the gym to do it!! Just be careful not to trip, and make sure to avoid dark stairwells late at night!

-Ashley Johncola