Designed to be used while sitting down, the DeskCycle Ellipse seemed like an easy way to stay active while working from home. Putting it together was extremely simple—all I had to do was attach the foot pedals and hook on the LCD screen. There are eight resistance settings so you can adjust the intensity of your workout; I generally keep mine on level five or six so I’m not too out of breath. But don’t get me wrong: Just a few minutes gets my heart rate up, and a 30-minute session feels like I’ve gone on a power walk around the neighborhood—all without leaving my computer. Since I can stay on my computer while I cycle, the under-desk elliptical is perfect to use while responding to emails, listening to meetings, and researching for the stories I’m writing. I also use it while reading books or scrolling through TikTok on days I don’t get many steps in. I was worried that the machine would be noisy, but thanks to its magnetic resistance, it’s actually so smooth and quiet, my roommates don’t even notice. To buy: $250; amazon.com If you’re interested in keeping track of your stats, the brand’s website has a calculator that gives you an estimate of how many calories you burned. It’s based on the resistance level, number of revolutions, and duration, while also factoring in your height and weight—and the results are pretty similar to what my Apple Watch says when I put it in workout mode.
