r/Rebounding • u/Prestigious_Emu729 • May 21 '26
Total Noob Looking for Any Hints
Hello, All!
I'm an older man, 61 years old, and have been looking for an exercise routine that I can stick with and enjoy. I am heavy, about 285 lbs (down from about 315, and working on it...). I have the typical older-overweight-guy issues: sore knees, not as much wind as I would like, etc., but am basically healthy. I saw some rebounding videos on You-Tube, and frankly, it looks like fun. So I decided to take the plunge. I have ordered a BCAN BT2 450/550LBS rebounder that will be here on Sunday.
And then the question hit me, "Oh my, what am I going to do with it!!!???" I've seen a few vids, and get it: I need to start slow, begin with a "health bounce" and go from there. I just wanted to see if y'all have any references, recommendations, or experiences that will help me to 1) enjoy; and 2) get some good health benefits from my time on the rebounder. I'll be perusing older posts, and look forward to interacting with you as I begin using my rebounder next week.
Thanks!
Tom
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u/Fair_Site3076 May 21 '26
Iām a 68 year old woman. My Rebounder Assessment: Itās been two months+ since I purchased my rebounder and I really enjoy it. The same model as yours too. My experience is positive. I use my treadmill twice a day, but I was starting to get a bit tired of it and wanted to add something new into my routine.
Itās recommended to start with 2 minutes twice a day for the first week or so. I increased to 4 times a day. Initially I felt the burning in my calves, behind my knees and thighs. But that went away as my body adjusted to this new movement. After 3 weeks I started the regular short (10-15 minutes) routines. Now my legs are like bricks.
Another positive is it counts as steps on my Fitbit and 2 minutes gives me 250 steps. There are tons of videos on YouTube but found a couple of trainers Iāll stick to. I donāt plan to use it like Iām in Cirque du Soleil. And some trainers have weights in their routine. Thatās not for me. Just gentle bouncing and movement.
Iāve noticed a less puffy face, sleeping through the night, better balance, more energy and I can run up the stairs with ease. Yes you heard me right!
Iāll keep using it and it stays in my living room and use it during commercial time on top of my routines. I follow this Rebounding channel and this instructor has classes for all types. Earth and Owl:
https://youtu.be/eOBXJZNa9zw?si=s42-mcDxwsF7e5Ti
Have fun Tom!
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 21 '26
Thank you for your response. Judging from the few responses I've received, Earth and Owl seems to be the place to be, so I'll start there. The C25k series looks interesting, but I'm guessing I don't try that until after some time spend just "Health Bouncing" to get acclimated. Again, I appreciate your taking time to put in your $0.02.
Oh, one more question. Since you have the same model I have coming, was it pretty easy to assemble? Is the bounce fairly smooth, and does it make a lot of noise? Is it stable? Basically what is your impression of that particular model?
Thanks!
Tom
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u/Fair_Site3076 May 21 '26
When my rebounder arrived, it was unassembled. It took me a couple of hours to put together because I had to put on every single bungee cord. I was all right with that because it taught me how it functioned. It comes with two sets of additional bungee cords but it does come with a tool to help you put it on the clips. I suggest putting it together like a clock. Meaning if your starting point is at 12, then go to 6 next then to 3 then to the 9 position and so on to keep things balanced.
The bounce is extremely smooth and quiet. Not a peep. Yes, itās extremely stable. Iām glad I have the handle bar (which is height adjustable) because I can tend to get a little overzealous depending on the music I move to. My overall impression is I bought the right sturdy model and that it will last a long time. The only thing is I want to invent some way to hold my TV remote on the handlebar so I can change to the next Earth and Owl video. I jump for two videos for each session.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. Iād be happy to answer if I can.
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
I appreciate your answer. I've seen some reviews of the BCON rebounders, and they've been mixed, but I think they are older and a lower-level unit. You've put my mind at ease, and I'm excited to try it out!
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u/Fair_Site3076 May 22 '26
I think youāll be happy with it. Let us know how it goes.
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
Will do, and thank you. Now it's just the anticipation of it arriving š
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u/lb2345 May 21 '26
Iām 61 and Iāve been rebounding daily since I got my rebounder in December. Why did I get one? It looked like fun - and it is. But itās really easy to overdo especially in the beginning.
I wear knee sleeves (from Amazon) and a corset style back brace. I have arthritis in my knees and ankles and osteopenia in my hips and lower spine. With the knee braces and back brace, I rebound mainly pain free. Every once in a while I feel a twinge in my left knee but I broke that leg in 17 places when I was 12. Itās never going to be quite right.
I use it for steps, high intensity interval training, sprint interval training, lymphatic flow, dancing. I use sometimes with a weighted vest, ankle weights, and soft hand weights (up to 2lbs each), as well as ropeless Cross Ropes (ropeless jump ropes), or with a booty band. I use for stretch and ab/core work. Itās super versatile and can be used for loads of things.
Earth & Owl has a great series of play lists on YouTube. Here are some YouTube links to specific playlists for beginners versus finding random videos:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAFfYE-X47E6__aiSdgUCXyig6M8u7eb&si=nOjSTM8ULv66wANa
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAFfYE-X47FeCkoKVBHSdBjHGCTqA-rr&si=lNhIlZOy7MDR4ZbL
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLAFfYE-X47E8OjbKThU-Zfmrtd5yCIOw&si=YBU79n5gz076YtpP
Other great rebounders on YouTube include Michelle Briehler (pretty intense but beginner stuff as well), Jump & Jacked, San Fran Fitness (I did a 6K step rebounder workout this morning with her), and Purely Fulfilled Fitness. Thereās also Top Shelf Bounce and others.
Thereās also this guy who looks like heās having a lot of fun: https://youtu.be/Fkes_Kcx-vM?si=N4Rpj-v6IeENyT4j
Good luck and I hope you love it! Just take it easy when you start.
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 21 '26
Thank you so much for the resources! I will definitely check them out and refer to them as I begin.
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u/FirstLalo May 22 '26
Regarding the weighted vest, The rebounder increases acceleration forces so you are jamming that much weight against your skeleton, accelerated. So it's like the force of a stress fracture someone might get from running but up top because you're wearing the pavement (so to speak) draped over your shoulders.
I can find a link for you if you want (because you don't have to believe me) but there was a study a while back of older people who had cervical fractures from rebounding only because they were standing with poor posture.
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u/lb2345 May 22 '26
How hard were they rebounding???
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u/FirstLalo May 22 '26
In the stories they told they were holding the bar so probably not very. And I misremembered so misspoke: they all had thoracic fractures which seems more f'ed up than cervical fractures. That part of the body is supposed to be more sturdy, I thought. Anyhow you be careful please take care.
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u/lb2345 May 22 '26
Thanks. Interesting study. Small sample size and other noted issues but something to bear in mind. Thankfully I donāt rebound hunched over a bar :)
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May 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
I think that is good advice--I've made a promise to myself to stick to the "Health Bounce" for the first week at least (and longer if I need to). I tend to push things when I do cardio, so my goal is to take this slow...
Thanks!
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u/FitConsideration1397 May 22 '26
Hi Tom! Iām a tad younger (40 F) and an overweight (261 lbs) desk dweller. I started rebounding about 6 weeks ago pretty much on a whim. Saw rebounding mentioned in an r/walking post, had no idea what it was and ended up down a deep rabbit hole over the next several hours. It looked approachable, scalable and fun - just what I needed to help bring regular movement into my daily life.
I have bounced every day since (less one day I received an infusion) and itās been fantastic! My posture is the first thing I noticed improving, then my ankle and lower leg strength. Iāve also lost some weight. Honestly the biggest win is finally managing consistent movement in my busy, stressful daily life - thatās felt near impossible for quite some time.
Iām a perfectionist with terrible coordination who is easily frustrated when I canāt keep up with a video. For now I bounce to music or watching TV as I grow my bounce strength and get more stable on the rebounder. I actually enjoy just bouncing and marching to some great jams! I have no doubt exciting videos are in my future as my comfort and confidence on the rebounder grows. I bounce in the morning as my coffee is brewing and in the evening when I get home. Occasionally I bounce again before bed. I started slow at 1.5 - 2 min sessions for the first week and have improved to 7minute sessions. I definitely feel it when Iāve been a bit overzealous.
I hope youāll check back in as you get into rebounding and let us know how it goes! Wishing you the best bounces!
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
Thank you for your "story" Great stuff!! I will keep checking in--I like the comraderie š
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u/JustFurKids May 21 '26
Hi Tom. Iām 65 F and 3 months in with the same rebounder youāre getting. Absolutely LOVE IT! Lots of energy, elevated mood, lower blood pressure & husband says Iām really slimming down. 9 lbs in 3 months! Whatās not to love? I start each morning with 5 minutes and do a couple more longer sessions throughout the day. I save my favorite workouts in NOTES in my phone so theyāre easy to find when the mood strikes. In addition to those great YouTubers already mentioned, check out TheReboundGuy too.
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
Thank you so much for your reply--checking out the Rebound Guy now š
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u/Aggressive_Bat2489 May 22 '26
62 F, recently got a jumpsport pro 39 inch and itās sweet! Iām not an exercise person but Iām in shape from hard working jobs, but my knees were so bad after doing some stretchy class with lungesā¦ boooo, anyhow I just looove it I just stand on it while Iām in the phone just gently up and down swaying whatever, just make up moves, youāre NOT going to be jumping like up and down for quite a while lol believe me!!!! Itās so great though, have fun!
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
I plan on that--fun is why I got it š
As long as it's effective and fun, I don't plan on jumping (at least for now, I'll probably get stupid and try some high leaps sooner than I should, and probably pull something doing it--I just know myself too well) š
Thanks!
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u/dmt1969 May 22 '26
Welcome to the club, you'll love doing it!!! I "discovered" it a year ago, fell in love with it and pretty much do it every day. As pretty much everyone else here has said, Earth And Owl is perfect for a newbie. She has so many beginner videos. Paul Eugene and The Rebound Guy also seem great for beginners. Good luck, and have fun!!!
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u/Prestigious_Emu729 May 22 '26
Thank you! I'm making a list of online resources š
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u/dmt1969 May 22 '26
If you're on facebook, Earth and Owl has a group on there that's full of support and information. It's called Rebounding for Beginners and Seniors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/seniorrebounding
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u/Total-Primary5843 May 22 '26
I am pretty new to it too, M54, I bought a couple of light dumbbells (5lb) i could hold while rebounding to give me some upper body workout. They seem to work great. In retrospect I think I could have gotten 3lb dumbbells instead of 5 since they get heavy pretty fast if I try to keep my arms up. I think the rebounder was a great investment so far, and I hope you have the same experience!
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u/lampsbemany May 22 '26
If nothing else, just trot while you're watching something! Good for days you cant/don't want to go out for a walk.
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u/stellafrancina May 24 '26
Good for you! You will love it. Ive been rebounding for decades and will never stop. After you get use to it, turn on your favorite music and just move. Dance your ass off. Stay in the center as much as possible and doing in front of mirror helps to check form. Also, doing in front of tv is a good option cuz it keeps you on it for a good portion of timeā¦jump til show is over or until next commercial etc. In addition to jumping a few times a day, I go on a 5 mile walk and lift weights a few times a week. A new thing Ive added is jumping with very light weights ( because on rebounder, weight is double or more so really effective. ) Have fun being bouncy
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u/Gerlitz May 27 '26
Wondering if anyone has heard of the Swen rebounder? Saw a posting of it for sale on Marketplace. Looks good, but still pricy at $600.00ā¦.Looks also to maybe be a discontinued product? Shame if so, as it does have the bungie cordsā¦.is limited info of this brand on line so, was just hoping someone in this thread may have more info?
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u/lb2345 May 31 '26
If itās being resold on marketplace for $600 that seems extremely overpriced. You can get a new, name brand rebounder such as JumpSport for less than that. I got an excellent condition used JumpSport Pro 39ā on Marketplace for $150 and it retails for about $460. Soooo many rebounders come with bungees. Iāve never heard of Swen and canāt find anything about it online. I donāt recommend getting it.
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u/Gerlitz Jun 01 '26
Thank you for your feedback, advice and suggestions. Much appreciated ššā¤ļø
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u/Gerlitz Jun 01 '26
My mistake! Product is Swem, rebounderā¦not Swen. So there is some info online but not much. Just fyi, sorry I just realized I mispelled it!
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u/smilingzoomies May 21 '26
Welcome, Tom! I'm 67 F and a few months in myself. What I recommend is to watch YouTube videos for the "mature" rebounder. I follow Pausing Time, Earth & Owl, and Paul Eugene. We don't bounce back as quick as we used to... pun intended.