10 Benefits of a Treadmill
The treadmill has long been used by many fitness professionals as well as by numerous individuals in their homes or in hotels. Many appreciate the many benefits treadmills have to offer as there are several. Let’s look at 10 ways in which the treadmill can be beneficial for your health.
1. The treadmill has a padded surface that is easy on the joints so as not to cause unnecessary strain on the body. This makes the treadmill a good piece of exercise equipment for those who are aging.
2. Treadmills have a visual display which will allow you to see all of your results right there in front of your face. What you will see are things such as how many calories you’ve lost, what speed you are walking or running, your heart rate, your mileage, etc. Seeing all of this data can serve as a motivation as you will see that your work is really paying off!
3. You won’t have to worry about tripping or falling over pebbles or having your ankle twisted because your foot got caught in a whole when you run on a treadmill. As these are the things you’d have to deal with and worry about when running or jogging outdoors, the treadmill keeps you free from such worries.
4. You can set the speed at which you’ll exercise so as to optimize the amount of energy your body puts out. This will help you avoid unnecessary strain.
5. Treadmills, depending on which kind you have, can enable you to face the TV and watch a favorite show or movie while working out. This will help the time fly by faster making your workout more enjoyable as you won’t be paying too much attention to what you are doing hoping the time will hurry up and fly by. Just think of it. You could never do this outdoors. Some treadmills, today, even contain a small built in flat screen TV.
6. Treadmills are a healthy way to work out as you can adjust the settings to what is comfortable for you.
7. Should you want your workout to be a bit more difficult forcing you to work harder; you can adjust the incline simulating a hill outdoors.
8. Working out on a treadmill allows you to keep an eye on what’s going on in your home such as with your children. Rather than putting them in a day care center at the local gym, you can work out in the comfort of your own home keeping an eye on those precious to you.
9. Rather than partaking in fad diets, working out on the treadmill allows you to lose weight at a rate that is safe and healthy for your body. This is the very reason many fitness instructors as well as doctors continue to recommend this method of exercise.
10. Treadmills are relatively affordable, and almost anyone can own one.
By: Beth Campbell
About the Author:
Beth Campbell holds a Masters degree in Counseling and writes about a variety of subjects. Having lost 122 pounds, her articles often discuss how to do an effective weight loss cardio workout [http://www.weightlosscardioworkout.net/benefitsofatreadmill.html] and ways to lose weight. Beth also gives free diet tips about ways to lose weight on her Squidoo lens.
Incline Trainer Review – Strengths and Weaknesses of Incline Trainer Treadmills
There’s a new breed of fitness machine on the market – the incline trainer. These machines are a cross between a regular treadmill and a stair climber.
You can usually walk on a flat plane as you would a treadmill, but you can also choose to walk at very high inclines – up to 40% in some cases. The benefit is that you burn calories and get results very fast.
For example, you can burn 3X more calories walking on a 25% incline that you would on a flat incline. And you can burn 5X the calories walking on a 40% incline as compared to flat plain treadmill walking.
There are several different types of incline trainers on the market. The most popular are the Bowflex Treadclimbers and the NordicTrack Incline X3 Trainer.
Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. This article will outline the general strengths and weaknesses of incline home trainers as a whole so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Strengths:
1) Burn Up To 5X the Calories in a Single Workout
The main benefit to incline walking is that you can burn up to 5X more calories vs walking on a flat surface. Incline walking forces the larger muscles in your legs through a greater range of motion.
Because of this, you also tone and tighten up faster than you would on a regular treadmill. This also makes the incline treadmill ideal for those who don’t have a lot of time to workout. You can still get your exercise in, but don’t have to log hours in the gym.
2) Get the Benefits of Running Without the Stress On Your Body
With an incline workout, you can burn just as much, if not more calories than you do running. You also get similar lower body toning effects. All this without the strain and toll that running takes on your body.
3) More Compact Than A Treadmill
On the whole, these machines are more compact than treadmills and take up less space. One reason is that the belts tend to be smaller (because they aren’t built to be used for running). This is handy if you’re short on space or need a compact machine for your home gym.
4) Lower Impact Workouts
These machines are also lower impact than traditional treadmills. Because you don’t have the pounding impact from running, they can be easier on the knees and less stressful on the joints as a whole.
5) Advanced Workout Technology
Incline trainers offer some new console technology you won’t find on standard treadmills – and they’re getting better every year. For example you can get 3D console graphics and even stereo systems built into some incline units.
Weaknesses:
While it is possible to run on some models for the most part, it’s not recommended. You really can’t run at all on a Treadclimber (they have short belts and only up to 4.5 MPH speed limits). And the NordicTrack Incline trainer has a shorter belt size (51″) that might be ok for shorter runners but not for anyone over 5’8″.
If you’re a runner, you should probably consider a mid-priced to high end treadmill with excellent cushioning and a strong deck, instead of an incline home trainer.
Also, for the new exerciser, this kind of machine might be a bit much to start out with. Walking on a 25% incline burns a lot of calories – but if you don’t have much workout experience you’ll definitely be feeling it the next day.
Conclusion:
Incline trainers offer some great benefits like fast calorie burning and quick toning – which can get you to your weight loss goals faster. You also get the benefits of running, without the toll it takes on your joints. They’re also more compact than treadmills and can give you lower impact workouts.
Keep in mind however that these machines are probably not the best choice for runners and may be a bit too much for the exercise newbie. Overall though, if you’re looking for something beyond the traditional treadmill workout that gives you fast results in less time, an incline trainer may be perfect for you.
By: Kathryn ONeill
About the Author:
For more information, you can read in-depth Incline Treadmill Trainer reviews at Incline Trainer Reviews
For a quick review on the Nordic Track Incline Trainer X3 visit Nordic Track Incline X3 Trainer
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Treadmill Reviews – Helping You Find The Best Treadmill For YOU!
With a multitude of different treadmills available today, it can be extremely difficult to know which one might be the best one for you – it can be so overwhelming that you simply don’t know where to start! If you go to one of the wide variety of treadmill manufacturer’s websites, you will be greeted by a whole array of different models that include a variety of features and characteristics that simply boggle the mind, and inevitably enough, each manufacturer is going to say that theirs is better than all the rest. What you need to help you navigate your way through the overabundance of information is a helpful and unbiased informer, and thankfully, help is not too far away. Treadmill reviews. Treadmill reviews are here to help you make the right choice for you.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned treadmill user, it is difficult to see beyond the blurb put out by fitness equipment manufacturers. It is, after all, their job to sell their equipment to you, so they are going to put their best foot forward! Treadmill reviews can help you see beyond the advertising copy. Treadmill ratings are a mixture of the expert opinion of fitness professionals and of ordinary exercisers just like you, and these combine to help you evaluate a treadmill both in terms of the quality of it’s components and how well it actually fits into the average exerciser’s fitness regime.
Choosing a Treadmill – Where to Start?
The right treadmill is a highly individual choice, so before you consider any purchase it is wise to consider what your own personal expectations are, something that unfortunately cannot be found in treadmill ratings! Think about your own fitness goals, and how you intend to reach them – these will have an impact on which treadmill will be most suitable for you. So before you consider searching out the ratings on treadmill, make a list of things that are priorities for you. This will help narrow down your search, and help you use the home treadmill reviews that you come across in a more meaningful way.
There are two distinct types of treadmill reviews available – the evaluations of professionals, and treadmill consumer ratings, which are put together based on the information given by ordinary exercisers just like you. Both of these types of ratings are useful.
Professional reviews, such as those that might comprise magazine ratings of treadmills, are carried out by people in the fitness industry, who have expert knowledge on many aspects of treadmill construction and performance. They will have a good understanding of what it is that makes a treadmill safe and effective, and will undertake investigations on aspects of treadmill construction and longevity that is neither possible nor practical for the layperson to undertake. They will put together ratings on treadmills that will evaluate the component parts and the way in which they are assembled, and will have the background knowledge that will enable them to make comparisons with other treadmills that are available. With a broad understanding of treadmill development and technology, professional treadmill reviewers can evaluate a particular treadmill in an unbiased way, and provide you with a clear picture of how it measures up to the other models that are currently available.
On the other hand, treadmill consumer ratings are comprised of the practical opinion of the non-professional exercisers who have purchased a piece of fitness equipment for their own personal use – these are perhaps the people best qualified to provide reliable home treadmill reviews. Consumer ratings will provide you with more practically based information than is presented in professional treadmill reviews, and will give you a real impression of what a treadmill is actually like to use. Non-professional ratings will typically cover things such as how easy the treadmill is to put together and to operate, how quiet the motor is, and how much space the treadmill takes up when open or folded. While consumers will usually provide little information on the quality of construction of a treadmill, they will be able to provide first hand experience in reliability, comfort and ease of use, and will also usually be able to provide information on customer services.
There are a wide variety of both types of review available in sporting magazines and on the internet, so before you purchase a treadmill, be sure to check out some of these reviews. In combination, professional and consumer reviews will give you all you need to make an informed decision, and find the treadmill that is best for you.
By: Peter Clark
About the Author:
Find out more about Treadmill Reviews as well as Treadmill Maintenance cheap treadmills, used treadmills and folding treadmills at Peters website, Terrific Treadmills
© 2005 Peter Clark
Treadmills – Ideal For Home Exercise
Treadmills are ideal for exercising from home. They can be used on there own or if you are starting a home gym you can use them as an addition to other equipment such as the exercise bike, weight etc. The treadmill is ideal for both beginners and the more advanced as you have the options of walking or jogging at different speeds and inclines. All the major manufacturers such as Weslo, Reebok, Nordic Track etc have some excellent treadmills available. Costing will vary considerably depending on what you require. Some of the treadmills have built in heart monitors with mountainous terrain programs and races. If you are tight on a budget you can get a more basic model that will have a more moderate function level.
Cross training and treadmills:
We are all encouraged to do aerobic exercise that has excellent cardio benefits and overall health. The treadmill can be used combined with the dual way exercise bikes for cross training. The treadmill is geared more towards an overall aerobic exercise but is limited in upper body exercise. Combining the treadmill exercise with an upper body exercise such as using a dual function exercise bike or some free weights will give your body a complete workout.
Is a treadmill good for rehabilitation?
Firstly ask your doctor before ever using any fitness equipment if it is new to you or especially if you intend using the equipment for rehabilitation purposes. If you are using the treadmill for rehab after a sports injury such as knee ligament or ankle etc (including broken bones) you will need a treadmill with excellent cushioning on the under carriage. Such injuries require delicate training with little or no impact. If you are recovering from a health problem such as heart the treadmill is the ideal equipment that allows you set your own pace and build slowly (once again seek medical advice first).
Exercise is boring:
Agreed, exercise can be boring if you let it. If you are exercising at home you have excuses of being bored. Use the treadmill for 30 minutes per day in front of the TV and the time will fly, you might end up even doing more than you realise. You can add in more relaxed music to pass the time if you wish. Home exercise is only boring if that’s the excuse you want to use to get out of doing it.
Cardiovascular Exercise is a necessity:
The treadmill is the ideal exercise equipment to give you a cardiovascular workout. Your heart needs exercise to function properly and it is recommended that you do at least 25 to 30 minutes per day exercising. Combined with a good balanced diet the treadmill will go a long way in helping you achieve a healthy lifestyle.
What are the main benefits of using the Treadmill?
The treadmill has many advantages but none more important than improving your quality of life. By this we mean:
Low Price Treadmills – Where and How to Find Low Priced Treadmills
Looking for low price treadmills? In this tough economic market, many people want to get a high quality motorized treadmill for less.
Unfortunately, in many places, treadmill prices are rising (stores are feeling the pinch too). But there are still ways you can save money and get a quality treadmill for less.
This article will list 3 ways to find a low priced treadmill. Please note that I don’t recommend that you buy a low quality treadmill. Because a treadmill with cheap construction, design and cushioning can end up costing you in the long run in repairs, time and injured hips, knees and joints.
However if you’re looking to save money and still get a high value machine, here are the top 3 ways to get a low price treadmill:
#1 Buy Direct From the Manufacturer
Some treadmill manufacturers sell their treadmills directly to the consumer and skip the store middleman. You save on store markup and deal directly with the manufacturer.
Buying direct can save you up to 45% as manufacturers usually have the lowest prices on their own treadmills.
Here’s another advantage to buying direct. If, on the very slim chance, that something should go wrong with your treadmill – it’s easier to deal directly with the manufacturer to get the problem fixed.
In some cases they can actually do more for you than if you’d bought that same treadmill through the store.
#2 Buy Online
Even if you don’t buy direct from the manufacturer, there are some treadmill stores online where you can get discounts off store prices. (They don’t have to pay for maintaining a storefront, salaries etc. so they can afford to drop prices on their machines).
If you time it right, many online stores will also give you free shipping (which can normally cost up to $200). You can also save on sales tax in many cases.
#3 Buy A Used Treadmill
You can often get a used treadmill for about half the price as you’d find in the store. Many commercial grade treadmills are refurbished/rebuilt and then resold to the home consumer for half the list price.
You can also find discount treadmills in your local newspaper or classifieds. Moving sales are also a great place to look as the owners probably don’t want to drag a heavy treadmill to their next house.
There are several hazards to buying a used treadmill that most buyers are not aware of however.
For example, most treadmill manufacturers will not honor the warranty for a second owner. So if the treadmill breaks the day after you get it home, you’re out the money to fix it.
Also, keep in mind that you’ll probably be responsible for moving the treadmill yourself so you may need to rent or borrow a truck.
Plus, you can never really be sure why the buyer is selling. And you don’t know how much wear and tear is on the treadmill – so chances of buying a lemon are higher if you buy used than if you buy new.
So those are 3 ways to find low price treadmills. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t find a higher quality treadmill. Whatever you choose to do, remember to buy as high quality as you can afford – it will pay off in the long run!
By: Vienna Miller
About the Author:
Vienna Miller writes for http://www.TreadmillReview.net a site offering the latest treadmill brand reviews, product ratings and money saving tips.
For a list of manufacturers that sell treadmills direct to consumer visit the Discount Treadmill Stores page
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Treadmill Reviews – What to Know When Choosing a Treadmill
So you’re buying a treadmill. You’re stoked because you’ll have one of the best pieces of fat-burning equipment at your convenience 24-7.
No more waiting in line at the gym. No more running in the rain or snow. You’ll be able to workout at home whenever you want.
But wait a minute. What’s with all the different treadmill brands?
And why are there so many different opinions about which treadmill is the right one?
If you’ve read any treadmill reviews during your research, you may be a bit confused.
One person loves their Proform treadmill while another person swears by Horizon. Someone else says that Precor is the way to go while someone else says it’s overpriced.
How can you choose the best treadmill for you with all of these conflicting viewpoints?
Just to keep things in perspective, here are 3 things to remember when reading treadmill reviews:
#1. It’s One Persons Viewpoint
People have different opinions on everything from cars to burgers to flat screen TVs. One person prefers one machine over another for many different reasons. This doesn’t mean that one brand is superior to another (although that’s certainly possible). It just means that the brand is preferred by that particular person.
Don’t be alarmed when someone has a different recommendation than the treadmill you choose. It doesn’t mean that your treadmill is a wrong choice for you. It just means someone doesn’t have the same preference as you. Not a deal breaker.
While it’s always smart to think about other peoples advice in a decision, in the final analysis, it’s your choice that really matters. Because you have to ultimately feel happy with the treadmill you’re choosing.
#2. Is the Review Real?
Unfortunately the treadmill business is like any other – competitive. I’ve seen a lot of treadmill reviews that are obviously not written by a normal buyer. Maybe it’s from somebody working for the competition (and leaving a negative review) or it could be someone actually working for the company (and posting a positive review). If a review sounds like it’s full of treadmill jargon you don’t understand – or even a bit too glowing or scarily negative, there’s a good possibility that it might not be genuine.
While this kind of thing used to happen more often, the good news is that with more and more people leaving reviews on various websites, it’s getting easier to sift out the real from the fake reviews.
Now remember that just because a review isn’t real doesn’t make the treadmill a bad buy or a good buy – it just means the review isn’t sincere. So if it sounds too fake to be true, just disregard it and move on.
#3. People Will Complain More Than They Rave
While this is a sad fact of human nature, it’s all too true. People are more likely to complain than to praise. And unfortunately, this can skew the number of positive vs negative reviews you read on a specific treadmill. So while there may be 3 negative comments that you do read – there might be hundreds of people who bought that same treadmill and are totally happy with it. And they probably won’t leave a review.
Remember that no matter how amazing a treadmill is – nobody is perfect. Even the best companies make a dud or damage a treadmill in shipping. You really want to try and get a general overall picture and not focus too much on one or two very negative reviews.
So what do you do when reading treadmill reviews? Simple – do your research and go with your own choice.
Researching your options will give you a great feel for which home treadmills offer more for your money than others. But in the final analysis you have to choose a treadmill you really love and believe you’ll use. Do this and you’re guaranteed to find the best treadmill for you.
By: Kathryn ONeill
About the Author:
Kathryn ONeill writes for http://www.TreadmillReview.net – a site offering the latest treadmill brand reviews and product ratings.
For a list of treadmill reviews by brand visit Home Treadmill Reviews
Portable Treadmill Review – Pros and Cons of Portable Treadmills
Looking for a portable treadmill? Portable, lightweight treadmills are popular with people who live in condos or apartments.
Other people may live in more than one place throughout the year. They want an easily movable treadmill that they can fold up, pack away and transport to a new destination.
While this is a niche part of the treadmill market, there are a couple of treadmills that are specifically designed to be compact and portable.
These treadmills are very different from your typical home treadmill. They have lighter construction and usually weight much less than standard treadmills.
They will fold up to a very compact size and will usually have wheels on the bottom for easy movement and storage. You can easily fit them under a bed, upright in a closet or even in a hatchback car. The belts are quite small on these treadmills with belt lengths around 50″ long at the most. Consoles are also usually small and simplistic.
Finally, portable home treadmills may not give you all of the bells and whistles that come with standard home treadmills like one-touch incline, built in workout programs and fitness tracking tools.
So is a portable compact treadmill right for you? Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of portable treadmills to help you decide:
Advantages:
1) Portable – The first advantage is obviously that these treadmills are lightweight and portable. You can easily pack them up and away whenever you want. This makes them a great option for condos or apartments or even small workout spaces like your office or living room. You can also take these treadmills with you if you live in more than one place during the year.
2) Compact – These treadmills also tend to be very compact as well as portable. Again, this makes them a great option for condos, apartments, offices or smaller workout spaces.
3) Affordable – Because of their smaller size, portable treadmills tend to run under $1000. This makes them affordable for the home gym on a budget.
4) Already Assembled – Another great thing about these treadmills is that most of them come pre-assembled. So if you’re not handy and don’t relish spending hours setting up your treadmill, you’ll appreciate this feature.
Disadvantages:
1) Small Belts – The longest belt I’ve ever seen on a portable model is only 50″ – which is quite short. Most standard home treadmills run from 52″ – 60″ long. So if you’re taller or want to run on these treadmills you may feel like you’re falling off the machine.
2) Limited or No Incline – Because of the design constraints of building such a compact treadmill, these units will either come with no incline or a limited number of incline options.
3) Few Workout Programs – You tend to get very few workout programs and fitness tracking tools with these treadmills. The consoles are very simple with limited workout feedback.
Conclusion:
Portable treadmills are a growing niche in the home treadmill market. They are lighter and easier to move than standard treadmills. Plus they are affordable and so compact that they’re perfectly suited to condos, offices or small workout spaces.
On the downside however, they are usually very simple and bare bones with short belts and limited incline options.
By: Kathryn ONeill
About the Author:
Kathryn ONeill writes for [http://www.treadmillreview.net] a site offering the latest treadmill brand reviews, product ratings and money saving tips.
To learn which portable treadmills offer the best value for your money visit the Portable Treadmill Review.
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Sportcraft Treadmills
Sportcraft Treadmills – Lowww End
Sportcraft treadmills are late entries from Sportcraft, Ltd.
A long-time producer of indoor and outdoor games and sports equipment and darling of mass-market chains like K-Mart, Wal Mart, and Target, all of which have named it a vendor or supplier of the year.
As might be expected from a company servicing the discount market, Sportcraft treadmill models are low-end.
Sport Craft currently offers ten models, including the Power Swing II, a combination treadmill and arm pulley system available at Wal Mart.
Top-of-the-line is the TX 795.
Belts And Pulleys
The Sport Craft TX795 is equipped with a 3.0 HP motor for speeds up to 12MPH and powered incline.
One-touch buttons control incline and speed. The TX795 treadbelt is 19.5×57″ and the cushioned deck supports up to 300 lbs.
Programming includes six preset workouts and a grip pulse gives readouts of heat rate along with displays of time, distance, and lap count.
The Sportcraft TX795 has a fold-away design.
The Power Swing II has a 2.25 HP motor and can go up to 10MPH.
Its deck adjusts to three positions and has a cushioned walking surface of 16×50″, pretty small.
Its main feature, however, is the pulley system affixed to the tail end allowing the user to get an upper-body workout by pulling on the pulley handles while walking. Hmmm.
It goes for under $600 at Wal Mart.
Warranties on Sport Craft treadmills cover the frame for lifetime, the motor for 10 years, parts for 1 year and labor for 90 days.
By: Steve Ecclestone
About the Author:
More information and reviews on a full range of leading treadmills can be found at Best Treadmill Guide [http://best-treadmill-guide.com/index.html/]
