Best Selling
Treadmills are Still the Best Selling Equipment
Treadmills are probably the best selling piece of fitness equipment in the last ten years. Why because study after study says they will give you a top cardio workout plus: build bone density, burn calories and build muscles in your low body.
What more can you ask for in the privacy of your own home. Elliptical trainers are starting to catch up with the treadmill in popularity but until then treadmills remain the top cardio machine on the market today. These machines will never go out of style because the technology behind them is sound.
Treadmill Benefits
One benefit of Treadmills is that its a weight bearing exercise like Walking, Jogging and Aerobics which means they will build bone density better then non-weight bearing exercises. You have a better chance at weight control because treadmills work the large muscles in your body.
Working large muscle groups in your body will help speed up your metabolism and burn calories long after you finished working out.
Another benefit to buying a quality treadmill is the grade and speed controls. Having the ability to adjust your speed and the angle you’re walking on is very important to how intense you want your workout.
You can choose to either walk or run, it’s all up to you. Most treadmills will come with preset programs you can follow or you can make up your own. The gauges on a treadmill are usually Speed, Distance, Time, Fat Calories burned and more expensive ones will have Fans, CD Players and even LCD TV’s.
Most treadmills are folding treadmills; this can be done electronically or manually. Make sure you know this before you buy. This will save you space if you need it.
Most quality made treadmills have cushioned treads so you won’t hurt your feet, knees or back when you walk or run on them. This may be an issue if you are buying a cheaper treadmill so keep that in mind.
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Treadmill Exercises
Treadmills are meant for either walking or running at an incline or flat. Each one of these positions will be discussed below in detail.
- Walking with tread Horizontal to Ground: This is the easiest way to exercise on the treadmill. Adjust your speed to a good walking pace and do 10 to 15 minutes a day (3 times a week) and see how this feels. Increase your time limits as you get better. If your knees are bad this would be the preferred way to exercise on this machine.
- Running with tread Horizontal to Ground: This particular exercise would be similar to jogging outside without the pounding on the knees. This exercise takes more energy and will burn more calories once you get used to it. Again start out with maybe 10 to 15 minutes a day (3 times a week) then increase your time on the treadmill when you feel comfortable. If you can’t handle this go back to Exercise 1.
- Walking with tread on Incline: You will burn more calories with this exercise then the previous two exercises. This particular exercise will not only burn calories but it will also build muscle in your buttocks and legs. Try 10 minutes on incline a day (3 times a week) and increase the incline as you see fit. If you’re a newbie on the treadmill DO NOT put the treadmill on full incline unless you got great knees.
- Running with tread on Incline: Probably the most difficult exercise on a treadmill and probably the most beneficial. Like the other 3 exercises start out at maybe 10 minutes a day (3 times a week) and increase your time if you feel you can. This exercise will build muscles in legs, buttocks, calves and burn calories like you’ve never seen before. This is NOT a good exercise for the Treadmill beginner or if you’ve over weight, or have bad knees.
The Treadmill is still the single most important piece of equipment you can ever own. There is no other machine on the market including Elliptical Trainers that can do more for burning calories, cardio, building bone density, increasing muscle in your lower body and overall health then the treadmill.
But this machine can also hurt you if not used properly. Important things to Remember!
- Use good form when getting on and off the treadmill.
- Make sure your shoes fit properly. Shoes with good shock absorption (Cross Trainers) and shoes that fit snuggly BUT DON’T RUB are a must when using the treadmill.
- If you’re new to the treadmill or out of shape, start slowly (Exercise 1) and progress at your own speed or get a personal trainer.
Buying a Treadmill
There are two places where you can shop for your treadmills and that is online (Internet) or offline (Retail Store). The Internet has many positive aspects like going to Google or Yahoo and typing in “treadmills” and up will come millions of web pages on treadmills. You will find more information on the Internet then you will ever get offline.
You should expect to pay between $500 and $3000 for a quality made treadmill, usually the latter.
Benefits of Online Shopping:
- See what are the top treadmill brands and models.
- Finding out Treadmill Benefits, Popularity & Issues.
- Compare Prices and Warranties.
- Buy directly from Manufacturer thus eliminating the middleman. (Some Brands).
- Read customer Reviews on the treadmills before you buy.
- Check out multiple stores with ever leaving your computer.
- Shopping at your own pace.
- Eliminate the Middleman
Benefits of Offline Shopping:
- Testing the treadmill yourself.
- Direct Communication with a Salesman.
Treadmill Motor & Tread
The most important part of the treadmill is the motor. Small motors like a (1.5 HP) will have a shorter life expectancy then larger motors (2.0 – 3.0 HP) because they have to work harder and will likely ware out faster.
Longer warranties on the motor will give you a hint on how long the dealer (seller) expects the motor will last. It’s probably better to invest a little more money in a brand name treadmill that has a bigger motor and avoid the discount treadmill with the cheap motor.
Shipping
Treadmills are large and heavy items that require proper shipping and handling because of the delicate electronics equipment on board. Make sure the seller has experience in shipping freight. These people need to know secure packing methods and use a freight company with a proven record. This will help the hassles of returning your treadmill because it wasn’t packaged properly.
Treadmill Warranties
A good warranty is the only way to protect your investment. Your warranty should cover the motor for at least 5 years, the Frame for 20 years, and Parts and Labor for 1 year. If your dealer (seller) has a long warranty on the Motor and Frame then you know it must be a good treadmill because no dealer wants to fix problems still under warranty. Short term warranties should mean stay away.
Customer Service
They’re should be a “no questions asked” return policy of at least 30 days. If you decide for whatever reason that the treadmill does not suit you, having the ability to return it in a reasonable period of time puts the risk on the seller.
Make sure the seller you’re dealing with has certified technicians that can do in-home repairs. Although most of these treadmills are of modular design they still might need a skilled technician.
The majority of repairs can be fixed and handled by the treadmill owner. By describing the problem over the phone, a service representative can pinpoint the problem and either instruct you on the immediate repair, or ship you a part that can be easily installed. Make sure the online store has phone service representatives with regular hours.
Refurbished & Used Treadmills
You need to know the difference between these two before you buy. Refurbished treadmill usually refers to a treadmill that has been rebuilt and used treadmill means you’re buying the treadmill as is after somebody has used it for a period of time.
Refurbished treadmills tend to be expensive because they like to rebuild high end treadmills. If you’re looking for a used treadmill because it’s cheap you might as well buy a new treadmill for under $500 dollars and save yourself the time and effort.
Choosing a Treadmill
Treadmills come in all shapes and sizes, including folding and stationary models. It is important to find just that right model that accommodates your present and future exercise goals. You can research on the internet through articles and reviews. In addition, you may want to talk with fitness professionals that can recommend a treadmill specific to your needs.
Don’t be lured by blue light specials found in large retail and sporting good stores. They lack the components and functionally to provide an enduring and pleasurable exercise experience. If you are in it for the long run you’ll want to buy a treadmill that is build to last and designed to be virtually maintenance free.
Of course buying a treadmill is just the beginning. You won’t lose weight looking at it. It is important to get yourself on a regular routine. The more time you spend on your treadmill the more calories you are going to burn and weight you can lose. A treadmill is also great for toning and building muscle.
Treadmills have experienced substantial and steady growth over the years. Since there introduction there has never been a year where sales have decreased. They are designed to enhance the most popular form of exercising, running and walking. They are built on the basic premise that the more effort you put in the more you will get out.
Conclusion
If you want results from your treadmill then you have to be committed to it long term. Don’t put in the basement where nobody goes but find a place like in front of your TV or family room where everyone can use it. Treadmill exercise has been proven to work so if getting in shape and losing weight are your goals then treadmills are worth every cent and will give back exactly what you put in.
If you’re living in a small space or apartment and need all the room you can get but would still like a treadmill then a folding treadmill is what you should look for. They are either power folding or manual folding and not all treadmills can fold. Folding means the tread will fold up to the control panel in front.
