What to Look for When Choosing Treadmill Equipment

So you’ve decided that this is it. You’re ready to make some significant changes in your body. Maybe you need to lose some unwanted pounds and maybe you’re not overweight but you just want to stay that way. Whatever the reason, you know you want to use treadmill equipment, but you’re just not sure exactly what qualities or features you should look for.

Many treadmills have weight limits. 

Some users don’t think to check for this before purchasing but it does make a difference and can affect the different features of the machine. The weight limit is set as a safety precaution for users as well as a precaution for what the motor can handle. You’ll want to check the limit to make sure it will work for you.

Next, you’ll want to check out the warranty. 

Do you get a year on the motor? Ten years? A lifetime warranty? If you plan to keep the treadmill you’re buying for many years, look for one with a high warranty time limit. Keep in mind that heavy duty motors deliver better performance and usually last longer. That’s why the commercial gyms buy the treadmills with the powerful motors.

Do you have a room set aside to use strictly for exercise? 

Or will the room have a double use? If so, then you’ll need to check out the convenience factor for the treadmill equipment. Look for one that offers easy set up and take down for storage capability. You’ll want to make sure that wherever you place the machine, you have the room to get around it.

Check out all of the extra features. 

How many pre-programmed exercise routines would you prefer to have? The amount of built in exercise programs in each machine ranges from very few to quite a few.

If you prefer to customize your workouts, then find the treadmill that has that in the features. Some people prefer to multi-task or otherwise engage their minds when exercising and if that’s something you also prefer, make sure you choose a treadmill that has a reading rack or a flat screen television monitor.

Finally, when choosing treadmill equipment, consider the cost. You’ll find they range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. But don’t allow cost to be the deciding factor.

Look at a treadmill as a lifetime investment and you’re certainly worth whatever the cost it takes to get and stay healthy. You don’t want to buy the cheapest piece of machinery on the market just to save a few bucks. Make a list of what you need in an exercise machine first. Then go shopping to find the one that falls in line with those needs.

Getting into or staying in shape isn’t as hard as you might believe. 

You would think that the formula of ‘burn more calories than you eat’ would be simple enough to lose weight and keep it from coming back. And it is. But only exercise is the door to proper weight loss and a fitness treadmill holds that key. 

How you lose the weight does matter. Quick or fad diets do not work in the long run. You might drop a clothing size, but in the end, that weight will come back. Starving yourself isn’t a healthy way to lose.

On a fitness treadmill, you’ll be walking - and walking is the number one way to lose weight. 

So why get a treadmill? Why not just walk outside on the sidewalks? Most walking injuries occur to the ankles and knees due to connecting the foot repeatedly with a hard surface. Walking or running on sidewalks or asphalt jars your joints and puts stress on your joints. Add that to an uneven surface and it’s pain waiting for a place to happen.

With a fitness treadmill, you get better cushioning and an even surface. Those are the benefits just starting out. But once you get going, this kind of exercise elevates your cardio vascular performance. Walking lowers not only stress but also your bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Not many people realize that each muscle in your body takes part in the workout and you’ll end up more toned not only on your leg and calf muscles but your arms, waist and buttocks as well.

You’ll get adjustments on the speed and the level with the push of a button. Intensity in exercise levels can range from mild or moderate to intense. These adjustments mean that everyone can take part in fitness, even couch potatoes looking for a change.

Exercising for just thirty minutes a day can change your body’s fitness level. 

If it’s so simple, why don’t more people do it? Because it’s not easy to get into workout clothes in the mornings or evenings and head out to the gym hoping you can find a treadmill that’s not in use.

If you have a treadmill at home, you get to burn calories and fat, tone your muscles and if you’ve thought about getting one but thought boredom might be a factor, you haven’t considered the versatility of owning one.

You can change up the exercise routine. You can walk, jog or run. You can read a book or magazine or watch TV. A fitness treadmill is the easiest way to lose weight and get in shape all year round. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes to get fit and stay there.

Walking is good for you whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned exercise expert. To get the most benefits for your body from exercise, aim for a daily workout. Workouts are easier to stick to if you have the right equipment. This list of treadmill reviews will help you choose the correct equipment.

One of the top performing treadmills is theProform 380 CS Treadmill.  With this model, you get a 1.5 CHP/2.25 HP motor. You can adjust the speed from 0 to 10 miles per hour easily when you’re ready to increase the intensity of your workout.

The comfortable Protech cushioning will absorb the impact of walking so that your ankles and knees won’t have to. You can keep an eye on how well you’re doing with the workout with the handy LCD display. You get plenty of features and a budget friendly price tag.

The Horizon brand is next in the lineup of Treadmill Reviews. The Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill has a durable 2.0 horsepower motor and the speed can adjust from 0.5 to 10 mph and you can have an easy or challenging workout to help you reach your best fitness goals. You’ll get a variety of exercise programs so that you can keep your workout from getting stale. Though it has plenty of features, this model is easy to set up and use.

The Nordic Track Professional Series 4000 offers users a 3.5 CHP motor that can handle the toughest workouts. You get better than average elevation level at 15 percent with a cushion deck to make walking, jogging or running a pleasure for your feet.

This model comes with an LCD TV so you can see the shows while you lose weight and firm up those muscles. Fifteen exercise programs are part of this package to help keep you on the right track.

The Ironman 220t Programmable Treadmill gives you the option to create 8 customized workout programs as well as 4 preset ones. The 2.25 horsepower motor and the cooling fan can make exercising a habit forming activity.

With this one, you’ll get a 325 pound weight maximum and an EKG pulse grip so that you can see how your heart rate is doing. With an added feature that’ll hold a book or magazine as well as a water bottle, you can workout in comfort and enjoyment.

Last but not least in the Treadmill Reviews is the Life Fitness T5-0. The motor on this model is extremely quiet and the 3.0 motor delivers optimal performance. Choose from 12 pre-programmed exercise programs or if you’d like something more personal, you have 4 to select from as well as a custom one.

If you’re sharing this treadmill with someone else, each person can create a user workout that’s geared toward their fitness needs. This model has a lot of extras such as the GoSystem Quick Start and the HeartSync which can change the workout due to the feedback the system gets from your heart. Innovative quality and more for your money is what best describes this model.

The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution - Review

Are you a career person working a 50-hour week while driving the kids to their after-school activities in-between work hours and the rest of the day?  Do you think you could find 30 minutes a week for your own fitness?  Or perhaps you’ve grown tired of having to exercise every day.  

The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution by Fredrick Hahn, Michael R. Eades and Mary Dan Eades will introduce you to a new way of working out.  You’ll be able to work out for 30 minutes a week and get amazing results.

The book begins by explaining some myths many people have long held about fitness.  It then goes on to explain how slow motion exercise works.  The idea is that instead of the typical gym exercises, each rep you perform will be done much more slowly.

By eliminating any momentum you might get from moving quickly, your muscle has to work harder to lift the weight you’re asking it to carry.  You’ll complete only one set of three to six repetitions of each exercise.  And it will take you about a minute or 90 seconds to complete each set.

This is a fast workout, but it isn’t an easy workout.  That’s because you’re asked to lift the heaviest weight you can so that your muscles reach failure by the end of the set.  This is extremely challenging and requires you to pay close attention to technique.

The first half of the book is an explanation of the program as well as the benefits of it.  It focuses on health benefits such as stronger bones, back strength and less back pain, and heart health. 

You’ll also learn about how slow burn fitness can improve your athletic performance and your flexibility.  When you have improved strength, you’ll see that you have more energy to accomplish your daily tasks as well.

The second half of the book is the actual “how to” portion.  There are two workout routines that you can perform.  The first one is designed to do at home.  For this you need some basic equipment such as free weights, an exercise mat, a towel, and a chair.

The alternative routine can be done at the gym using circuit equipment.  The book explains how to use the machines to get the workout done if you don’t want to work out in your home.

The exercises are to be done in order to get the best benefit.  Once you complete the exercises in about half an hour, you don’t need to exercise again until a week later.  This gives your muscles time to rest and to build strength.

This idea may sound totally foreign to you if you’ve spent your life performing traditional exercises.  But it’s been around for some time.  It’s regained popularity in recent years and has been proven effective.

About the Authors

Unlike many books that teach exercise programs, this book has three authors.  One of them is Fredrick Hahn who is a well-known trainer who is the founder of Serious Strength. 

Hahn is a certified trainer who has been in the business for almost 30 years.  His experience and training lend credibility to the plan he outlines in the book.  The other two authors, Michael R. Eades and Mary Dan Eades are both medical doctors who have authored nine other books – some separately and some together.  They’re on the faculty of Colorado State University and are known for being experts on metabolism.

The combined experience of these authors gives two sides to the story.  You’ll learn about the science and medical aspect of this workout plan as well as the routine and results of each exercise.

What Works about Slow Burn Fitness

This program isn’t for everyone, but it does have many benefits.  First, people who are committed to the program report that they’re in the best shape of their life and that they’ve been able to reach fitness and weight goals in just a weekly workout.

You’ll naturally boost your metabolism and notice that you’re losing weight without having to do cardio exercise every day.  Losing fat and toning up will also help you to feel better about the way you look.

Many consumers also report that they’ve seen improvement in their health statistics such as better blood pressure, healthier cholesterol, and better blood sugar measurements.

You’ll also like that you don’t have to spend a lot of money for this program if you choose to do it at home.  The equipment you need is minimal and the entire program can be done at home without having to pay for a membership.

But if you like going to the gym to exercise, you have that option also.  You’ll also enjoy the challenge of lifting weights in this way.  This workout is quick, but it is also tough and you’ll know you’ve done something to improve your body.

The book outlines specific exercises by showing photographs of proper form and offering tips for each one.  You’ll find the routine easy to understand, though it will challenge your muscles.

If you’re a busy person who also wants to stay in shape, this is a great plan for you.  For many people it’s not possible to cram another hour of exercise into a busy day.  But with this program you’ll only need half an hour once a week to have the benefits.

The focus of this program is on building muscle to boost your metabolism.  You’ll be burning more calories all day long – even though you’re not exercising at the moment.  Muscle is a more active tissue than stored fat, so it will burn more calories.

What May Not Work for You

While this is a good program, some readers of The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution didn’t like the first half of the book.  If you want to get to the meat of the workout, you’ll have to wait until you get to the second half.

If you love getting a lot of background information about why to do an exercise program, this book is great.  But if you want to just get to the workout, you may find yourself skipping to the end.

While the book promises you don’t need to perform aerobic exercise and it suggests that it doesn’t do that much for your heart, many people enjoy aerobic exercise nonetheless.  And there is research to show that aerobic activity is still heart healthy.

Getting in exercise daily can actually have health benefits such as improving your mood and helping you to get stress relief from your day.  There’s plenty of research supporting the importance of aerobic activity, so you’ll need to decide if you want to add that to this routine.

Some people have a problem with this plan because they find it boring.  If you enjoy having an exercise program that changes, this plan may not be best for you.  You’ll be doing the same routine each week so there isn’t much variety here.

And, as has been mentioned before, this workout is really tough.  You will be lifting heavy enough weights to get the benefits from it and your muscles will become exhausted after your short workout.

The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution focuses on the exercise aspect of fitness and not nutrition.  However, in the appendix you’ll find a few pages about nutrition.  This is another critical part of maintaining a healthy body.

The diet prescribed here is a low carb diet.  The carbs in the example diet plan come from fruits and vegetables.  This type of diet is one that many people swear by, but modern research does encourage people to eat some whole grain carbohydrates for energy.

Tools for Success

In the back of the book, you’ll find a chart to help you keep track of your progress.  You can photocopy the page and use it over and over again to help keep track of your exercise program.

You’ll also find a resource list in Appendix A that gives you some suggestions from where to buy the equipment you need to perform the workout at home.  The authors also provide you with several websites to help you find more health information resources.

In appendix C, you’ll also get a meal plan that goes along with the program.  Specifically you’ll find a chart that gives you a sample menu so you can get a realistic idea of what the plan calls for.

There’s also testimonials from others who has been following the program along with a photo showing the results.  This is great motivation if you need an extra push to get going with the program.

Experience the Slow Burn

The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution is a serious workout for people who are serious about getting in shape without spending hours at the gym.  The book itself is well organized with two distinct sections outlining why you should do this program and how to do it.

This is a different type of routine than what you may have heard of before, but many people who are using the program rave about how it’s changed their bodies for the better.

The best way for you to know if this program for you is to give it a try.  It’s often hard to evaluate a fitness program from just reading the book. You need to put your workout clothes on and give it a try.

This program allows you to get maximum results from minimal investments of time and money.  It will help you to get stronger and more defined and get the most of the effort you put into exercise.

If you’re looking for a new way to exercise that doesn’t require you to spend every day in the gym sweating on the treadmill, you owe it to yourself to give The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution a read and a try.