The age old question when it comes to working out is should I join a gym or purchase exercise equipment? Depending on your needs and specific method of working out, different individuals experience different results with each of these methods. However, before you rush out and sell your gym membership to purchase thousands of dollars in exercise equipment or sell your exercise equipment in order to purchase a gym membership, consider your options carefully. Depending on your schedule, budget, workout schedule, and dedication, the decision you make must be personal and honest in order to experience the best results.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or just become healthier, a gym membership may be just what you need. In addition to access to top of the line equipment, professional gyms employ professional trainers, intuitionalists, and other individuals that will allow you to meet your goal. Furthermore, most gyms hold a series of classes in all types of exercises and activities. From popular activities like yoga and Pilates to more action packed classes like kick boxing and classic aerobics, exercise classes are a great way to meet people, stay motivated, and see results.

You should join a gym if you are looking professional guidance in the correct methods and techniques to working out. Also, if you find yourself unmotivated to begin exercising, joining a gym will keep you motivated, since many individuals are resistant to let their hard earned money spent on a gym membership go to waste. Furthermore, join a gym to meet other individuals with your interests or goals, so that you can form a support system to ensure that everyone meets his or her goals.

However, if your schedule finds little time that you can dedicate to visiting a gym, consider establishing a home gym. Typically, outfitting a home gym is much more expensive than paying a gym membership, but having the ability to work out any time of the day is well worth the cost. Additionally, you only have to purchase gym equipment once, where you have to renew a gym membership on an annual basis. Furthermore, if you are shy or feel intimidated while working out in gyms and find yourself often sacrificing your work out routine in order to avoid exercising in rooms with many people, consider starting your own home gym.

Although you have a home gym, a professional trainer is not out of the question, as many trainers will gladly travel to your home in order to establish a work out regimen that best works toward your goal. Having a professional trainer on call may be more expensive than working with a trainer at a professional gym, but the cost is well worth the service.

If you have decided to use a fitness facility when riding stationary bikes consider factors that can make that more enjoyable. And consider factors other than price if at all possible. Save money by not eating fast food as often and use the money saved to pay for a club that is better for your purposes or even to rent an apartment with a fitness center over one without. This helps you save money for that fitness center membership and cuts back on the bad foods you eat. Both of which are good for those intending to use stationary bikes

Remember if you join a fitness club that is across town youll spend valuable time and money just commuting. In the end youll also lose the stress busting effects of exercise when youre caught in traffic on the way home. You may find that the light enters the room at a more appealing angle in the morning or that you can watch the stars in the evening. Maybe there are people you like to visit with at certain times of day or perhaps crowds to be avoided at other times. Whatever it is that makes you enjoy the very same stationary bike at different times is something that will keep you biking and that consistency will pay off handsomely.

Be sure to take snacks with you to the fitness center, spinning on stationary bikes can really get the appetite going and youll find it much easier to ignore the temptation of the smoothie bar or a fast food restaurant if youve brought something that is both healthier and tasty that you like. A good food item could be a pita stuffed with lettuce, and other veggies and a package of your favorite salad dressing to top it off. If you want to add a little protein take along some peanuts to eat with it. Dont forget your water bottle.

To find a good facility with plenty of stationary bikes for its clients you can always check online for stationary bikes reviews to see what people are saying.

It seems like every time you turn on the TV these days, there is another commercial for exercise equipment. The latest and greatest treadmill or the second to none all in one machine are advertised on a daily basis. And why not? Consumers love them. Were always looking for ways to shape up faster and without as much work. And, thats just what this equipment claims to do. Work out for just 20 minutes a day, three days a week and youll have the body of a supermodel in just one month. If only that were true. We wouldnt have to put ourselves through the pain of the gym everyday.

If you are looking for some quality exercise equipment though, it is available. You just need to do some research and talk to enough qualified people to learn what equipment will be best for your work out routine. A treadmill works for a lot of people who like to work out in the privacy of their own home. And there are a lot of benefits that can be gleaned from running on a treadmill everyday. This type of aerobic exercise is good for your heart and your lungs. Just be sure to keep tabs on your heart rate so you dont over do it and put your heart in danger. A general rule of thumb for running is that you should be able to talk semi-comfortably while youre running. If you can talk without any trouble at all, youre probably not running hard enough or fast enough. If you cant talk because youre busy huffing and puffing, youre probably pushing yourself too hard. Slow down a bit and take it one step at a time.

There are several other types of exercise equipment available that can prove beneficial to our health as well. A popular piece of equipment these days is the exercise ball. They come in different sizes, so its important to determine which one will work for the goals you have in mind. There are many muscles that you can work using the ball. And the balls usually come with a set of instructions that tell you how to use it for different muscle groups. Its also a great way to stretch your muscles, which is an important factor in every work out.

Some people prefer yoga or Pilates as their main workout. Each of these activities has their own set of exercise equipment as well. Along with the exercise ball, its important to invest in a mat. Not only will it give you the comfort youre seeking when lying on the floor, but itll help keep you from getting dirty as well.

When we think of exercise we often think of an expensive gym filled with others. For some people they arent comfortable venturing to a gym and working out in front of other people. For them purchasing a piece of exercise equipment for their home is a better choice.

Although there are numerous different choices in home exercise equipment, one particular piece of equipment stands out. The treadmill is an affordable choice and with its ease of use its perfect for almost every member of the family.

The benefits of treadmill exercise are far reaching. Not only does it afford you the same benefits of a brisk walk but there are other elements in play as well.

One of the benefits of treadmill exercise is that engaging in exercise each day helps with sleep. If you take a few moments of your time each day to use the treadmill youll find that you are more tired around bedtime and youll sleep more soundly. The body needs to nourish itself with sleep after its gone through a period of exertion.

When considering the benefits of treadmill exercise people dont often consider how the mood can be affected. Regular, daily exercise can help with feelings of depression or sadness. The time involved on the treadmill doesnt have to be long. Even a short ten or twenty minute period each day can be very beneficial.

Some of the greatest benefits of treadmill exercise can be felt when you adjust the machine. Treadmills that are run on electricity have different speed settings. If you are just beginning an exercise regime than using the lowest speed is advisable.

Even at a low setting your body will enjoy the benefits of treadmill exercise including an increased heart rate and fat burning. As you grow more accustomed to the speed you can increase it slowly.

Changing the incline of the track can also result in increased benefits of treadmill exercise. When you feel as though you are walking uphill you are focusing on the muscles contained in your legs and buttocks. For a man or woman wanting to tone up these areas this can give great results.

Treadmills are one of the easiest pieces of exercise equipment to use. Once the machine is assembled it is as simple as getting on and walking or running. The benefits of treadmill exercise can be felt by anyone including more mature people who are looking for a safe and easy way to exercise.

Not all treadmills are electric. There are manual versions of treadmills available. The benefits of treadmill exercise on a manual treadmill as opposed to an electric version are much the same. The only difference is that with the manual treadmill you will find yourself working a bit harder to get the belt to move. This in itself is a benefit because it requires a bit more exertion on the part of the person exercising.

Treadmills are available in many designs and in every price range. If you really want to experience the benefits of treadmill exercise, purchase a machine today.

Exercise has become an integral part of everyday life of most people. An individual spends at least some part of his life in exercise. Exercise can be done with equipment or without equipment. Gym equipment helps in exercising a specific part or group of muscles or organs of the body. Today a wide range of gym equipment are available in the market.

The most common gym equipment are multigyms, treadmills, swiss balls, dumb bells, bar bells, rowing machines, exercise bicycles, balance boards, abdomen exercisers resistance bands and punching bags. There are various facilities, equipment associated with gym equipment like heart rate monitors, sauna baths, swimming pools etc.

A multigym consists of incremented weight plates that move up and down on steel guides. It usually consists of attachments for exercise of chest, arms, thighs, calves, shoulders and pectorals sometimes called wings or pecs.

Treadmill is an equipment used for running without moving any distance. It consists of a conveyor belt which slides on rollers on which the individual can run or walk.

Swiss ball or yoga ball is a rubber ball of 50 to 85 cm which is used to develop balance and exercise the abdominal and back muscles.

Dumbbells and bar bells are the traditional gym equipment. They consist of variable or fixed free weights attached to a small or long bar. They are lifted against gravity to tone muscles like biceps, triceps, forearm muscles, chest and shoulder muscles etc. They usually come in pairs.

Rowing machines are gym equipment designed to stimulate rowing in water. They are used to exercise pecs and back muscles.

Exercise bicycles are stationery bicycles with resistance discs for wheels. They are used to exercise thigh and calf muscles.

Balance board consists of a board fixed on a bearing. It is used to develop balance.

Abdomen exerciser consists of an inclined board with leg rollers for doing sit ups. It is used to exercise the stomach and abdomen muscles.

All the above equipment except free weights have attached electronics to monitor number of cycles and other parameters. Resistance bands are elastic bands and in these the resistance of the band to stretching is used to exercise muscles like quadriceps and deltoids.

Punching bag consists of sand filled cushioned bags or other rugged material bags for practice by boxers. They are either hung from the ceiling or fixed on a stand.

Most professional gyms have the above mentioned equipment along with other facilities like swimming pools, sauna baths, steam baths etc.

For a home gym, a multigym with a few dumbbells and barbells are sufficient for workout of the entire body. The starting price of a multigym is around 1500. The cost of other equipment varies according to the make.

A 10-foot trampoline might just be the best size for your family. If you have a small yard and never thought a regular 14-foot trampoline would fit, then buying a 10 foot one might work best for you. Buying trampolines for your kids is becoming more and more popular even for families with a very small yard; a trampoline can turn that small space into a great area of fun.

Trampolines For Sale

When you first begin looking and trampolines in your newspaper and stores you might not know exactly what you are looking for. People who put their used trampolines up for sale are often just interested in finding someone to purchase their used trampoline. They might not even be that concerned about the price they get for it.

The sale price of a used trampoline should reflect the amount of wear and tear the trampoline has been through. If you are specifically shopping for a trampoline of the 10-foot variety then you might have a more difficult time. Consider looking online or shop at a specialty store that carriers all trampoline supplies for all different sizes.

The 10 foot Model

Most trampolines are 14 feet in diameter, so if you are looking for a 10 foot one you might have a difficult time. On the other hand you might find it easier than you though to find a 10 foot rebounder that is in good condition. Most likely this is because the family is upgrading to a 14 foot diameter trampoline.

The 10 foot style trampoline is great as a kids trampoline and a backyard trampoline. You may find it more difficult to locate an enclosed trampoline that comes in a ten foot model. So if you are lucky enough to find one, make sure and purchase the enclosure at the time you buy the trampoline. 10 foot enclosures can be extremely difficult to find.

If you are looking to buy a trampoline to be used as a gymnastic trampoline you probably will not want a 10 foot model. Consider getting an actual rectangular gymnastics trampoline or a bigger 14-foot round trampoline.

Kids Ages

A 10-foot size trampoline is great for smaller kids if you are able to find an enclosure system that will fit it. But it is important to remember that your kids will grow up and you may need to upgrade to a larger trampoline as they grow.

Although, people of all sizes can use a ten-foot model, it is recommended that only one-person jump on it at a time. You should always follow the safety instructions of your trampoline to help prevent injuries and keep your family safe.

Consider the ages and sizes of your children before purchasing a 10-foot model of a trampoline. Most 14 foot trampolines are not much more expensive and will provide more room for you kids to grow into it. But if you have a small yard… the 10-foot style trampoline is the perfect one for you.

Is your weight getting you down? Are you sick of carrying that extra baggage wrapped around your waist? Too embarassed to go to the gym?

These questions are the bane of a lot of peoples’ lives, because they either don’t exercise! or they don’t do it regularly!

Do you want to lose weight and look good with fitness equipment?

Looking for the right home fitness equipment can be daunting, with all the options available to us. But it’s not all gloom and doom, you can have that body or fitness you have always wanted, it’s just a matter of doing a litttle research, which I hope this short article can provide you and guide in the right direction on which fitness equipment is best for you.
Quite often, the biggest challenge is what fitness equipment to go for. When purchasing a piece of fitness equipment, your choice should be based on the fitness level, physical make up and general interests of the user. Before making the plung and spending all your hard earned money, you should ask yourself a few pertinent questions

How much do You want to spend?
What is your current fitness level and what do you hope to gain?
Do you have enough space for the fitness equipment?
How much time will I spend on this fitness equipment?
Is this equipment suitable and safe for me to use?

Are you tired of having the local gym extort large sums of money from you? Why not set up a home gym and save yourself hundreds!?

The prices for yearly memberships just seem to be rising higher and quicker than the inflation level every year! a simple solution would be to buy your own equipment and build a gym in the comfort of your home, that way you can save hundreds on that membership and have a long term investment for the future. Whether you want biceps like Arnie, a six pack like Bruce Lee or legs like Jane Fonda there is a piece of equipment available for every exercise you can think of, for everyones budget.

With such a wide choice available, knowing what to purchase can be a little daunting. So after you have asked yourselves the questions I posed earlier, you almost there in finding the perfect accessory you need to get fit.

Abdominal fitness equipment – Are you embarrassed by the ever expanding tyre wrapped around your waist? Do you want to have a six pack? with hundreds of choices on the market, finding the right one can seem a tedious task. You dont have to spend alot to get a washboard stomach. A fitness quest flexaball or a foam roller. But we warned, you may have to purchase a few belts to keep your trousers from falling down after you lose that unsightly belly.

Recumbent cycles – Do you feel the strain on your lower back and knees when cycling? Then why not check out the recumbent cycles we have on offer and add another piece of fitness equipment to your home gym. Recumbent cycles give more support to the lower back and minimize the stress on the knees compared with an upright bicycle. Recumbents provide a cardiovascular workout that uses the muscles of the gluteus, quadriceps and hamstrings.

Treadmills – Fancy going for a run?, but its pouring cats and dogs outside. Not to worry, one of our Treadmills lets you walk, run, up a hill or up a montain regardless of the time of day or weather without leaving your home. Treadmills are a popular piece of aerobic fitness equipment for home use. When purchasing a treadmill, be sure to look for the following features, smooth action, solid build, a steady pace, wide belt, safety shut off, and incline settings. Quality models range from 1500 and up. Th treadmill you consider should be built to take a substantial load because running on one spot will create alot of downward force.

Elliptical fitness equipment – If you are looking for an effective and thorough indoor workout, than have a look at some of our elliptical machines. There are many benefits with having ellipticals, one of them is when you use one, you will notice how impact free your workout will be. With the elliptical machine, there is no impact on the ground, so lower body joints are free from abuse you may get with other workout machines. At the moment it is the most popular item in health clubs and so going and trying one out would be a good idea, just so get a machine that suits you.

Step machines – Mainly used for an aerobic workout, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity. There are many exercises you can benefit with as well as different settings to increase the resistance for harder workouts. Finding a high quality step machine can be expensive, however, steppers give an excellent low impact aerobic workout, also strengthening and building the lower body muscles.

Resistance fitness equipment – a good compliment to any home gym. The two most common kinds of weight equipment are Home Gyms or multi-stations and free weights. Free Weights are real value for money, however, they require expert instruction and supervision for proper use to avoid major injuries. Home gyms or multi-stations are generally safer to use but are more expensive, and the price tag often reflects the quality of the machine.
Rowing Machines One of the most complete cardiovascular exercises around has to be rowing. A proper workout on a rowing machine will tone all of the major muscle groups such as your legs, back and arms. The beauty of using an indoor rowing machine is first of all it doesn’t involve water. This rower doesn’t get you wet, there are no early morning trips to get your machine out of the boat shed. No cold changing rooms and gale force winds for your training session. There are lots of different machines available on the market. Although they generally fall into 2 categories

Water rowers

and..

Air rowers

The water rower, which contrary to its namesake, do not end up in you getting wet after a vigorous workout. The machines are very beautifully designed and use enclosed water and paddles for resistance as opposed to air. These rowers tend to be quieter than air rowers and are just as much works of art as they are exercise machines.

The air rower comes in many different varieties but the concept 2 is commonly accepted to be one of the best, if not the best. They are engineering masterpieces and are all calibrated to the same standard. So, if you do a certain time on a concept 2 rower, you can rest assured that, that time will be replicated exactly on another concept 2 machine. This is the reason why the world indoor rowing championships use the concept 2.

The bottom line is this All of these items are good choice if they are equipment that you will actually use. Real thought, consideration and research needs to be done in order to purchase exactly what you need. Remember, you are the only one who knows what you need but with a little helpful advise you can build yourself an excellent gym and achieve the results you have always dreamed of.

Landice has an excellent reputation for building quality treadmills. These are not your mass merchant specials with 90 day parts and labor warranties. In fact, Landice offers a lifetime warranty on their treadmills, which says something about their durability.

Landice has been selling treadmills for a number of years. Their focus is to build sturdy treadmills with the best components available. The result is machines that are built to last and are capable of taking a beating. Of course, that comes at a price. Their least expensive treadmill starts at 3,100, and their commercial grade models top off at 5,000. Lets just say, you dont want these treadmills to end up as clothes racks.

So what do you get for your money?

As mentioned, Landice utilizes the best components available for treadmills. For example, they equip their machines with 3.0 hp continuous duty Baldor motors. These motors are monsters in comparison to most treadmill motors. There are a number of companies that claim their treadmills have 3.0 hp motors, but if you were to compare them to the Baldor motor there would be a noticeable difference in the size. This powerful motor assures that the treadmill will run at even the highest speeds without straining.

Landice uses a 4-ply treadbelt, the majority of competitors use 2-ply. Although costing significantly more, this 4-ply belt provides twice the strength of a 2-ply belt. It also adds additional cushioning to reduce impact.

Another quality component that Landice installs are 2.5 rollers. These are the same rollers used in the best commercial treadmills. The larger the roller diameter the less tension required on the treadbelt, since the roller has more surface area to grab the belt. Decreased tension means decreased friction and longer life on belts, motor, bearings and the rollers themselves.

As you can see these treadmills are built to institutional standards, in fact Landice has over 20,000 treadmills placed in health clubs around the world. And unlike every other fitness manufacturer that builds treadmills, Landice only produces treadmills. They are not also building, elliptical trainers, strength machines and stationary bicycles. Their focus is solely treadmills.

Who should buy a Landice treadmill?

Individuals who are going to abuse a treadmill. Were talking serious runners, including competitors and marathon runners. These treadmills are ideal for people who push their equipment to the limit.

Landice Receives Best Buy Recommendations

In the past Landice has received a top pick from one of the most popular consumer rating magazine. Landice has also received a number of Best Buy ratings. Treadmill Doctor states, “An incredibly solid treadmill. Some cheaper treadmills may be better for some people but if you’re serious, this is a serious machine.”

Mens Fitness Magazine had these comments on the Landice L7 Executive Trainer If you want the best – and can afford it – the L7 is the bad boy.

If you want a treadmill that can withstand strenuous use, then you should consider Landice. They are built to last and may just out last you.

You’ve decided you want to exercise at home. There are hundreds of pieces of home cardio equipment available. The most popular are treadmills and exercise bikes. In deciding between the two, you should compare long-term sustainability, the effectiveness of the workouts, and safety.

Overcoming Boredom

The biggest obstacle to a home exercise routine is sticking with it. You don’t have to drive to a gym, so your home fitness equipment is more convenient. The problem is that other distractions are just as convenient at home. The key is to make your routine fun. You want to look forward to your daily workout. You have to be realistic. Playing with the heart rate monitor or watching the calorie counter go up will only be fun the first couple of times you exercise.

Treadmill vs. Boredom

On a treadmill, you walk. Walking isn’t that fun. You can walk at different speeds, but that isn’t really much more fun. If you get a treadmill that offers an incline, that keeps it a bit more interesting. Walking uphill isn’t exactly fun, but it’s different. It presents a challenge.

You can’t really read on a treadmill because you are bouncing up and down. You can’t keep your eyes on the same sentence, and you usually end up with a headache. Basically, the only thing fun to do on a treadmill is watch television or movies. If you are really into TV or movies and are able to put your treadmill in front of a television, you can probably keep your treadmill workout from becoming too boring. Problems consist of commercials, the noise coming from the machine, and again, the bouncing.

Exercise Bikes vs. Boredom

Exercise bikes are unique in that many of them come programmed with various biking routines. You simulate different courses that require you to sprint, pedal uphill, and perform at different levels within one workout without having to keep pressing buttons and changing everything. You can even select random programs so you don’t know what’s coming, which really keeps you on your toes. Some exercise bikes can even be plugged into televisions and video games to let you interactively pedal through visual courses.

On upright exercise bikes, you run into some of the same problems as treadmills as far as reading is concerned. Recumbent bikes, however, allow your hands to be free to hold a book or magazine, video game controller, or phone. Multi-tasking during an exercise bike workout keeps it from becoming boring and allows your workout to more easily fit into a busy schedule.

Defeating boredom to successfully keep up a long-term exercise routine is much easier with an exercise bike than a treadmill.

The Calorie Factor

In a study conducted by Nordic Track, young, healthy people used various exercise machines and did cardio workouts. Although they felt they used the same intensity on all machines, they burned the most calories on treadmills and ski machines.

On average, most people burn about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill. The same people are likely to burn about 550 calories per hour on an exercise bike. So it’s a no-brainer, right? You should get a treadmill because they burn more calories.

Well, not exactly. You can’t get so caught up in which machine burns the most calories. You have to take a lot of other factors into consideration. How likely are you to sustain a treadmill routine as opposed to an exercise bike routine?

Because exercise bikes are usually more fun than treadmills, you are much more likely to stick with it long-term. This means that even though you can burn more calories on a treadmill, you are also more likely to stop using it altogether.

You might also find it difficult to use it long enough per workout session to get the full benefits. Most people find it easier to workout for 20 minutes on an exercise bike than 20 minutes on a treadmill. You have to think about that. If you are likely to only do 10 minutes on a treadmill but can easily do 20 minutes on an exercise bike, you will burn more calories per session on an exercise bike.

So just going strictly by the numbers, treadmills burn more calories. If you easily get bored or have tried and failed to stick with exercise routines in the past, you might want to consider burning less calories per hour in favor of a sustainable long-term exercise bike regimen.

Your Safety

The biggest difference between exercise bikes and treadmills is overall safety to your body.

The first case of safety is the most basic. You can fall off of a treadmill. It’s very difficult, however, to fall off of an exercise bike. In fact, you would probably have to try to fall when riding an exercise bike. While you might be thinking you’d have to be pretty clumsy to fall while walking, it happens more than you’d think. People get involved with watching television or the beat of music. One wrong step and you can seriously injure yourself. It’s also possible to spill water or sweat on the treadmill track, causing a safety hazard you might not notice until after you’ve slipped.

Another safety hazard is injury from the activity itself. A treadmill puts quite a bit of stress on your joints, especially your knees and ankles. Even if you invest in a treadmill with some degree of shock absorption, when you eventually get to a jogging or running point, you can put severe orthopedic stress on your body, even up to three times your body weight. People with existing conditions such as arthritis will find a treadmill painful at times due to this stress. Otherwise healthy individuals can sustain injury and possible long-term damage over time.

Exercise bikes put much less stress on your joints. A properly positioned exercise bike supports your weight and still allows you to receive the benefits of a higher impact cardio workout. Upright bikes can sometimes stress your back in the way you have to bend to reach the handlebars. Recumbent exercise bikes, however, can actually improve existing back pain by forcing proper posture and giving support as you exercise. On any exercise bike properly used, your knees and ankles are not stressed as they are on a treadmill.

The less you stress joints, the less likely you are to sustain an injury during your workout. You are also less likely to be sore afterwards. Most importantly, a non-workout injury doesn’t always have to halt your exercise routine on an exercise bike. If you hurt your back or neck, you will find the support of a recumbent exercise bike will keep you from having to stop your exercise regimen altogether. Let’s face it – if you have to stop, you are less likely to start again.

An Exercise Bike is Better for Your Health than a Treadmill

As you can see, both pieces of home fitness equipment have advantages. While the treadmill continues to be the most popular piece of home gym equipment, most people are more likely to faithfully use an exercise bike. This means you’re more likely to have to dust a treadmill until it gets the garage sale sticker.

We live in a society obsessed with losing weight and getting fit. In response there are countless products on the market that claim to get you in shape. Most are fads that come and go. For example, how many people are still working out with a Thigh Master. But, occasionally an exercise machine is designed that gets results. It promotes fitness and wellness. It helps both novice and fitness enthusiasts reach their exercise goals. It has ‘staying’ power!

The two most popular fitness machines that fit this qualification are treadmills and elliptical trainers. The tried and true treadmill has been around for years. It remains popular due to its appeal to both novice and seasoned athletes. It is a simple machine that requires no special skills, all you need to do is walk, jog or run.

Although relatively new in comparison to a treadmill, the elliptical trainer is growing in popularity. In shear numbers the treadmill outsells ellipticals, but by percentage the elliptical is gaining in sales. It offers the benefit of a total body workout without the impact.

How do treadmills compare with elliptical training equipment? What benefits do each machine offer? Could either be right for you?

Treadmills

Treadmills are the most popular fitness equipment. They are simple to use and provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. Treadmills allow you to walk, jog or run. In addition, they can simulate hill climbing.

In shear numbers running and walking are the most popular form of exercise. Whether you are a casual walker or a serious runner, a treadmill can accommodate your exercise needs. By setting the speed and incline you can adjust your cardio workout to any level from casual walking to heart pounding running.

Most power treadmills offer a number of pre-set programs and intensity levels from which to choose. On these particular machines, you may program in your personal information i.e. age, weight, height, fitness level, etc.. Then, you may choose a pre-set program such as ‘killer hill,’ interval training or ‘weight-loss’, and the unit will automatically adjust the workout to fit your specifications.

You can bypass the pre-set programs and manually adjust the incline, speed, and the time yourself. And, even if you’ve chosen a pre-set program, you have the option of changing the incline level or speed level at any time.

Running on a treadmill with a nicely cushioned running surface provides less impact on the knees, shins, ankles, back, and joints than does running on pavement. As a result, the runner who uses a treadmill is less likely to sustain a running injury than a runner who runs upon a harder surface. Nonetheless, a runner’s body will still experience impact when the foot lands on the belt.

Outdoors, you could possibly trip over a rock or twist your ankle in an unseen hole in the ground. You don’t have to worry about unseen road or trail hazards when exercising on a treadmill. You need only maintain your rhythm on the moving belt.

Treadmills not only efficiently burn calories, but their impact reducing surfaces decrease the chances for injuries.

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical trainers are relatively new to the fitness equipment industry. They have increased in popularity during the last few years, and the rate of growth is surpassing treadmills. But, do they deliver what they promise a low impact, total body workout?

Elliptical trainers allow the user to burn a similar number of calories as they would from walking or jogging – but without the risk of injury to the back, knees, hips, or ankles. The difference in comparison to a treadmill is your feet never leave the foot pedals.

As a result, an elliptical is very low-impact and significantly reduces the pressure on your joints. In fact, whereas exercising on a treadmill requires your body to absorb the impact of walking or running, exercising on an elliptical can be compared to running in midair. Running can result in 2.5x your body weight impacting a treadmill.

Because of the low impact quality of an elliptical trainer, this machine may be the best choice for older people or individuals who are recovering from injuries. That is the obvious reason ellipticals are so popular with us baby boomers. Our joints are starting to tell us theyve had enough.

Elliptical machines mimic the normal elliptical motion of the foot, the extension of the leg, and the rotation of the hip during walking or running. This motion uses all the leg muscles, giving you a total lower-body workout.

But what makes an elliptical workout so enticing is you also get a upper body workout unlike the treadmill, which works only the lower body! As the feet go through their elliptical motion, the hands grip the moving handlebars, exercising the arms. The movement of the dual handlebars mimics cross-country skiing. This particular type of upper body workout will not result in a bodybuilders physique. However, because you are including the upper 30 of your body in your workouts, the results will be more efficient exercise in less time.

Because elliptical trainers DO work the upper and lower body simultaneously, the heart rate climbs more quickly. Thus, less time is required to achieve more results. The amount of energy expended is optimized. As the legs are being worked, the back, shoulders, chest, biceps, and triceps are also working…making it possible to burn more calories in less time. An optimal workout need only be about 20-30 minutes long, if you apply the right amount of resistance.

Another advantage of elliptical trainers are the foot pedals can be worked in a forward or reverse direction. When you change the direction of the pedals, you’ll target your lower body in different ways. It is nice to be able to add versatility to your elliptical workouts, and such a change works to ensure optimal training of the leg muscles.

The intensity level can be adjusted on elliptical equipment to fit your personal level of fitness. Resistance may be added as desired to increase the workload on your legs throughout the forward or backward stride. With such an efficient workout, you can say ‘goodbye’ to flabby thighs and derrieres!

Studies show working out on an elliptical trainer can trick the body into believing it is working easier than it actually is. Therefore, as you’re burning more calories in less time on an elliptical trainer, your body feels as though it doesn’t have to work as hard to achieve its goals. This phenomenon is known as the “Rate of Perceived Exertion.”

An elliptical device is safe to use i.e. it stops when you stop. It uses very little electricity and is economical to operate. Because of its low impact, there is less wear and tear of the machine, making maintenance quite low. It has a small footprint, so it takes up less floor space than other fitness equipment. And, as with the treadmill, it allows you to exercise in a controlled environment for more comfort and convenience.

And the Winner Is!

Which is better, a treadmill or elliptical trainer? Both give an excellent cardio workout and when used regularly will burn unwanted calories.

For a walking or running devotee, the treadmill is the machine of choice. Even if you prefer the great outdoors, the treadmill allows you to continue your favorite sport all year long and in the most inclement weather. A treadmill will reduce injuries since you workout on a flat surface that is cushioned. It can add variety to your workout through various challenging programs. And with heart rate control you can optimize your exercising by allowing your heart rate to control the level of exertion.

The appeal of an elliptical is the combined upper and lower body workout, and the low-impact. You exercise more muscle groups, while avoiding the kind of impact that can result in injuries. For those of us whose knees or ankles just cant take it any longer, the elliptical trainer is the obvious choice.

So which one do you choose? Depending upon your preference and needs either can be an excellent choice.