Nowadays, there are a multitude of fitness equipment infomercials. Almost all promises are further than absurdity.

The idea is that if want to look great and feel healthy you have to work at it. That normally requires a vigorous exercise routine combined with a well balanced diet. You have to burn calories. And of all the fitness equipments which give you a perfect shape, only one stand out, that is the treadmill.

A treadmill is 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. With a workout on a treadmill, you can work out in comfort without having to lift weights and it does not put any undue stress on your leg and hip joints.

A treadmill is also ideal for getting a good cardio workout by walking, especially when there is an inclement weather. You can also use several different treadmill walking workouts to give your heart the workout it needs by adjusting the speed and the incline level of the treadmill.

Below are several important factors that you can do to make treadmill exercising feasible.

- Either Run or Walk

The two most popular and easy forms of exercising are running and walking. Whether you are a casual walker or a serious runner, a treadmill can accommodate your exercise needs. You can just set the speed and incline to suite your desired cardiovascular goals. You can even do a power walk up an incline or a heart pumping run at high speed.

- Avoid Bad Weather

A treadmill can guarantee a consistent workout in all seasons. A cold climate and freezing and snow will not stop your workout. Its because you can simply work on it at home.

- Low Impact

For walkers and runners alike, injuries are usual from the constant pounding of joints on asphalt and concrete. Good thing there are higher end treadmills that offer surfaces that absorb impact and reduce pressure. Injuries are less common and stress is reduced on those critical joints.

- Versatility

Since treadmills are getting sophisticated, so does the versatility of the workout. Speed and incline has always been a popular feature on motorized treadmills, but now your workout is enhanced by a variety of preprogrammed computerized exercises. You can simply simulate running up and down hills, focus on cardio exercise, focus on burning calories, or work on speed training. Since some treadmills have preset programs, you can easily manipulate your own work out.

Choosing a Treadmill

Whether you are a treadmill beginner or a pro, you must also be wise enough in choosing the ideal treadmill.

Treadmills come in all shapes and sizes, including folding and stationary models. It is essential that you find the perfect model that suits your present and future exercise goals.

You may want to talk with fitness professionals that can recommend a treadmill specific to your needs. Also, you can ask your friends who uses treadmill or simply get through articles and reviews online.

Don’t be attracted by the blue light specials found in large retail and sporting goods stores. They may lack the components and functionality 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 practically maintenance free.

A treadmill will work if youll spend more time on it. So make sure youll do the workout on a regular routine. Remember, the more calories you burn, the more weight you lose!

To measure your treadmill belt for replacement do the following

If your treadmill is not a major brand and it needs a new belt you may have to special order a belt. Following are instruction for making sure you get a good measurement.

Next to the motor the treadmill belt is the most important part of the treadmill. If it becomes frayed or starts to turn up on the sides then it is time to replace the belt.

The treadmill belt will also split at the seam. You should check the belt on a regular basis to ensure it is safe. If the belt wears thin it can ruin the deck, then you have the double expense of replacing the belt and deck.

There are many companies that sell replacement treadmill belts, and some of them will take special orders. But you must have the correct measurement so your belt will fit. Following is the directions to measure your belt.

1. Place a mark on the edge of the belt, then using a string or tape measure go completely around the belt to get the circumference. This needs to be as close as you can get it.

2. Measure the width of the belt.

Example 102″ X 15″

If your belt is so bad that you know it has to be replaced then cut it off and measure the entire length and width of the belt. If it is a very old belt please allow for stretching.

You can also set the rear roller about halfway of the adjusting screws then measure around the front and rear rollers for an accurate measurement. If you can not find a company that offers special order belts let me know.

Buying a treadmill? Chances are you’ll want to comparison shop to find the best deal for you. Looking at all of the options available can often save you hundreds of dollars.

But where can you look?

There are in general 3 places you can buy your tread mill. This article will outline what you should know about each. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages – to help you find the best treadmill buy.

1 Department Stores

Department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target sell a variety of name brand treadmills in their sports and fitness departments.

What you should know Although these stores may appear to offer several different brand names they are almost always produced by one manufacturer – Icon Health and Fitness.

Icon is one of the largest treadmill manufacturers on the market today and produces such brands as Proform, Weslo, Epic, Image, Nordic Track, Free Spirit and Reebok.

These treadmills have lots of neat gadgets like CD players, TV’s, iFit compatibility and more. However, they are not necessarily known for high quality cushioning, stability or durability.

They also typically offer short warranties. For many of the cheaper treadmills, 90 days on parts and labor is all you get. If you want a longer warranty you’ll have to pay extra for it.

Salespeople at these department stores are often not very knowledgeable about treadmills, fitness or how to choose the right treadmill based on your personal needs. So if you need to buy from a department store make sure you do your homework before you go.

Also, at a department store, you’ll usually have to pay extra for shipping and delivery of your treadmill around 150 – 200 so that’s also an extra cost to consider.

2 Specialty Sports and Fitness Stores

These are stores like Fitness Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet etc.

What you should know These stores typically offer you higher end treadmill brands like Precor, Landice, Trimline, Star Trac, Keys and more.

You technically get a larger selection at these stores because the treadmill brands are made by more than 1 giant treadmill manufacturing company.

Sales people are typically more knowledgeable at these stores and can tell you more about the treadmill models, what you need, etc. However be careful as these salespeople are often on commission and may try to pressure you into buying a higher priced machine than you actually need.

You’ll also typically have to pay for shipping and delivery of your treadmill when you buy at one of these stores which could cost you 150-200 depending on the size of your treadmill. However if you hit these stores on a sale, you may be able to get a discount or free shipping.

3 Online – Direct From the Manufacturer

Buying a treadmill online is an option that is growing in popularity with buyers. There are both online fitness stores and online treadmill manufacturers.

What you should know Online manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, in effect skipping the middleman of the store. Consequently customers can save up to 800 on a brand name treadmill.

Buying online is also easy and convenient since you can research treadmill brands and prices from the comfort of your living room. You have a much larger selection of treadmill brands than either option above and can thus make a better buying decision.

Another bonus is that online distributors typically offer free shipping which can also save you a couple hundred dollars. There are no pushy salespeople to deal with so you can take your time to decide without any pressure.

The downside of buying a treadmill online is that you don’t get to walk on the treadmill first. Many people get around this by trying them out at stores first and then buying the treadmill online if possible.

Or you could do the research and invest in a high end treadmill brand with high ratings from experts and users. Several treadmill websites will list any expert awards or user reviews for you to read.

So those are 3 main places to buy your treadmill. Regardless of where you buy your tread mill, remember to take your time, have fun and consider your own personal workout needs before buying.

Obesity is one of the risk factors in many serious diseases like diabetes, heart ailment or gastro-related illnesses. Mans present lifestyle has made it almost impossible to avoid fatty foods. A closer look at the most-sought after restaurants for busy people includes diners that offer quickie but fat-filled meals.

Added to the proliferation of tempting food outlets is the busy schedules of people who barely have enough time to meet their family, much more to exercise. There are those who make an effort to lose a few pounds but are hampered by their busy schedules.

One strategy to keep up with a regular exercise despite ones busy schedule is to buy exercise machines that can be used for a few minutes during ones free time, anywhere. If you have a busy schedule, what you need is a machine that you can keep in the office or in the house, and which can be easily stored in a small space.

One of the most practical exercise machines is the treadmill. It may cost more than the other exercise machines but it has proven effective to most people who look at exercise with disdain.

Most people dread the times when they have to use their exercise machines because these are either too complicated or a tad difficult to operate. Using treadmills can come naturally for most people because what it requires is the basic walking and running skills, two skills that come naturally among humans.

If you have a tight budget, there are manual treadmills which operate simply by treading or walking on the rubber. For those who have more money to spare, there are electronic treadmills that measure the calories lost, miles traveled and other exercise data. No matter what treadmill you choose, you will definitely be able to recoup such investment in a short time as you will be able to stay on the machine longer than any other exercise machines.
Experts said that high-end treadmills with a motor horsepower of 1.5 or 2.5 continuous duty should be preferred. Also choose treadmills with a longer warranty period for their motor.

You can avoid getting injuries by doing some stretching first before starting out on the treadmill. Begin your treadmill exercise by walking and getting the hang of the machine. Do not try any antics as you can fall off the treadmill if you try running without getting too familiar with the machine. You may be excited when you first get hold of the machine but a 20 minute walk using the treadmill two to three times a week would be a good start. Gradually increase your speed and frequency as you get more comfortable with the machine.

Walking on the treadmill for at least 30 minutes every session will help you lose fat. However, always check with your doctor before doing any exercise routine to make sure you are not aggravating any physical illness.

Other people use their treadmills while watching television or listening to their favorite music. The secret of a successful exercise routine is not just a good exercise machine; you also have to enjoy what you are doing.

Many people in this day and age know that the key to a long life is to eat healthy and perform regular exercise. This fact has made gym memberships and home health equipment surge in the last decade. Many people choose the latter due to the fact of ease of use in their own home and not having to deal with gym rats.

There are hundreds of types of exercise equipment on the market, but the most popular are treadmills and exercise bikes. The major problem most people find with at home exercise equipment is overcoming boredom. The only thing that seems to work on boredom on a treadmill is a TV or watching an exercise program.

The same is true on an exercise bike, but some bikes allow you to plug into a TV or video game so that you may visually pedal thru a course. Recumbent bikes allow your hands to be free so that you may use the phone, magazine or book.

Safety on a Treadmill or Bike

If safety is a major concern due to age or injury, obviously the exercise bike is the safest for either. Not only while on a treadmill do you have to worry about a misstep, but also if you have children they can endanger the user or themselves. If a ball or any other item is placed under the deck and belt the treadmill can abruptly stop, or little fingers and hands can be hurt by putting them in places they dont belong.

With treadmills you also have to remember that you are putting much more stress on your joints. With an upright exercise bike users may stress your back while trying to reach handle bars. Recumbent bikes are said to sometimes improve existing back pain by forcing proper posture and giving you support while exercising. Exercising on a bike compared to a treadmill will reduce joint stress and injury.

Calorie Burn

On average a treadmill will burn more calories per hour than an exercise bike. NordicTrack conducted a study using different types of exercise equipment and they found that all at the same intensity the treadmill and ski machine burned more calories per hour than any other piece of equipment.

If you are interested in losing weight, a treadmill is the way to go! If you are a healthy individual with no joint problems or health problems you can expect to lose about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill compared to 550 calories on a bike. The key to losing weight is thru vigorous activity which a treadmill can allow.

Conclusion

Both exercise bikes and treadmills are wonderful options for anyone interested in losing weight or improving health. The major decision is what you are truly interested in achieving, and if you feel that you will be able to stick with your program long term. Long term success is determined by long term usage, so pick wisely, or even better choose both if your wallet can afford the investment.

Over the past decade the price of fitness equipment such as treadmills and ellipticals has taken a seemingly divergent and in some cases somewhat contradictory course. If a consumer wanted a quality machine in the past, it was not unusual for them to have to pay upwards of 2000. Today, the quality of products at the high end of the market has skyrocketed while the quality of the low end has taken on an equally stratospheric course towards better quality. While you may have the means to spend 7000 on fitness equipment, the average consumer may feel the prices are a bit more reasonable in the lower ranges. Unfortunately the sub-1000 price point still has some serious duds and the sub-500 price point is full of substandard machines along with very few reasonable deals. In order to be sure that you get a good machine it is important to do your homework.

One brand that fits in this lower category is Proform Fitness, a subsidiary of industry giant Icon Health & Fitness. Icon is, without a doubt, the largest company in the market and because of this can produce a better product at a lower price. Of course this does not mean that any piece of equipment from this or any other Icon brand is a good deal; in fact that is one of the biggest dangers with the brand. Almost every Treadmill looks alike to the average consumer from the outside; unfortunately the insides do not always match up.

If a consumer walked into Sears, one of the largest Icon retailers, and looked at the lineup of Proform treadmills and ellipticals there it would be hard to see the difference between any of them except for price. Again price is not the best decider either because several that are at similar price points may be somewhat different. Some features that add money to the cost do not add value to the machine and may actually be detrimental to its lifespan.

It is important to remember that the salesperson is, most likely at a large store like Sears or Sports Authority, not very familiar with the machines and does not really care which machine is best for you. They have a line of customers to wait upon and you are just in their way to get to the end of the day. You can rest assured that most of the salespeople at stores like Sam’s Club and Costco probably have little ability with the equipment and some don’t even know how to start up the machine. So to know what you want, and what will be a good value, it would be wise to look up some reviews before traveling to the store and putting down your hard earned cash.

One of the best examples of what we are stating here is a recent sale at Sears. Upon walking in the store, the proud Crosswalk 405e was sitting on the floor with its’ normal price tag of 499. A few spaces down sat the Proform XP615 with a big sale tag on, also for 499. The 405e has about as much in common with the XP615 as an elephant has in common with the International Space Station. Maybe that’s a bit of a stretch but you would have to be about as bright as a burned out light bulb to buy the 405e over the XP615. The problem is that the average consumer looking at both models would have a hard time telling them apart in terms of quality.

Treadmills and Ellipticals are high ticket items. Make sure you do your research and are informed when you are shopping and you will certainly end up with a better piece of equipment at a better price.