Exercises Treadmill

Colin Tan asked:


As a personal trainer, I get asked many times about what brand of treadmill to buy. However, from personal experience, I will not buy based on name because there are many more factors to consider. I will also not review any brand in this article. Do not simply walk into a shop and get tempted by “$0 Deposit, 0% interest” deals. An impulsive purchase like that will leave you regretting for many years later.

Before going into the specifics of how to choose a treadmill, you need to sit down and think about the following questions:

1. What is the reason for getting a treadmill? If you want something to do your daily walks at a pace that raises your heart rate, you can opt for a treadmill with a low maximum speed and no incline. However, if you are planning to get in shape for a vacation where you will be hiking and biking, then you should opt for something with higher maximum speed and incline functions.

2. What is your budget? There are many good models you can purchase for $2000 or less. I suggest $2000 because most people cannot afford $3000+ for a treadmill and I know you can get a good treadmill for less. There are great deals online so shop around.

Once you have decided on the reason and budget, you have to do the following before you go shopping for your treadmill.

1. Measure the floor area you have to position your treadmill.

2. If you want a treadmill that folds, measure the storage area you have for the folded treadmill.

3. Measure the weight of the heaviest person that will be using the treadmill. Each treadmill has a maximum weight limit. If you weigh between 45kg - 90kg (99lbs - 198lbs), a treadmill with 100kg (220lbs) weight limit will be sufficient.

Now you are ready to go shopping for a treadmill.

Standard features that should come in a treadmill for your home. These are features that will be important to you.

1. Foldable - As a home user, you never know if one day, you will have visitors to your house or need to move house. A foldable treadmill on wheels will make repositioning the treadmill a breeze.

2. Electronics - Heart Rate monitor, Time read-out, Distance read-out, Speed read-out, Calories burned. An electronic “track” lighting up to show my progress. At least 5 preset programmes and 3 more programmable slots for you to define your own workout routine.

3. Belt - Try out your shortlisted treadmills. Take note of how long and wide it is. Bottom line: you must be able to run comfortably on it.

4. Horse Power - Most people do not pay attention to the horse power of the motor. Look for the term continuous duty rating. Look for something between 1.5 to 2.5 horsepower. Some have horsepower of 3. You do not need one that powerful but if you do not mind the extra cost you pay for a model with a horsepower of 3, that is fine.

5. Make sure the treadmill counts down when starting and the speed increases progressively when you start it. I have been on treadmills that start at the speed I set without counting down and have to immediately lower the speed manually. All treadmills should allow you to change your speed at any time using the arrow keys. Do not buy it if it does not allow you to do that.

6. Water Bottle holder - This should be a standard feature on most models. This is especially important if you do long walks or runs lasting 30 minutes or longer on your treadmill.

7. Speed Range - Look for one that goes up to 15km/h (9mph). An average person will not need more speed than that. A power walker walks at 7km/h to 8km/h (4.3mph to 5 mph). You will be jogging above 8km/h (5mph) and at 12km/h (7.5mph), you will be running.

8. Safety Key - This is a feature that will allow you to stop the treadmill immediately in the case of an emergency.

9. Warranty period - Look for a treadmill with 1 year or longer warranty periods. Do not purchase if the warranty period is less than 1 year. Do not be deceived by “X years warranty on frame”. Ask about the warranty on ALL parts, such as belts and electronics.

Optional Features you may want. These are features that will cost you more but if you feel that they are important to you, please go ahead and choose a model with these features.

1. Incline - Running at an incline, even at 1 degree, allows you to burn more calories as compared to running with no incline. Look for one that inclines at least 10 degrees and if you can afford, go for one that can incline 15 degrees or more.

2. Speakers - New treadmill models now have speakers where you can plug in your Ipod or MP3 player to play music from the built-in speakers while you run.

3. Fan - A few treadmills have a built-in fan. This will limit your choice of treadmills as there are not many models around with this feature.

Before heading down to your nearest fitness store, do your research online so that you do not waste too much time talking to salespeople who will try to sell you their latest models with the highest premiums.

Some precautions to take with a treadmill:

1. Please do not start an exercise programme before checking with your doctor.

2. Remove the safety key when not in use so that kids cannot fiddle around with your treadmill. They may get very hurt if their clothes get caught in the treadmill.

I hope this article has been helpful. Enjoy your machine.



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*~Stressed~* asked:


I just bought a treadmill and when it’s running the vibrations bother the landlord in the apartment below me. Would putting a heavy blanket under the treadmill stop or dull the vibrations?

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Saurya Ghosal asked:


itness treadmills have been designed in such a way that they fit well in almost any home. Not only that, but Life Fitness treadmills are also priced to be affordable for most of the people looking for a treadmill and they have all the features that they need in order to get a good workout without having to travel anywhere.

Life Fitness treadmills are being used by numerous world champion athletes, top athletes, military personnel and health club members.

Life Fitness offers two Life Fitness treadmill lines: Life Fitness Cardio and Life Fitness Sport Cardio. There are seven different Life Fitness treadmill options in the first line (T3, T3i, T5, T5i, T7, and T9i/e) and two in the second line.

Life Fitness offers the T-series as a direct descendant of its commercial model series, starting with the standard quality T3, their ‘benchmark’ value model, and topping out with the Life Fitness T9i, recommended by Health Magazine.

Basic treadmills are included in the T3 series of Life Fitness treadmill models. There are two choices in this category viz the T3 and the T3i. Both of these Life Fitness treadmill models offer a large number of features including classic workouts (hill, random, manual), sport training workouts (sport training, 5K sport training, 10K sport training) and EZ Incline TM workouts. Display options on the T3 and T3i models of Life Fitness treadmill include display of elapsed time, distance, speed, incline, heart rate, calories per hour and calories burnt.

Both Life Fitness treadmill models can accommodate speeds up to 10 miles per hour and an incline of 15%. The T3i Life Fitness treadmill includes heart features including Polar Telemetry® and heart rate zone training workouts (cardio, fat burn, heart rate hill, heart rate interval and extreme heart rate). Life Fitness treadmills in the T3 series consist of a 2.5HP motor and supports inclination up to 15%.

Life Fitness treadmills in the T5 series are meant for competitive running. The main difference between a Life Fitness treadmill in the T3 series and the T5 series is that those in the T5 series are capable of speeds up to 12 miles per hour.

The Life Fitness T5 treadmill provides a wide & long walking area and a powerful drive motor. It has a few less programs and a simpler display than the T5i but features the same durable construction throughout.

A Life Fitness treadmill from the T7 line, adds daily training workouts to the package (30-minute walk, 3-mile jog, 45-minute cross-train) and customizable workouts.

Finally, the T9 series of Life Fitness treadmill models additional customizable workouts, speed interval training, pace mode, calories goal, distance goal, and time in zone goal, as well as Life Pulse TM digital heart rate monitoring. The Life Fitness T9i treadmill bears up to 400 pounds weight and features a 5/8 inch 60 x 20 inch belt with cushioned deck, 3.5 inch roller and 4.0HP motor. This treadmill series offers a top speed of 12 MPH, inclines up to 15% and provides readouts/feedbacks. It also provides 16 preset programs as well as six custom memory slots for personal workouts and it monitors heart rate through Ergo hand sensors and a wireless chest strap.

The warranty period on Life Fitness treadmill models is impressive. Life Fitness treadmill provides lifetime warranty on frame and shock absorbers, fifteen years warranty on the motor, three years warranty on electrical and mechanical parts and one year warranty on labor. The Life Fitness T9 treadmill series provides a lifetime warranty on the motor and ten years warranty on electrical and mechanical parts.

A Life Fitness treadmill can get users well on their way to fitness. With the wide variety of workout options available, even on their basic models, users will never be bored. If users are keeping a close eye on their cardiovascular fitness, the heart monitoring available on a Life Fitness treadmill can’t be bet.

A Life Fitness treadmill might be the best treadmill choice for users. If users are going to use a Life Fitness treadmill, they should make sure that they know what they are doing before using it. Users should always make sure that they are very comfortable walking on their Life Fitness treadmill device before they decide to start running. This is always the case no matter what model or style of Life Fitness treadmill they own.

Before buying a Life Fitness treadmill model users should take a look at the different features that are offered with the treadmill model. Users should make sure that the treadmill motor has a high continuous duty rating and has a long warranty.

Life Fitness treadmills have an excellent life span. Some of the popular discount Life Fitness treadmills are model numbers 5500, 8500 and T3i. No matter how strenuous workouts users desire (use of hand weights to tone arms and body while walking/running on the treadmill), Life Fitness treadmills are a great piece of exercise equipment.

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Paul Reeve asked:


Buying a Treadmill? Read this First

Looking for suitable treadmill quipment can be downright confusing. With the huge variety of makes and models  on the market trying to make a sensible choice can send your head into a spin. But there is no need to give yourself a headache. By asking yourself a few pertinent questions you can narrow your choice down until you have targetted the treadmill that most closely matches your budget and your fitness requirements.

 

Are you considering buying a treadmill? The enormous variety of models on the market can make the task of choosing one overwhelming. To the first time buyer the bewildering range of models can lead many into information overload and make the task of selecting a suitable treadmill more difficult than it really is. But by asking your self a few simple questions you should be able to make an informed choice regarding your treadmill purchase and end up with a treadmill that most closely matches your requirements. Ask your self the following questions in order to guide yourself through your decision making process:

How much are you prepared to spend?

Treadmill equipment can vary in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. A low budget powered treadmill can be purchased from around $500 but it would be naive to assume that this would be capable of performing the same kind off duty as a model costing $5000. As with any other consumer item the price is going to give some measure of it’s capability and quality. A treadmill can take a lot of punishment and should be expected to last several years so it is best to spend as much as you can afford taking into account some of the other factors listed below.

What is the treadmill going to be used for ?

This may seem a rather curious question to ask but people have many different reasons for owning and using a treadmill. These could be training to run a marathon, lose weight or just to keep fit. You need to give careful consideration to this question as not all treadmills will be suited to your intended use. If you are a serious runner and looking for a treadmill to use in the winter months when it is too cold or wet to run out doors you need to consider treadmills with large motors, strong decks and long tread belts of 55″ or greater length. Most treadmills suitable for running are priced at £1000 and upwards, while the most sub $1000 treadmills are only really suitable for walking and jogging.

How tall are you?

Another apparently strange question but as your height is proportional to your stride length, the taller you are, the longer your stride will be. This is important as a person with a longer than average stride length will require a longer running area than a person with a shorter stride. This is particularly true when someone is running on a treadmill. Most domestic treadmills have a running surface that is around 55″ in length, but if you are a taller user - 6′ 3″ or taller in height then you should really consider purchasing a treadmill with a running surface of at least 60″. You will still be able to use a treadmill with a shorter running surface but you will be restricted and when running at full pace there will always be a concern that you may come of the treadmill altogether.

How much do you weigh?

This is an important factor to consider when purchasing a treadmill as one size (or weight) most definitely does not fit all. Most manufacturers will state the maximum user weight recommended for a particular model and the golden rule is not to exceed this weight limit. Exceeding the weight limit will not only alter the way in which the deck absorbs the users foot impact but may also lead the deck to break. Using a treadmill that has not been designed to support a user’s weight may also lead to the motor and the motor control circuitry over heating and the possibility of premature failure of one or both. The take away from this is always to choose a treadmill with a user weight that is greater than your actual weight.

How much room do you have?

Give some consideration to where you will store and or use your treadmill. If you have plenty of room in your home or a dedicated room that can be used to both store and use your treadmill then a non-folding treadmill is the obvious choice. But if you are restricted on space or will have to site your treadmill in your main living area then a folding or “space saver” treadmill may be the way to go. These treadmills have decks that pivot and allow the running deck to be raised to an almost vertical position so that the treadmill then occupies a much smaller floor area. There is a common misconception that folding treadmills are somehow weaker or inferior to non-folding treadmills but this is not necessarily the case. This notion has arisen because most non-folding treadmills are expensive commercial treadmills used in gym or health club environments where the ability to fold the treadmill up to save space is not a consideration.

What additional features do you require?

Modern treadmill equipment comes loaded with a confusing array of additional features. The manufacturers tend to compete with one another on the basis of how “feature rich” they can make their machines and it is pretty difficult to purchase just a “plain vanilla” treadmill. A popular feature on many machines is a heart rate monitor that can be used to display your pulse. This can be measured by sensors on the handlebars or via wireless chest strap on some models. Other features center around the programs built into the treadmill’s computer. These programs are designed to help you with a specific type of workout and will take control of the machine, changing both the speed and incline and in some cases providing audio prompts to provide encouragement. In addition to the pre-programmed workouts some machines offer the facility to design your own or purchase programs on memory cards such as the iFIT system.

Do you need to be entertained?

Increasingly people are looking to be entertained whilst working out on a treadmill. Pounding away for long periods of time can become boring and many manufacturers now offer some form of entertainment on their treadmill equipment. This can range from an inbuilt speaker system with music port to connect an iPOD or other type of MP3 player to a flat screen TV. Some of the top of the range models even have displays that will display a virtual running environment so that the user is given the impression that they are running through woods or up a hillside.

By giving careful consideration to the questions above you should have a better idea of what to look for when purchasing treadmill equipment and stand a better chance of ending up with a treadmill that meets both your budget and your fitness requirements.



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none asked:


I am training for mountain hiking and as you may know, going down a steep hill with a backpack is not as easy as it sounds. Its actually harder on the knees that going uphill, so I want to train for it. My treadmill will incline up, but not down. If I (or an electrician) could modify it to make it run backwards, I could train for downhill hiking. Is that feasible? Could I have a switch to change the direction from forwards to backwards?

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