Some Important Things to Look For In a Treadmill
I’ve never been a fan of treadmills. I mean, they are just machines that move in cycles. They do not offer any form of exercise or workout. You can say the same thing about spin bikes and elliptical trainers as well. It is true that these devices provide low-impact workouts with no strain on your joints but at the end of the day, all you have to show for it is some sweat.
In other words, what good does it do you?
To answer this question, let me share with you my own personal experience with buying treadmills and why I finally decided to buy one myself instead of wasting money on them.
I remember one time when I was doing a job interview and the prospective employer asked me about my hobbies. And then he said: “So tell us what kind of machine do you like to use for exercising?”
And I replied: “None really. I don’t like to spend money on stuff like that because I think that it is better to invest in something that will last longer than something that will be replaced every two years”.
This was a very honest answer from me and the interviewer seemed to accept it without any further questions. But the next day, he came back to me and told me that his wife had bought him an expensive treadmill for Christmas. He thought that since he was single, he would need it more than she did. And so, they ended up keeping it for themselves. Then, after a few months, when their kids started getting sick, they put it away again. This goes to prove how much people waste money on stuff that they don’t really need.
Then there were the times that I went to friends homes and saw their treadmills lying around. I had noticed that the wheels were turning even if the belt was not moving. So I would ask them why they had bought it. They would tell me that they thought that it would help them lose weight and get fit. But when I asked them how long it took to lose weight on the treadmill and how often they used it, they had no idea!
It is like asking a person who has stopped taking medication how many pills he/she is supposed to take each day. They won’t know unless you ask them directly.
Now, my point is not that treadmills are bad. On the contrary, there are plenty of health benefits that come along with owning a treadmill. For instance, walking at a slow pace burns around 800 calories per hour while running burns around 1,800 calories. That means that if you walk for 30 minutes, you can burn around 600 calories. If you run for the same amount of time, you can burn around 1,200 calories. In case you want to burn off a little extra fat, you can also consider using the treadmill at a higher incline.
But the main problem lies in the fact that most people don’t know what type of exercise their treadmills offer. Most of them think that the only way to get a good workout is by running on it. But that is not the case.
If you want to improve your cardiovascular system, you should focus on performing lunges instead of running. Lunges work your entire body and if you perform them correctly, you stand to burn over 700 calories per session. If you want to gain strength in your legs, try jogging or sprinting on the treadmill. Sprinting works different muscles and it can give you a great cardio workout as well. If you want to build muscle mass, try lifting weights on the treadmill instead.
How to find the right treadmill?
There are three important things that you must keep in mind before buying a treadmill. First of all, don’t go out and buy the first model that comes across your path. Always check out the reviews before making a purchase. The Internet is full of reviews that you can read before you make your final decision.
Look at how old the model is — there are plenty of treadmills that are still working fine. But new models come out every year now. So, always look for one that is five or six years old. Also, you should make sure that the motor of the treadmill is quiet. A noisy motor can cause undue stress on your ears and it may disturb your sleep at night. Make sure that the manufacturer guarantees its product against defects in materials and workmanship. Also, pay attention to the warranty period; you don’t want to invest a lot of cash only to realize that the company stops offering support within a few months.
If you want to find the best treadmill for you than you can click here and get to know everything about it. You can also check this out on the internet as there is lot of information provided on it. So firstly you have to do this and then purchase your first ever treadmill of your life. Consider all these things and then you will be able to buy treadmill.
Buying a treadmill online
One of the best ways to go about shopping for treadmills is through a brick and mortar store. However, if you live in a remote location, then the local stores might not carry the specific model that you want. In such cases, you can search for alternatives online. There are plenty of websites that specialize in selling treadmills. One of the best options is http://www.amazon.com/. Amazon has got everything under one roof — books, movies, music and even gadgets like smartphones, tablets and laptops. It makes sense for it to have treadmills too!
When choosing a treadmill online, you should look for reviews. There are plenty of sites that offer user reviews of treadmills. Read through them carefully to see which ones are best suited for your needs. The reviews will tell you whether the product was delivered on time or not. They will also tell you about customer service and how easy it was to interact with the seller.
What to look for in a treadmill
Before you make your purchase, you should know what you actually need from a treadmill. Here are some features that a good treadmill should come with:
- A variable speed option
- An adjustable incline
- A display that shows the current speed
- A safety feature (like auto stop)
- A safety belt
- Good quality construction
- A warranty
You can easily find a treadmill on the market that offers all of the above features. Just check out the website of major manufacturers like Proform, Life Fitness, NordicTrack and TechnoRun. All of these companies manufacture top-quality treadmills that are worth investing in.