Treadmills: Invest in your Health

So you’ve been dragging yourself to the gym after work for months now. You write your name on a wait list and then wander around the weight room waiting for a treadmill or other cross-trainer to become free. You consider all of the other things you could be doing at that moment, and sigh. “I pay way too much for this,” you think.

Then on Saturday mornings you get up and stare at yourself in the mirror. “I wonder if gardening can count as cardio exercise?” you ask yourself foolishly. You put on some old sweats and hope there’s no young, gorgeous human specimen on the treadmill next to yours at the gym.

If you are a woman, you briefly agonize over whether to apply makeup or if that’s ridiculous for the gym. You compromise with just some lipstick, which you realize is silly. You put on a hat, take it off, fluff out your hair, tie it back, try on four pairs of shorts, decide you look fat in all of them.

Then you go back to bed.

If any of the above scenario is familiar, it may be time to invest in your own home gym. That way you can literally stumble in your pajamas from your bed to your exercise room with one quick stop to the sink for some water.

All you really need is one piece of aerobic exercise equipment, such as a treadmill, stair climber or other cross trainer, and some free weights for strength-building exercises.

Experts have long agreed that the combination of aerobic exercise and weight training is the best way to lose weight and build muscle. In addition, regular aerobic exercisers see marked improvement in their cardiovascular fitness, mood, sleep patterns, even sex drive!

But which piece of equipment is right for you?

The very versatile treadmill
Treadmills are the most popular piece of home exercise equipment, and for good reason. Anyone can use a treadmill, from the young to the very old, because it is natural to walk or run. The treadmill can be adjusted to many speeds so the exerciser can see his or her progression in a fitness regiment. Studies have shown that treadmill users are more likely to stick with an exercise program because the equipment is so easy to use.

The most important thing to do before buying a treadmill is to research. Treadmill reviews can be found online at fitness websites. Look for what other users of the equipment have to say about the model.

Most good treadmills are about $1500 and up. Look for one with a good motor and at least a year warranty. DC motors are considered among the best and most quiet. Make sure the treadmill belt is wide enough and long enough for your stride. Also keep the dimensions of your exercise room in mind. An enormous treadmill that looks great in a display room may not fit as well in your laundry room/exercise room in the basement.

Many treadmills come with pre-set workouts that will change the speed and incline of the treadmill while you are working out. These can help you challenge your muscles and therefore help you meet your fitness goals.

Other cross-trainers
Stair-climbers and stationary bikes are also good bets for cardio exercise. They target areas such as the thighs, calves and buttocks. Rowers, conversely, have more of an effect on the arms, shoulders and back.

But if you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, elliptical trainers may be right for you.

Elliptical machine: Total body workout
Elliptical machines are alternatives to the basic treadmill. These machines offer low-impact exercise and a total body workout without putting stress on your joints. These types of equipment are excellent for people with joint pain or arthritis.

Elliptical machines are hybrids of other types of cardio equipment, and most are on the cutting edge of fitness technology. They require the user to move both their arms and legs at the same time for a total body workout. Precor, for example, makes an elliptical machine that combines the treadmill with a stair climber and adds an upper body workout with alternating arm handles. These machines also often offer reverse action and fat burning and cardiovascular health programs.

There are many different kinds of elliptical trainers on the market. They trend to be more expensive, but offer the latest in exercise technology. Again, be sure to research your equipment, and read reviews.

Home gyms can be happy places
Whatever type of exercise equipment you decide on, make sure to make the most of it. Remember that most healthcare professionals advise one 30 minute cardio workout three times a week to stay healthy.

For best results, add weight-lifting into your routine to add muscle and therefore burn more fat. You can buy a basic how-to guide and learn how to attain perfect form on those body-perfecting squats and lunges.

Also try adding stretching exercises to keep your muscles healthy and limber. Make sure to always warm up before exercise.

Make the room in which you exercise an inviting place. Bring in a TV, or crank up the radio. Enjoy the fact that, at home, you can spontaneously burst out into song while working out without being committed. Also you don’t have to worry that everyone at the gym is staring at your butt in the old saggy pair of spandex shorts that you only put on because all of your workout clothes were in the laundry – really, you would never, ever wear these shorts out in public otherwise.

Exercise when it feels right to you – whether that’s blowing off steam at midnight after a long harrowing day at work, or greeting the glorious dawn (okay, maybe that will never happen.)

But most of all, reward yourself. Buying a cardio machine is the best investment you can make in your health. Now go use it!

About the Author:

Karleen Kozaczka is a freelance writer and proud owner of a treadmill and stair climber. She is a health food junkie who uses a wide variety of fitness equipment and takes part in many sporting goods activities.