Treadmill Buying Guide

Treadmills are the most popular piece of home gym equipment sold today. The popularity of treadmills probably stems from the versatility they offer users. Just about anyone can use a treadmill and walking and running are the most natural form of exercise.

The only drawback for some people looking to buy a treadmill is that they can be pretty expensive; however, there are low-budget treadmills available. Again, you just have to decide what you want to get out of your home gym.

Check out the treadmill buying guide below to determine if a treadmill is the right choice for you and what features to look for to get the most bang for your buck.

Price

As I already said, treadmills are among the priciest choices in home gym equipment. Unlike a lot of other equipment, the saying, “you get what you pay for” holds true when buying a treadmill. Typically, treadmills fall into three categories; budget, mid-range and high-end. Consumer Reports gives the following guidelines for these three categories.

  • Budget treadmills – Usually cost anywhere from $300 to $700 and should be used for walking only.
  • Mid-range treadmills – These are priced between $800 and $1,800 and are used for a combination of walking and light running.
  • High-end treadmills – Priced at anywhere from $1,900 to $3,500, these machines are designed for serious runners and can generally withstand the wear and tear of daily use.

Motor

The motor is the most important thing to consider when you’re evaluating treadmills. The motor is the component of the treadmill that controls the belt. The bigger and heavier the motor is, the more of a beating it can withstand, and the longer it will last.

Treadmill motors are generally rated by the amount of horsepower they produce. You’ll find that there are two categories of horsepower, continuous duty and peak power.

  • Continuous duty

This is the important number to look at. Continuous duty horsepower is the amount of power the motor will generate for sustained periods of intense use.

  • Walkers should get a 2.0 continuous duty horsepower rating
  • Joggers should look for a 2.5 rating
  • Serious runners should look for 3.0 rating or above.
  • Peak horsepower

This is the maximum power that the motor is capable of delivering at one time. It doesn’t accurately reflect treadmill usage, which requires sustained power, not a one time power surge.

Tread Belt

Again, selecting the right belt and deck will depend on your fitness needs. For example, if you have problems with your back or knees, you’ll want to find a treadmill that has a thicker deck, which will provide extra cushioning on impact. The belt and the deck are designed to wear together, which means that one shouldn’t outlast the other and if you replace one, you should replace the other as well.

When looking at the tread belt, you should pay attention to the length, width and quality of the belt. You can buy a tread belt that’s anywhere from 45 to 60 inches long and 16 to 22 inches wide. The desired belt length is determined by whether you intend to use the machine for walking, jogging or running and by your height and stride length.

If you’re tall or you have a long stride, you’ll want to invest in the longer belt so you aren’t kicking the plastic shroud at the front of the machine or simply falling off the back.

The width of the belt is purely a judgment call for the buyer. If you tend to drift from side to side when you walk or run, you might want to get the wider option.

Finally, the quality of the belt construction is also an important aspect to the overall quality of your treadmill. A quality belt will have a diagonal seam. The nylon should be tightly woven, and you should look for a polyester layer on the bottom of the belt. That extra layer will make the treadmill run more quietly and it will minimize friction and wear on the deck.

When looking at the deck, you should aim to buy a machine that has a solid wood deck measuring ¾ to 1 inch thick. Some of the budget machines will use pressboard, which is much weaker than solid wood and will probably break if you try to run on it. The deck should also sit on a section of rubber grommets, which act as shock absorbers as your foot hits the treadmill. Generally, the thicker the deck is, the easier it will be on your joints.

Rollers

Rollers are located at the front and the back of the tread belt. They are responsible for the smooth operation of your tread belt, and quality rollers will increase the lifespan of your treadmill. As a rule, rollers should measure between 2 and 3 inches in diameter. Some of the benefits of having quality rollers in your treadmill include increased load capacities, decreased belt slippage and decreased wear and tear on the tread belt.

Incline

The incline capability of a treadmill is operated by a separate motor than that which runs the treadbelt. You can also buy a manual incline machine, which doesn’t have an incline motor at all and requires that you get off the treadmill to adjust the incline manually.

Most machines available today offer 0% to 10% inclines and some high-end machines go as high as 15%.

It’s definitely beneficial to buy a motorized incline machine since it will give you the flexibility to increase the intensity of your workout with the push of a button.

Warranty

The warranty on a treadmill is a great way to determine the quality of the equipment you’re looking at. If it has a 90-day warranty, you’re probably not getting a quality machine. Warranties of a year or more indicate a machine that will last.

Some companies will break the warranty down into motor, frame, parts and labor etc. The longer the warranty the better; you don’t want to be spending money on costly repairs within 6-12 months of buying a new treadmill.

Optional Extras

Okay, here’s where I get sucked in. I love buttons and gadgets. I’m attracted to brightly lit consoles with all kinds of programs and buttons and remote control holders and cup holders…you get my point. This is where you can sink a lot of money that may be spent better elsewhere when equipping your home gym.

Hey, if you’ve decided that all you want or need in your home gym is a treadmill, or if you have all kinds of money to put into your home gym, by all means, buy the treadmill with a console that looks like a UFO. But, if you’re on a budget and you want more in your home gym than a running/walking platform, you might save a little cash by going with the console that offers the basics (usually a speedometer and odometer reading) without all of the bells and whistles.

Some of the more common extras that attract potential buyers are listed below.

  • Programs

Most treadmills come with at least a few pre-programmed workouts that can be used to break up the monotony of running or walking in place. The middle to high-end treadmills have a wide variety of programs that can help you achieve specific fitness goals. Some even have storage capabilities that allow you to track your progress.

  • Heart Rate Monitors

Heart rate monitors range from the basic hand grips that give an estimated heart rate to the wireless chest strap that uses your heart rate to control the intensity of your workout.

  • iFit Technology

iFit technology basically offers the user customized workouts based on that individual’s fitness goals. Personal trainers design the workouts and load them onto digital cards that are used in the treadmill. Some of the iFit programs even offer motivational speeches and interactive support.

  • Track display

This feature indicates your position on a virtual track so you can determine how many laps you’ve done and you can better mimic a track workout by using the straights and curves to change your speed.

There are many things to consider when purchasing a treadmill, especially since even the cheapest treadmills can still set you back several hundred dollars. If you live in a nice area, you might consider walking or running outside and purchasing a different type of cardio machine.

The basic use of a treadmill is to help improve cardiovascular fitness and to help burn calories. It’s a very natural way to burn calories since our bodies are already accustomed to walking. No matter what kind of treadmill you decide to buy, always read reviews from previous users to get a good idea if it is going to suit your particular circumstances.

You have to be comfortable on it if you are going to be motivated to use it to progress your fitness goals.

At TreadmillSolution.com we have provided lots of detailed reviews of treadmills. The reviews consider the equipment features, benefits, value for money and the reviews of previous users to provide a rating of each machine.

Home Gym Fitness Tips

So, now that you know all you need to know about the different aspects of home gym equipment and you’re ready to go and build your home gym empire, it’s time to start thinking about your home gym workout plan. If you’re new to exercise, there are some basic things that you should know prior to beginning your workout plan.

Putting together an effective program isn’t rocket science; however, it does take a little research on your part.

If you’re reading this, you’ve already considered the benefits of creating a home gym space that you can use to do your daily workouts. You’re probably already aware of the time and, in the long run, money a home gym can save you. You’re probably pretty excited about the gas you’ll save by not having to drive to the gym, and the flexibility you’ll have to workout whenever you want. Perhaps you’re shy about working out and you’re looking forward to exercising in the privacy of your own home.

These are all great reasons to start a home gym, and they’re the reasons that home gyms are becoming so popular today.

There’s just one bump in the road that many home gym junkies encounter every now and then – motivation!

Once you’ve bought the equipment and brought it home and you’ve started a basic workout, it’s easy for the novelty to wear off, at which point your $1,500 treadmill becomes a $1,500 clothes rack. If you’re concerned that your dedication to fitness will wane if you go the way of the home gym, please read on. I’m here to offer you some basic workout advice and some tips to stay motivated in a home gym environment!

If you’re a workout novice, there are a few things that you should understand before investing in a home gym and embarking on a workout program. There are three main focuses that should have attention in every workout program;

  • Cardiovascular fitness
  • Strength training
  • Flexibility training

If you’re serious about getting fit and reaping all of the benefits of a fit lifestyle, it’s important that you include each of these components into your fitness plan.

Every home gym should include some type of cardiovascular equipment unless, of course, you get your cardio workout through outdoor activities.

Cardiovascular Fitness

Cardiovascular fitness is achieved through aerobic training, which is defined as any exercise that requires increased oxygen consumption within the body. Below are some simple tips to achieve cardiovascular fitness through aerobic exercise.

i) Frequency

You should do some form of aerobic activity at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes per session. In a perfect world, you’ll be able to do five 30 minute sessions a week, but remember that doing something is always better than doing nothing at all. So, even if you only get to do 10 or 15 minutes a day, it’s always better than skipping your workout altogether.

ii) Intensity

Your cardiovascular workouts should be done with enough intensity to keep your heart rate in your “fat burning zone”. This is the number of times your heart should beat in one minute to most efficiently provide your muscles with adequate amounts of oxygen rich blood. The fat burning zone is determined by your age and this standard formula:

220 – (your age) x (.75) = Your Fat Burning Zone

For example, a 40 year old man or woman’s fat burning zone would be calculated as follows:
220 – 40 = (180) x (.75) = 135

According to this formula, a 40 year old person’s heart should beat about 135 times every minute to stay in his/her fat burning zone during exercise. This target heart rate can be monitored using the hear rate monitors that are included on many of the home gym cardiovascular training machines.

iii) Variety

If you want to get the most out of your cardiovascular training program, you should try to use several different forms of aerobic exercise. By varying your aerobic routine, you’ll avoid overuse injuries, delay or avoid training plateaus and you’ll avoid boredom.

“Variety in cardiovascular training is one of the key ingredients to a long-term successful training plan.“

iv) Have Fun

I don’t care how good your intentions are, if you’re not having fun or looking forward to your next workout, you won’t stick to a program in the long run. Don’t go buy a treadmill if you hate walking or running. Don’t use indoor equipment if you love the outdoors. Don’t ride a stationary bike if it hurts your knees…you get my point here, right?

You can get your aerobic activity in the form of anything from house cleaning to speed skating, so don’t force yourself to do something you hate. Workouts should be a highlight in your day, not a time you dread until it’s over.

Nutrition

So, you’ve got your home gym all set up and you workout program is well underway, but you’re not seeing the results you dreamed about. You’re six-pack is still a pony keg and your bulging biceps are missing their bulge.

The fact is that dedicated time spent working out everyday is not enough to achieve total health and fitness. Sure, you will get stronger and you’ll increase your cardiovascular capacity, but you won’t see the results until you start eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Don’t panic, this doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself or even deprive yourself of foods you enjoy. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that there is a huge variety of incredibly tasty food available that you can eat and still stay fit and healthy. The following section offers some nutritional information that will help you clean up your diet so you can begin to see the results of your hard work in your home gym.

Learn to Read Nutrition Labels

If you’re going to be a legitimate home gym junkie, and you really want to improve you health and your appearance, you have to be able to make healthy food choices – to do this, you must know how to read nutrition labels.

Nutrition labels are found on the packaging of most pre-packaged foods and they give information about macronutrients and micronutrients contained within certain foods. Most people don’t read nutrition labels because they don’t know how. Don’t be one of those people; read on to learn how to read nutrition labels so you can start making healthy food choices.

i) Calories

The calories are listed at the very top of every nutrition label. This section tells you how big a serving size is and how many servings are contained in one package. This section breaks down the number of calories that are found in one serving. This is important because, if there are 100 calories in a serving, but there are 4 servings in a package…you do the math, you’ll be eating 400 calories if you eat the entire package!

ii) Macronutrients

The next section of the nutrition label contains information about the fat, sodium, carbohydrate and protein content found in each serving. You should limit your intake of foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats and sugar if you want to maximize the effects of your training.

iii) Micronutrients

The next thing you’ll see on the nutrition label is a list of vitamins and minerals that are found in one serving of the product being considered. You may also see a statement that reads “not a significant source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium or Iron”. If you see this statement on a food item that you’re thinking about eating – don’t do it! Put it back.

Typically, the micronutrients found in a food should offer between 5 and 20 percent of your daily values per serving for at least a few of the nutrients listed.

iv) Ingredients

The last bit of information found at the bottom of most nutrition labels a list of ingredients used to make the item. The ingredients are listed in order of most abundant to least abundant within a food.

To make the most of your home gym experience you’ll want to avoid foods containing sugar or sugar variations, enriched flour, or partially hydrogenated oils in their first five ingredients.

You’ll see a lot of ingredients listed that you don’t recognize, and that’s fine; just try to avoid those ingredients listed above and you’ll be much healthier for your efforts.

Healthy Food Choices

Anyone can maintain a healthy diet without feeling deprived – you simply have to get smart about food and healthy food choices. The more you know about nutrition, the easier it will be to make smart food decisions because you’ll realize just how many options are available to you. Here is just a little information about proteins, fruits and veggies, carbohydrates and fats that will help you get started on your journey to healthy eating.

  • Protein

Lean protein is a great food to promote weight loss and muscle gains. Some great protein sources for healthy living include chicken, fish, egg whites and lean cuts of pork. There are also plenty of vegetarian options such as tempeh, tofu, sea vegetables, miso, seeds and beans. Finally, there are a few lean beef options, which include flank steak and eye of round.

Lean protein is a “wonder-food” because, if prepared properly, it tastes great; it’s versatile; it’s filling and it’s loaded with nutrients.

  • Fruits and Veggies

Vegetables, more than fruit, are a great food for healthy eating. Typically, raw or steamed green vegetables can be eaten in large quantities without making you fat. Green veggies are a great source of vitamins and minerals and fiber. Fruits are also a good healthy food choice; however, most fruits are high in simple sugars. If these sugars aren’t utilized throughout the day, they’ll be stored as fat.

“As a rule, you shouldn’t consume as much fruit as you do veggies in a day.”

  • Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates have become the forbidden food since the initial marketing of the Atkins Diet. Well, I’m here to tell you that not all carbohydrates are bad for you.

Yes, refined starches and simple sugars aren’t great food choices if you’re trying to improve your health; however, there are plenty of carbohydrate options that can be included in a healthy diet – they simply need to be consumed in moderation.

In fact, carbohydrates provide you with sustained energy and they aid in muscle recovery after a hard workout. Sources of complex carbohydrates include whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, oats and sweet potatoes.

  • Fats

It’s a common misconception that all fats are bad for you. This simply isn’t true. In fact, there are some fats, which aren’t produced naturally in the human body but are essential to our health. These are called essential fatty acids and must be ingested since we don’t produce them. That being said, there are good fats and bad fats and it’s important that you know the difference to protect yourself from high cholesterol and heart disease.

There are two types of good fat – polyunsaturated, which include Omega-3 fatty acids and are found in sunflower, corn, flaxseed and soybean oils as well as walnuts and fish are very important to maintaining mental and physical health and monounsaturated fat, which is found in food such as olive and peanut oils, avocados, nuts and seeds.

Saturated fat and trans fat are two sources of bad fat, since they raise your low-density lipoproteins, which will increase your risk of coronary heart disease. These bad fats are found in fatty beef selections, baked goods, snack foods, fried foods, candy and more. As a rule, you shouldn’t allow any form of fat to comprise more than 25% of your daily calories.

Healthy Eating Tips

This list of healthy eating tips will help you get maximum results from your home gym workout plan.

  • Eat Often – You should strive to eat at least five small meals a day. By eating a small meal every three to four hours, you’ll allow your metabolism to function at optimal levels throughout the day.
  • Eat Carbohydrates Early – Because carbohydrates are a ready source of energy, which, if not burned will convert to fat, they should be eaten during your first two or three meals of the day and that’s all. Always keep in mind that you need cards for energy, but too many carbs will lead to fat.
  • Avoid High Calorie Beverages – One of the fastest ways that people consume large amounts of calories without filling up is through high calorie beverages. Conversely, one of the fastest ways to cut excess calories out of your diet is to cut out high calorie drinks.
  • Drink Water – Everyone’s heard of the benefits of water at one point or another throughout their lives. The fact is that by drinking at least 8 cups of water per day, you’ll enable your body to process and flush toxins more quickly, you’ll boost your metabolism, decrease your appetite and recover more quickly from workouts. Water intake is essential to a good fitness program and a healthy lifestyle.

PARTING WORDS OF WISDOM

Okay home gym junkies, there you have it – all you need to know to get you on the road to freedom – freedom from gym memberships, freedom from the inconveniences of driving to the gym everyday and freedom from having to wait in line to use equipment.

Putting a lot of thought and planning into your home gym/treadmill budget, your space availability and into your fitness goals will go a long way to ensuring that you get the treadmill you want, need and will actually use for many years to come.

Beyond the treadmill, seriously think about your training plan and your diet. If you’re going to invest in a home gym, you may as well get as much out of it as possible. The only way to do that is to use your gym regularly, eat right and get plenty of rest for workout recovery.

I hope you found this guide helpful. Good luck with your home gym endeavors and all of your health and fitness goals.

Check out www.treadmillsolution.com for heaps more information and ideas!