Treadmills
What is a Treadmill?
Treadmills are used extensively for cardiovascular exercise including walking, jogging, running, and rehabilitation. A treadmill will have a rotating belt, typically propelled by the treadmill at a constant pace, with which the trainee is supposed to keep up.
Today, treadmills are mostly digital making it easy to change the speed of the belt in order to alter intensity. Many treadmills in the market today also have the ability to change the inclines level at which you are walking, for instance a steeper incline would compare to walking up a slightly more level hill. This is a great tool to help the body burn more calories.
Treadmills are great to add to any exercise program and will help with weight loss and your overall fitness. They are capable of keeping up with the distance you have walked and the number of calories that you have burned during your workout.
Purchasing a Treadmill - Sole, Proform, Epic, Norditrack, and more…
If you are looking into buying a treadmill you should first consider what you will be using it for. Will it be used primarily for walking or will you be using if for running as well? Most treadmills are designed for walking, therefore if you plan on running you need to look for one especially designed for running. This is due to the fact that the belts on the treadmills can wear our faster when used for running. Look into the different features that are common to treadmills.
Some of these include a heart rate monitor, digital speed, incline levels, calorie counter and some even have pre-programmed routines. Once you decide the features that are most important to you, you should shop around and get prices for them. Because treadmills are expensive you should check into extended warranties that may be available for the treadmill that you decide to purchase. Be sure to try a model in the store before you purchase so that you can get a feel for the treadmill, and to be sure that you will be comfortable using it on a regular basis.
Some of the top treadmills available today include Sole treadmills, Proform 600s treadmills, Epic treadmills, and Nordictrack treadmills. These manufacturers will provide you with a top quality treadmill as well as top quality service.
Putting Together a Treadmill Exercise Program
If you are an avid walker then you should use your current exercise program as a basis to begin adding the treadmill to your workout. If you are new to exercising start off slowly. Set goals for yourself that are realistic and set deadlines for the distances you want to walk or calories you want to burn during each exercise session. Remember to take it slowly at first and do not overwork your body, which could result in injury.
Start off with 3 to 4 workouts per week for 30 minutes each session. Walking is the best exercise to start a cardiac fitness program, while jogging or interval sprints are the best way to maximize the intensity. Keep a record of the calories, speed, and distance that you walk during your workouts. Your records can show the progress that you make over time as you use your treadmill.
Be careful not to overwork yourself as you get started on your new exercise program. Many people suggest skipping days between your walks to give your muscles time to relax and repair from the workout.
