Buying any piece of fitness equipment is an investment in your health, which is great. However there are a number of factors to consider when purchasing fitness equipment. I’ve outlined a few points which I think are important when purchasing an elliptical trainer.

Elliptical trainers also known as crosstrainers first entered the market in 1995 and have been in constant development since. Reebok introduced the first elliptical trainer with moving arms giving the user a lower and upper body workout. Elliptical trainers have become so popular because:

• Low impact exercise, which is gentle on backs, knees, hips and joints.
• Weight bearing exercise that helps build bone density and burns calories efficiently.
• Suitable for a large range of training needs.
• Low maintenance, keeping costs down.
• Smaller in size than a treadmill.

How much are you willing to spend, budget?

As with most things generally but not always the more you spend on an elliptical trainer the more you get. With fitness equipment there are three categories, home equipment, light commercial equipment and commercial equipment. Home equipment is designed for home users and it generally suitable for an hours use per day, light commercial equipment is designed for the demanding home user and small gyms situated within offices and hotels. Light commercial equipment is generally suitable for up to 5 hours use a day. Commercial equipment is designed for gyms and is designed to be suitable for 18 hours use a day.

In my opinion £250 upwards will buy you a reasonable quality home elliptical trainer, try and avoid unbranded equipment and look for brands such as Tunturi and Reebok who provide service backup and warranties with their products. A light commercial elliptical trainer is going to set you back between £1000 & £3000 whereas a commercial elliptical trainer may be anything from £3000 to £5000.

How much room do you have to store the elliptical trainer?

Always measure how much room you have available before purchasing an elliptical trainer, remember they are larger pieces of equipment. An elliptical trainer has to be able to withstand the weight of a human, which as we know can vary enormously, so they can be rather bulky. All good websites or retailers will be able to provide you with the dimensions of the elliptical trainer your interested in.

Which brand?

With so many options it’s difficult to know which brand to opt for. Personally I would suggest selecting a brand which provides a good warranty. If a product has a good warranty then generally you can be fairly confident that the manufacturer is confident in the quality of their product. Brands which I’ve tested and prefer include Tunturi, Reebok, Bremshey, Nautilus, Trimmaster Life Fitness, and Schwinn.

What are programmes and how do they benefit me?

It is often difficult to motivate yourself when you’re often using the same routine! Purchasing an elliptical trainer with programmes maybe the answer. Having pre-set or even customisable workout programmes is a great way to provide some extra variety and motivation. Some of the more expensive crosstrainers now offer heart rate controlled programmes which using your heart rate, increase or decrease the resistance of the crosstrainer keeping your heart rate as close as possible to the pre-set rate. This is a safe way to exercise and can help with weight loss.

If you're set to invest in a serious piece of indoor exercise fitness equipment, like a treadmill, then help is here. A treadmill can be set up in front of the television or plug it into your headphones. The great attraction of a home treadmill is being able to exercise whenever you want, regardless of the weather.

Some treadmills fold up for easy storage which makes them an ideal choice for those with limited space in a small apartment, small house or condo. Check out the amount of horsepower (HP): HP determines how fast and hard the motor will work - the lower the number of the HP, the less the motor will be able to handle. Choose a longer treadmill belt of 54" or more if you or a family member has long legs.

Adjustable inclines let you vary the steepness of a hill. Most treadmills come with an electronic console that displays workout feedback such as speed, distance traveled, time you've been working out, and calories burned. Quite a few of the treadmills available today have the ability to add an incline to your workout to duplicate running or walking uphill, thereby increasing the intensity of your workout.

The deck is the belt area on which actual running, jogging and walking take place. Display panels should be easy to read and straightforward to operate. One feature that is absolutely necessary in a home treadmill is an emergency stop button or a safety key that automatically shuts off the power if you should stumble, trip or fall.

A heart rate monitor is a very good, useful feature to look for on a machine. The console indicates the belt speed and other factors, such as heart rate, miles per hour, and distance.

Less expensive treadmill models may be fine for walkers but may not hold up as well for regular or seasoned runners. Buying a treadmill online has become the way to go for most people; it'll save you both time and a lot of money. If you can afford to buy a treadmill with a heart rate monitor, it'll be a good investment in your health.

It's important to set a strict budget and then stick to it. Make sure to add the cost of shipping when buying a treadmill online; quality models can be heavy and shipping will cost more, but some manufacturers do offer free shipping. One indication of the likely longevity of any treadmill is to check out the length of the manufacturer's warranty; the longer the better.

It's best to buy a treadmill that has at least a one-year warranty. A noisy treadmill can upset other family members or roommates and even your neighbors if you live in a duplex, apartment or condominium. The more incline variation offered in a treadmill unit, the more expensive the model will be.

Once you've decided on the treadmill that you think is right for you, make sure to compare prices online with several different manufacturers. You'll probably want to buy a unit with a motor that delivers 1.5 to 3 continuous, not peak, horsepower.

To make sure that your treadmill is sturdy and comfortable and doesn't operate noisily, start it up, step on it and test it out before you buy, if possible. Warranties can last for ninety days or a lifetime, read the fine print.

Be careful, because any type of jogging or running, whether on a treadmill or not, puts strain on leg and hip joints. The more programs the treadmill has to offer the more you can vary your workout and you'll be likely to continue exercising on a regular basis. The lack of wind resistance makes running on a treadmill slightly easier than it would otherwise be on an equal elevation grade outdoors. Selections of preprogrammed exercise routines are not essential to obtaining a good workout from a treadmill, but they do help to provide motivation.

If you've never used a treadmill before, make sure to have someone show you the basics of operation before you buy. And remember, home exercise treadmills are a large investment financially and in your fitness and much thought and preparation should go into the purchase of any new treadmill. Take time to do your research, the same way you would any major purchase and buying a treadmill won't be difficult.

Checking out treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews are an absolute must. A well-constructed treadmill is a piece of home exercise equipment that every member of your family can enjoy, from young to old. Treadmills are simple to use, but can be dangerous in the wrong hands or around children.

AC motors that are found in some treadmill units run at one continuous speed and rely on a transmission to regulate speed whereas units powered by DC motors use variable voltage to regulate the speed at which the belt spins. There are two types of frames - aluminum and steel; steel is heavier than the more expensive aluminum, which potentially increases stability but steel (not aluminum) may also rust or corrode from sweat. With treadmills you need to watch out for the impact involved when your feet hit the belt; your body absorbs up to two and a half times your body weight.

A heart rate monitor enables a treadmill to automatically adjust the speed and/or the incline to keep your heart rate within the most optimum zone. Quite a few of the treadmills available today have the ability to add an incline to your workout to duplicate running or walking uphill, thereby increasing the intensity of your workout. The more expensive treadmill models will offer a selection of preprogrammed exercise routines.

A heart rate monitor is a very good, useful feature to look for on a machine. Safety features on a treadmill are especially important if you plan to work out alone or if you have small children who might accidentally start up the treadmill. Features such as extra cup holders, built-in fans, CD players and other electronic gizmos may be handy but not essential for you to get an ideal workout.

Display panels should be easy to read and straightforward to operate. Some excellent features, like heart monitors and safety keys that automatically stop the treadmill if you slip, will contribute to the enjoyment and safety of your treadmill workout or help add motivation.

It's definitely possible to find a good model that's not very popular, but is still a good buy. When buying a treadmill, the best savings will be for an online purchase, generally saving up to 45% over brick and mortar stores. If you're planning to use a treadmill purely for walking you're not likely to need an expensive top-of-the-line machine.

Treadmill manufacturers are competing for your business and price wars are creating big savings for buyers. If you can afford to buy a treadmill with a heart rate monitor, it'll be a good investment in your health. It's important to set a strict budget and then stick to it.

Make sure to add the cost of shipping when buying a treadmill online; quality models can be heavy and shipping will cost more, but some manufacturers do offer free shipping. After-sales service is another important issue to think about; find out if they'll promptly repair or replace your treadmill if there is a problem. Be careful not to believe the marketing hype if you're looking for a cheap treadmill; the truth is you get what you pay for.

When you're reading treadmill ratings or treadmill reviews, they'll usually cover safety statistics, the heart rate monitor, the various merits of the interactive model and computer fitness programs and levels. If there's a treadmill you've enjoyed using regularly at your local gym or fitness center check to see if there's a home version available in your price range.

When planning your purchase always take into account any other members of your family, or roommates, who'll be using your treadmill. When your equipment is up and running, get the right lubricants and cleaners to take good care of it.

As you increase your fitness levels, a quality treadmill will continue to assist your exercise needs as you progress to light jogging or to running. Selections of preprogrammed exercise routines are not essential to obtaining a good workout from a treadmill, but they do help to provide motivation.

Running or walking on a treadmill can be an effective way to workout compared to other more complex cardiovascular exercises. Treadmills are known to provide one of the best ways to improve cardiovascular fitness.

By following the above tips you're sure to find the best treadmill for you. No matter what your reasons are for buying a treadmill, be sure to find one that fits your needs and the needs of your family. Buying a treadmill is an excellent investment for getting into shape, understanding of course, that you actually use it.

Elliptical trainers are probably the best deal in home fitness equipment. They are true cross trainers that work the upper and lower body. If you purchase a top of the line model that allows you to change the incline and shape of the stride you add a whole different set of muscles that are exercised in your workout. All this means purchasing an elliptical trainer is a very good investment. You save by buying only one fitness machine that does a complete body workout and you also save by not having to travel to the local fitness center hoping that a machine is available for use. If you have young children at home you also save not having to find a baby sitter as well.

When buying an elliptical trainer you can afford to spend more due to the savings. It is generally understood that buying a cheap elliptical machine is a poor investment. Low and mid level elliptical trainers that cost less than $1000.00 will have fewer features and have less reliability. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for parts and repairs to fix your trainer. All the time you lose fitness and you lose money traveling to the local YMCA or fitness center to do your normal workouts. Even if you have a good extended warranty you still lose time and money. Many times it may take weeks to get the parts and then schedule the repair technician to fix your elliptical trainer.

Elliptical trainers costing $1200.00 or are better constructed and are more reliable. If you think this is a lot of money for an elliptical machine then you should consider the cost of membership at the local fitness center and the cost of travel to and from your gym. A good quality machine will pay for itself in about a year with these savings. It is easy to see why so many home owners are making the investment into a quality elliptical machine.

When adding an elliptical trainer to your home you should spend the time to fully research each model you are considering. Take the opportunity to test ride each machine at the dealers. Conduct a complete and intense workout for at least 30 minutes. Listen for rubbing, rattling or other unusual noise. Make sure the pedals are large enough to allow you to place your feet in a comfortable position. Probably even more important make sure the stride length fits you. A quality machine will have a relatively quiet and smooth operation. If the machine is shaky or feels even the slightest bit unstable you should cross it off your list. Talk to the technicians that fix and service elliptical trainers at your fitness center. Ask them what machine has the least amount of problems. They will know what works and what does not. Be sure to check on line customer reviews when doing your research. Always consider purchasing an extended warranty whenever purchasing a piece of fitness equipment. Most top of the line elliptical machines have good one year warranties but we recommend an extended warranty of at least a two and preferably 3 years.

Adding an elliptical trainer to your home is a good investment in your fitness and health. Buying quality will assure that you will have a long term return on that investment. Just like any other investment you must do a good job of researching your options.

If you spend long hours in the office, and if you work out constantly at your desk and before your computer, then you might find that your back aches more often than usual. This may be due to the varying wrong positions that you put your body through as you churn out your reports and articles. You might also find that you are gaining weight in the most unlikely, and certainly unsightly areas, including your hips, legs, and buttocks.

You can avoid all these inconveniences by making use of an exercise ball chair. By turning your ordinary exercise ball into office equipment, you can flex your muscles, strengthen your core, and even conduct a mini-workout as you go through the daily grind. With proper use, an exercise ball chair can help you lose weight without you having to go to the gym and enroll in exercise programs that demand exorbitant joining fees. Along with a balanced diet and a good amount of relaxation, your exercise ball chair can even help you increase your resistance.

Before getting an exercise ball chair, however, you need to buy one that correctly conforms to your body size and proportions. Your thighs should be sloping slightly downwards, and should not be at a perpendicular angle to the ball. The lower slope of your thighs eases the burden on your lower back, and keeps you from straining your spine unnecessarily. The exercise ball chair, however, should not be too tall, so that you end up looking like you are leaning on your desk to keep from diving forward.

If you start using the exercise ball chair, you might find it uncomfortable to sit in for long hours at a time. Start with about an hour or less, then sit on it for longer hours as the days go by. You can also exercise on it during downtime, say when your computer is saving an especially large file, or if you have to scan your hard drives for viruses or damage. With more practice, you can make your exercise ball chair your partner in fitness.

If you are interested in purchasing one, consult with your local gym trainers and fitness centers on the feasibility of actually sitting on one for long hours each day. You may also need to pay your orthopedist or chiropractor a visit, so that you can check if your back muscles and bones are ready for using such a ball. Your hours on the exercise ball should count toward making your body better, not turning your nerves into a frazzled mass.