One of the most popular, if not the most popular, pieces of home exercise equipment today is the treadmill. Treadmills are designed to enhance the most popular form of exercise - walking, jogging and running. Treadmills are simple to use, but can be dangerous in the wrong hands or around children.

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. Always choose a belt width that's at least of 16 " ands long enough to accommodate your stride. A well-constructed treadmill is a piece of home exercise equipment that every member of your family can enjoy.

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. People, who don't have enough room for a bulky exercise machine, may want to consider a folding treadmill; they collapse to allow for easy storage.

Some treadmills monitor your heart by way of sensors built into the frame that are gripped by your hands, but can only be done if you're walking not running.

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. Adjustable inclines let you vary the steepness of a hill.

One of the key things to remember is that the larger motors tend to run cooler and usually require less repair and maintenance. The deck is the belt area on which actual running, jogging and walking take place.

When buying a treadmill, the best savings will be for an online purchase, generally saving up to 45% over brick and mortar stores. Warranties can last for ninety days or a lifetime, read the fine print. Less expensive treadmill models may be fine for walkers but may not hold up as well for regular or seasoned runners.

One indication of the likely longevity of any treadmill is to check out the length of the manufacturer's warranty; the longer the better. You'll probably want to buy a unit with a motor that delivers 1.5 to 3 continuous, not peak, horsepower. 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.

The more incline variation offered in a treadmill unit, the more expensive the model will be. Your club commercial machine may be may be a good choice in a home version; you're already familiar with its features and probably are comfortable using it. The first thing to consider when shopping for a home treadmill is what you need it to do for you.

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. Treadmill manufacturers are competing for your business and price wars are creating big savings for buyers.

If you're looking for a heavy-duty treadmill that can withstand running as well as walking, be prepared to spend more money. It's definitely possible to find a good model that's not very popular, but is still a good buy.

More and more people every day are choosing to get healthier; the majority of beginning exercisers start out by just walking or jogging. To get even more workouts, think about making your treadmill into a walking, working office by adding a mini-platform to the side rails.

Better quality treadmills provide excellent cushioning to limit the impact on knees, ankles, hips and lower backs. Running or walking on a treadmill is an effective way to workout compared to other more complex cardiovascular exercises.

Besides spending your money on a treadmill make sure you spend time on it! Spend some time shopping around; work out exactly what you need, and then shop online and offline for the best price. Read the various treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews that you find online so you have an idea which models are best for you.

The great attraction of a home treadmill is being able to exercise whenever you want, regardless of the weather. With a home treadmill you can still manage to have an extremely effective workout regardless of the weather outside. Treadmills are designed to enhance the most popular form of exercise - walking, jogging and running.

For a standard treadmill motor look for HP of around 2.5HP, this will ensure an easy and smooth action. 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 few treadmill models, which have rollers, are powered by the user rather than a motor.

One of the key things to remember is that the larger motors tend to run cooler and usually require less repair and maintenance. A heart rate monitor is a very good, useful feature to look for on a machine. 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.

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 enables a treadmill to automatically adjust the speed and/or the incline to keep your heart rate within the most optimum zone. 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.

The newest models of treadmills come with many extra features that you may not need. Notice that some treadmill heart rate monitors clip onto an ear or, for more accurate readings, strap onto the chest.

If you're looking for a heavy-duty treadmill that can withstand running as well as walking, be prepared to spend more money. Check out the level of noise that a treadmill makes during operation; something that many buyers overlook. You may want to spend less money if you're not really sure you'll continue using it.

Less expensive treadmill models may be fine for walkers but may not hold up as well for regular or seasoned runners. When buying a treadmill, the best savings will be for an online purchase, generally saving up to 45% over brick and mortar stores. 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.

You might want to bring your water bottle and towel to the treadmill store and try out their treadmills. 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. If you can afford to buy a treadmill with a heart rate monitor, it'll be a good investment in your health.

Did I mention to make sure to check out the warranty fine print, this is very important. Buying fitness equipment over the Internet has grown at a fast pace over the past few years.

It's best to buy a treadmill that has at least a one-year warranty. Once you've decided on the treadmill that you think is right for you, make sure to compare prices online with several different manufacturers.

The lack of wind resistance makes running on a treadmill slightly easier than it would otherwise be on an equal elevation grade outdoors. Running or walking on a treadmill is an effective way to workout compared to other more complex cardiovascular exercises.

To get even more workouts, think about making your treadmill into a walking, working office by adding a mini-platform to the side rails. 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.

Read the various treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews that you find online so you have an idea which models are best for you. Buying a treadmill over the Internet doesn't have to be intimidating when you've done your homework. Spend some time shopping around, work out exactly what you need, and then shop online and offline for the best price.

A healthy body will never be a house to diseases. And the only mantra to a healthy body is exercising and workouts. Following a good exercising regime not only helps you remain fit, but also opens life-long paths for a healthy survival.

In the category of exercising equipment, lately, treadmills have caught the attention of many of the fitness freaks. Especially, it has come as a savior to the people who suffer from one or the other form of heart disorders. People, afflicted with such disorders, find it uncomfortable to walk for long distances. Besides this, due to lack of adequate energy, they are also unable to perform the basic activities of daily life. Thus treadmill walking inculcates in them the stamina of better and long walking. All these things give them a healthy heart and thus a healthy life.

The concept of treadmill exercising for heart patients is very simple. Through treadmill walking, they are administered what is called the sports physiology training. Its implication is that the speed of the treadmill is manually administered. Thus under this concept, treadmill training is provided to the patient according to his capability and comfort. With this, the patient is also provided with the treatment that helps in stimulation of the neuro-muscles.

Besides this, there are several other benefits that are incurred on the health of a heart patient with the help of treadmill workout programs. Regular practice of treadmill exercising adds strength in the body of the cardio patient. There is also an increased co-ordination between the brain and the body parts, with an over-all improvement in the quality of living.

The series of treadmill workout programs for a heart patient are quite different from what is generally used for a normal human being. The workout programs are of low intensity, predominantly involving brisk walking on the machine. As the patient feels an improvement in his over-all heart condition and health, he can increase the magnitude of the treadmill walking and even shift to running at times.

But, here is a very important thing to note. Treadmill exercising should only be practiced under the guidance of a good medical practitioner and an experienced trainer. Only an effective guide will lead you to the way of a healthy body and comfortable living.

No disease or disorder is incurable in the world today. All you need to do is to follow a lifestyle that aids your treatment process.

Refurbished goods are doing pretty well in the sales market. As prices of some of the commodities still remain high, and out of reach for many of the consumers, people tend to flow towards the second hand or refurbished stuff.

The latest boom in the refurbished market can be seen in the field of fitness products. Amongst them, treadmills are the ones that have caught the maximum attention with the consumers and the manufacturers.

Despite a huge flush in the market, treadmills still come quite heavy on the average buyer’s pocket. So many of the willing buyers of treadmills either refrain from buying one or opt for second-hand or refurbished models. Besides this, there is another reason because of which people prefer putting hands on a refurbished treadmill. Some people are very skeptical about the mode of exercises that they would follow. So, they are of the view that before spending their precious few bucks on a treadmill, it is better to try hands on a refurbished model.

A refurbished treadmill is generally the one which has been used for some time and then returned to the manufacturer due to occurrence of a defect or for as petty a reason as the consumer was not satisfied with the machine and was looking for an upgraded model. Refurbished treadmills can be of two types. They can be factory refurbished treadmills or manufactured refurbished treadmills.

The process of refurbishing a treadmill generally includes the reassembling or replacing, rebuilding the worn-out or the broken parts of the machine. All the inefficient and the broken parts of the machine are replaced and treadmill is given a new shape and form. The refurbished treadmill is then sent out to the original manufacturing outlets or retail shops where they are sold out.

Refurbished models have an edge over the brand new models as you can get a good treadmill with the state-of-the-art features at cheap and affordable prices. Another good thing about refurbished treadmill is that they are better than the second hand models in the long term. With second hand models, you will never get a brand new motor or a new belt.

There are certain things that you need to keep in mind when you have set your mind on a refurbished treadmill. The most important thing is the age of the treadmill that you intend to buy. The next important thing that follows is the name of the manufacturer. Last but not the least, the warranty of the model is also very important. Remember to opt for those models that are refurbished by some qualified industrial technicians.

This is a question that I am asked almost on a daily basis, should I buy a treadmill or an elliptical trainer?

Treadmills

Treadmills have been around for a long time and are very popular as they allow users to exercise in a controlled environment such as the home, office or gym. People like treadmills because they offer two forms of the most popular exercise, walking and running.

Using a treadmill will burn calories as well as increase your bone density and help with your coordination. The advantage of using a treadmill rather than running on the road is that there is less impact on your joints as the decks on treadmills are designed to absorb the impact and reduce the strain on your body. The functions and sturdiness of a treadmill usually depends on its size and cost. There are three main categories, as there is for most exercise equipment, commercial equipment which is designed to withstand continuous use in a gym with minimal maintenance. Light commercial equipment, which is designed for gyms or individuals who require the equipment to withstand 5-6 hours use a day and home equipment which is designed for the home market. Treadmills have improved drastically over the last few years with the prices and functionality of the home models becoming better all the time. Nowadays you can buy a treadmill for under a £1000 which has some features you would not have even seen on a commercial model a few years ago. Good quality home treadmills will have similar functions to commercial models for a fraction of the price, these include numerous programmes including heart rate control manual adjustment of speed and incline and the ability to fold the treadmill once you’ve finished your workout.

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical trainers have been on the market for over a decade now in one form or another, some fitness professionals were doubtful that the elliptical trainer also known as a crosstrainers would survive. However its done more than survive its thrived and now you cannot go to any gym without there being a great number of elliptical trainers. The reason for this is probably due to a number of factors, firstly the elliptical trainer provides an excellent cardio vascular workout whilst being extremely low impact. Unlike whilst using a treadmill your feet do now leave the equipment when using an elliptical trainer and so the impact on your joints is minimal. This is great for people like me who have weak knees or other joint problems. The other advantage of the elliptical trainer is that it burns a high number of calories as you’re carrying out a full body workout i.e you’re not just utilising your lower body muscles but also utilising the upper part of your body too. Using an elliptical trainer for half an hour may not burn as many calories as using a treadmill at a similar intensity but it defiantly feels a lot easier and that is another reason why people enjoy using an elliptical trainer. Getting fit and staying fit is never easy but using an elliptical trainer is a good start.

Like treadmills elliptical trainers come in various forms and often have various programmes including heart rate control.

So is there a definitive answer as to which is best? No, not really it all depends upon what you’re looking for and other factors such as how much space you have and what your budget is. Elliptical trainers are generally cheaper than treadmills and are lower maintenance which also helps. Ideally space and budget aside both would be the ideal solution as variety helps you stick to your fitness regime.

There are some stability ball exercises that are designed to take care of your core, or abdominal muscles.

1. Begin your abdominals-strengthening stability ball exercises by placing the ball beneath your lower torso and hips, and while keeping your knees slightly bent or fully straight. Put your hands behind your head or your back, then slowly roll down the ball as you would on a slide. Make sure that your body is straight as you do this, and that you pull in the muscles of your abdominals as you slide down the ball.

2. It can be difficult to balance on a stability ball, so increase your endurance and sense of balance by placing the ball under your abdominals and hips. Place your hands on the floor, keep your legs straightened, then lift your feet off the floor. Keep your body upon the ball, and straight, for about twenty to thirty counts. You will find that your body is most stable if you pull your abdominal muscles in.

3. Continue this part of the stability ball exercises by raising one of your arms out to your side. Make sure that you do not roll off the ball or place your feet back on the floor. Do this for the other arm. This exercise is designed to firm your arms and legs, as well as to contract and stretch your hard-to-reach abdominal muscles. It is in fact difficult to carry out, so do it slowly, and stop it if you begin to feel sharp pain in your arm muscles.

4. Continue this set of stability ball exercises by placing the ball in front of you, then laying your hands upon it, so that your arms are parallel to each other. Imagine that a string is being threaded through your belly button, and someone is pulling it backward into your spinal column. This will force you to tighten your abdominal muscles. As you tighten these muscles, roll forward slowly and roll the ball along with you. Roll the ball as far away from you as possible without bending your back or straining your back muscles.

5. To return to your original position, pull your elbows toward the surface of the ball, then squeeze your abdominal muscles inward. If you have back problems, you can substitute this exercise for a simple abdominal contraction. Lie down on your back, then place your knees, shins, and feet on the ball. Put your hands behind your head, then contract your abdominal muscles. Do not bend your back, and breathe steadily.

Stability ball exercises are ineffective without the proper diet, or without exercises accessories, such as dumbbells, resistance cords, or an exercise mat.

If you are interested in carrying out stability ball exercises, seek the advice of your nutritionist, or a local gym instructor. If wrongly carried out, stability ball exercises can be dangerous and can lead to injuries.