The Used Treadmills

Let someone elses failed resolution support your new lifestyle. Find the best used treadmills!

Archive for the ‘Best Practices’


Varying Styles and Functions Among Treadmills

Published January 2nd, 2010 in Best Practices | No Comments »

Before you run off to the used gym equipment store, it is important to be aware of the differences between competing treadmill classes. You may start your preparation by thinking that a treadmill is a treadmill, but that is simply not true. To be fair, there is a point at which a treadmill has so many functions and so many keys on the dashboard you may think you need an engineering degree to properly use the machine.

The very basic treadmills are the very basic for a few reasons. First, they have limited programming functionality. That means the treadmill is unable to give you a variety of running routines, mixing incline with speed. Having a diverse set of routines keeps your workout fresh and new. If you are the one that always has to do determine speed, distance and incline, than your human nature will choose the path of least resistance. On the other hand, if you are an avid runner, you are well aware of how to vary the speed and distance of your workouts, which means multiple functions may not be something you will want.

Here is Lori from Ford Models explaining how she uses interval training in her workouts.

Some people are persuaded to purchase treadmills because they offer heart rate monitoring, and the truth is unfortunately those heart rate monitors rarely work. If the heart rate monitor does work, it is hardly ever accurate.

Medium grade treadmills will offer a decent amount of programming functionality and may allow to adjust speed with both an arrow and nine key pad number system. That may not sound like a big deal, but when you are cruising along at 6 miles per hour, it is much easier to hit the 3 button than it is to hold the arrow down and wait for the speed to drop. These treadmills also offer a small variety of pre-programmed routines which can help you get a better workout.

The highest grad treadmills will offer everything from automatic fans to blow air in your face, inset plasma TV’s, and a long list of pre-programmed workouts. While I enjoy using the highest grade treadmill, they do not necessarily provide anything extra to the home treadmill experience.  You control the temperature of your house, you can place the treadmill in front of  a TV, you can customize the experience however you would like. o

Just make sure that when you buy used treadmills you choose one that meets your needs.

Ellipticals and Treadmills, who is the king?

Published January 2nd, 2010 in Best Practices | No Comments »

If you are like most of the overweight Americans out there than one of your new year’s resolutions is to lose some weight and get in shape.  Great news here, you are not alone in this goal.  It is pretty commonly considered the most common goal across the board for the New Year.  Whether it is be healthy, eat better, look better, feel better they are all the same –people wanting to lose fat.

According to many experts the best way to consistently lose weight and feel better is to keep your exercise fun and interesting and one of the best ways to do this quickly is with a treadmill or elliptical machine.  Don’t limit yourself to just these machines either, while the treadmill burns more calories the elliptical offers less impact to you joints.

The elliptical has a few advantages that the treadmill just doesn’t offer, but it really depends on the machine you buy and what your goals are.  One of those advantages is a more complete all over body work out.  This can be accomplished because while your hands are engaged at the top of the machine they are moving with you forcing your core muscles into consistent tension.  This allows the abs and butt to develop some more tone.

The downside of course is that if you just cruise along with the elliptical you don’t get the same cardio workout that you do with the treadmill.  The treadmill is harder for you body to move on and requires more from your muscles providing more resistance and a better cardio experience.  It is however constantly putting pressure on your joints which can be uncomfortable and lead to other health problems down the line.

I recommend taking advantage of both of these machines by using what is called interval training.  In other words spend half the time on the treadmill and half the time on the elliptical.  This will allow you to benefit from the use of both machines.

If the treadmill is too much in the beginning and standing in line waiting for one at the gym seems a little intimidating just relax and start with the elliptical.  Of course you can always purchase used treadmills and have it at you home for your own non judgmental use every day.  In the end its up to you for how you want to lose the weight and increase your health.