Contributed By Sandy | Published: Jun 22, 2005
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by
Angela Horsdent F Treadmills
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The majority of us would agree that while running
through the park or around the block, nothing compares
to fresh-air, and the beautiful sceneries. But not
everyone can enjoy the great outdoors. City suburbs
don't exactly offer the perfect environment for taking
a brisk walk or running. Traffic, pollution, and hard
concrete pavement just seem to defeat the purpose of
walking or running outdoors.
Then there is the time factor. Scheduling time to enjoy an
exercise routine that includes running becomes more
difficult then it sounds. And the older we get the harder
it is to get motivated. The increasing daily
responsibilities of home and work take up a huge amount of
our time. Many people are deciding the exercising at home
offers a large advantage over a gym. The flexible option
to exercise when it is convenient helps one stick to a
schedule.
Static exercise bikes have been a popular way of exercising
at home for the last 25 years. Owning a treadmill puts one
up there with the "Joneses" ~ that is how treadmills have
become so popular with mid-high income women ages 30 to 50.
There is now a huge incline in the target market for
treadmill distributors as lower income women ages 20 to 60
are also purchasing treadmills.
As well as the convenience and flexibility of having a
treadmill at home, the treadmill provides a level surface
that is also low-impact due to the shock absorbers it
contains. This is great for those who are frequently injured
whilst running on hard concrete surfaces or uneven surfaces
such as grass or mud tracks. It is also good for older
people who want to avoid injuries in the first place.
With walking becoming more popular as a leisure activity or
people deciding that walking to the shops or walking with
their kids on the way to school has certain health benefits,
the advantages of a treadmill at home are becoming
appreciated. Furthermore, walking and running are natural
things to do, although running takes more effort, they are
not things we need to learn to do like playing squash or
basketball and we do not need to rely on other team members
in order to do them.
A treadmill can provide numerous health benefits such as
better circulation, cardiovascular benefits to the heart and
lungs, and stronger bones. So why not have a treadmill at
home. Your figure benefits, as well. Of course, nothing is
as stimulating as running in the open air. But you can
watch television and play inspiring music while on your
treadmill. Many companies are working on a virtual walk to
eliminate the boredom that some treadmill users experience.
It won't be long before you'll be able to experience the
same effect from using a treadmill at home as you do from a
brisk walk in the park.
There are several styles of treadmills. Each treadmill is
rated by the style, functions, and its weight capacity. The
more powerful the motor and higher the quality of the
running belt, the higher the cost. Treadmills are
manufactured for gym use and home use. Of course, a
treadmill recommended for a gym can be used at home. But a
treadmill that is recommended for home use wouldn't stand
up to the challenge of a gym. The variations in price
reflect the quality of a treadmill. Typical functions
include knobs to set the speed of the belt and a button to
adjust the incline (up to 25%). Settings can be adjusted
for each individual use.
Additional features include an electronic feedback on
speed, time, calories, and heart rate. Programs can be
adjusted by low impact, fat burner, or high intensity
workout. The less sophisticated models are adjusted by the
turn of a knob, while the expensive models automatically
measure and monitor the heart rate.
Manufactures have made it easier to buy a treadmill. Price
range still varies by the number of options. No longer can
bad weather or the small inconveniences hold you back from
a good run.
Angela Horsdent is a health and fitness coach, who owns
F Treadmills, a
website crammed full of information about exercise
equipment. Visit Angela's site at
http://www.ftreadmills.com
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