Sports Blog » Fitness

How to Buy a Treadmill

sports — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:54:43 +0000

People love the holiday season for a lot of reasons. There is the time spent with family and friends, the always interesting office Christmas parties, and perhaps best of all, those delicious home cooked meals.

Of course there is a downside to eating all of that scrumptious food — putting on a few holiday pounds. Starting with Thanksgiving feasts and ending with Christmas dinners, it is easy to find your jeans fitting a little snugger at the start of the new year.

And with the weather getting colder by the day around the country, it is harder and harder to get outside and exercise. So for those of us who still want to shed some calories without having to face the weather or pay costly gym memberships, buying home fitness equipment is the best option.

You might be hesitant to do so because you think the process will be too difficult, but it is actually pretty easy to research and buy gym equipment for your home. To help you get started, here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to buy a home treadmill.

Step one: The first thing to determine is how much money you are willing to spend. Like most consumer items, the more money you are willing to spend the better quality item (in general) you are likely to get. For treadmills, the lower end of the spectrum will be in the $400 to $500 range while the higher end models can cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars. Consider what features you need and can live without to avoid spending more than you have to.

Step two: The next step is deciding if you want a treadmill with or without some type of motor. Treadmills without a motor function off the energy created by your motion and are generally much less expensive than treadmills that do come with motors. If you do decide to go the motor route, check to see what speeds and inclines that the machine is capable of to ensure it offers the experience you need.

Step three: After deciding on the price and type, the next thing to consider is the features you will require. Do you want a treadmill that offers a wide range of inclines? Do you want a treadmill that can automatically track how far you’ve ran or measure your pulse? Do you need extra bells and whistles like built-in iPod integration? There are many different options available to you so make sure to check out all of them before making a decision.

Step four: The final things to take into consideration are how much noise a treadmill makes, how much space it takes up, and how comfortable it feels to use. Many people do not consider the sound a treadmill will make, but ones with large motors and poor design can be loud and very distracting. Space is also a big consideration — especially if you do not have a dedicated space to work out — so if space is at a premium you may want to choose a model that can fold up and fit into tight spaces.

Finally, and this is often overlooked, you want to take into consideration how a treadmill feels when you use it. If possible it is highly recommended to use the model you want before purchasing it because you may find one treadmill more comfortable than another. When shopping online this is not going to be possible, so make sure to check out the return policy before purchasing from an online retailer.

Image Source: Health-Fitness-Beauty

Find deals on treadmills at Smarter.com.

Work Out Deal: Stamina INMotion II Manual Treadmill

sports — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:44:34 +0000

There is nothing like a 3-day holiday weekend to put on a few undesired pounds. All of that sweet barbeque goodness and refreshing cold beverages taste good when you are consuming them, but one look in the mirror the following day will have you wishing you stuck to salad and diet soda.

And with summer knocking on the door the last thing you need is to feel insecure in your bathing suit while roaming the beach or a friend’s pool party. Most people will tell you to join a gym if you want to tighten up around the mid-section, but who wants to work out with a bunch of strangers who are silently judging you? Plus there is the problem of having to wait in line to get on the proper machine and, of course, that pesky little (or not so little) monthly bill.

Add in the time of driving to and from the gym, finding parking, generally feeling bad that you are never going to be in as good of shape as those annoying personal trainers, and you have one gigantic waste of money.

But don’t give up hope on getting an amazing body in time for summer. It is possible to shed those pounds without the hassle of a gym membership and you don’t even have to leave your house to do it. All you need to do is buy a treadmill and you will be able to work out any time you want from the comfort of your own home. It may sound like an expensive endeavor, but there are plenty of affordable treadmills out there that can help you burn those extra calories.

So to help you get started on your path to a better body, today’s deal of the day is for a Stamina INMotion II manual treadmill . Normally $240.00, it is currently on sale for only $124.99 plus shipping. Because the treadmill is manual there is very little noise made by it, making it perfect to use indoors while watching TV or music. It can also be adjusted to an incline for a more intense work out, and when you are done you can fold it up for easy storage.

It is easy to avoid going to the gym because you aren’t forced to look at it every day. Put a treadmill at the foot of your bed — or better yet in front of the refrigerator –and suddenly you will find yourself willingly working up a sweat.

Image Source: Orlandosentinel.com

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more discount treadmills.

Cool Football Player: T.O. to Release Fitness Book, Drinks

nick — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:00:21 +0000

Terrell Owens Jerseys Dallas Cowboys Gear NFL Shop

It looks like Terrell Owens has to have his hand in a little of everything.

We always knew that Owens was into working out (who can forget him doing sit-ups in his driveway). Well, now Owens wants to share his workout secrets with you! Yes you! OK, it’s not that exciting.

T.O. has released a new fitness book titled “T.O.’s Finding Fitness” and has signed an endorsement deal with a new energy drink. The book is supposed to help the average person “unlock your potential” and prove that “everyone is capable of finding their ideal body.”

Maybe T.O. should write a self-help book about how to deal with temper tantrums and NFL quarterbacks.

Source: Sports By Brooks

Earth Day: Gaiam Oasis Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat

nick — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:26:32 +0000

In celebration of Earth Day, I’ve decided to post an eco-related post for you workout junkies.

If you’re a yoga fanatic, then maybe you should look into getting this non-traditional Gaiam Oasis eco-friendly yoga mat.

Made from all natural rubber, this mat will last a lifetime and provides you with ultimate cushioning and traction during your yoga exercises. Plus, everything about this yoga mat is recycled and is great for the environment. Even the outer packaging is printed on recycled material.

If you like yoga and you’re looking to do your part to help out Mother Earth, then you should check out this Gaiam yoga mat.

To compare prices on the Gaiam eco-friendly yoga mat, click here.

Top 10 Popular Treadmills to Help Get You Fit for 2008

nick — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:32:13 +0000

We’re a few days into 2008 and with every new year, comes new year’s resolutions. And at the top of everyone’s list is to get in better shape. Well, today I’ll help you achieve that goal by showing you some of our 10 most popular treadmills on Smarter.com. The prices range anywhere between $400 and $2,700, so there is a treadmill that will fit nearly anyone’s budget.

Pick and choose to see what model is best for you:

ProForm C500 Treadmill – $499.00
Affordable for anyone looking to build their own home fitness center, this treadmill has a 2.75 THP Mach motor and has a ClearView Backlit display and ProStride cushion.
ProForm 495 Pi Treadmill – $399.00
Save yourself $100 with this treadmill. This popular treadmill comes with a quick speed control feature along with a CoolAire fan to keep you from overheating. Check out what others have said about this treadmill in our reviews.
ProForm 6.0 GSX Treadmill – $579.00
Also comes with the 2.75 THP motor and has a 300-pound user capacity. The AirTrek cushioning feature helps to ease the impact on your body for a more comfortable workout.
ProForm Crosswalk 425 Treadmill -$449.00
This machine can really burn the calories. With it’s CrossWalk upper body feature, you can sculpt your back, arms and shoulders all in one workout on this treadmill.
ProForm 350 Treadmill – $399.00
Make your run a little more challenging by being able to adjust your incline and by using QuickSpeed controls. Run the terrain of the hills from your living room.
ProForm 540 Treadmill – $499.00
This treadmill comes with the 2.75 hp motor and also an EKG pulse grip to help you monitor your target heart rate. You can also use iFit workout programs which can be downloaded from the Internet.
ProForm 600s Treadmill – $499.00
This treadmill comes complete with four personal trainer workouts designed by real certified personal trainers that automatically adjust your settings such as your running speed during your workout.
ProForm Perspective ES Treadmill – $1,249.00
ProForm’s most advanced entertainment treadmill, this thing even comes with a built-in 7-inch TV.
NordicTrack Elite 2900 Treadmill – $1,199.00
This elite treadmill also comes with the iFit workout programs which allows you to just plug in your card and instantly you have a personal trainer.
NordiTrack S 3000 Institutional Treadmill – $2,699.00
This treadmill is in a class of its own and received high praise from testers from Runner’s World magazine in January 2007.