Posts Tagged ‘Treadmill’

NordicTrack C2000 Treadmill Review

March 5th, 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com

The NordicTrack C2000 Treadmill has a very impressive specification and is the cheapest on the market to our knowledge with an iFit SD card slot. You choose from a number of programmes depending on your requirements such as weightloss, improving fitness or body sculpting and then insert the card into the console.

The iFit programme now controls your treadmill and actually starts talking to you! Technology can be a wonderful thing and we feel this is a great feature to help you achieve your fitness targets – if you can used to the American accent, why don’t they do Brummie or Geordie :0)

Anyway, enough of R2D2, what about the treadmill? Well, as you’d expect from NordicTrack it looks very stylish almost to the point of minimalist. It has a good sized belt with plenty of width and feels comfortable and stable under foot. You can adjust the feel of the deck with NordicTrack’s Durastride slide cushion with 3 settings to replicate the sensation of the road through to grass.

The ability to change the shock absorption setting is very useful. If you’re overweight or recovering from an injury the higher levels help to reduce stress on your joints. As you lose the weight and feel more confident the lower settings could be used to prepare you for road-running.

The NordicTrack C2000 comes with 15 programmes that include weightloss, performance and aerobic options plus whatever you choose to add if you buy an iFit card. You can measure your heart rate using either the grips on the handles or use the strap included in the price.

The console has a good sized display which is easy to read, the controls are straightforward with one touch speed and incline functions. It has speakers and a USB plug for your iPod or for use with the iFit workouts. The 2.00 HP motor is quiet and according to NordicTrack can be run non-stop for up to 5 hours! That should be enough for most runners we think or for all the family to go one after the other. The warranty is excellent, it comes With lifetime frame cover, 10 years on the motor and 2 years full on site parts and labour.

The NordicTrack C2000 is no doubt a quality running machine with state of the art technology to help you reach your fitness goals. The motor runs like a dream and the ability to change the feel of the deck is a great benefit. We love the iFit SD card function and know you will too – if you can put up with the accent!

Roy Palmer is a teacher of The Alexander Technique and has studied performance enhancement in sport for the last 10 years. In 2006 he published a book called ‘Zone Mind, Zone Body’ about how to achieve a peak performance more often. He’s also a bit of an ‘anorak’ when it comes to treadmills and gadgets. To read his views on over 50 models please click treadmill review.

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Top 5 Treadmill Workout Tips to Flatten Your Abs – Presented by Smoothfitness.com

February 25th, 2010

Did you know that you can get flat sexy abs without doing sit ups? With my top five treadmill workout tips you will literally walk your way to six pack ABS! Tight abs are not the result of countless sit ups! Instead they are derived from a complete body workout that engages all of the body’s muscles while burning fat.

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Treadmill Or Elliptical – 2 Home Gym Cardio Options

February 9th, 2010

There is some confusion when it comes to which piece of cardio equipment to buy for a home gym, but the big two contenders are the elliptical and the treadmill. Both of these machines have pros and cons, but both can get you into good shape if you actually use them.

The elliptical has become one of the most popular units of cardio equipment. At big commercial gyms they can even outnumber the time-tested treadmills. That would have been unthinkable a few years ago. As a trainer, I’ve found that the elliptical machines tend to force people to a higher level of output, mostly by virtue of the unfamiliar motion combined with hand movement. That’s of course great for total calories burned, and that’s what it takes for real fat loss to occur. The motion on the elliptical is somewhat similar to running. Although on the elliptical, there is no jarring impact like that experienced with jogging. The elliptical makes it easy for individuals with sensitive or “bad” knees and joints to get a fat-burning cardio workout.

As mentioned earlier, most ellipticals have moving arms. This really helps force the heart rate up. Pulse rate goes up because, as more working muscles join in, the cardiovascular system has to work harder. If you’ve never seen one in use before, the arm motion creates something like a cross-country-skiing motion.

Since the elliptical tends to be quite intense cardio, many personal trainers recommend it. It may be a good step up from jogging on the treadmill, especially for individuals interested in fat loss. This is very true if they’re not experienced runners. But for people who enjoying running, the treadmill can actually be superior.

A treadmill exercise machine is perhaps the basis for indoor cardio. Nearly every gym has enough for an array of exercisers. It accommodates many fitness levels, from an easy walk to a full-on sprint.

If you’re considering a treadmill for a home gym, think about the following: Be sure that you purchase a treadmill that has a jogging area of 3 feet wide by 50 inches long or greater. If you’re 6 feet tall, you’ll definitely need a surface that long, or longer. Be sure to try any possible treadmill purchase out before you buy. And, make sure it gives adequate shock absorbing. Also, look for a treadmill with a 1.5 horsepower engine or greater. This is what’s found in commercial gyms.

Regardless of what you choose, aerobic training has many benefits. Many individuals feel more “energy” from aerobic or cardio workouts. This is true partially because cardio helps to increase aerobic capacity. (This capacity is associated with a quicker metabolism too.)

How can you tell if your treadmill or elliptical workout has put you in the so-called cardio zone without a heart rate monitor? In general, you need to at least break a sweat, but you shouldn’t go so hard that you couldn’t carry on a conversion using short sentences. You should stay within your target heart rate for at least twenty minutes.

Both the treadmill and the elliptical have pros and cons. The one you finally decide on is a very individual choice. Whether you end up with a treadmill or an elliptical, you’ll get benefits as long as you use it regularly.

Find fitness info and a personal trainer:
http://www.scottsdale-fitness-training.com/find-a-personal-trainer.html
http://www.scottsdale-fitness-training.com/scottsdale-personal-trainer.html

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SurfShelf Treadmill Desk Installation

February 2nd, 2010

The surfshelf treadmill desk and laptop holder works on most any treadmill, elliptical trainer or stationary exercise bike. Now you can exercise while having fun online watching TV, playing games, reading blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc… as well as watching dvds. Or you can get a little extra work done while you get fit. It’s the perfect treadmill accessory for anyone who owns an exercise machine. It’s also the perfect gift!

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Lose Weight by Treadmill Walking – Is It Possible?

January 19th, 2010

Treadmills and elliptical trainers are the two most popular pieces of cardio exercise equipment both at the gym and in homes. They’re renowned for giving a great cardio workout, and you can’t really go wrong in choosing either one.

But let’s say you prefer the treadmill. Is it possible to lose weight just by walking on this machine? Well, yes, it is possible. But there are a few things you’ll need to know to make sure you’re not wasting your time.

The first mistake many people make when trying to lose weight by treadmill walking is increasing their calories after starting the exercise program. Treadmills will help you to lose weight by allowing your body to use up more calories than you take in. However, walking does not burn as many calories as say, triathlon training or a game of racquetball. Even so, many walkers think they need to use some of the dietary ‘training ads’ intended for participants in more intense sporting activities.

If you decide to ‘fuel’ your walking session by having an energy bar beforehand and a protein shake afterwards, you may be cancelling out the caloric deficit caused by your treadmill workout, and therefore not lose any weight.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating starving yourself. This is counter-productive and will just make your body start holding onto fat because it thinks there’s a famine going on. But eat your regular amount of calories or slightly less, and make it good clean food, not junk, in order to see weight loss from treadmill walking.

Also, in order to lose weight from treadmill walking, you’ll need to exercise hard enough to get into your “fat burning zone”, which is from 60-80 percent of your maximum heart rate. Just strolling easily on the machine will probably accomplish little visible weight loss, unless you can do it for six hours a day. Try and get to a point where you could just barely carry on a conversation. If you can sing, you’re going too slow, and if you can’t talk, you’re going too fast – unless you’re doing interval training.

What is interval training? With this type of workout, you would raise the intensity of the walking, say to a jog, for anywhere from 20 seconds to a few minutes, then return to easier walking for about the same amount of time. Continue alternating work and rest periods. By interspersing these hard and easy phases, you can get the same weight loss benefits from a 20 minute workout that it would take 45 minutes to an hour to achieve at a slower pace. That’s because interval workouts cause your body to burn more calories around the clock, rather than just during the workout as with the longer and easier walking sessions. If you do choose to use intervals, then try over time to make the work periods harder, decrease the rest periods, or both, in order to burn even more fat, which is of course what losing weight is all about.

To learn more about using a treadmill, or anything having to do with health and fitness, check out the Health and Fitness Guide at http://www.thehealthandfitnessguide.com

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Elliptical Or Treadmill – Which Should You Buy?

January 12th, 2010

Are you thinking about investing in a piece of home exercise equipment and are wondering what the differences are between a treadmill and elliptical? Are you wondering if you should get the one that is the better value or cheaper? Or are you wondering if there are any health differences based on your lifestyle?

The biggest difference between an elliptical and a treadmill it that an elliptical is a “no impact” machine which is important for some people and it works your upper body too. And a treadmill allows a more truly realistic running movement, which may be important if you’re working on being a better runner.

But a major advantage to a treadmill versus an elliptical is that the elliptical only allows you to have a stride length that is fixed along with a forward and backward motion. The elliptical trainer is thought by many heart conscious people to be a good machine for cardio fitness. However, it really doesn’t address biomechanics and the proper timing of the ankles, knees and hips. When using this machine the function of the foot muscles is limited. Treadmills allow you to control the overlap of your feet, whereas the elliptical trainer keeps the feet a set width apart.

A treadmill is the natural way physiologically of walking or running. To live a longer and healthier life you want to make sure you have what is called “specific activity.” It can give you specific and usually necessary feedback about your proper foot placement and technique, for example – the sound of each footfall should be very quiet, an elliptical cannot do this. If you’d like to get some instant feedback with a treadmill, place a mirror in front and to the side of the unit and work on the increase in your stride. This will help reduce any harmful stress while still maximizing the lymphatic flow and drainage in the body.

An elliptical and the treadmill both stimulate the lymphatic system and its flow which is a good thing, of course, but opinions differ due to the natural function of the foot on the treadmill, where it may be deemed better. It also allows more variety, intensity and depth to workouts, for example, working both the adductors and abductors of the hips as in side-stepping. Side-stepping helps to develop both the total inner and outer functions of both legs. It also reduces any possibility for overuse issues.

Muscles of the buttocks, thighs, legs and feet are used. You can also walk backwards which is good for people who have a history of shin splints and stress fractures– this will enhance the muscular timing and biomechanics of your legs. For people who want more intensity and a challenge, try leaping high.

One very significant difference between the machines is the issue of balance. A person’s balance is not a factor on an elliptical machine as it is on a treadmill and it’s even possible that balance will improve over time. Professionals have recommended using tubing on a treadmill, attaching it behind or in front for more arm strength and upper body fitness. If you’re familiar with cross-crawl patterning, it can help with it too.

If cost is a factor, of course there are many ways to save money on these machines. From discounts to wholesale prices, low cost or cheaper equipment can easily be found online.

In the end it all depends on which machine you like and more importantly which machine you will use more. Both the elliptical and treadmill are excellent pieces of exercise equipment and only good if you use them consistently and don’t let them gather dust. In any event no matter which you choose you’re sure to benefit making them an important part of your personal health plan.

For information on saving money on elliptical machines and best buy shopping for elliptical trainers online and offline go to http://www.Best-Treadmill-Tips.com a nurse’s website for elliptical trainer tips, advice and resources, including info on elliptical machine ratings and reviews

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Elliptical Trainers Vs Treadmill – Which One is Best?

January 11th, 2010

So which exercise machine is best: the treadmill or the elliptical trainer?

While treadmills are still the #1 piece of home exercise equipment, elliptical trainers are quickly catching up. This leaves many people wondering ‘Should I buy an elliptical trainer or a treadmill?’

While there are definite differences between the two, it really boils down to you – the buyer. This article lays out the benefits of both the treadmill and the elliptical so you can make an informed decision and choose the best machine for you.

Treadmill Benefits:

· Great for runners, walkers and joggers:
The treadmill is still the machine of choice for those who prefer running, jogging or even walking.
It’s obviously a smarter choice for the dedicated runner/jogger than an elliptical trainer. Plus it can help you train even in the winter months when you don’t want to run outside.

· Suitable for any exerciser:
Walking is a simple form of exercise that anyone can do – from beginner to seasoned athlete. It doesn’t take much coordination.

You don’t have to be supercoordinated to figure out how to use a treadmill whereas elliptical trainers can sometimes be a little tricky to use – especially for beginners.

· Provides workout variety:
A treadmill also provides workout variety of a different kind than the elliptical trainer. A treadmill allows you to walk, run, jog, walk uphill, do intervals and programs. You can even build in upper body handweights to work your arms, back and shoulders.

Elliptical Trainer Benefits:

· Lower impact on your joints than a treadmill:
What is interesting is that this lack of impact on the joints allows the user to burn roughly the same amount of calories as treadmills with the impression of putting out considerably less effort.
So you burn the same amount of calories while feeling like you did less work. (This is called the ‘Rate of Perceived Exertion’)

This lower impact also makes the elliptical trainer a great choice for those with knee or hip problems, the elderly or even rehabilitation patients.

· Provides an overall body workout:
With the dual-action upper body arms as well as the foot pedals, you are getting an overall total body workout. Whereas the treadmill mostly focuses on the lower body, the elliptical works your entire system for an overall cardiovascular workout.

· Excellent workout variety:
One feature that is often overlooked on an elliptical is the opportunity to move in both a forward and backward direction.

When you go backward you are targeting a different set of muscles than when you go forward (hamstrings vs. quadriceps). This helps add variety to your workout and keeps you motivated.

So those are some advantages of both elliptical trainers and treadmills. Is one machine better than the other? It really depends on who you are and what YOU enjoy doing.

Here’s the bottom line:
If you enjoy using a specific exercise machine more than others, you will exercise more often – which means more calories burned, more weight lost and a better body achieved. That is the best exercise machine for you.

One final note: Remember that whichever machine you choose – with exercise equipment you basically get what you pay for. Many people buy cheap equipment and then pay for it later in the form of equipment repairs, joint problems and painful injuries. Make sure you buy a high quality brand name machine with a solid warranty that was built to last.

Kathryn ONeill writes for Elliptical Trainer Reviews a site offering elliptical reviews, ratings and money-saving links.

For the latest Elliptical best buys in 3 different price categories visit the Best Elliptical Trainer page.

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Elliptical and Treadmill Machines – 5 Killer Reasons You Should Avoid!

January 2nd, 2010

Do you know elliptical and treadmills are one of the least effective ways of working out? In fact, there are many much more effective fat burning workout than using the boring elliptical machine or treadmill.

However, if you are enjoying what you are doing with your ellipticals and treadmills, I suggest you stick to it. The reason is simple…most people will likely keep their exercise routine more consistently when they really enjoy what they are doing!

In reality, be warned that you are actually wasting your time with these boring cardio machines. I personally do not believe cardio machines as the best option of work out routine at all.

You can actually do body exercises with dumbbell and kettle swings, clean and presses for a good warm up before working out. In fact, here are 5 reasons why cardio machines are just too dreadful!

1. Ineffective Way to Workout!

You can get yourself into more motivating forms of exercise that are more effective in stimulating fat-burning hormonal response and increased your metabolism to a greater level.

2. Insanely Expensive & Waste of Money

Some of these machines can cost up to a thousand or more! You can use so many better things for your workout at home rather than wasting your money on these expensive bulky machines.

3. Studies Have Shown Less Effective

There are studies that have indicate running outdoor is actually more effective than using a treadmill. The reason is simple…due to the abnormalities on the treadmill. You also burn more calories with outdoor running.

4. Mind/Body Disconnect

You achieved poor results when you are not concentrating on your exercise routine while doing stuff such as watching television or reading magazines or newspaper.

5. Mind Numbing Boring

These workout machines are just simply too dull and boring to use.

If you want to burn your body fat faster using the more exciting way, Click Here Now to read tons of FREE tips and advice!

For dozens more unique workout and diet ideas go to Exercise Diet Tips!

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