Tips to Buying the Right Treadmill for You

You've decided to invest in a treadmill, but now you have the arduous task of figuring out which one to buy out of the hundreds available on the market. Where to begin? These tips will help narrow down your choices through a process of elimination, resulting in the purchase of a machine that will fit your needs, your pocket and your lifestyle.

Price. Deciding on the amount of money that you are willing to pay for a treadmill will help narrow your choices significantly. Expect to pay anything from about $100 for a low tech manual treadmill to $3000 or more for a machine that does everything for you except walk. The more you pay, the more "extras" you will get with your treadmill.
Space. Treadmills can take up a lot of space in your room, so this may be a significant factor in choosing the right machine for your needs. And if space is limited, do you need to think about a folding treadmill. A neat and compact treadmill may have dimensions of about 31" wide x 52" high x 60" deep, however a large folding treadmill might be 83"x35"x55.25" when in use but have compact dimensions when folded of 41"x35"x65", a pretty significant difference when it comes to storage.
Weight. A lightweight treadmill may weigh as little as 100 lbs, but a large machine may be closer to 300 lbs, and that's just the weight of the machine. All treadmills have a maximum user weight too, which varies from as little as 150 lbs to bariatric machines with a maximum user weight of 350 lbs or more.
Functions. How sophisticated a machine do you want and can you afford? A manual machine has all the basic requirements - affordable, lightweight, uses no electricity, fully adjustable for tension and incline, has battery operated electronic monitors and can frequently be folded neatly to fit under the bed or in a cupboard. A more sophisticated machine will have a variety of workout programs and monitoring options including cardio, running, calorie counter, BMI test, speed adjustments and even customized programs specifically set by you and for you. Think carefully about how much or little you are comfortable with on your treadmill, as the cost difference can be quite large and you don't want to go to that expense and find that the machine you purchased doesn't really fit your home or your lifestyle.
Location. No body wants to look at a blank wall whilst doing their daily workout, so the placement of your treadmill when in use is crucial. Even if you have to fold it away when not in use, make sure it can fit comfortably somewhere that will be conducive and an incentive to exercise - some people like to watch TV or listen to music or even read, and sometimes the view out the window can be the answer. There's no point investing in a piece of exercise equipment if the only convenient place you can use it is tucked in a corner with an untidy bookshelf to look at.

And there you have it. It's not so difficult after all to find the right treadmill for your needs if you follow these simple tips.

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Tips to Buying the Right Exercise Bike For You

You've decided to buy an exercise bicycle, but there are so many on the market to choose from that you just don't have a clue where to start. It's a very daunting task, but if you follow these tips and put some careful thought into it, you will make the right decision.

Price. As with any purchase, the first thing to consider is the price. How much money have you got available to invest in an exercise bike - which also means "how much money have you got to invest in your health and wellness"? You can get an exercise bike of decent quality for as little as $150. A bike in that price range will allow you to adjust the tension and the seat, plus it will have a digital meter for time, speed, distance and maybe even calories used - the basics. However, if you really want something high tech with all the bells and whistles, get ready to fork out upwards of $1000, but an exercise bike in this price range will be built to last a lifetime.
Space. How much space have you got for your exercise bike? The actual footprint for bikes varies, but anywhere from about 32" x 20" (80 cm x 51 cm) for a more compact model to 55" x 25" (140 cm x 64 cm) for a recumbent bike, and that's just the footprint. You need to be able to use it comfortably without having to reposition it too much - if the bike becomes a nuisance to actually use chances are you will be less inclined to use it regularly, so ideally, the location of the bike should allow for full use whilst watching TV or looking out a window - no one wants to look at blank wall while they exercise.
Weight. Exercise bikes do have maximum weight limits for users, anywhere from 250 lbs to 350 lbs, so bear that in mind when choosing your bike. Add another 100 lbs or so for the weight of the machine itself, which may be of importance depending on where you are going to place it in your home.
Recumbent or Upright. The main difference between recumbent and upright exercise bicycles is position and comfort level. The cyclist using an upright bike mimics the position of a cyclist using an actual bicycle including the smaller seat and with the pedals under your body, whereas a recumbent bike is designed for comfort with a larger seat and back rest providing back support, the pedals in front of you and an even distribution of your weight on the larger seat. On average, the footprint of an upright bike is also significantly smaller than that of a recumbent bike. Anyone with back or neck issues would be advised to purchase a recumbent bike.

There you have it. It's not that difficult after all, and with the above tips in mind, you should have no trouble finding the right exercise bike for your needs.

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