Get The Best Use Out Of Your Home Fitness Treadmill

Don’t let the number one fear that people have when investing in a home treadmill (or any piece of exercise equipment for that matter) happen to you — THAT YOU WILL STOP USING IT AFTER A WHILE.

You’ve heard this story before. Tired of traveling to your gym and waiting in line, you decide to quit your gym membership, figuring to save time and money by investing instead in the latest, most advanced treadmill. You wait with eager anticipation for it to get delivered, invite a friend or two to help you set it up (oh, it is a joyous occasion), you enjoy it for a few days … then it sits … and waits …

A few months down the road, you notice how dusty your once shiny new fitness treadmill has become and how much space it’s taking up and you remembers how much weight you were determined to lose by using it faithfully a few minutes each day. But, unfortunately, that beautiful piece of fitness equipment now doubles as a clothes rack.

Do not fear. This article will help you make sure that DOESN’T happen.

A fitness treadmill provides the best overall cardiovascular workout and it is still the number one exercise machine for those who want to lose weight. It is a wonderful substitute for running outdoors, affording you an all-weather workout from the comfort of your own home, without the perils of city life so it’s an investment in your health that will pay large dividends — if you are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it!

And what’s the best way to get maximum benefit from it — by using it religiously, of course!

Here are some tips to get the best use out of your treadmill:

#1 DO SOME RESEARCH FIRST ON WHICH TYPE OF TREADMILL SUITS YOU THE BEST

Make sure you look at what features each treadmill offers you and compare it to your unique needs. For your convenience, we have included a “fitness treadmill search box” below. Check it out!

For example, if you live in a condo or feel your house is a bit tight, or plan to workout in your bedroom and like things neat and clean, a folding treadmill might be the best choice so you can store it easily after your exercise. If you want a folding treadmill, decide if you would prefer a manual folding treadmill (which is what most folding treadmills are like) or a shock-assisted folding treadmill instead, with wheels on the bottom so that it’s easy to move.

If you like to drink water during your fitness workout, make sure there’s a water bottle holder or two included in the treadmill console. You will be surprised at how many treadmills actually do not have this feature.

If you are the type to get bored easily and need a challenge,  then maybe it’s best to get a treadmill with a lot of user programs or one that is iFIT® compatible?

These may be small things and may cost you a little bit more, but if it spells the difference between whether you are actually going to enjoy your workout or not, it will be well worth it.

#2 PUT YOUR TREADMILL IN A “HAPPY” PLACE

Before your treadmill gets delivered, decide already where you are going to place it. By “a happy place” we mean a well-lit, open, relaxing and stimulating space, preferably with a good view. Making your treadmill face a bare wall will simply not do!

Notice how gyms locate their fitness treadmills and exercise bikes near a window? Here is the rational — treadmills allow us to simulate the movements of running outdoors, and the same goes for fitness bikes, and we never run (or bike for that matter) toward a wall, right?

I have tried exercising with a treadmill facing a wall — it had a landscape painting on it, too — and the workout didn’t last very long!

It is recommended that you put your treadmill it facing the television or facing a window where you can have an attractive view while working out. This should make your exercise time seem to fly by faster.

Each room and living space in your home have definite ‘feels’ to them and that will affect the success of your exercise workouts. Make sure your treadmill is placed in an area that makes you feel energized, happy and mentally stimulated.

#3 GET YOUR EXERCISE ACCESSORIES READY

Do you like listening to fast-paced music while you exercise? Or would you prefer to watch your favorite movie instead? What about reading magazines or a book? What inspires you to work out and feel your best?

Get these things ready even before your treadmill arrives and you will be three-quarters of the way there. Have several workout or favorite CD’s around. Get your favorite movies or shows on DVD. Gather your favorite magazines (by the way, you can choose to add a magazine holder accessory to your treadmill, too).

By having an ‘exercise stash’ around your treadmill, you will be motivated to work out and you won’t be stuck running around looking for something to do when you want to start exercising.

Again, this may seem simple, but it surely works. Have you ever wondered why fitness gyms have magazines, televisions and CD players handy?

#4 CREATE A REASONABLE EXERCISE WORKOUT PLAN

Before you start working out, try making a plan, a roadmap to your rock-hard body. By writing down how long and what kind of workout you’ll be doing in the following weeks (be specific: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, etc.), you will get yourself psyched up for success.

Remember that every time you work out, you are actually planting the seeds for the kind of dream body that you want. And by having that plan you can actually see just how many seeds you’ve planted and how long it will take to start reaping the results!

Have fun with it and you’ll be motivated to achieve your health goals and get maximum benefits from your treadmill!

#5 TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Ok, this is related to Number #4 but it’s more of an ongoing thing. By tracking your progress every day, you stay motivated and get a major sense of accomplishment which snowballs into even greater fat-burning results.

We  suggest you set minimum goals like “I’ll walk for at least 10 minutes” or “I’ll do 5-30 second intervals.” These are simple and easy to do (you’ll probably exceed these goals, which will encourage you even further).

And of course, you’re also getting maximum benefit from your treadmill!

Those are just a few ways to get best use from your home treadmill. Just remember that even a little bit of preparation will pay off large dividends in the long run.

Start Your Fitness Treadmill Research Here:

Amazon has the largest collection of fitness treadmills at the best bargains. The great thing about starting your research here is that each product page comes with buyer reviews to help you decide what is best for you.