Treadmills

Treadmills are one of the most popular types of home gym equipment. They work out quadriceps, calves, glutes, abdominals and hamstrings and are great for weight loss along with developing cardiovascular (cardio) endurance.

Designed for walking, jogging and running exercises they use a moving belt to set a pace for running or walking, keeping users in place while working out. Treadmills also feature a front console to monitor progress, adjust the pace and select from workout programs including everything from long runs to interval training. There are also handlebars and stationary side panels to steady yourself or hop off if the belt is moving too fast.

Treadmills accommodate a range of fitness levels from absolute beginner to expert. For the best results it is recommended to not use the handlebars while working out as more calories get burnt while completely self supporting body weight.

When comparing different types of Gym Equipment remember that the best equipment is any that will be used regularly. While different types of equipment have different advantages your own comfort, familiarity and enjoyment of specific machines or exercises should take priority.

Both Treadmills and Exercise Bikes are great for cardio workouts and burning fat. Both can be adjusted to suit a variety of fitness levels from beginner to advanced. In general Treadmills have the potential to be adjusted for a more intensive workout than a Exercise Bike.

Treadmills offer a little more workout versatility than a Bike because they can allow walking, jogging or running and adjust the incline. Bikes tend to be better for adjusting to suit height and body type.

At higher levels a Treadmill will get a hearts pumping more than a stationary Bike at a similar level of effort, because using a Treadmill requires bearing more body weight than a bike.

Treadmills are machines designed for walking, jogging and running. While there are some benefits of running barefoot outside, it's not recommended on a Treadmill.

For safety always wear appropriate footwear working out on a Treadmill. Bare feet can sweat and get slippery against the belt's surface on the Treadmill, which can become increasingly unstable when moving or the incline is higher. Shoes also provide a relatively flat surface with tread that more effectively grips to belt surface and keeps balance.

The types of shoes to wear depend on the sort of workouts and intensity being taken on with a Treadmill. For most people a pair of comfortable shoes for walking or jogging work well. If training and running at higher speeds, wear a pair of shoes that are lightweight and minimal to replicate the feel of barefoot running with added shoe grip.

Consider the size of the workout space as Treadmills can take up roughly as much as a lounge chair. Some can be easily wheeled or folded away when not in use. This can be useful if space is limited, but some may find setting up and putting away an exercise machine creates enough friction to lose motivation.

Compare the maximum speed and incline of different Treadmill models. A maximum speed of around 10-12 km/h might be fine for walkers and slow joggers, whilst more advanced joggers and runners should look for 16-20 km/h max speeds. A 12-15% maximum incline is great for a serious hill workout. Some models cannot have their incline adjusted so they're completely flat so remember to check the minimum incline as well.

Some models come with safety plugs that clip to clothes and shut down the machine if they are pulled out, which could help prevent serious injury if you lose balance or can’t keep up the pace.

Using a Treadmill is a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness and lose weight. To maintain healthy and sustainable weight loss it is recommended to consult with a GP doctor or other health professionals, and put together a fitness plan with achievable goals and compliment it with a nutritionally balanced diet. Weight loss occurs when the body experiences a calorie deficit meaning it uses more energy than it takes in. Regular exercise makes the body use more energy even after a workout stops while a balanced diet ensures the body meets its energy and nutrition needs without overindulging. Running or jogging on a treadmill is considered a high impact exercise which helps elevate heart rate to burn more calories during a workout. Running without leaning on the arm rests burns more calories as full body weight requires more energy to move.