How to Choose the Best Treadmill For Your Fitness Goals
A treadmill is an excellent investment for anyone who wants to exercise from the at-home comforts of their home. When purchasing a treadmill, you should consider your goals for running and budget, as well as the frequency of use.
The sleek treadmill is stylish and folds flat. It can be easily tucked under a bed, or leaned against a wall. It comes with a 30 day free trial of iFIT which gives you access to professional coaches, workouts, and much more.
1. Accelerate
The best treadmill speed for jogging, walking, and running depends on your fitness level and your goals. You want to increase your speed slowly and the treadmill is a great method of doing this. You should never run too fast on a treadmill since this could cause you to exhaust yourself quickly and could cause injuries. If you are new to running, you should begin with a slow speed of jogging and gradually increase your speed.
Treadmill speeds are measured in miles per hour. Likewise, normal running paces are measured in minutes per mile. Try to adjust the speed of your treadmill to match the minutes per mile read on a chart to ensure that you're running at the right speed. You can improve your running technique by adding one or two tenths to your treadmill speed.
For beginners, it is possible to start with a walk on the treadmill, and then gradually increase the speed to jogging. It is generally approximately three miles per hour. This is a suitable pace for walking that does not strain the back, knees or legs. Jogging is a bit harder to master than walking, and requires more leg strength and endurance. You can reach the speed of six mph and higher on the treadmill, based on your height and stride length.
A suitable treadmill for running should have a high maximum speed of 15 mph and an incline of 15%. It should also come with an inbuilt fan and USB charging port, and it should be quiet enough to be used indoors. It is recommended to find the treadmill with a sturdy frame and is able to withstand upto 400 pounds in weight. It should be easy to fold and move around to be used at home.
A good treadmill for running should come with a number of extras like an adjustable inclined surface, a tablet stand and an USB charging port. It must also have a wide running deck and be capable of accommodating runners of all sizes. It should be easy to set up and use and include a safety cord that can stop the treadmill from moving in case you are pulled forward or struck by an obstacle.
2. Incline
If you're trying to take your fitness to the next level, a treadmill with an adjustable incline feature is a must. Increasing the degree of your walk or run is an excellent method to burn more calories and build muscles. It also boosts your oxygen intake and improves your endurance for cardiovascular exercise.
Be aware that adding an incline is a huge step up in intensity. It is best to start with a small amount and then gradually increase. A good incline treadmill can be adjusted easily and have a large enough range that you can change the angle of your run or walk as needed. It is recommended to start at a low gradient between 1 and 2%, regardless of your fitness level. This will give your body to adjust to increased muscle building and burning calories.
A slight rise can boost your calorie consumption by up to 17 percent in comparison to walking on in a flat surface. This is particularly beneficial when you're trying to shed weight and lower the body fat percentage overall. Ideally, you should warm up for at least a minute prior to increasing the incline of your exercise. Walking at a 1% gradient is a great method of getting your body in shape to burn calories while improving your posture and balance.
You can also increase your inclined to get a more intense workout, like interval training or tempo runs. The incline will increase the heart rate, which forces your muscles to work harder. This will result in more calories being burned. It is important to monitor your RPE throughout the exercise to make sure you're not overworking yourself.
Another benefit of a treadmill equipped with a steeper incline is that it makes your workout feel more like the experience of walking or climbing uphill in the outdoors. However, you'll need to ensure that the incline on your treadmill is set correctly to ensure safety and avoid injury. If you're unsure how to accomplish this you can consult a personal trainer to assist you set up your treadmill prior to attempting to use it to do an incline workout.
3. Workouts
The best treadmill workouts offer many challenges, which allow you to burn calories and tone muscles all over your body. Running up a slope that is steep for instance, can strengthen the muscles in the calves and glutes. This will aid in maintaining and building an athletic, lean leg structure that is essential for healthy weight loss. In addition, treadmill training can strengthen the shoulder, back, and arm muscles if you use weights while exercising.
Treadmills enable you to exercise more efficiently than outdoors. For instance running at a higher cadence can reduce the stress on your knees and lower back. You can increase your speed on the treadmill as you grow more fit and stronger. This will aid in avoiding injury and speed up recovery.
Many treadmills have built-in workout apps and workout programs that will guide you through various exercises. You can follow along and exercise at the same speed, or try an entirely new exercise with the help of an expert. A lot of treadmills also keep track of your progress so that you can track how far you've travelled and how many calories you've consumed.
There are a variety of free online resources to assist you in achieving your fitness goals. For instance the Peloton app includes thousands of running exercises which means you can find the right workout for your level of fitness.
When buying a treadmill, it's crucial to think about physical factors like belt size and horsepower as well as incline variability. Compare features such as touchscreen, Bluetooth compatibility and easy-to adjust buttons. Kollins Ezekh, a personal trainer and life coach, suggests choosing a treadmill that offers various exercises that target different muscle groups.
You can still enjoy the benefits of a high-quality treadmill if you have a limited budget. The Horizon EZ-Pro is inexpensive but it still provides plenty of functions and features a quick-dial dial that allows you to easily pick up the pace or increase the inclined. It's also portable and folds flat so you can easily store it under your bed or lean it against the wall.
4. Safety
Treadmills, despite their numerous advantages they can be risky if used incorrectly. Some of the dangers include falling off and getting injured, overheating, or tripping and slipping. Before starting an exercise routine treadmill users regularly should discuss safety concerns. Also, it's important to consider the other people who could use the machine. If you are concerned that children or pets could access the treadmill, then it is recommended to put it in a place that is that is not accessible to them. This is also true for roommates and unsuspecting guests who may not be aware of how to operate it.
When using a treadmill, it's important to start slowly and gradually increase the speed and incline settings. This will prevent injury to your joints and muscles and prevent overworking them. Make sure you remove the safety key from the machine after you've completed using it. The key is designed to stopping the belt from moving on the treadmill in the event that you lose your balance or fall off.
A great treadmill should have a sturdy frame, that can support your weight and not bend or twist. It should also be easy to read due to an attractive display that shows your heart rate and other details. It will be sufficient to listen to music while exercising or to watch television.
A few of the top treadmills let you simulate terrains that are hilly to prepare you for an uphill race or other event. You should look for a machine with a maximum slope that is able to match the incline of hills in your region. The best treadmills allow users to connect their phones to the built-in speakers so you can listen to your preferred music while you run.
Consult your physician before you purchase a treadmill. It is also important to choose a treadmill that can be folded easily and take away when you are done using it.