Should i buy a treadmill?? any recommendations??

talkin

Hi all! I've asked this in the sports thread but cant seem to get an answer im thinking about buying a treadmill to get fit lose few pounds and feel better! can anybody help me out on which one to get?want a good one that'l last. or any other ideas on how to get fit. i do have exercise bike already. i think id use the treadmill more though(never use bike to be honest) was looking at reebok i-run but has only manual incline. then i seen horizon adventure 4 on elverys but it seems quite heavy to get upstairs. any help appreciated!

TommyKnocker

Hi There

Can I ask, before you bought the bike, did you tell yourself that you would use it? and now it appears that it is just taking up space and gathering dust.

I would caution that you should be sure that you are going to use the threadmill before you spend your money and possibly end up with an unused companion for your exercise bike and an expensive clothes hanger:)

Why not take advantage of the good weather we are having and run outside in a park on on the roads. Only outlay is a pair of runnes and some comfortable clothing?

The Adventure 4 looks like a decent threadmill, but as you said it weighs in at 85kg (186 lbs) so it will be quite a task getting it up stairs. Also for the money eleverys are asking, even in the sale you would easily get membership to a gym for a year and you could have some money left over for some personal training sessions.

However it is you decision in the end, just be sure before you part with your cash.


M

talkin

i know it sounds like common sense i keep telling myself maybe the desire for one will vanish once i get it. must tell you i also had the yearly gym membership :rolleyes:went about five times throughout the year. had great intentions with the exercise bike too-and i know this sounds so bad when im trying to get fit but i find the bike a lot more effort than treadmill :eek: can i buy motivation somewhere if i put as much effort into doing things as i do thinking about them id be fit fab and loaded by now!

Krusty_Clown

+1. A Treadmill is an expensive piece of equipment to have lying around the house. Better to find out if running is something you will pursue before splashing the cash. If you haven't done it already, visit a decent running store (not a flash clothing store) and get some good advice and a suitable pair of running shoes.

If you're a little nervous about heading out running in public (don't worry it fades with time!) then head to a local park in the evening (or during the day if you can) as they tend to be pretty quiet. If you're new to running, try to run on the grass, as it will reduce the impact on your body, and correspondingly reduce the risk of injuries. A radio is also a great investment!

talkin

yeah the whole getting out there running in public bothers me. have asthma too so sometimes it gets to me--n dont wanto be running round outside with inhaler stuck to my face:o which actually happened me once going hill walking

shg101

talkin wrote: »

Hi all! I've asked this in the sports thread but cant seem to get an answer im thinking about buying a treadmill to get fit lose few pounds and feel better! can anybody help me out on which one to get?want a good one that'l last. or any other ideas on how to get fit. i do have exercise bike already. i think id use the treadmill more though(never use bike to be honest) was looking at reebok i-run but has only manual incline. then i seen horizon adventure 4 on elverys but it seems quite heavy to get upstairs. any help appreciated!

I bought a treadmill 5-6 years ago. Great investment for the wet weather. If you have the money, buy one, although nothing beats getting out in the fresh air if it's dry. I also have an exercise bike.

Tough mentally to stay on it for long, so you might need an MP3 player or TV in front of you.

You want a wide running track and auto incline ideally, but most casual runners will set a fixed low incline. I use the max incline a lot for hill sprint intervals, or the 1.5% for normal jogging.

Mine is extremely heavy, could not imagine getting it upstairs easily, plus the pounding that would happen from using it upstairs might be noticeable.

talkin

thanks, thats what i keep telling myself that its an investment. only place id have for it here is upstairs though. unless i put it in the hall but my OH defo would put a stop to that one!

Krusty_Clown

It's only an investment if you use it! If you don't then it's a liability. I'm also an asthma sufferer (though my running has cleared it up no end) and used to feel pretty self-conscious when I started running in public (cos I didn't 'feel' like a runner). But honestly, after you get out there a few times it goes away completely. All of the other runners nod and wave.

Have you considered trying one of the couch25k training programs, like this one? They take you through the various stages (from mostly sedentary lifestyle) right up to comfortably running 5k? Combined with a training log, lots of the runners on the ART forum have had great success, transitioning from beginners, through 10k, 1/2 marathon right up to marathon (though that shouldn't be everyone's goal).

Oh and by the way, wet rainy days are absolutely the best days to go running outside!

d'Oracle

Investment is the commitment of money or capital to purchase financial instruments or other assets in order to gain profitable returns in form of interest, income, or appreciation of the value of the instrument

Its never an investment.

Pedantry aside, OP there are much cheaper ways to get a bit fitter and loose a few pounds than buying a treadmill. You can go for a run outside on the dry days and do allsorts of things indoors on the rainy ones. You would be amazed how much of a workout you can get in standing space.

You could buy a skipping rope.
Do medleys of calisthenic exercises. (Pushups, squats, lunges etc)
Basically if you didn't go to the gym or use the bike you are kidding yourself if you think your'e gonna use the treadmill.

Krusty_Clown

d'Oracle wrote:

Investment is the commitment of money or capital to purchase financial instruments or other assets in order to gain profitable returns in form of interest, income, or appreciation of the value of the instrument

Profit=derive a benefit from
Income=That which comes as the periodical produce of one's work

Therefore:
investment=spending money to benefit from the product of one's work
Sounds alot like buying a treadmill. (Tongue firmly in cheek! :P)

You don't need to stop running when the rain starts. People are waterproof.

talkin

ok i think ye n my OH have talked me out of it (for now!)

K4t

d'Oracle wrote: »

Its never an investment.

It's an investment in his health and the fact that he may avoid certain health dangers and costs by exercising on it. Plus who knows, he may even become a serious runner, winning prize money in competitions!

However, I don't think a treadmill is the right investment for the Op, not at this time anyway due to all of what you've mentioned below.

d'Oracle wrote: »

Pedantry aside, OP there are much cheaper ways to get a bit fitter and loose a few pounds than buying a treadmill. You can go for a run outside on the dry days and do allsorts of things indoors on the rainy ones. You would be amazed how much of a workout you can get in standing space.

You could buy a skipping rope.
Do medleys of calisthenic exercises. (Pushups, squats, lunges etc)
Basically if you didn't go to the gym or use the bike you are kidding yourself if you think your'e gonna use the treadmill.

Go outside and run, Op. And to whoever mentioned that treadmills are great for running when it's raining or windy or whatever, man up! Nothing more refreshing than running in rain and wind.

Overall, I don't approve of treadmills. I see no need for them. Have never understood how people in Ireland shell out hundreds of euro on them unless they're living in Dublin city centre etc. But in that case, just join a gym where you can use as many as you like!

talkin

another reason i was going to get one was because we were going to be ttc. i cant imagine myself out walking or jogging a couple of months into it,n def couldnt imagine myself on the exercise bike! there are some cheaper options in elverys too.

stinky eggs

talkin wrote: »

Hi all! I've asked this in the sports thread but cant seem to get an answer im thinking about buying a treadmill to get fit lose few pounds and feel better! can anybody help me out on which one to get?want a good one that'l last. or any other ideas on how to get fit. i do have exercise bike already. i think id use the treadmill more though(never use bike to be honest) was looking at reebok i-run but has only manual incline. then i seen horizon adventure 4 on elverys but it seems quite heavy to get upstairs. any help appreciated!

Have you considered renting one for a few weeks?? Plenty of sies you can rent for 3-4 weeks...

talkin

the proform in elverys is now 599. looks really sturdy! anybody have one? wonder why its such a price drop?

rubadub

talkin wrote: »

i do have exercise bike already. i think id use the treadmill more though(never use bike to be honest)

talkin wrote: »

im trying to get fit but i find the bike a lot more effort than treadmill

They are as hard as you make them. If you do not use the bike I cannot see the treadmill getting much use. I do not like doing cardio with no purpose, I see treadmills and indoorbikes as an inefficient use of my time. I have a bike and cycle to work, ~45mins in total each day, this also means I end up with MORE spare time, since it would take over an hour to drive (traffic is so bad), there is no copping out or missing a "workout" I HAVE to cycle. I walk to the shops and carry shopping home, I walk to the pub if I can, it all adds up. You end up saving money rather than having to buy more equipment.

I would do weights at home, there is loads you can do with just a chinup bar and doing pushups, squats, lunges etc.

Sam Kade

talkin wrote: »

Hi all! I've asked this in the sports thread but cant seem to get an answer im thinking about buying a treadmill to get fit lose few pounds and feel better! can anybody help me out on which one to get?want a good one that'l last. or any other ideas on how to get fit. i do have exercise bike already. i think id use the treadmill more though(never use bike to be honest) was looking at reebok i-run but has only manual incline. then i seen horizon adventure 4 on elverys but it seems quite heavy to get upstairs. any help appreciated!

I bought a twist stepper 3 years ago for €60. It was parked under the bed up to last Oct. I made a few attempts to use it but didn't keep it up. In October I decided to use it 3 times a day 20 minute sessions, I kept it up and lost over 3 stone by March it also meant staying back from the table. I only use it once a day now and still keep the weight off. It's tough going in the start but when you start losing weight and become fitter you hardly notice that you were on it.

eilo1

If your gona buy a treadmill go for the best you can afford. Make sure you run on it in the shop, you would be amazed how many people buy them with out ever running on it.

Also Life fitness are the only brand with a flex deck that literally makes you spring off the deck. Look for the longest parts and labour warranty you can get 3 years is ideal with 10 on the frame.

Top of the rang machines will cost you 2500 but if you break this up over 10 years its less than gym membership and better value than a cheaper one that will only last you 3 years.

Some sellers will give you some personal training with a new machine to get you going.

But as other people have pointed out a machine is only worth the money if you use it.

I personally love running and have no problem going out in the rain but would also love a treadmill.

Horizon are an okay middle of the road manufacturer to be honest for 699 you cant go too far wrong, in two years you should have a return. Just make sure there is plenty of spring in the machine and that they will deliver and install the machine upstairs for you.

Also make sure you run on it when they install it as its very common to get stung paying for a call out for something simple like a belt slipping, that should have been checked at install.

I hope this helps!!!!

shootermacg

What's the difference between jogging on a treadmill for 15 minutes and jogging on the spot for 15 minutes? If you can't jog outside try doing that, it's much cheaper and takes up less room or try skipping, if it's the monotony stopping you from doing this, then know that it's going to be the exact same experience on a treaddy.

I don't have a problem running in light rain, I'm going to be covered in sweat anyway.

I've never heard good things about cheap treadmills.

HI OP, I have a Smooth treadmill, very good piece of kit for the money and I'm happy i got it.(http://www.smoothfitness.co.uk/2/treadmills.html)