The ProForm 745CS treadmill has a pulse sensor, 6 built in certified personal trainer fitness programs, inclines to a 10% grade at .5% intervals, and has quick speed selector up to 10 MPH.  The design makes working out convenient with it’s built-in water bottle holder, book holder and another spot that I use to hold the TV remote.  And when I’m not exercising, the ProForm 745CS can be folded up, requiring less than half the floor space of an open treadmill.

Those were some some pretty impressive treadmill features back when we bought it, but it’s pretty basic equipment for ProForm treadmills now.  (I don’t think ProForm even makes the 745CS treadmill any more.)  These days, ProForm makes home treadmills with the TV built right in if you want it!

I’m thrilled with how well my ProForm treadmill has held up over the years.  It has had some work done to it under the maintenance/service plan because the pulse sensory wouldn’t work for me, but I haven’t had to have any maintenance done on it for years now. I’ve used it relatively consistently and my husband has used it too. It has even been through two long distance moves on a moving truck. It really is a sturdy piece of machinery.

I will definitely buy another ProForm treadmill when the time comes, but for now mine is still going strong.  I love my ProForm 745CS!

I’ve never personally been interested in elliptical trainers in the past. Years ago, I tried a few out in a sports store and I found them to be extremely awkward pieces of equipment. I have short legs and the stride length on these machines wasn’t natural for me at all. And it always seemed that the machines were too wide and my knees were feeling pressure from the angle within minutes.

So, why did the ProForm Stride Select™ interest me? First of all, because it’s a ProForm. (I love my ProForm treadmill.) Secondly, I liked this elliptical because it has an adjustable stride length and appeared to have a narrow width. (No awkward or painful range of motion.) Third, it was affordable!

The ProForm StrideSelect Elliptical also has all of the other features you would expect from ProForm exercise equipment: a built-in fan, MP3 dock, fold up design, a heart rate monitor and iFIT® compatibility.

I have to admit, that at first, I wasn’t crazy about the fact that the elliptical was powered by resistance. What? No motor?? But the more I thought about it, you get a better (and quieter) workout by using resistance, while saving your electric bill from an extra burden.

One definite drawback to the ProForm StrideSelect elliptical is the weight limit. Its weight capacity is only 275 pounds, which means a lot of the big guys out there can’t use it.

The bottom line is that the ProForm StrideSelect Elliptical is a quality elliptical on a budget price. I’d even buy one myself if I didn’t already have two pieces of exercise equipment in my too small house.

Stepping simulates stair climbing, but instead of actual steps it uses alternating pedals or platforms. It’s an aerobic activity that gives you a low-impact, high-intensity exercise to help you attain a sleek, toned look. This
Stamina Electronic Mini Stepper is ideal for home, office or just about anywhere. Stair climbing continues to be one of the most well known and beneficial exercises because it exercises and tones the largest muscles in the body (buttocks, hips and thighs), it is a great fat-burning workout. It’s also a great cardiovascular exercise. This mini-stepper is small and compact at 16.25″L x 12.125″W x 12.25″H, with a sturdy steel construction shipping at about 20 lbs. It even has an electronic counter and timer display.

Want a whole body workout? Upgrade to the Stamina InStride Pro Electronic Stepper. Two rubber resistance tubes connect to the stepper to add an upper body workout to your cardio routine. (Includes four removable toning bands, one set of light resistance and one set of medium resistance, with two easy-grip foam handles and two nylon hand straps.)

Or if you want a little more versatility with your home fitness equipment, purchase a set of Neoprene Dumbbells to use with your mini-stepper.

A while back, I read an interesting statistic that increasing the incline on your treadmill by 2% will burn 25% more calories. Today, I put that to the test in a controlled experiment.

At my usual pace of 3.3 MPH, I walked for 20 minutes (1.09 miles) with no incline. The treadmill console displayed 115 calories burned and 36.2 fat calories burned.

I reset the treadmill and walked another 20 minutes at 3.3 MPH, but with an incline of 3%. This time it said I burned 143 calories and 44.9 fat calories.

(143 – 115) / 115 = .2435

(44.9-36.2) / 36.2 = .2403

Pretty darn close to 25%! (Assuming of course that the treadmill programming is realistic.)

The extra calories burned during a 20 minute workout isn’t much, but add that up over a longer workout several times a week, and it really starts to make a difference.

So the next time you are on your treadmill, kick up the incline 2% and burn those extra calories.

Basically, you work out on a vibrating surface which causes your muscles to contract in order to keep your balance.  (Similar to the concept of using a stability ball for your ab workouts.)  Apparently it works so well that they actually discourage you from using the ProForm Activator for more than 10 minutes, 3 times a week. 

Rumor has it that people are standing in line at gyms to use the ProForm Activator.  Benefits include more calories burned, increased muscle strength and toning, reduced back pain, better circulation and increased bone density. Perhaps this piece of equipment is something you should consider adding to your home fitness routine.

What do you think?  Is vibration training right for you and your home gym?  Learn more about the ProForm Activator here.

With so many different brands of home treadmills and treadmill features, how do you know which home treadmill to buy?  Basically, you have to look at your needs and how they fit with the features and cost of each particular treadmill.  You need to consider your height, weight, where you will keep your treadmill, what you plan to use the treadmill for (walking, running or both), and of course, your budget.

The most important thing to consider when choosing a treadmill is the motor.  Treadmill motors are rated by peak horse power (HP) and/or continuous horse power (CHP).  You should look for a higher CHP as this is the better indicator of how well your home treadmill will perform over an extended period of time. This is especially important if you are heavy, plan to run on your treadmill, plan to use your treadmill often or have multiple people using the treadmill.

You should look for a treadmill with a belt of at least 18 inches wide and 50 inches long.  If you plan on running or you are tall, you should consider a running surface of at least 55 inches in length to accomodate a longer stride.  

Also keep in mind the weight limit for the treadmill you are buying.  You will want to choose a treadmill that has a maximum weight limit of at least 50 pounds more than the heaviest person using the treadmill.

One great way to determine the quality of the treadmill you choose is the warranty.  The better the warranty is, the better the treadmill usually is.  Look for a warranty with a minimum of 5 years on the motor, 2 years on parts and 1 year for service.

Other features to consider when choosing a treadmill are maximum incline, maximum speed, built-in programs and fancy extras like a television screen.  Only you can determine what is necessary for your individual needs and what conveniences you can’t live without. 

Compare Treadmills

Proform is more budget conscious.  Landice treadmills are higher end.

ProForm Treadmills

Sole Treadmills

Epic Treadmills

Buy new or used treadmills at BigFitness.net