HawthorneVillager.com

Borrow one or find a cheap used one first, in case you don't like it or don't use it as much as you thought you would.

I agree that it's not the same as running outside however it's better then not running at all. I think the reason many treadmills go unused is because people put them in places like the unfinished basment where they are staring at a boring wall etc. When we finished our basement we set up one area for my treadmill & eliptical. I've got my TV on the wall or I can plug in my ipod if I prefer. You need to put the machine in a spot where you will use it.

I agree with MJ. Buy a used one first, try it out for a while, and if you like it, then consider upgrading, if you dont like it, get rid of it.
Either scenario you are buying used and selling used a few months later, and it likely wont cost you a dime as you can sell it for what you paid originally
- like a free trial!
If you buy new and you cant get into it, it is a slight risk losing some cash, and an argument with the spouse.

I bought a treadmill 3 years ago, and, with some exceptions, it gets used a number of times every week. Much easier than going to the gym, and substantially cheaper in the long run. You can get a good treadmill for $600. I wouldn't go with the manual treadmills, the really are not as good.

If we had bought gym memberships instead, at $400/year each, we would be looking at $2400 spent with nothing to show. Of course, gyms have weights and such, but lifting my kids does the trick.

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omnia dicta fortiori, si dicta Latina

That's what I am doing. One of the reasons I am doing P90X is because it is relatively cheap and balanced - (cardio - weight training - flexibility). A treadmill, elliptical, or some type of home gym were simply too expensive.

Important to note, if I knew I would use it every day, then I wouldn't care as much. I think they are too expensive because I worry that I won't use it.

P90X is also a test to see if I will work out from home every day. If I will, my wife and I may consider making a larger investment knowing we have the discipline to work out at home.

If it doesn't work, we might go back to gym memberships.

my2boys do you use yours everyday?

In the winter it gets used multiple times/week alternating with the eliptical and my kickboxing which I do 3x/week. In the summer it doesn't get used as much as I much prefer to be outside. Watch Canadian Tire, they often run 50% off deals on their treadmills and we've had ours for a few years with no problems. I like to run while either watching a fav show, or I put CP24 where I can read the news etc and run to my ipod. I also do the P90X weight training videos as well, the cardio videos don't work for me, can't get my heart rate high enough. Heard great things about insanity for cardio though. Me, I get bored very easy to I need to alternate my workouts. That's one reason why a gym membership doesn't work for me.

This is something I never really understood about discipline and gyms... by the time I packed up and went to the gym, I could pretty much be finished working out just with the driving/getting organized time.

Basically the way I see it is... you're either a workout person or you're not.

If you are someone who really enjoys working out and running, trusts yourself to workout on a regular basis, and have shown yourself in the past that you will workout on a consistent basis, then you'll likely get a treadmill and use it during the winter until you can get back outside when it warms up. If you are not that person, then you will buy it and have it collect dust in your house.

Asking other people if they use theirs is irrelevant, as you really don't know any of these people from a hole in the wall... but you do know yourself.

I bought my treadmill 6 years ago......a real good one with programmable workouts etc

It is used almost everyday in our family and still going strong after 6 years

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catherine

Something about getting out of the house to do it. The distraction of TV/Internet/FOOD/Beer. I guess it is similar to why people go to the library or starbucks to study.

With that said, I am enjoying that taking an hour to work out isn't taking away an entire evening because I am doing it from home.

I hate exercise, but I can talk myself into it if I'm distracted. Hubby and I each have our own treadmill with a big tv and pvr in front. He uses his occasionally, but mine gets used 5 days a week!

I think if you set up in an environment where theres a TV, some audio, or something else to keep you interested, and you're motivated, thats a good combination for a treadmill at home.

I worked out at Premier fitness for a year, and decided to buy equipment to work out from home. To me, its less hassle. However, last year, I only worked out at the gym because of the environment. Lesson for me: I'll work out where there's a good environment and good equipment, whether its at home or the gym.

I use my treadmill a couple times a week, then switch over to the elliptical a couple times a week. I like the treadmill but it bores the hell out of me. I watch tv, listen to music on it and switch over to the elliptical so that it doesn't get too monotonous. Am looking forward to the nice weather though so that I can start jogging outside again. It's best not to cheap out on a treadmill in my opinion either.

borrow one if you can. If you use it you will want a good one if you don't you will be happy you didn't spend the money. I have my 2nd Pacemaster and I love it use it almost every day. But I don't know anyone else who has been successful with a treadmill. I don't like running outside... Good luck!

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I thought that ellipticals were supposed to suck at burning calories. I think anything that you can do 'comfortably" though, like an easy pace on a treadmill won't yield crazy results and can be frustrating. I'm a big fan of freeweights, bodyweight exercises and kettlebells. Here's an interesting excerpt on calorie burning:


1200 calories an hour ain't too shabby. I think any full body workout is going to kick a treadmills ass, and I'd rather do that for half an hour then run for 2 hours.