My boyfriend recently got a pedometer from the health program where he works, and boy, you really start to realize it if you move too little on certain days. It really hits you that, yes, you barely moved today or were a couch potato, when you have a little tool you can check at the end of the day as proof of your immobility. It is really mostly a wake up call that if you are not moving around and walking enough, you are really in for a hard, long road when it comes to your health over the years.

Walking is still so vital to our well being. Walking is what were were meant to do. We, as humans, were not meant to be sedentary beings. That is why we started walking upright in the first place - we were meant to primarily be active throughout the whole day, and the reason for the explosion in obesity and disease if often linked to the fact that we have lost sight of our natural inclination to get up and MOVE throughout the day.

It really hit home with me that I feel so much more invigorated after I move all day than I do if all I did was sit in my desk chair at my office all day. My boyfriend and I recently stayed at a hotel in Columbus Ohio and there was a skywalk where you had to walk a couple blocks to your hotel. For people who are used to mostly walking on our Horizon treadmills, walking out in the cold can be a challenge!

At first, as is human nature, we scoffed at the fact that we had to walk so far just for free parking to save a few bucks all the days we stayed there, but then I found that after a primarily sedentary weekend, I actually looked forward to our walks to the car. The fact that it was brisk and chilly in the tunnels made it even more invigorating. Sometimes when the air is chilly it really wakes you up a little, makes you feel a bit more alive for lack of a better description.

Walking is what keeps us in shape - it’s what keeps us, well, walking for many more years to come in this world. Usually people that have a hard time getting around earlier in life rather than later were not active enough in their youth, and they are paying for it when they are elderly even more so than they would if they had normally active lives. It doesn’t ever pay to be a couch potato, so we all must commit to walking more, every day, for this new year. Deal??

Yep, and what I mean by “workstation” is exactly as it sounds. People may now be able to get a workout in on a treadmill-type device that can be set up in their workstations (ie cubes) while they work, and actually walk instead of sit or stand all day. Wow. This could potentially be one of the coolest pieces of news I’ve heard in a while regarding the American way of sedentary lifestyles and ever expanding waistlines!

The actual workstation is all one piece, or at least it appears so by the pictures I’ve seen. It is made of stainless steel or some type of metal, and it just acts as a user interface that is almost like your console on the treadmill. So, you’re standing and working as you’re walking. Wonder if you can still concentrate while walking?

I think I would be able to, because I do read while walking and doing the elliptical right now when I’m at the gym. I do notice it’s a little harder to focus on what you’re actually reading, but I’m sure that if I was doing more of a leisurely gait it would work better, since I tend to really push it on the elliptical. Turns out, the workstation treadmill only has a max speed of three and half miles per hour, while traditional treadmills can go up to ten miles per hour, so they understand that people won’t be running while focusing on work.

I also wondered how this new treadmill workstation would work when you actually want to sit down. I guess you can just grab a chair and lower your workstation piece when that is the case. These new unites don’t come cheap though. They’ll cost about four thousand bucks a pop, and they’ll go on sale mid November. Hmm. Wonder if I can talk my employer into buying these babies?

I thought this was a very cool concept when I read about it. It’s a new treadmill-like machine that is slightly modified that can be found in high tech rehabilitation centers that helps stroke victims and others with brain injuries that has impaired their motor functions for things like, say, walking, by helping to stimulate the part of the brain that is responsible for movement and coordination.

How does it do this? Well the traditional treadmill that I’m sure you’ve all used at least once in your life if you find yourself reading this blog, works by having one uniform pad that moves constantly, and mimics the movements that one makes when they are walking by providing a moving platform that allows them to move without actually going anywhere. Wow, that sounds ridiculous in concept when you say it out loud, doesn’t it?

Here’s how this modified treadmill works for rehabilitation. The belt is actually split in two, so each of your feet is forced to walk at different speeds. The additional brain stimulation that it takes for you to actually not fall down and coordinate each of your feet so you stay at an even pace is what helps to rehabilitate that mind and rebuild coordination in those that have had brain damage that otherwise would not allow them to walk, move, or coordinated to do certain movements correctly.

I saw a picture of the treadmill, and it looks like exactly what it is explained as : a treadmill like the Proform treadmill or Horizon treadmill would look in your gym, but only with two separate smaller belts, instead of one bigger, wider belt. I don’t even know if I could do this properly, not having any type of brain injury, so I don’t envy those that have to try this without falling.

Supposedly there are separate nerve pathways that operate each leg, so the thought process is that if each leg can be forced to walk normally, this can help rehabilitate the patient’s walking patterns without them lurching backwards and forwards, as is common in those with brain injuries. The challenge for them is that they have to figure out how to get patients to keep walking normally after they do not have access to the special treadmill any more.

Hopefully they can figure this out, because this machine seems nothing short of ingenious for those that cannot walk and perform motor functions, something that would be beyond frustrating to anyone I’m sure.

If you’re thinking of buying a treadmill, where do you begin to know what to look for in quality of the machine versus the price? What are the basic essentials to differentiate a durable machine from a second rate treadmill that won’t stand the test of time?

There are four basic components to look at while shopping for a quality treadmill. First, you want to look at the quality of the motor. For the power, you want at least 2.0 HP motor or greater. The greater the horsepower, the less the motor has to work and the longer it will last without burning out.
Second, look at the shock absorbing or cushioning quality of the deck on a treadmill. One of my favorites for shock absorption is the Horizon treadmill - check out our Horizon treadmill review. This can minimize potential damage to joints and ligaments and prevent discomfort, pain and possible injury from your workout.

You’ll want a good solid warranty on your treadmill before purchasing it. Find out details. A good measure of a warranty is the frame should be covered for 30 yrs., the motor for 5 yrs. and parts and labor for 1 yr.

Make sure your treadmill in question is of a good reputable brand name. Read reviews and ratings on treadmills. Best buys can be further subdivided as best for price range, features, durability of construction, expert ratings and stability. In the best budget buy from About.com, the Smooth 5.25 came in highly recommended for good value for the money. It’s foldable, stable at 195 lbs. and features a 2.5 HP motor and it sells for about $999.00.

As price range moves up, there’s an increase on the HP of the motor and increased shock absorbing ability. Think of your budget and which features are most important to you before purchasing your treadmill. There’s a multitude of informative reviews in Consumers Reports, Prevention Magazine and Treadmill Reviews online, such as the few we’ve provided so far on this blog, but of course we’re still pretty new, so there are many more reviews to be added as we go along, since treadmills are one of the most consistently popular modes of home exercise today, for good reason.

Treadmills are probably one of the most popular pieces of workout equipment that people purchase and use in their homes as part of a personal fitness program. What is the reason for their popularity?

One of the reasons that the treadmill is the equipment of choice for their workout is that they don’t have to worry about inclement weather as they are working out indoors. There’s no worry about unwelcome situations of feeling unsafe as might occur if you were jogging outdoors particularly in the evening hours.

There’s no guess work about rough terrain or concern about a sudden dip or hole in the pavement. A treadmill can be used any time, night or day, which makes it convenient and easier to fit a workout into a very busy schedule. To vary your workout, there’s adjustments on treadmills to either speed up or slow down the track.

Most treadmills such as the ever-popular Horizon treadmill, feature an adjustment to simulate varying degrees of uphill slant or a more level plane depending on how easy or difficult you want your workout to be. For added convenience, some treadmills are even foldable for easier storage.

To combat boredom while you workout, many people opt to listen to music or a book on C.D. A lot of people workout on a treadmill while watching their favorite T.V. show. This way, they’ve addressed their fitness needs and entertainment needs all at the same time.

Health conscious Americans love to know exactly how their workout is benefitting them. Many treadmills come equipped with a readout of our heart rate, speed, incline, distance travelled and calories burned during the workout.

There are treadmills like another popular brand, the ProForm treadmill - see review, that feature shock absorbing decks to lessen the wear and impact on your feet and knees. So, for a variety of reasons, the treadmill has been and remains one of the mainstays in fitness equipment both in the gym and in the home for personal use.