Although we are approaching 2020, there are many things in the health and fitness world that are misunderstood. Fat loss is misunderstood as a new diet comes out on a weekly basis promising the same benefits as the last diet. The fundamentals of training are misunderstood as a fancy new exercise comes out of the woodworks promising great benefit but doesn’t produce the same results as the meat-and-potato exercises we all know too well.
Too many things are misunderstood in health and fitness.
One of the most misunderstood pieces on that list is the treadmill. As long as we can remember, the treadmill has been a staple in every gym. A home gym without a treadmill really isn’t a gym, right? It is the go-to for runners in the frigid winters. It is a magnet for those that don’t know what else to do when they get to the gym. Some see it as entirely useless, while others, as previously mentioned, are in exclusive relationships with the treadmill.
As we are approaching a new year, a commonly asked question we get is “what is the best treadmill in 2020?” In order to get an objective view of the treadmill and the purposes it can serve; we’ll briefly go through three specific elements that you may find useful.
#1. LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY
As previously mentioned, treadmills are the go-to pieces of equipment for those that aren’t quite sure of what to do in your gym. That doesn’t mean treadmills are for the aimless, however. Treadmills offer great opportunity for individuals of all walks (pun intended) to exercise without a specific training plan. Advanced trainees can utilize the treadmill when they just want to run the stress out, and beginners can hop on when they’re still figuring the ins and outs of exercise. If you are searching for the best treadmill in 2020, I recommend the Precor TRM 445 as it is a high-quality treadmill that both fitness beginners and experts can benefit from.
#2. NEAT
As a fitness coach, it is important for me to help my clients understand that living a healthy life is so much more than 60 minutes in the gym per day. Living a healthy life includes all that we do outside of working out, too. One of the most effective ways my clients are able to live more active lives is through tracking NEAT. NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This is simply a fancy term for the calories we burn through non-exercise. This includes doing laundry, vacuuming, walking from the car to the grocery store, etc.
The easiest ways to track NEAT is through steps. Everyone I work with is given a step goal for two major reasons. First off, more steps mean more calories burned. Second, getting steps in is far easier than having multiple workouts per day, right? And thankfully, the treadmill can help you get your steps in, especially at home. A quick and easy 10-minute walk on your treadmill can help you add over 1,000 steps to your daily total!
Speaking of steps, one of my favorite aspects of the treadmill is that the benefits can transfer over to our daily lives. Many of us like to go on walks, hike, and explore. The treadmill can mimic similar environments you may experience while on a hike. From increased speeds to inclines, you can use a treadmill to mimic a challenging hike you want to explore in the near future. As a hunter, using pieces of equipment like a treadmill has helped me prepare to navigate inclines.
The treadmill isn’t what you may think. It serves many purposes for those that are brand new to fitness, or those that eat, sleep, and breathe fitness. If you are in search for the best treadmill in 2020, our exercise equipment experts and myself recommend the Precor TRM 445. This treadmill is highly durable, contains multiple key features useful for reaching your fitness goals, and new technology that delivers a personalized workout experience in your own home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam is a fitness professional, baseball fan, and cookie fanatic based in Fort Collins, Colorado. After hanging up the cleats, he found a strong interest in the human body and how it performs. Since then, Adam has been transforming lives through fitness in a fun and encouraging atmosphere. As an ACE CPT and Fitness Nutrition Specialist, he is constantly moved to help people improve in all walks of life.