Is it worth buying a treadmill?

needmoneyadvice

I would like to lose about 1-2 stone and lose my flabby tummy, chunky thighs and fat bottom. Will a treadmill be the answer? I've tried the gym but find it difficult to make time. I was thinking if I have something at home I have no excuse. Is the treadmill the right thing or would a cross trainer or something be better? What do you recommend?
I don't want to spend too much money but I would really like this year to be the year I get my body back on track. I'll be honest my diet is awful but I was hoping I could get somewhere just by increasing my exercise quota rather than having to change my eating habits. Is there any hope for me???
I would really appreciate any help you could give me. Thank you.

BlondeHeadOn

I'd buy a Wii and the 'Just Dance' games. You get the Sport and Sports Resort games free with the Wii anyway.

These are brilliant fun (especially the Just Dance ones), and very varied - and much easier to motivate yourself to do than just a treadmill or similar.

Katexx

Well, it's a lot cheaper to just run outside if running is what you want to do.

If you're not confident about running or haven't really tried it before, check out Couch to 5k?

[Deleted User]

Hello,

I have been considering a cross-trainer for a while and so I'm glad you posted this question. I thought about a treadmill but cross-trainers seem to work more areas of the body, including the arms, whereas treadmills are pretty hard-going on the legs but that's it. I would recommend making small changes to your diet, even just exchanging a chocolate bar for a bag of grapes or something, as this will enhance the effects of any exercise you do. Let us know what you decide xx

SailorSam

i've had home exercise equipment, a mult-gym and bike and the big problem with them is they're all so bulky, you end up giving them away. If you can't get out for regular 30min walks i'd second BlondHeadOn, get a Wii. You're much more likely to use it.

mandragora_2

Some comfortable, supporting trainers and a route map of how to get to the back door are the only money you need to spend! Seriously!

Little and often is the way to go - I wasn't overweight, but was on the heavy side for me. I'd put on weight over last winter, and hated how I was looking. We were away for a month over the summer, so I promised myself a twenty minute run every day - which is what I started with (eventually ended up doing runs of an hour, but you don't have to do that - I was just enjoying myself!), as well as cutting back a bit on what I was eating and drinking. When we came back from holiday, I'd shed the excess weight and was back to 'fighting' weight. I then carried on doing exercise 3x a week - mostly running, and I now weigh in a stone lighter than six months ago, and am now nine and a half stone, and feeling so much better in myself.

adelight

You won't see great results until you sort out your diet. Just ditching take aways, junk food (sweets, crisps, cake, chocolate), alcohol, choosing brown carbs over white and eating your five a day will make a big difference. Some people complain that wholewheat carbs are more expensive, but brown bread is often the same price as white and brown rice and pasta aren't much more expensive than white. About 5p more per portion? You'll save more than that by not eating expensive processed snacks.

Just run outside. You'll still need to buy trainers but it means no buying a treadmill, no finding somewhere to put it and it's so much more enjoyable running in the fresh air!
Cross trainers rely too much on the machine's momentum so you're actually burning a lot less calories than it says you are. If you don't want to put too much pressure on your joints then go swimming. Most council pools are very cheap to go to and have good membership offers, some people even qualify to swim for free at certain times of day. Yes you need to make more time for swimming, but going twice a week and swimming for an hour will do you a world of good.

Gloomendoom

As has been said, unless you make changes to your diet, you are likely just to become a fitter fat and flabby person. It takes a lot of exercise to shift fat, more than most people have time (or inclination) for.

poppy_f1

i considered buying one as the idea of being able to run/walk fast in the comfort of my home in front of the telly seemed a great idea but then i know reality would kick in and it would go the same way as the cross trainer - a extra clothes horse lol
i hate running outside as i dont have the technique so not going to bother and just use the wii exercise games i have and the exerciser bike

milliemonster

Of course you have the technique to run outside! everyone does, biomechanically running is the most natural thing a human can do and anyone can do it, it's actually harder to run on a treadmill than run outside. I have been running years now but you need to start off with a run/walk beginners programme and build up gradually.

Running is a great way to keep the weight off, however, you do still have to overhaul your diet. I have found now I can eat what I like as I run enough to keep my weight stable, but I am running 40+ miles per week, less than 20 a week and if you eat crap you won't lose anything.

We have a wii, to be honest if you are not used to exercise at all then they are a good way to start to build yourself up but if you really want to get fitter and lose weight, the wii exercises just aren't enough longer term to give you any great benefit.

The key really is finding something you ENJOY that you can fit in with your lifestyle and stick to week in week out. I used to have a treadmill but got rid of it as I can't bear to run on them for more than 20 minutes as I just get bored, being outside on the trails and exploring new places as you run us much more fun x

j.e.j.

What sort of exercise do you enjoy doing? You are more likely to continue with it if it's something you like.

Is where you live a good place for going out walking/jogging, etc? If not, a treadmill might be a good idea, or you could use it for when the weather's bad and you can't go out for a walk/run?