Treadmill Programs and Console Features

Treadmill programs and other important extras

The programs a treadmill offers can make working out a breeze if they combine the right amount of variety, personalization and challenge. But if you’re stuck with a machine that only lets you pick between two predetermined courses you might get bored. The same goes for console extras. Treadmills that allow multiple user profiles, calorie counters and a variety of measurements are going to be a lot more fun to use.

Possible program options

• Target heart rate - These programs automatically alter elevation to keep the user’s heart rate in a chosen target zone.
• Pre-set programs - Fat burn, random, hill, cardio, interval and cross training are just a few programs treadmills may come pre-packaged with.
• Goal programs - Some treadmill consoles let you set goals including burning a certain amount of calories, going a certain distance or reaching a certain time.
• Tailored programs - If your treadmill lets you set up your own course, such as interval training in the increments you want, you’ll find the possibilities for variation can be endless.
  

Make sure when choosing a treadmill that it has buttons to override programs so you can manually change speed or incline at any time.

Important console features

• Multiple users - If the treadmill is being used by more than one person it’s a good idea to get one that stores several user profiles.
• Monitors and counters - Although heart rate monitors and calorie counters are notorious for their differences in accuracy, it doesn’t hurt to have them on your machine. It’s good to see how you’re progressing and it can get you more involved in your workouts.
• Detailed information - Calorie counters that account for weight and age tend to be more accurate than ones that don’t.
• Distance - If you are more interested in how far you walked or ran you’ll need a treadmill that monitors distance.
• Time - Some consoles show time remaining while others show time elapsed, or both.
  

The features just mentioned are important for satisfaction, but they aren’t everything. Many other factors including treadmill safety, comfort and usability should be considered.

A treadmill is a big purchase, you want to make sure you pick right the first time around.